😐A single person spends $1,046 per month in Asuncion vs $827 in Encarnacion, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,627 per month in Asuncion vs $1,261 in Encarnacion, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,208 per month in Asuncion vs $1,695 in Encarnacion, rent included.
😐Asuncion costs about 26% more than Encarnacion, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Asuncion and Encarnacion are more affordable than the global median – Asuncion24% lower, Encarnacion40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Asuncion
Encarnacion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.94₲41.0K
$4.25₲25.1K
63.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.46₲244.8K
$33.27₲196.4K
24.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.63₲39.2K
$6.75₲39.8K
-1.78%
Cappuccino
$3.21₲18.9K
$2.50₲14.8K
28.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10₲6,501
$1.43₲8,415
-23.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63₲3,736
$0.52₲3,068
21.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96₲11.6K
$0.89₲5,282
120.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87₲11.0K
$2.00₲11.8K
-6.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Asuncion
Encarnacion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22₲7,176
$1.10₲6,498
10.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42₲8,359
$0.84₲4,930
69.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33₲7,843
$1.75₲10.4K
-24.00%
Eggs
$2.38₲14.1K
$1.57₲9,282
51.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.46₲55.8K
$5.19₲30.6K
82.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.15₲30.4K
$3.19₲18.8K
61.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.06₲59.4K
$5.51₲32.5K
82.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83₲16.7K
$2.07₲12.2K
36.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27₲7,518
$0.77₲4,523
64.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.18₲6,946
$0.92₲5,407
28.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39₲14.1K
$1.70₲10.1K
40.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28₲7,559
$0.88₲5,197
45.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31₲7,762
$0.91₲5,359
43.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90₲5,308
$0.59₲3,455
52.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69₲4,046
$0.51₲3,032
35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28₲13.5K
$1.62₲9,551
40.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.06₲53.5K
$5.41₲31.9K
67.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34₲7,915
$0.84₲4,941
59.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68₲9,917
$1.52₲8,996
10.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Asuncion
Encarnacion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56₲3,306
$0.46₲2,717
21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.60₲222.0K
$34.99₲206.5K
7.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.40₲8,265
$1.31₲7,706
6.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48₲8,757
$0.65₲3,846
127.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.01₲59.1K
$6.62₲39.1K
51.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16₲6,848
$1.13₲6,675
2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.1K₲100.9M
$14.2K₲83.6M
20.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K₲200.0M
$25.8K₲152.5M
31.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asuncion
Encarnacion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.71₲287.6K
$43.31₲255.7K
12.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.82₲99.3K
$13.22₲78.0K
27.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.36₲126.1K
$18.17₲107.3K
17.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Asuncion
Encarnacion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.51₲209.6K
$30.53₲180.2K
16.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.52₲85.7K
$12.89₲76.1K
12.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.57₲50.6K
$5.90₲34.8K
45.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Asuncion
Encarnacion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$180₲1.1M
$196₲1.2M
-8.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,747₲33.9M
$3,242₲19.1M
77.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Asuncion
Encarnacion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2₲361.0K
$56.3₲332.4K
8.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9₲324.2K
$27.59₲162.9K
99.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103₲608.7K
$67.5₲398.3K
52.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3₲403.0K
$67.4₲397.7K
1.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Asuncion
Encarnacion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$624₲3.7M
$486₲2.9M
28.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373₲2.2M
$318₲1.9M
17.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,028₲6.1M
$663₲3.9M
55.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$635₲3.7M
$518₲3.1M
22.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,715₲10.1M
$1,586₲9.4M
8.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223₲7.2M
$1,381₲8.2M
-11.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Asuncion
Encarnacion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$713₲4.2M
$368₲2.2M
93.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.15
9.5
6.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Asuncion: September 6, 2026
Last update for Encarnacion: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $624 in Asuncion versus $486 in Encarnacion. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 94% higher in Asuncion, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Asuncion versus $33.00 in Encarnacion. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $139 – making Encarnacion the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Asuncion vs Encarnacion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Encarnacion cheaper than Asuncion?
Yes – Asuncion is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,570 per month in Asuncion and $1,241 in Encarnacion. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Encarnacion, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Encarnacion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $180 per month in Asuncion and $196 in Encarnacion. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Asuncion or in Encarnacion?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Encarnacion, where all-in costs run around $827, than in Asuncion at $1,046. In Encarnacion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Asuncion it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Asuncion or Encarnacion more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Encarnacion – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Asuncion or Encarnacion?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Encarnacion. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Asuncion makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.