Cost of Living in Paraguay

Updated: March 01, 2025

If you've ever considered moving to Paraguay, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Paraguay?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Paraguay and whether the reported $1020 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $316.1.

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Childcare

Clothing

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment

Salaries

Paraguay

restaurant Restaurants	Price	World Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	4.25 $
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	21.24 $
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	4.73 $
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	1.42 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1.84 $
Cappuccino (regular)	1.86 $
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	0.92 $
Water (12 oz small bottle)	0.54 $

store Markets	Price	World Range
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	0.82 $
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	0.7 $
Rice (white), (1 lb)	0.86 $
Eggs (regular) (12)	1.61 $
Local Cheese (1 lb)	5.64 $
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	3.61 $
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	5.99 $
Apples (1 lb)	1.71 $
Banana (1 lb)	1.0 $
Oranges (1 lb)	0.99 $
Tomato (1 lb)	1.48 $
Potato (1 lb)	0.98 $
Onion (1 lb)	0.78 $
Lettuce (1 head)	0.56 $
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	0.58 $
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	5.66 $
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	0.9 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1.49 $
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	1.7 $

commute Transportation	Price	World Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	0.5 $
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	25.49 $
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	0.71 $
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	1.42 $
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	7.08 $
Gasoline (1 gallon)	1.1 $
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	16815.5 $
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	24207.47 $

mark_as_unread Utilities (Monthly)	Price	World Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	49.86 $
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.1 $
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	21.39 $

kitesurfing Sports And Leisure	Price	World Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	24.92 $
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	14.97 $
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	7.08 $

child_friendly Childcare	Price	World Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	147.27 $
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	2772.3 $

checkroom Clothing And Shoes	Price	World Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	45.31 $
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	34.46 $
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	74.78 $
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	63.41 $

night_shelter Rent Per Month	Price	World Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	284.8 $
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	206.21 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	665.37 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	442.24 $

home Buy Apartment Price	Price	World Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	1292.97 $
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	846.66 $

account_balance_wallet Salaries And Financing	Price	World Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	316.1 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	12.12 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 4.25 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 21.24 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 0.82 USD, a loaf of bread 0.7 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 1.61 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 0.5 USD and a monthly pass around 25.49 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 49.86 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 24.92 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 14.97 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 147.27 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 2772.3 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 45.31 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 74.78 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 284.8 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 206.21 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 1292.97 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 846.66 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 316.1 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 12.12% annually.

Warnings & Dangers in Paraguay

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Paraguay is generally a safe country though it has its many dangers in the form of petty crime, violent crime, smuggling, money laundering, corrupt police, and many others. Just apply basic precaution measures and you should be fine.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Transport is not too reliable or safe in Paraguay. Avoid flashing mobile phones, wallets or other possessions, particularly if they're of value when out walking out of buses or simply riding public transport. There have been reports of pickpockets operating on buses. Keep in mind that taxi drivers will probably try to rip you off if unlicensed.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Most crime in Paraguay is not of a violent nature, and you should keep in mind that street crime such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, jewelry theft, and mugging very much exist, particularly in the cities. More serious crimes such as car theft, armed robbery, and home invasions exist in both urban and rural centers. Another form of petty crime are snatch and grabs by thieves on motorcycles, and sometimes victims are threatened with a weapon.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

There are a couple of natural disasters that hit Paraguay regularly, including droughts, floods, and forest fires but there are also diseases such as yellow fever, and more recently the famous Zika outbreak, which why it's still not safe for pregnant women to travel to Paraguay.

MUGGING RISK: HIGH

Even though, as mentioned, the majority of crime on the streets of Paraguay is non-violent, violent crime is on an increase in crowded tourist areas in Asunción, Ciudad del Este, and Pedro Juan Caballero. If you wind up in a serious situation with a mugger, hand over everything immediately.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Even though there haven't been any terrorist attacks in Paraguay's recent history, they shouldn't be ruled out, so be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

There are many scams in Paraguay, so be very careful. There are unauthorized ticket vendors, selling tickets for substandard or non-existent buses in the Asuncion bus terminal. If you happen to be roaming the streets and run into people playing card games and calling people to join in and make some "easy money", keep in mind that although the game seems lucrative, the guy is probably a scammer and other people participating are probably his buddies, so you have no chances of winning it.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

While Paraguay is definitely safer for solo female travelers than much of its other neighbors, it's still recommended that you don't wander around without company, whether during night or day. Use your common sense and have your wits with you. Avoid poorly lit and deserted areas at night and finding yourself in places filled with drunken people. If you're pregnant, keep in mind that Paraguay was an affected area of the Zika outbreak.

Cost of Living in Paraguay

Paraguay

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing