Cost of Living
#5
of 124 cities
21/100
Current value (lower is better)
Paraguay
How do salaries and expenses in Asuncion compare to San Francisco?
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Asuncion compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Community Insights
NewAsunción is a niche paradise for tax-savvy digital nomads but likely a career-killer for those seeking local employment. The data highlights a stark contrast: while it is incredibly affordable (#5 in cost of living) and tax-friendly, it lags significantly in safety (#99) and environmental quality (#101).
For the software engineer with a remote US/EU salary, the financial arbitrage is massive—you can live like royalty while saving almost everything. However, you must trade first-world conveniences and walkability for a car-centric, hot, and gritty developing city environment. It is not a tech hub; it is a financial strategic base.
The sentiment is pragmatic rather than passionate. Most software engineers here are transplants who view Asunción as a "means to an end"—a place to stack cash and secure papers rather than a dream destination they fell in love with.
Residents often praise the freedom and purchasing power they enjoy but frequently complain about the "insufferable" summer heat and the lack of things to do. Many treat it as a home base for travel rather than a place to stay 24/7.
Rankings
Cost of Living
#5
of 124 cities
21/100
Current value (lower is better)
Tax Rate
#16
of 124 cities
19%
Current value (lower is better)
Comfortable Weather
#56
of 124 cities
45/100 weather score
Current value
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Asuncion compared to San Francisco?
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Asuncion to maintain the same standard of living.
The Tax-Optimizing Nomad: If you earn a strong foreign currency and want to legally minimize your tax burden to near zero while securing an easy second residency, this is arguably the best spot in Latin America.
The "Fire" Chaser: Software engineers pursuing Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) who can tolerate a rougher edge to city life in exchange for a savings rate that skyrockets due to the ultra-low cost of living.
The Career Climber: Anyone looking for a local tech job, networking events, or a dynamic startup ecosystem will be disappointed by the low salaries and small market.
The Urban Walker: If you love walkable cities with great public transit, parks, and clean air, Asunción's car-dependence, heat, and pollution levels (#101 rank) will likely make you miserable.
Updated 11/29/2025
0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.
Asuncion has 0 Luma events listed.
100% fewer events than San Francisco.
Community Events
#72
of 124 cities
0 events on luma
Current value
Home Affordability
#86
of 124 cities
≈11.1 yrs to buy 80m²
Current value
Safety Index
#98
of 124 cities
43.9/100
Current value
Pollution Score
#101
of 124 cities
69.2/100
Current value (lower is better)
Net Income
#119
of 124 cities
$10,496/yr
Current value
Purchasing Power
#119
of 124 cities