Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Monteria

For one person, living is cheaper in Asuncion: $1,075 a month against $1,227 in Monteria, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Asuncion
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$1,075
/mo nomad
Monteria
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,227
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Asuncion and in Monteria

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 Monteria actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,075 per month in Asuncion vs $1,227 in Monteria, rent included.

  • Asuncion $1,075
  • Monteria $1,227

A couple spends around $1,684 per month in Asuncion vs $1,997 in Monteria, rent included.

  • Asuncion $1,684
  • Monteria $1,997

A family of three spends $2,292 per month in Asuncion vs $2,767 in Monteria, rent included.

  • Asuncion $2,292
  • Monteria $2,767

Asuncion is about 12% cheaper than Monteria, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Asuncion and Monteria are more affordable than the global median – Asuncion 20% lower, Monteria 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Asuncion
Monteria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.15 ₲40.6K
$5.73 COP 18.2K
24.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.57 ₲247.7K
$41.91 COP 133.3K
3.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.10 ₲40.4K
$10.31 COP 32.8K
-31.13%
Cappuccino
$3.51 ₲20.0K
$2.57 COP 8,178
36.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₲5,977
$2.57 COP 8,188
-59.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₲3,288
$2.27 COP 7,209
-74.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.89 ₲10.8K
$3.29 COP 10.5K
-42.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₲9,902
$5.16 COP 16.4K
-66.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Asuncion
Monteria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 ₲7,318
$1.90 COP 6,052
-32.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 ₲8,510
$2.78 COP 8,857
-46.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ₲7,919
$1.43 COP 4,537
-2.80%
Eggs
$2.48 ₲14.1K
$4.83 COP 15.4K
-48.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 ₲55.4K
$7.98 COP 25.4K
22.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.19 ₲29.5K
$9.46 COP 30.1K
-45.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.07 ₲57.2K
$13.49 COP 42.9K
-25.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 ₲17.0K
$3.16 COP 10.1K
-5.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 ₲7,490
$1.24 COP 3,951
6.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 ₲6,739
$2.07 COP 6,580
-42.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 ₲14.1K
$1.81 COP 5,751
36.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ₲7,981
$1.68 COP 5,332
-16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 ₲7,559
$1.58 COP 5,020
-15.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ₲5,240
$1.22 COP 3,887
-24.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₲4,370
$1.16 COP 3,698
-33.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 ₲13.8K
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-40.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.08 ₲51.6K
$14.66 COP 46.6K
-38.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₲8,061
$1.46 COP 4,630
-2.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₲10.2K
$2.34 COP 7,443
-23.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Asuncion
Monteria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 ₲3,314
$1.19 COP 3,777
-51.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.92 ₲215.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ₲8,731
$1.57 COP 5,006
-1.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 ₲9,200
$3.68 COP 11.7K
-55.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.44 ₲59.3K
$9.57 COP 30.4K
9.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ₲7,316
$1.30 COP 4,132
-0.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K ₲99.5M
$23.5K COP 74.8M
-25.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K ₲199.2M
$34.4K COP 109.3M
1.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asuncion
Monteria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.5 ₲292.9K
$78.0 COP 248.1K
-33.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.68 ₲100.5K
$14.49 COP 46.1K
22.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.35 ₲127.0K
$25.19 COP 80.1K
-11.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Asuncion
Monteria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.60 ₲208.1K
$43.38 COP 138.0K
-15.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.33 ₲87.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ₲50.6K
$8.24 COP 26.2K
7.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Asuncion
Monteria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 ₲1.1M
$618 COP 2.0M
-69.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,930 ₲33.7M
$5,835 COP 18.6M
1.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Asuncion
Monteria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7 ₲367.9K
$75.5 COP 240.1K
-14.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9 ₲329.2K
$55.4 COP 176.2K
4.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 ₲609.7K
$132 COP 420.5K
-18.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ₲416.6K
$109 COP 345.9K
-32.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Asuncion
Monteria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 ₲3.7M
$736 COP 2.3M
-12.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 ₲2.2M
$411 COP 1.3M
-6.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 ₲6.0M
$1,022 COP 3.3M
3.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 ₲3.7M
$913 COP 2.9M
-28.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,715 ₲9.7M
$2,174 COP 6.9M
-21.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,205 ₲6.8M
$1,691 COP 5.4M
-28.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Asuncion
Monteria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$747 ₲4.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.5
15
-30.00%

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

Last update for Asuncion: October 11, 2026

Last update for Monteria: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Asuncion
$385
Monteria
$411 6.7% $26
Groceries & Markets
Asuncion
$217
Monteria
$293 34.6% $75
Eating Out
Asuncion
$140
Monteria
$154 9.8% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Asuncion
$136
Monteria
$167 22.6% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asuncion
$92
Monteria
$118 28.5% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Asuncion
$54
Monteria
$60 10.1% $5.5
Getting Around
Asuncion
$50
Monteria
$25 * 50.4% $25

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 $736 in Monteria. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Asuncion versus $42.00 in Monteria. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Asuncion vs $293 in Monteria – so Asuncion wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇾 Asuncion
🇨🇴 Monteria
🕒 Local time
08:07 8:07 AM
06:07 6:07 AM
2 h behind Asuncion
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
742,023 Capital
454,032
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to PYG – Paraguayan Guarani Converter

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 5,684 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,365 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.57 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 3,181 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,562 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Asuncion Monteria 4,270 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Asuncion
  • Monteria

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 Monteria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monteria cheaper than Asuncion?
Yes – Monteria is pricier by about 14%, 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 $1,840 in Monteria. 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 Monteria?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,075 in Asuncion and $1,227 in Monteria. That's a gap of about 14%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $190 per month in Asuncion and $618 in Monteria. 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 Monteria?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $1,075, than in Monteria at $1,227. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monteria it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Asuncion or Monteria 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 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, Monteria makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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