Paraguay
South America's best-kept secret - ultra-low taxes, cheap beef and easy residency
68/100 FutureLife Score #80 FutureLife Index 2026
68/100
FutureLife Score
#80
FutureLife Index 2026
Save to board
$600
Comfortable/mo
5.5/10
Safety
5/10
Healthcare
#38
Happiness rank
Key Scores
68/100
Higher = better
Future Life Score
5.5/10
Safety Index
5/10
Healthcare
#38
Lower = happier
Happiness Rank
Why people move to Paraguay
+Lowest cost of living in all of South America
+Territorial tax system: foreign income is 100% tax-free
+Permanent residency with just $1,300/month in provable income
+World's largest hydroelectric dam at Itaipú - borders Brazil
+Asunción: affordable modern capital with Spanish colonial heritage
Low taxBudgetEasy residency
Culture & context
Bilingual Guaraní-Spanish landlocked nation - strongly indigenous-rooted, conservative, family-driven, increasingly attractive to expats for low cost of living.
People, religion & languages
Population
~6.8M
63% urban
Languages
Spanish and Guaraní (both official)
Also: Portuguese (border with Brazil), German (Mennonite communities)
Day-to-day English
Low.
Religion
Catholic majority.
Catholic
89%
Evangelical
7%
No affiliation
2%
Other
2%
Culture & etiquette
What locals value and what to watch for
FamilyCatholic faithBilingualismHospitalityTereré (cold mate) culture
Do
- Drink tereré in the heat - it's social ritual
- Use Guaraní greetings when possible
Avoid
- Mistaking Paraguay for Uruguay
Pace of life
Slow.
Expat-friendliness
Welcoming; growing expat retirement destination.
Holidays & food culture
Sopa paraguaya (which is a cornbread, not soup), chipa, tereré.
Sopa paraguayaChipaAsadoTereré
Mealtimes
Lunch 12:30–14:00, dinner 21:00–22:30.
Dietary norms
Meat-heavy; veg accessible.
Major holidays
May 15
Independence Day
June 12
Chaco Armistice
December 8
Virgin of Caacupé
December 25
Christmas
Work culture & business norms
Working weekMonday–Friday (some Saturday)
Hours07:00–11:30 + 14:30–18:00 (siesta split).
HierarchyHierarchical.
PunctualityFlexible.
Meeting stylePersonal, tereré-driven.
Business attireSmart business.
Monthly cost snapshot
Comfortable lifestyle$600/mo
Semi-Luxury lifestyle$1,200/mo
Luxury lifestyle$2,400/mo
Single person, before income tax
AI affordability check
At $4,000/month remote income you'd have $3,400 surplus after budget-tier costs - saving 85% of your income.
Quick facts
LanguageSpanish / Guaraní
CurrencyPYG
Internet18 Mbps avg
EnglishLow
Future Life Score68/100
Future Life Rank#80
PR pathEasy · 3 yrs
Citizenship3 yrs
Passport rank#69
Visa-free133 countries
Income tax10% top rate
VAT10%
CapitalAsunción
Best airportsASU (Asunción)
CoastlineLandlocked
Population~6.8M
Avg temp25°C / 77°F
Visa options
Visa-free TouristEasy
Permanent Residency (low-threshold)Easy
Rentista PensionadoEasy
Planning your move to Paraguay?
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