Cost of Living Comparison Between Encarnacion and Altos Cost of Living Comparison Between Encarnacion and Altos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $817 in Encarnacion versus $251 in Altos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,234 in Encarnacion versus $376 in Altos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,652 in Encarnacion versus $501 in Altos.

Living in Encarnacion is roughly 225% more expensive than in Altos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Encarnacion 40% lower, Altos 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.29 ₲25.3K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.71 ₲193.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 ₲39.6K

Cappuccino

$2.44 ₲14.4K

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

$1.49 ₲8,785

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₲2,843

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 ₲5,363

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₲11.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₲6,196

$0.48 ₲2,824

118.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 ₲5,162

$0.89 ₲5,276

-2.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₲9,778

$1.02 ₲6,040

62.75%

Eggs

$1.57 ₲9,299

$1.97 ₲11.6K

-20.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.23 ₲30.9K

$6.16 ₲36.4K

-15.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 ₲18.9K

$3.40 ₲20.1K

-5.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.36 ₲31.7K

$5.55 ₲32.8K

-3.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ₲12.0K

$2.39 ₲14.1K

-15.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 ₲4,549

$1.32 ₲7,772

-41.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 ₲5,447

$1.38 ₲8,160

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 ₲9,695

$1.83 ₲10.8K

-10.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₲4,951

$1.16 ₲6,840

-27.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 ₲5,033

$1.39 ₲8,214

-38.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₲3,240

$1.22 ₲7,175

-54.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₲2,713

$0.87 ₲5,137

-47.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.61 ₲9,499

$0.90 ₲5,309

78.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 ₲32.8K

$8.11 ₲47.9K

-31.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₲4,706

$0.68 ₲4,034

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 ₲8,892

$0.83 ₲4,877

81.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ₲2,911

$0.42 ₲2,467

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.11 ₲201.4K

$11.82 ₲69.8K

188.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 ₲7,482

$1.69 ₲9,962

-24.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₲3,891

$0.68 ₲4,026

-2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 ₲37.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₲6,565

$1.17 ₲6,885

-5.13%

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

$14.0K ₲83.0M

$19.1K ₲113.1M

-26.63%

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

$26.0K ₲153.7M

$23.9K ₲141.1M

8.94%

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

$42.86 ₲253.1K

$35.67 ₲210.6K

20.16%

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

$12.95 ₲76.5K

$7.99 ₲47.2K

62.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.26 ₲107.8K

$13.78 ₲81.4K

32.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.46 ₲174.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.85 ₲75.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 ₲35.9K

$3.52 ₲20.8K

73.01%

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

$197 ₲1.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,285 ₲19.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 ₲335.8K

$25.13 ₲148.4K

126.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.32 ₲161.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 ₲396.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 ₲406.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 ₲2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 ₲1.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 ₲3.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ₲3.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,586 ₲9.4M

$1,503 ₲8.9M

5.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,325 ₲7.8M

$997 ₲5.9M

32.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$362 ₲2.1M

$497 ₲2.9M

-27.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.5

-5.00%

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

Last update for Encarnacion: September 14, 2026

Last update for Altos: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Altos pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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

Encarnacion vs Altos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Altos is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 225% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Altos. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Encarnacion pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

A monthly transit pass in Altos runs roughly 189% less than in Encarnacion. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Encarnacion 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 225% less than in Encarnacion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.