Cost of living in Paraguay in 2026

10 min read · Published 6 October 2026 · Updated 7 October 2026

One person in Asunción needs about $1,300-1,600 a month including rent, and $1,000-1,500 in Ciudad del Este. Income tax is no more than 10%, and foreign income is not taxed.

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Key facts	2026
Single person with rent in Asunción	$1,300-1,600 a month
Couple in Asunción	$1,900-2,400 a month
Family with a child	from $2,800 a month
One-bedroom flat in central Asunción	$630-850
Average income of the employed, Q2 2026	~$570
Visa-free stay for Russian citizens	90 days in every 180

Data checked: 06.10.2026

Paraguay is one of the most affordable countries in South America: a single person in Asunción spends about 3.5 million guaraníes a month without rent, about $610. That is less than in São Paulo, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Personal income tax is no more than 10%, and income from abroad is not taxed in Paraguay.

The gap with the neighbours is narrowing: the guaraní has strengthened, and over a year and a half the dollar has lost about a quarter of its purchasing power in the country. A flat for 5 million guaraníes cost about $640 at the end of 2024; the same sum is now about $860. For someone earning in dollars, Paraguay has become more expensive without a single price rise in guaraníes.

Who Paraguay suits on budget: remote workers and entrepreneurs with income from abroad, investors, families who want low taxes, a calm life and a clear path to permanent residency and citizenship. Local wages are low, so living here pays off on outside income.

Amounts below are in US dollars at the Central Bank of Paraguay rate of 6 October 2026, about 5,850 guaraníes per dollar, rounded up.

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Prices in 2026: rent, groceries, transport

Monthly item	Asunción	Ciudad del Este
One-bedroom flat in the centre	$630-850	$250-400
One-bedroom flat in a cheaper district	$300-310	-
Two-bedroom flat in the centre	$1,100-1,400	$400-700
Utilities	~$50	$50-120
Internet and mobile	~$37	$39-59
Groceries per person	$250-400	$250-400
Public transport	~$38	a full tank: $55-75
Lunch in an inexpensive café	$5-7	$4-8
Private doctor visit	$25-45	$25-45
Private health insurance	$40-100	$40-100
International school, per year	$5,770-10,200	-

Rent in Asunción is the average price of a one-bedroom flat in the centre, about 3.65 million guaraníes, and the median of listings in upscale Villa Morra. Two-bedroom flats in Las Carmelitas, Mburucuyá, Villa Morra and Manorá cost $1,100-1,400. Outside the centre a one-bedroom flat costs $300-310, and the simple Sajonia district is cheaper than the upscale ones.

Utilities are noticeably higher in summer because of air conditioning: from December to February daytime temperatures reach 35-40 degrees. Public transport in Ciudad del Este is weak, so the table shows a full tank of petrol; in Asunción it shows a bus pass.

Monthly budget: single, couple, family with a child

Household	Per month
Single person	$1,300-1,600
Couple	$1,900-2,400
Family with a child	from $2,800

The single budget assumes a one-bedroom flat in central Asunción, groceries, utilities, phone and internet, transport, private insurance and moderate café spending. In Ciudad del Este a single person needs $1,000-1,500 a month for a normal life, a family $2,000-3,000. For a family the total depends on the district, school and insurance, so we calculate the exact figure in the chat.

An Asunción budget starts with residency

In Paraguay money is lost not on food but on status: temporary residency is granted without proof of income, but since 6 July 2026 moving to permanent residency requires income documents in one of 12 categories, and a paperwork error means a new round of filing. The law does not stop you applying on your own. But mistakes cost more: the wrong income category, documents without the right apostilles, a missed deadline for permanent residency. We prepare the documents for temporary and permanent residency, check the lease and handle the case until the foreigner's identity card is issued.

The cost of support depends on the grounds and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.

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What to pay in the first month

A deposit for the flat - one or two months' rent, often with a guarantor or rent insurance.
The first month's rent in Asunción - $630-850 for a one-bedroom flat in the centre.
Documents for temporary residency with apostilles and translations, and a fee of about $500.
Private health insurance while residency is processed.
A Paraguayan SIM card and a local bank account once the resident document is issued.

For the first three months a single person needs from $5,000 with rent in Asunción, a deposit and living costs, including the temporary residency fee.

Where to live: comparing cities

Asunción is the capital and business centre, where most newcomers live. Foreigners usually choose Villa Morra, Las Carmelitas, Recoleta, Mburucuyá and Manorá, which have new buildings, shopping centres, restaurants, private clinics and international schools. The city is calm and green, with a riverside promenade several kilometres long.

