How much does life in Paraguay really cost? This is the question everyone asks, and it is also the most poorly answered on the internet. Between blogs claiming "300 per month" (without mentioning it is in a pension with no hot water 200 km from Asunción) and forums where everyone gives their figure without ever citing a source, this calculator aims to provide honest ranges and document every number. No false precision down to the cent. Nobody can give you that, and be wary of those who do. No "everything included for 500" that forgets to mention the figure dates from 2019 and the exchange rate has moved 15% since then. Here, every range links to the page on this site that details the expense category in question, with original sources. Amounts are in guaraníes (Gs), the currency you will actually pay with. The euro conversion is indicative, at the rate on the day you view this page. The live exchange rate widget on our "Currency exchange" page gives you the exact rate in real time.
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Cost of living calculator
2,325,000 Gs – 4,425,000 Gs / month
≈ €298 – ≈ €567 / month
Breakdown by category
The amounts above are ranges, not exact values. Your actual cost will depend on your precise location within the city (central Asunción costs more than Lambaré or Fernando de la Mora), your consumption habits (cooking at home vs. restaurants every day), and the current exchange rate (the guaraní fluctuates 5 to 10% per year against the euro).
What this calculator covers and what it does not
What is included: rent with utilities (water, electricity, internet), food (supermarket shopping plus municipal markets), transport (bus plus gasoline if you have a vehicle), and local health insurance. These four categories represent about 80% of an expat's monthly budget in Paraguay, according to Numbeo surveys (2025) and testimonials collected on this site.
What is NOT included and must be budgeted separately: administrative filing fees (residence, cédula, translation: 200 to 400 one-time), vehicle purchase if you want one (5,000 to 15,000 for a decent used car), return trips to Europe (800 to 1,200 per ticket), and Spanish classes if you do not speak it yet (100 to 200 per month for private lessons). These costs are detailed on our dedicated pages.
Where do these numbers come from?
Every range in this calculator is cross-checked from at least three sources. Numbers pulled from nowhere are common on expat Facebook groups, where the same post claims you can live "very well on 400" and that "Asunción is more expensive than Paris." The reality is somewhere in between, and it depends mostly on your lifestyle. Here is how each expense category was constructed.
Housing. Rent ranges come from real estate listings published on Clasipar and InfoCasas, the two main listing platforms in Paraguay, consulted in June 2026 for one-room furnished apartments in central and peripheral neighborhoods of each city. These figures are consistent with Numbeo data (last updated May 2026) which aggregates local resident contributions. Utilities (water, electricity, internet, condominium fees) are included in the high end of the range; the low end corresponds to a unit without utilities or with minimal charges.
Food. The calculation is based on the basic food basket published by the Dirección General de Estadística, Encuestas y Censos (DGEEC) of Paraguay, which tracks prices of 50 products in supermarkets and markets in Asunción and departmental capitals. The basic basket for one person was 398,427 Gs in January 2026. The figures are rounded to 400,000 Gs for the low end (budget eating, home cooking, municipal markets) and 700,000 Gs for the high end (supermarkets, imported products, occasional restaurants). This is consistent with participatory data from Numbeo (May 2026) and Expatistan (June 2026).
Transport. The bus in Asunción costs 3,700 Gs per trip (official 2026 fare). A full tank of gasoline (50 liters) costs about 400,000 Gs. The low end (150,000 Gs) corresponds to moderate use of public transport; the high end (350,000 Gs) includes gasoline and maintenance of a light vehicle. Source: fuel prices from Petropar in July 2026.
Health and insurance. A general practitioner consultation in Asunción costs between 100,000 and 200,000 Gs without insurance. Private health insurance (type Sanatorio La Costa, Hospital Bautista) costs between 150,000 and 400,000 Gs per month depending on age and coverage. The range of 200,000 to 500,000 Gs covers basic insurance plus one monthly consultation plus common medications. Sources: fee schedules published by private clinics in Asunción and local insurance comparators.
Asunción, Encarnación, or Ciudad del Este: which city fits your budget?
The three cities have very different cost profiles, and the choice is not just about numbers. Here is what expats living in each city report, cross-referenced with objective data.
Asunción (and its metropolitan area). It is the capital, and it is where everything happens: government offices, embassies, clinics, international schools, cultural life. Rents are the highest in the country, but they remain far below those of a European capital: a one-room apartment in a central neighborhood like Villa Morra or Las Mercedes rents for between 800,000 and 1,400,000 Gs per month including utilities. In the outskirts (Lambaré, Fernando de la Mora, Luque), prices drop by 30 to 40%. If you are a digital nomad, retiree, or family with school-age children, Asunción is probably your best choice. You will find the largest French-speaking community, the best services, and the most social opportunities. But if you are looking for absolute tranquility or a tight budget, the other two cities deserve your attention.
Encarnación. The capital of the South is a human-scale city with a 14 km costanera, urban beaches, and a renowned carnival. Rents are 30 to 40% cheaper than in Asunción. The French-speaking community is smaller but very active around the Jesuit missions and tourism. It is an excellent choice if you are retired or work remotely and prefer calm. The climate is more temperate thanks to the proximity of the Paraná River. The downside: fewer specialized clinics and no international school. For a family with children, this is a limiting factor.
Ciudad del Este. The border city with Brazil and Argentina has a mixed reputation: many describe it as an intense commercial hub, noisy, and sometimes perceived as less safe. The reality is more nuanced. Housing costs are intermediate, but food and imported products offer the best deals: Brazilian and Argentine prices cross the border. It is the best city for an entrepreneur or trader. For a retiree or family, the noise and activity can be off-putting. For a digital nomad, the internet connection is excellent (fiber) and the cost of living is the lowest of the three cities.
Expats who have lived in all three cities describe it this way: Asunción for the network, Encarnación for the quality of life, Ciudad del Este for business. None is "the best": it all depends on what you are looking for.
The tough question: can you live on 500 per month in Paraguay?
This question comes up every month on expat groups. The honest answer: yes, technically, if you are single, rent a room or studio on the outskirts of Encarnación or Ciudad del Este, cook all your meals, take the bus, have no private health insurance, and never go out. It is possible. Is it comfortable? No. Is it the lifestyle most expats are looking for? Probably not. A realistic budget to live comfortably in Paraguay without skimping is 800 to 1,500 per month depending on the city and lifestyle. That is still 50 to 70% cheaper than in France, Belgium, or Switzerland for a comparable standard of living.
What people always forget in their budget
- 1First-year administrative fees. Residence, cédula, document translation: 200 to 400. Many expats underestimate this category, which hits as a lump sum but strains the first months' budget.
- 2Furnishing your home. Most rentals in Paraguay come empty (not even a fridge or washing machine). Equipment budget: 1,500 to 3,000 in the first year.
- 3Spanish classes. Without Spanish, you will stay at the surface. Budget: 100-200 per month for private lessons, 50-100 for group classes.
- 4Emergency fund. Always keep 3 to 6 months of expenses aside. Paraguay is a stable country, but unexpected events happen (health, family, regulation changes).
- 5Return trips to Europe. An Asunción-Paris ticket costs 800 to 1,200. If you plan to go back once a year, add 70-100 per month to your budget.
These five categories easily represent 300 to 500 per month in additional expenses during the first year. This is the difference between a budget that holds and a budget that falls apart after three months. Multiple expats have reported this same experience.
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Sources
My method
This page is written from France, sourced as carefully as possible, but I can be wrong or miss on-the-ground detail. A price that changed, outdated info, a photo to share? Every correction is credited if you want.
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