Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Waterloo, IA

For one person, living is cheaper in Asuncion: $1,075 a month against $1,795 in Waterloo, IA, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

52

Cost of Living Index in Asuncion
Learn more

Asuncion Living Index
87

Cost of Living Index in Waterloo, IA
Learn more

Waterloo, IA Living Index

Jump to prices

Asuncion

🇵🇾 Paraguay

$1,075

/mo nomad

Waterloo, IA

🇺🇸 United States

$1,795

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Asuncion and in Waterloo, IA

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

A single person spends $1,075 per month in Asuncion vs $1,795 in Waterloo, IA, rent included.

Asuncion $1,075
Waterloo, IA $1,795

A couple spends around $1,684 per month in Asuncion vs $2,528 in Waterloo, IA, rent included.

Asuncion $1,684
Waterloo, IA $2,528

A family of three spends $2,292 per month in Asuncion vs $3,261 in Waterloo, IA, rent included.

Asuncion $2,292
Waterloo, IA $3,261

Asuncion is about 40% cheaper than Waterloo, IA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Asuncion sits 20% below the global median, while Waterloo, IA is 33% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.15 ₲40.6K

$16.07 $16.07

-55.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.57 ₲247.8K

$56.6 $56.6

-23.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 ₲40.4K

$9.13 $9.13

-22.23%

Cappuccino

$3.51 ₲20.0K

$5.83 $5.83

-39.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₲5,980

$2.72 $2.72

-61.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₲3,289

$2.03 $2.03

-71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 ₲10.8K

$3.96 $3.96

-52.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₲9,906

$8.16 $8.16

-78.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₲7,321

$0.99 $0.99

30.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₲8,514

$2.41 $2.41

-37.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ₲7,922

$1.66 $1.66

-16.27%

Eggs

$2.48 ₲14.1K

$3.64 $3.64

-31.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₲55.4K

$13.07 $13.07

-25.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₲29.5K

$13.02 $13.02

-60.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 ₲57.2K

$17.68 $17.68

-43.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 ₲17.0K

$4.73 $4.73

-36.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 ₲7,493

$1.61 $1.61

-18.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 ₲6,742

$3.83 $3.83

-68.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 ₲14.1K

$4.38 $4.38

-43.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ₲7,984

$1.10 $1.10

27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ₲7,562

$2.16 $2.16

-38.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₲5,243

$1.92 $1.92

-52.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₲4,372

$1.59 $1.59

-51.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 ₲13.8K

$7.91 $7.91

-69.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₲51.6K

$13.83 $13.83

-34.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₲8,064

$2.69 $2.69

-47.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 ₲10.2K

$1.79 $1.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 ₲3,315

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.92 ₲215.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 ₲8,735

$3.90 $3.90

-60.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 ₲9,204

$1.94 $1.94

-16.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.44 ₲59.4K

$43.17 $43.17

-75.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₲7,320

$0.95 $0.95

35.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.5K ₲99.5M

$35.3K $35.3K

-50.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.0K ₲199.2M

$25.1K $25.1K

39.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$51.5 ₲293.0K

$149 $149

-65.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.68 ₲100.5K

$53.2 $53.2

-66.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.35 ₲127.1K

$60.6 $60.6

-63.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.60 ₲208.1K

$27.11 $27.11

35.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.33 ₲87.2K

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ₲50.6K

$15.12 $15.12

-41.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$190 ₲1.1M

$1,706 $1,706

-88.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,930 ₲33.7M

$23.1K $23.1K

-74.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 ₲368.0K

$19.78 $19.78

227.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 ₲329.4K

$14.89 $14.89

288.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ₲610.0K

$60.4 $60.4

77.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ₲416.8K

$78.9 $78.9

-7.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₲3.7M

$860 $860

-24.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₲2.2M

$740 $740

-47.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 ₲6.0M

$1,368 $1,368

-22.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 ₲3.7M

$943 $943

-30.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,715 ₲9.8M

$1,511 $1,511

13.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,205 ₲6.9M

$1,473 $1,473

-18.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 ₲4.2M

$3,948 $3,948

-81.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

6.69

56.95%

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

Last update for Asuncion: October 11, 2026

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Asuncion

$385 35.9%

Waterloo, IA

$740 41.2% 92% $355

Groceries & Markets

Asuncion

$217 20.2%

Waterloo, IA

$362 20.2% 66.6% $145

Eating Out

Asuncion

$140 13%

Waterloo, IA

$281 15.7% 101% $141

Clothing & Footwear

Asuncion

$136 12.7%

Waterloo, IA

$78 4.4% 42.6% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Asuncion

$92 8.5%

Waterloo, IA

$263 14.6% 187% $171

Sport & Entertainment

Asuncion

$54 5.1%

Waterloo, IA

$57 3.2% 5.5% $3

Getting Around

Asuncion

$50 4.6%

Waterloo, IA

$14 * 0.8% 72.7% $36

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 $860 in Waterloo, IA. 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 429% higher in Waterloo, IA, 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 $57.0 in Waterloo, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $362 – making Asuncion the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇾 Asuncion

🇺🇸 Waterloo, IA

🕒 Local time

16:50 4:50 PM

14:50 2:50 PM

2 h behind Asuncion

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

742,023 Capital

67,314

💱 Currency

Paraguayan Guarani PYG ₲

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD

10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PYG – Paraguayan Guarani Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇾 Paraguayan Guarani (₲)

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5,686 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,393 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to PYG in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Asuncion Waterloo, IA 8,330 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Asuncion
Waterloo, IA

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 Waterloo, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Waterloo, IA is pricier by about 67%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,613 per month in Asuncion and $2,693 in Waterloo, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,075 in Asuncion and $1,795 in Waterloo, IA. That's a gap of about 67%.

Kindergarten costs $190 per month in Asuncion and $1,706 in Waterloo, IA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $1,075, than in Waterloo, IA at $1,795. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Waterloo, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Asuncion. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Waterloo, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.