Ciudad del Este is the country's second economic centre on the border with Brazil and Argentina, half an hour from the Iguazú Falls. A one-bedroom flat in a decent building near the centre costs $250-400, a house in a gated community $700-1,500. The city is commercial and noisy, and the trading area by the bridge is best not walked at night.

Encarnación in the south, with a city beach on the Paraná River, and San Bernardino by Lake Ypacaraí suit those who want a quiet life. Districts and prices in detail are in the Asunción and Ciudad del Este guides.

Districts and prices in detail: Asunción, Ciudad del Este.

Healthcare and insurance

State healthcare in Paraguay is weaker than private care. Employees are treated through the state social security fund, which takes 9% of salary, while foreigners with outside income usually buy private insurance.

Private clinics in Asunción are of a good standard: a private doctor's visit costs $25-45, and insurance per adult $40-100 a month. Many people have complex treatment in Asunción or in Brazil.

Schools and nurseries

State schools are free and teach in Spanish and Guaraní. Asunción has international schools with American and British curricula: primary school costs about $5,770 a year, the upper grades at the best-known school up to $10,200 a year, and the one-off entry fee there is $7,750-9,500.

Private bilingual schools and nurseries are found in every upscale district of the capital and cost less than international schools. Ciudad del Este has fewer schools teaching in English.

Salaries and taxes

The average income of the employed in Paraguay in the second quarter of 2026, according to the national statistics institute, was 3,313,700 guaraníes a month, about $570. Private-sector employees earn 3,465,100 guaraníes on average, about $600. The minimum wage since 1 July 2026 is 3,044,000 guaraníes, about $530.

Income tax on work and services is 8-10% and is paid only on Paraguayan income above 80 million guaraníes a year, about $13,700. Foreign income is not taxed in Paraguay. Employees pay 9% to the state social security fund, corporate profit tax is 10%, and VAT is 10%, or 5% on basic foods and medicines.

How to cut costs

Rent outside central Asunción: a flat costs $300-310 instead of $630-850 in Villa Morra.
Fix the rent in dollars if you earn in dollars: the guaraní has strengthened over a year and a half, and rent in guaraníes has become more expensive in dollar terms.
Choose a flat with good air conditioning and insulation: summer electricity bills are lower that way.
Buy vegetables and fruit at markets rather than in supermarkets near home.
Consider Ciudad del Este or Encarnación if you work remotely: rent there is cheaper than in the capital.

The main saving is the district and the currency of the lease. A remote worker earning in dollars does well to agree the price in dollars and live outside the most expensive districts of the capital: the difference in rent exceeds $500 a month.

This topic in other countries

Cost of living in other countries:

FAQ

How much money do you need to live in Paraguay?

A single person in Asunción needs about $1,300-1,600 a month with rent, in Ciudad del Este $1,000-1,500. A couple in Asunción needs $1,900-2,400, a family with a child from $2,800.

How much does it cost to rent a flat in Asunción?

A one-bedroom flat in the centre is about 3.65 million guaraníes, about $630, and about $850 in Villa Morra. Outside the centre it is $300-310, and a two-bedroom flat in upscale districts $1,100-1,400.

What is the average salary in Paraguay in 2026?

In the second quarter of 2026 the average income of the employed was 3,313,700 guaraníes a month, about $570. The minimum wage since 1 July 2026 is 3,044,000 guaraníes, about $530.

How much does it cost to live in Paraguay without rent?

A single person in Asunción spends about 3.5 million guaraníes a month without rent, about $610. Groceries for one are about $250-400, lunch at a cheap café $5-7.

Why has Paraguay become more expensive in dollars?

The guaraní has strengthened: over a year and a half the dollar has lost about a quarter of its purchasing power in the country. A flat for 5 million guaraníes cost about $640 at the end of 2024 and about $860 now.

Where is it cheaper to live: Asunción or Ciudad del Este?

Rent is lower in Ciudad del Este: a one-bedroom flat near the centre costs $250-400. But Asunción has more international schools and good clinics.

What taxes do you pay in Paraguay?

Income tax is 8-10%, only on Paraguayan income above 80 million guaraníes a year. Foreign income is not taxed, and corporate profit tax is 10%.

Do you need health insurance in Paraguay?

Yes. State healthcare is weaker than private care, so foreigners buy private insurance: it costs $40-100 a month per adult, and a private doctor's visit $25-45.

How much does an international school in Asunción cost?

An international primary school is about $5,770 a year, and the upper grades at the best-known school up to $10,200 a year. A one-off fee is charged on admission.

How much money do you need to move to Paraguay?

For the first three months a single person needs from $5,000 with rent in Asunción, a deposit, insurance and living costs, including the temporary residency fee of about $500.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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