Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa and Asuncion

For one person, living is cheaper in Asuncion: $1,032 a month against $2,449 in Ottawa, rent and utilities included – about $17,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ottawa, Canada
Asuncion, Paraguay
Ottawa
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,449
/mo nomad
Asuncion
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$1,032
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,449 per month in Ottawa vs $1,032 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Ottawa $2,449
  • Asuncion $1,032

A couple spends around $3,557 per month in Ottawa vs $1,625 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Ottawa $3,557
  • Asuncion $1,625

A family of three spends $4,665 per month in Ottawa vs $2,217 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Ottawa $4,665
  • Asuncion $2,217

Ottawa costs about 137% more than Asuncion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ottawa sits 81% above the global median, while Asuncion is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ottawa
Asuncion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.60 CA$24.57
$7.19 ₲43.4K
144.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.2 CA$109
$42.94 ₲258.9K
82.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.71
$6.58 ₲39.7K
60.18%
Cappuccino
$4.23 CA$5.90
$3.28 ₲19.8K
28.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 CA$2.83
$1.01 ₲6,062
100.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.44
$0.55 ₲3,340
218.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.57 CA$7.78
$2.06 ₲12.4K
170.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.37 CA$8.89
$1.68 ₲10.1K
279.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ottawa
Asuncion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.37 CA$3.31
$1.24 ₲7,505
91.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 CA$4.28
$1.42 ₲8,534
115.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.03 CA$4.24
$1.30 ₲7,869
133.08%
Eggs
$3.20 CA$4.46
$2.39 ₲14.4K
33.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.55 CA$16.12
$9.44 ₲56.9K
22.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.33 CA$17.21
$5.10 ₲30.8K
141.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.81 CA$26.26
$9.66 ₲58.3K
94.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.88 CA$5.42
$3.00 ₲18.1K
29.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 CA$1.79
$1.25 ₲7,521
2.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.96 CA$5.52
$1.16 ₲6,982
241.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 CA$4.96
$2.42 ₲14.6K
46.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 CA$3.79
$1.32 ₲7,934
106.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 CA$3.41
$1.33 ₲8,008
83.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.69 CA$3.75
$0.85 ₲5,110
216.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.16
$0.69 ₲4,139
124.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.64 CA$20.44
$2.34 ₲14.1K
525.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 CA$17.49
$8.87 ₲53.5K
41.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 CA$3.71
$1.30 ₲7,856
104.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 CA$4.19
$1.65 ₲9,974
81.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Ottawa
Asuncion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.90 CA$4.05
$0.59 ₲3,588
391.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.2 CA$137
$35.97 ₲216.9K
172.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.76 CA$3.86
$1.44 ₲8,658
91.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 CA$2.04
$1.53 ₲9,241
-4.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.28 CA$26.91
$10.03 ₲60.5K
92.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.68
$1.21 ₲7,285
-0.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$38.9K
$16.8K ₲101.4M
65.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K CA$31.0K
$29.2K ₲176.2M
-23.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ottawa
Asuncion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 CA$191
$49.05 ₲295.8K
179.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.79 CA$51.4
$16.79 ₲101.2K
119.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.56 CA$66.4
$21.60 ₲130.3K
120.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ottawa
Asuncion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.86 CA$65.4
$35.35 ₲213.2K
32.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.83 CA$38.85
$14.61 ₲88.1K
90.49%
Cinema Ticket
$12.66 CA$17.67
$8.51 ₲51.3K
48.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ottawa
Asuncion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$817 CA$1,140
$183 ₲1.1M
345.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K CA$28.6K
$5,730 ₲34.6M
257.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ottawa
Asuncion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1 CA$83.9
$63.2 ₲381.1K
-4.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.13 CA$54.6
$56.7 ₲341.7K
-30.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 CA$147
$104 ₲628.2K
1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 CA$141
$70.2 ₲423.2K
44.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ottawa
Asuncion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,447 CA$2,019
$611 ₲3.7M
136.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CA$1,731
$367 ₲2.2M
238.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,214 CA$3,091
$1,033 ₲6.2M
114.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,856 CA$2,590
$630 ₲3.8M
194.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,570 CA$6,379
$1,747 ₲10.5M
161.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,419 CA$6,169
$1,234 ₲7.4M
258.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ottawa
Asuncion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,670 CA$5,123
$676 ₲4.1M
443.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
10.15
-59.21%

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

Last update for Ottawa: October 31, 2026

Last update for Asuncion: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ottawa
$1.2K
Asuncion
$367 70.4% $873
Groceries & Markets
Ottawa
$379
Asuncion
$209 44.9% $170
Eating Out
Ottawa
$279
Asuncion
$137 51% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ottawa
$222
Asuncion
$87 60.5% $134
Clothing & Footwear
Ottawa
$138
Asuncion
$132 3.8% $5.3
Getting Around
Ottawa
$120
Asuncion
$47 60.4% $72
Sport & Entertainment
Ottawa
$72
Asuncion
$52 27.4% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,447 in Ottawa versus $611 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 in Ottawa are about 5.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Ottawa versus $43 in Asuncion. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $209 – making Asuncion the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Ottawa
🇵🇾 Asuncion
🕒 Local time
19:14 7:14 PM
21:14 9:14 PM
2 h ahead of Ottawa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,000,000 Capital
742,023 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 6,031 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.66 USD). 1 EUR = 6,770 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.48 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ottawa Asuncion 8,070 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ottawa
  • 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
Ottawa vs Asuncion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asuncion cheaper than Ottawa?
Yes – Ottawa is pricier by about 137%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,674 per month in Ottawa and $1,548 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 Asuncion, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $611 there versus $1,447 in Ottawa.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 63% less in Asuncion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $817 per month in Ottawa and $183 in Asuncion. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ottawa or in Asuncion?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $1,032, than in Ottawa at $2,449. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ottawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ottawa or Asuncion more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Asuncion – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Asuncion. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ottawa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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