Cost of Living Comparison Between Encarnacion and Santa Rita Cost of Living Comparison Between Encarnacion and Santa Rita

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Encarnacion versus $680 in Santa Rita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,044 in Encarnacion versus $1,020 in Santa Rita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,322 in Encarnacion versus $1,360 in Santa Rita.

Living in Encarnacion is roughly 13% more expensive than Santa Rita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Encarnacion 43% lower, Santa Rita 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 ₲20.1K

$2.53 ₲15.4K

30.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.76 ₲175.3K

$24.76 ₲150.9K

16.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.68 ₲28.5K

Cappuccino

$1.03 ₲6,257

$2.45 ₲15.0K

-57.96%

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

$1.51 ₲9,221

$0.60 ₲3,671

151.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₲3,083

$0.40 ₲2,410

27.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₲13.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₲12.8K

$0.98 ₲5,976

115.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 ₲5,306

$0.85 ₲5,150

2.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 ₲2,871

$1.35 ₲8,243

-65.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 ₲4,946

$0.84 ₲5,121

-3.57%

Eggs

$1.65 ₲10.1K

$1.98 ₲12.1K

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.38 ₲32.8K

$5.59 ₲34.0K

-3.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 ₲20.4K

$3.19 ₲19.4K

5.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.57 ₲34.0K

$8.37 ₲51.0K

-33.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₲13.1K

$3.71 ₲22.6K

-42.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 ₲5,013

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 ₲5,239

$1.01 ₲6,136

-14.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 ₲10.5K

$2.32 ₲14.1K

-25.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 ₲5,264

$2.54 ₲15.5K

-66.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 ₲5,411

$1.89 ₲11.5K

-52.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₲3,369

$0.64 ₲3,909

-14.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₲3,338

$0.99 ₲6,030

-44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.48 ₲9,002

Wine (Bottle)

$5.37 ₲32.7K

$5.08 ₲31.0K

5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₲4,897

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 ₲8,985

$1.99 ₲12.1K

-26.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₲2,826

$1.04 ₲6,338

-55.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.10 ₲213.9K

$30.66 ₲186.8K

14.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 ₲7,756

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₲4,023

$0.96 ₲5,849

-31.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.70 ₲40.8K

$2.70 ₲16.4K

148.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ₲6,215

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

$14.2K ₲86.7M

$7,175 ₲43.7M

98.20%

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

$25.8K ₲157.3M

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

$44.78 ₲272.9K

$77.9 ₲474.4K

-42.48%

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

$17.84 ₲108.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.95 ₲103.3K

$27.85 ₲169.7K

-39.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.20 ₲165.8K

$31.15 ₲189.8K

-12.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.87 ₲78.4K

$18.82 ₲114.7K

-31.62%

Cinema Ticket

$5.88 ₲35.8K

$6.45 ₲39.3K

-8.84%

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

$195 ₲1.2M

$56.0 ₲341.3K

248.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,258 ₲19.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ₲342.5K

$38.05 ₲231.9K

47.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.81 ₲169.5K

$62.1 ₲378.6K

-55.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.9 ₲407.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 ₲425.6K

$50.0 ₲304.8K

39.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 ₲2.4M

$248 ₲1.5M

58.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₲1.9M

$185 ₲1.1M

65.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₲2.3M

$311 ₲1.9M

24.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 ₲1.7M

$253 ₲1.5M

9.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,498 ₲9.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,090 ₲6.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 ₲1.9M

$496 ₲3.0M

-38.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.5

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

Last update for Encarnacion: June 1, 2026

Last update for Santa Rita: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $392 in Encarnacion and $248 in Santa Rita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Rita pays 62% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $29.00 in Encarnacion vs $25.00 in Santa Rita. Groceries flip the comparison at $131 vs $165, with Encarnacion cheaper for home cooking.

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 Santa Rita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Encarnacion and Santa Rita differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($766 vs $680 including rent). Santa Rita is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Santa Rita earns 62% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $392 in Encarnacion versus $248 in Santa Rita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Encarnacion versus $680 in Santa Rita – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Santa Rita runs roughly 14% less than in Encarnacion. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Santa Rita 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 Santa Rita 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 Santa Rita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Encarnacion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.