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Asuncion
#119 of 124
South America

Asuncion

Paraguay

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Asuncion compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Asuncion is 74% worse off vs in 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.

Median Salary
$12,958
-$259K (-95%) vs San Francisco
Based on 10 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$10,496
-$162K (-94%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 19%

Community Insights

New

Asunción 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.

Resident Sentiment

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.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Cost of Living

Top 4%

#5

of 124 cities

21/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Top 13%

#16

of 124 cities

19%

Current value (lower is better)

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#56

of 124 cities

45/100 weather score

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Asuncion compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$1,455 / m²
86% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Asuncion to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
77% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo
  • Extremely Low Cost of Living: Ranked #5 out of 124 cities, making it one of the most affordable capitals for expats; your dollars stretch significantly further here.
  • Tax Efficiency: A major draw for digital nomads is the territorial tax system, often resulting in 0% tax on foreign-sourced income, aligning with the low local tax rank.
  • Easy Residency Process: Widely regarded as one of the easiest and fastest countries to obtain legal permanent residency, which is a primary motivation for many tech workers moving here.
  • Relaxed Pace of Life: Residents describe a "tranquilo" vibe that contrasts with the burnout culture of major tech hubs, suitable for those wanting to slow down.
  • Friendly Locals: Paraguayans are frequently noted for their warmth and hospitality toward foreigners, helping to bridge the gap despite the limited expat community compared to places like Mexico City.

    • The Bad

    • Low Safety Ratings: With a safety index ranking #99/124, petty crime and security are genuine concerns; residents often advise caution with expensive tech gear in public.
    • Oppressive Heat: The weather is a frequent complaint, with high temperatures averaging 33°C and high humidity; the "108 rainy days" often bring intense tropical storms that can flood streets.
    • Poor Local Job Market: Local SWE salaries are very low (median ~$13k/year), making it financially unviable to move here without a remote job from the US or Europe.
    • Limited Infrastructure & Pollution: Ranked #101 for pollution, the city suffers from traffic fumes and less developed public infrastructure compared to European or North American standards.
    • Lack of "Big City" Amenities: Unlike Buenos Aires or São Paulo, Asunción is described as quiet and sometimes boring, with fewer cultural events, nightlife options, or international flight connections.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    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.

    Skip it if...

    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

    Weather4.5/10-48% vs San Francisco
    Safety44+11%
    Pollution69+41%
    Events0-100%
    4.5/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    28°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    19°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,803h/yr-259h/yr(-8%)
    Hottest Month High
    33°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    14°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    108/yr+59/yr(+122%)

    Community & Quality

    Asuncion community pulse

    Asuncion has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Community Events

    Middle of the pack

    #72

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    Home Affordability

    Bottom 32%

    #86

    of 124 cities

    ≈11.1 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Safety Index

    Bottom 22%

    #98

    of 124 cities

    43.9/100

    Current value

    Pollution Score

    Bottom 20%

    #101

    of 124 cities

    69.2/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Net Income

    Bottom 5%

    #119

    of 124 cities

    $10,496/yr

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Bottom 5%

    #119

    of 124 cities

    SWE Affordability
    11.1 years
    6.4 years longer than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    168/yr+168/yr(+83800%)
    Cloud Cover
    36%(vs 34% in San Francisco)