Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brainerd, MN and Asuncion

For one person, living is cheaper in Asuncion: $1,075 a month against $2,445 in Brainerd, MN, rent and utilities included – about $16,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brainerd, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,445
/mo nomad
Asuncion
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$1,075
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brainerd, MN and in Asuncion

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

A single person spends $2,445 per month in Brainerd, MN vs $1,075 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Brainerd, MN $2,445
  • Asuncion $1,075

A couple spends around $3,439 per month in Brainerd, MN vs $1,684 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Brainerd, MN $3,439
  • Asuncion $1,684

A family of three spends $4,433 per month in Brainerd, MN vs $2,292 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Brainerd, MN $4,433
  • Asuncion $2,292

Brainerd, MN costs about 127% more than Asuncion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Brainerd, MN sits 81% above the global median, while Asuncion is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brainerd, MN
Asuncion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.72 $14.72
$7.15 ₲40.6K
105.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.45 $37.45
$43.57 ₲247.8K
-14.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.12 $10.12
$7.10 ₲40.4K
42.54%
Cappuccino
$1.93 $1.93
$3.51 ₲20.0K
-45.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.05 ₲5,980
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.58 ₲3,289
243.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.95 $5.95
$1.89 ₲10.8K
214.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.02 $6.02
$1.74 ₲9,906
245.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brainerd, MN
Asuncion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.29 ₲7,321
-24.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.50 ₲8,514
112.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$1.39 ₲7,922
144.60%
Eggs
$2.54 $2.54
$2.48 ₲14.1K
2.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 $9.74
$9.74 ₲55.4K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.71 $9.71
$5.19 ₲29.5K
87.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 $13.01
$10.07 ₲57.2K
29.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.92 $4.92
$2.99 ₲17.0K
64.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.32 ₲7,493
-12.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.23 $6.23
$1.19 ₲6,742
423.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$2.47 ₲14.1K
100.40%
Potato (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.40 ₲7,984
172.86%
Onion (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.33 ₲7,562
167.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 $2.00
$0.92 ₲5,243
117.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 $1.73
$0.77 ₲4,372
124.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.06 $12.06
$2.43 ₲13.8K
396.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.26 $13.26
$9.08 ₲51.6K
46.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.42 ₲8,064
20.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$1.79 ₲10.2K
97.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Brainerd, MN
Asuncion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.58 ₲3,315
241.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.39 $40.39
$37.92 ₲215.6K
6.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.54 ₲8,735
65.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.62 ₲9,204
-2.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.90 $30.90
$10.44 ₲59.4K
195.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.29 ₲7,320
-32.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K $35.7K
$17.5K ₲99.5M
104.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$35.0K ₲199.2M
-27.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brainerd, MN
Asuncion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$226 $226
$51.5 ₲293.0K
338.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.47 $44.47
$17.68 ₲100.5K
151.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.3 $60.3
$22.35 ₲127.1K
169.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brainerd, MN
Asuncion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.14 $42.14
$36.60 ₲208.1K
15.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.33 ₲87.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.80 $8.80
$8.89 ₲50.6K
-1.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brainerd, MN
Asuncion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,186 $1,186
$190 ₲1.1M
525.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.9K $27.9K
$5,930 ₲33.7M
370.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brainerd, MN
Asuncion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.57 $40.57
$64.7 ₲368.0K
-37.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.14 $40.14
$57.9 ₲329.4K
-30.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.5 $60.5
$107 ₲610.0K
-43.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.4 $64.4
$73.3 ₲416.8K
-12.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brainerd, MN
Asuncion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 $1,612
$645 ₲3.7M
149.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,321 $1,321
$385 ₲2.2M
242.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,516 $2,516
$1,061 ₲6.0M
137.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,157 $2,157
$654 ₲3.7M
229.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,373 $2,373
$1,715 ₲9.8M
38.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,390 $2,390
$1,205 ₲6.9M
98.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brainerd, MN
Asuncion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$747 ₲4.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
10.5
-39.90%

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

Last update for Brainerd, MN: October 10, 2026

Last update for Asuncion: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brainerd, MN
$1.3K
Asuncion
$385 70.8% $936
Groceries & Markets
Brainerd, MN
$353
Asuncion
$217 38.4% $136
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brainerd, MN
$331
Asuncion
$92 72.3% $239
Eating Out
Brainerd, MN
$229
Asuncion
$140 38.9% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Brainerd, MN
$93
Asuncion
$136 47.4% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Brainerd, MN
$60
Asuncion
$54 9% $5.4
Getting Around
Brainerd, MN
$59
Asuncion
$50 15.1% $8.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Brainerd, MN versus $645 in Asuncion. 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 $37.00 in Brainerd, MN versus $44.00 in Asuncion. Groceries tell a different story – $353 in Brainerd, MN vs $217 in Asuncion – so Asuncion wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Brainerd, MN
🇵🇾 Asuncion
🕒 Local time
13:46 1:46 PM
15:46 3:46 PM
2 h ahead of Brainerd, MN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,722
742,023 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

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

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brainerd, MN Asuncion 8,780 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brainerd, MN
  • Asuncion

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
Brainerd, MN vs Asuncion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asuncion cheaper than Brainerd, MN?
Yes – Brainerd, MN is pricier by about 127%, 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 $3,668 per month in Brainerd, MN and $1,613 in Asuncion. 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Asuncion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,186 per month in Brainerd, MN and $190 in Asuncion. 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 Brainerd, MN or in Asuncion?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $1,075, than in Brainerd, MN at $2,445. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brainerd, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Brainerd, MN or Asuncion 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, Brainerd, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Brainerd, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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