Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulcán and Asuncion

For one person, living is cheaper in Tulcán: $842 a month against $1,075 in Asuncion, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tulcán
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$842
/mo nomad
Asuncion
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$1,075
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $842 per month in Tulcán vs $1,075 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Tulcán $842
  • Asuncion $1,075

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Tulcán vs $1,684 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Tulcán $1,430
  • Asuncion $1,684

A family of three spends $2,018 per month in Tulcán vs $2,292 in Asuncion, rent included.

  • Tulcán $2,018
  • Asuncion $2,292

Tulcán is about 22% cheaper than Asuncion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Tulcán and Asuncion are more affordable than the global median – Tulcán 38% lower, Asuncion 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulcán
Asuncion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.12 $6.12
$7.15 ₲40.6K
-14.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.1 $55.1
$43.57 ₲247.8K
26.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.63 $7.63
$7.10 ₲40.4K
7.46%
Cappuccino
$3.34 $3.34
$3.51 ₲20.0K
-4.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.05 ₲5,980
31.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.58 ₲3,289
87.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.54 $3.54
$1.89 ₲10.8K
87.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98 $5.98
$1.74 ₲9,906
243.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulcán
Asuncion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.29 ₲7,321
-11.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.50 ₲8,514
2.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.39 ₲7,922
7.91%
Eggs
$2.10 $2.10
$2.48 ₲14.1K
-15.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.50 $6.50
$9.74 ₲55.4K
-33.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 $5.74
$5.19 ₲29.5K
10.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.79 $7.79
$10.07 ₲57.2K
-22.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.99 ₲17.0K
-22.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.32 ₲7,493
-9.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.19 ₲6,742
8.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$2.47 ₲14.1K
-56.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.40 ₲7,984
-15.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.33 ₲7,562
-22.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 $0.85
$0.92 ₲5,243
-7.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$0.77 ₲4,372
38.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 $6.02
$2.43 ₲13.8K
147.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.12 $10.12
$9.08 ₲51.6K
11.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.42 ₲8,064
7.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.79 ₲10.2K
69.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulcán
Asuncion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 $0.32
$0.58 ₲3,315
-44.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.15 $19.15
$37.92 ₲215.6K
-49.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.54 ₲8,735
-5.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.62 ₲9,204
-6.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.20 $10.20
$10.44 ₲59.4K
-2.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.29 ₲7,320
-35.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K $21.4K
$17.5K ₲99.5M
21.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$35.0K ₲199.2M
-18.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulcán
Asuncion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$28.71 $28.71
$51.5 ₲293.0K
-44.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.06 $18.06
$17.68 ₲100.5K
2.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.53 $28.53
$22.35 ₲127.1K
27.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulcán
Asuncion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.37 $34.37
$36.60 ₲208.1K
-6.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.79 $17.79
$15.33 ₲87.2K
16.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55 $6.55
$8.89 ₲50.6K
-26.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulcán
Asuncion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$229 $229
$190 ₲1.1M
20.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,086 $9,086
$5,930 ₲33.7M
53.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulcán
Asuncion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.4 $70.4
$64.7 ₲368.0K
8.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.99 $48.99
$57.9 ₲329.4K
-15.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 $115
$107 ₲610.0K
7.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$73.3 ₲416.8K
45.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulcán
Asuncion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 $343
$645 ₲3.7M
-46.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$187 $187
$385 ₲2.2M
-51.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$829 $829
$1,061 ₲6.0M
-21.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$394 $394
$654 ₲3.7M
-39.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,153 $1,153
$1,715 ₲9.8M
-32.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$813 $813
$1,205 ₲6.9M
-32.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulcán
Asuncion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$747 ₲4.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
10.5
-3.62%

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

Last update for Tulcán: October 10, 2026

Last update for Asuncion: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Tulcán
$198
Asuncion
$217 9.9% $20
Accommodation & Living
Tulcán
$187
Asuncion
$385 106% $198
Clothing & Footwear
Tulcán
$154
Asuncion
$136 11.2% $17
Eating Out
Tulcán
$151
Asuncion
$140 7.5% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulcán
$75
Asuncion
$92 21.6% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Tulcán
$47
Asuncion
$54 14.6% $6.9
Getting Around
Tulcán
$29
Asuncion
$50 69.2% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $343 in Tulcán 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Tulcán versus $44.00 in Asuncion. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Tulcán vs $217 in Asuncion – so Tulcán wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇪🇨 Tulcán
🇵🇾 Asuncion
🕒 Local time
00:48 12:48 AM
02:48 2:48 AM
2 h ahead of Tulcán
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
82,734
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
  • Tulcán Asuncion 3,620 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tulcán
  • 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
Tulcán vs Asuncion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asuncion cheaper than Tulcán?
Yes – Asuncion is pricier by about 28%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,263 per month in Tulcán 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 Tulcán, 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 98% less in Tulcán. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $229 per month in Tulcán 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 Tulcán or in Asuncion?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tulcán, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Asuncion at $1,075. In Tulcán it covers expenses comfortably, while in Asuncion it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tulcán or Asuncion more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tulcán – 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 Tulcán. 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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