Cost of Living Comparison Between Ciudad del Este and Altos Cost of Living Comparison Between Ciudad del Este and Altos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $391 in Ciudad del Este versus $242 in Altos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $758 in Ciudad del Este versus $365 in Altos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,125 in Ciudad del Este versus $487 in Altos.

Living in Ciudad del Este is roughly 61% more expensive than Altos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ciudad del Este 71% lower, Altos 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.44 ₲14.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.15 ₲92.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 ₲25.1K

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₲9,932

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

$0.83 ₲5,052

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₲2,999

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.23 ₲7,483

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₲11.5K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 ₲4,406

$0.48 ₲2,903

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₲5,824

$0.59 ₲3,584

62.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₲5,710

$0.98 ₲5,966

-4.08%

Eggs

$1.60 ₲9,737

$1.94 ₲11.8K

-17.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 ₲38.5K

$6.17 ₲37.6K

2.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.79 ₲17.0K

$3.60 ₲21.9K

-22.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 ₲33.3K

$5.60 ₲34.1K

-2.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 ₲9,383

$2.45 ₲15.0K

-37.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 ₲4,754

$1.27 ₲7,745

-38.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 ₲5,459

$1.42 ₲8,661

-36.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 ₲6,084

$1.81 ₲11.0K

-44.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 ₲3,475

$1.22 ₲7,421

-53.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 ₲4,267

$1.64 ₲9,977

-57.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 ₲2,427

$1.22 ₲7,447

-67.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₲1,803

$0.51 ₲3,110

-41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.03 ₲6,257

Wine (Bottle)

$5.00 ₲30.5K

$7.82 ₲47.6K

-36.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₲3,511

$0.68 ₲4,143

-14.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₲8,463

$0.76 ₲4,647

82.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 ₲3,770

$0.42 ₲2,541

47.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₲73.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 ₲4,027

$0.77 ₲4,716

-14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ₲4,716

$0.72 ₲4,374

6.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ₲54.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₲5,028

$1.14 ₲6,944

-27.19%

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

$14.4K ₲87.9M

$19.2K ₲117.1M

-24.93%

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

$23.6K ₲144.0M

$23.9K ₲145.5M

-1.02%

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

$41.68 ₲254.0K

$34.49 ₲210.2K

20.85%

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

$13.91 ₲84.8K

$7.97 ₲48.5K

74.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.19 ₲80.4K

$14.09 ₲85.8K

-6.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.73 ₲114.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.00 ₲24.4K

$3.48 ₲21.2K

14.94%

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

$167 ₲1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,369 ₲8.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.91 ₲298.0K

$24.63 ₲150.1K

98.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.65 ₲192.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 ₲439.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.1 ₲317.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ₲1.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,786 ₲10.9M

$1,508 ₲9.2M

18.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,330 ₲8.1M

$988 ₲6.0M

34.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ₲3.9M

$502 ₲3.1M

26.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

1.70%

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

Last update for Ciudad del Este: June 1, 2026

Last update for Altos: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ciudad del Este pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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

Ciudad del Este vs Altos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Altos is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ciudad del Este pays 26% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Ciudad del Este pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $391 per month in Ciudad del Este versus $242 in Altos – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Altos gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Altos is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ciudad del Este, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ciudad del Este and Altos are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Altos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Ciudad del Este. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.