Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Loja and Asuncion

For one person, living is cheaper in Loja: $676 a month against $1,075 in Asuncion, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Loja
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$676
/mo nomad
Asuncion
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$1,075
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Loja 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 Loja and in Asuncion actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $676 per month in Loja vs $1,075 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Loja $676
  • Asuncion $1,075

A couple spends around $1,067 per month in Loja vs $1,684 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Loja $1,067
  • Asuncion $1,684

A family of three spends $1,459 per month in Loja vs $2,292 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Loja $1,459
  • Asuncion $2,292

Loja is about 37% cheaper than Asuncion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Loja and Asuncion are more affordable than the global median – Loja 50% lower, Asuncion 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Loja
Asuncion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.08 $3.08
$7.15 ₲40.6K
-56.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.71 $20.71
$43.57 ₲247.8K
-52.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 $5.44
$7.10 ₲40.4K
-23.38%
Cappuccino
$2.22 $2.22
$3.51 ₲20.0K
-36.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.05 ₲5,980
-26.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 $0.45
$0.58 ₲3,289
-22.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.89 ₲10.8K
-35.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$1.74 ₲9,906
82.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Loja
Asuncion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.29 ₲7,321
-23.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.50 ₲8,514
0.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.39 ₲7,922
-5.04%
Eggs
$1.92 $1.92
$2.48 ₲14.1K
-22.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.79 $5.79
$9.74 ₲55.4K
-40.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$5.19 ₲29.5K
-20.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$10.07 ₲57.2K
-40.81%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.99 ₲17.0K
-43.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.32 ₲7,493
-20.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.19 ₲6,742
-0.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.07 $1.07
$2.47 ₲14.1K
-56.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.40 ₲7,984
-24.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.33 ₲7,562
-19.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 $0.51
$0.92 ₲5,243
-44.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 $1.13
$0.77 ₲4,372
46.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.23 $5.23
$2.43 ₲13.8K
115.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.86 $6.86
$9.08 ₲51.6K
-24.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.42 ₲8,064
7.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.79 ₲10.2K
70.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Loja
Asuncion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 $0.31
$0.58 ₲3,315
-46.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.33 $30.33
$37.92 ₲215.6K
-20.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.54 ₲8,735
-17.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.62 ₲9,204
-32.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.88 $9.88
$10.44 ₲59.4K
-5.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.29 ₲7,320
-39.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.8K $14.8K
$17.5K ₲99.5M
-15.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K $28.7K
$35.0K ₲199.2M
-18.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Loja
Asuncion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$19.65 $19.65
$51.5 ₲293.0K
-61.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.63 $11.63
$17.68 ₲100.5K
-34.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.57 $26.57
$22.35 ₲127.1K
18.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Loja
Asuncion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.27 $30.27
$36.60 ₲208.1K
-17.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.33 ₲87.2K
-2.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46 $7.46
$8.89 ₲50.6K
-16.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Loja
Asuncion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$183 $183
$190 ₲1.1M
-3.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,017 $2,017
$5,930 ₲33.7M
-65.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Loja
Asuncion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$64.7 ₲368.0K
-18.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.03 $47.03
$57.9 ₲329.4K
-18.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 $79.1
$107 ₲610.0K
-26.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2 $71.2
$73.3 ₲416.8K
-2.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Loja
Asuncion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 $237
$645 ₲3.7M
-63.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$170 $170
$385 ₲2.2M
-55.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$389 $389
$1,061 ₲6.0M
-63.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 $310
$654 ₲3.7M
-52.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$554 $554
$1,715 ₲9.8M
-67.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$323 $323
$1,205 ₲6.9M
-73.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Loja
Asuncion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$496 $496
$747 ₲4.2M
-33.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.5
10.5
-19.05%

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

Last update for Loja: October 12, 2026

Last update for Asuncion: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Loja
$170
Asuncion
$385 127% $215
Groceries & Markets
Loja
$167
Asuncion
$217 29.9% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Loja
$113
Asuncion
$136 21.2% $24
Eating Out
Loja
$85
Asuncion
$140 64.9% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Loja
$58
Asuncion
$92 58.3% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Loja
$45
Asuncion
$54 20.4% $9.2
Getting Around
Loja
$38
Asuncion
$50 30.4% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Loja 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.

Salaries run about 50% higher in Asuncion, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Loja versus $44.00 in Asuncion. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $217 – making Loja the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇨 Loja
🇵🇾 Asuncion
🕒 Local time
17:32 5:32 PM
19:32 7:32 PM
2 h ahead of Loja
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
180,617
742,023 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Loja Asuncion 3,300 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Loja
  • 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
Loja vs Asuncion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asuncion cheaper than Loja?
Yes – Asuncion is pricier by about 59%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,014 per month in Loja 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 Loja, 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 25% less in Loja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $183 per month in Loja and $190 in Asuncion. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Loja or in Asuncion?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Loja, where all-in costs run around $676, than in Asuncion at $1,075. In Loja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Asuncion it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Loja or Asuncion more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Loja – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Loja or Asuncion?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Loja. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Asuncion makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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