Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Manizales

For one person, living is cheaper in Asuncion: $1,075 a month against $1,275 in Manizales, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Asuncion
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$1,075
/mo nomad
Manizales
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,275
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Asuncion and in Manizales

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Asuncion and in Manizales actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,075 per month in Asuncion vs $1,275 in Manizales, rent included.

  • Asuncion $1,075
  • Manizales $1,275

A couple spends around $1,684 per month in Asuncion vs $1,924 in Manizales, rent included.

  • Asuncion $1,684
  • Manizales $1,924

A family of three spends $2,292 per month in Asuncion vs $2,573 in Manizales, rent included.

  • Asuncion $2,292
  • Manizales $2,573

Asuncion is about 16% cheaper than Manizales, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Asuncion and Manizales are more affordable than the global median – Asuncion 20% lower, Manizales 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Asuncion
Manizales
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.15 ₲40.6K
$6.21 COP 19.7K
15.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.57 ₲247.8K
$42.01 COP 133.2K
3.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.10 ₲40.4K
$10.24 COP 32.5K
-30.66%
Cappuccino
$3.51 ₲20.0K
$2.45 COP 7,753
43.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₲5,980
$1.37 COP 4,352
-23.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₲3,289
$0.87 COP 2,744
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.89 ₲10.8K
$1.58 COP 5,000
19.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₲9,906
$2.52 COP 8,003
-30.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Asuncion
Manizales
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 ₲7,321
$1.63 COP 5,160
-20.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 ₲8,514
$2.42 COP 7,658
-38.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ₲7,922
$1.71 COP 5,411
-18.71%
Eggs
$2.48 ₲14.1K
$3.39 COP 10.8K
-26.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 ₲55.4K
$8.12 COP 25.8K
19.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.19 ₲29.5K
$7.16 COP 22.7K
-27.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.07 ₲57.2K
$9.91 COP 31.4K
1.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 ₲17.0K
$3.44 COP 10.9K
-13.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 ₲7,493
$1.85 COP 5,860
-28.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 ₲6,742
$1.91 COP 6,072
-37.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 ₲14.1K
$1.72 COP 5,462
43.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ₲7,984
$1.41 COP 4,470
-0.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 ₲7,562
$1.42 COP 4,507
-6.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ₲5,243
$1.30 COP 4,125
-29.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₲4,372
$1.14 COP 3,619
-32.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 ₲13.8K
$4.50 COP 14.3K
-46.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.08 ₲51.6K
$12.32 COP 39.1K
-26.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₲8,064
$1.41 COP 4,467
0.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₲10.2K
$2.91 COP 9,234
-38.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Asuncion
Manizales
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 ₲3,315
$0.99 COP 3,146
-41.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.92 ₲215.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ₲8,735
$1.53 COP 4,856
0.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 ₲9,204
$1.55 COP 4,908
4.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.44 ₲59.4K
$9.27 COP 29.4K
12.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ₲7,320
$1.35 COP 4,269
-4.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K ₲99.5M
$23.2K COP 73.7M
-24.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K ₲199.2M
$34.9K COP 110.5M
0.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asuncion
Manizales
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.5 ₲293.0K
$121 COP 384.5K
-57.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.68 ₲100.5K
$11.79 COP 37.4K
49.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.35 ₲127.1K
$29.70 COP 94.2K
-24.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Asuncion
Manizales
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.60 ₲208.1K
$47.38 COP 150.2K
-22.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.33 ₲87.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ₲50.6K
$8.03 COP 25.5K
10.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Asuncion
Manizales
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 ₲1.1M
$501 COP 1.6M
-62.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,930 ₲33.7M
$7,403 COP 23.5M
-19.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Asuncion
Manizales
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7 ₲368.0K
$84.7 COP 268.6K
-23.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9 ₲329.4K
$47.88 COP 151.8K
20.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 ₲610.0K
$142 COP 450.7K
-24.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ₲416.8K
$108 COP 341.7K
-31.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Asuncion
Manizales
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 ₲3.7M
$467 COP 1.5M
38.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 ₲2.2M
$473 COP 1.5M
-18.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 ₲6.0M
$828 COP 2.6M
28.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 ₲3.7M
$799 COP 2.5M
-18.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,715 ₲9.8M
$2,064 COP 6.5M
-16.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,205 ₲6.9M
$2,059 COP 6.5M
-41.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Asuncion
Manizales
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$747 ₲4.2M
$1,197 COP 3.8M
-37.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.5
12
-12.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Asuncion: October 11, 2026

Last update for Manizales: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Asuncion
$385
Manizales
$473 22.7% $88
Groceries & Markets
Asuncion
$217
Manizales
$259 19.1% $41
Eating Out
Asuncion
$140
Manizales
$132 6.1% $8.5
Clothing & Footwear
Asuncion
$136
Manizales
$172 26.2% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asuncion
$92
Manizales
$163 77.8% $71
Sport & Entertainment
Asuncion
$54
Manizales
$63 16.6% $9
Getting Around
Asuncion
$50
Manizales
$13 * 73.5% $37

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Asuncion versus $467 in Manizales. 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 60% higher in Manizales, 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 $44.00 in Asuncion versus $42.00 in Manizales. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Asuncion vs $259 in Manizales – so Asuncion wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇾 Asuncion
🇨🇴 Manizales
🕒 Local time
20:21 8:21 PM
18:21 6:21 PM
2 h behind Asuncion
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
742,023 Capital
458,442
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to PYG – Paraguayan Guarani Converter

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 5,686 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,393 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Asuncion Manizales 3,890 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Asuncion
  • Manizales

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Manizales: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manizales cheaper than Asuncion?
Yes – Manizales is pricier by about 19%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,613 per month in Asuncion and $1,912 in Manizales. 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 Asuncion, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Asuncion and in Manizales?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,075 in Asuncion and $1,275 in Manizales. That's a gap of about 19%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $190 per month in Asuncion and $501 in Manizales. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Asuncion or in Manizales?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $1,075, than in Manizales at $1,275. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manizales it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Asuncion or Manizales more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Asuncion – 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 Manizales?
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 Asuncion. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manizales makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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