Cost of Living Comparison Between Encarnacion and Villarrica Cost of Living Comparison Between Encarnacion and Villarrica

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $756 in Encarnacion versus $691 in Villarrica.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,044 in Encarnacion versus $866 in Villarrica.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,331 in Encarnacion versus $1,040 in Villarrica.

Living in Encarnacion is roughly 10% more expensive than in Villarrica, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Encarnacion 43% lower, Villarrica 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 ₲20.4K

$3.68 ₲22.2K

-8.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.65 ₲172.8K

$15.01 ₲90.5K

90.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.47 ₲27.0K

$4.62 ₲27.9K

-3.25%

Cappuccino

$1.07 ₲6,460

$1.24 ₲7,478

-13.71%

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

$1.46 ₲8,803

$0.61 ₲3,695

139.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₲3,063

$0.40 ₲2,389

27.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 ₲13.1K

$1.05 ₲6,330

106.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₲12.6K

$0.97 ₲5,875

115.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 ₲5,332

$0.86 ₲5,174

2.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₲2,788

$0.80 ₲4,849

-42.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₲4,941

$0.91 ₲5,472

-9.89%

Eggs

$1.69 ₲10.2K

$1.65 ₲9,956

2.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.18 ₲31.3K

$5.59 ₲33.7K

-7.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ₲19.5K

$2.93 ₲17.6K

10.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.61 ₲33.8K

$6.35 ₲38.3K

-11.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 ₲12.3K

$2.02 ₲12.2K

0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 ₲4,791

$0.74 ₲4,458

6.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 ₲5,535

$0.65 ₲3,914

41.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 ₲10.1K

$1.71 ₲10.3K

-1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ₲5,107

$1.01 ₲6,104

-15.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 ₲5,612

$0.63 ₲3,790

47.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₲3,601

$0.60 ₲3,602

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₲3,511

$0.53 ₲3,187

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 ₲9,317

$0.90 ₲5,447

71.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 ₲33.5K

$8.47 ₲51.1K

-34.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₲5,186

$0.47 ₲2,824

82.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₲9,284

$1.40 ₲8,458

10.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₲2,754

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.94 ₲210.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 ₲7,687

$0.65 ₲3,925

95.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₲3,951

$0.74 ₲4,484

-10.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.78 ₲40.9K

$3.87 ₲23.3K

75.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ₲6,195

$0.83 ₲5,029

24.10%

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

$14.3K ₲86.1M

$14.5K ₲87.7M

-1.88%

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

$26.1K ₲157.5M

$24.0K ₲144.8M

8.76%

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

$44.34 ₲267.4K

$23.05 ₲139.0K

92.36%

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

$13.92 ₲83.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.95 ₲102.2K

$14.90 ₲89.8K

13.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.97 ₲162.6K

$24.39 ₲147.1K

10.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.76 ₲76.9K

$2.46 ₲14.9K

418.70%

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 ₲36.3K

$5.09 ₲30.7K

18.47%

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

$199 ₲1.2M

$31.36 ₲189.1K

534.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,358 ₲20.3M

$3,312 ₲20.0M

1.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 ₲342.4K

$49.74 ₲300.0K

14.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.47 ₲165.6K

$30.73 ₲185.3K

-10.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.8 ₲402.6K

$72.7 ₲438.5K

-8.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 ₲409.9K

$52.9 ₲318.8K

28.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$393 ₲2.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₲1.9M

$284 ₲1.7M

8.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₲2.3M

$187 ₲1.1M

107.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₲1.6M

$150 ₲906.7K

81.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,503 ₲9.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,096 ₲6.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$302 ₲1.8M

$535 ₲3.2M

-43.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.5

10.17

-6.59%

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

Last update for Encarnacion: July 12, 2026

Last update for Villarrica: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Villarrica pays 77% 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 $15.00 in Villarrica. Groceries flip the comparison at $131 vs $138, 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 Villarrica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Encarnacion and Villarrica differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($756 vs $691 including rent). Villarrica is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 77% lower in Villarrica. 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 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $756 per month in Encarnacion versus $691 in Villarrica – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Villarrica 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 Villarrica 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 Villarrica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Encarnacion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.