South America · Asuncion
Cost of living in Paraguay
Paraguay is 65% cheaper than the US, ranking #142 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Paraguay, communication is the priciest category relative to the world (81), while restaurants & hotels is the most affordable (47).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $35,000 in Paraguay.
Quality of life
76/100 · #103 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Paraguay
Several Indigenous groups, principally belonging to the Guarani language family, inhabited the area of modern Paraguay before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century, when the territory was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811 with the help of neighboring states. In the aftermath of independence, a series of military dictators ruled the country until 1870. During the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1864-70) -- fought against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay -- Paraguay lost two thirds of its adult males and much of its territory.
Read the full background
The country stagnated economically for the next half-century and experienced a tumultuous series of political regimes. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Paraguay expensive to live in?
Paraguay is 65% cheaper than the US, ranking #142 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is communication; restaurants & hotels costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Paraguay?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $35,000 in Paraguay, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Paraguay cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 35.2, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Paraguay?
Paraguay scores 76 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#103 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 74 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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