In this guide
In San Alberto, the town's bookshops and stationers are enough for school supplies, photocopies and textbooks if you bring the full list and buy in stages; for a specific book or a big shop, Ciudad del Este is about 90 km south (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). Before spending, check what the Education Ministry (MEC) kit covers if your child attends a public or subsidised school, and always ask for an invoice.
What the MEC kit includes and what you buy
MEC hands out supply kits in public and subsidised schools. In 2026 there were 23 individual kit types by level, each in a bag listing its contents so families can check it, with a QR code or WhatsApp number to report missing or damaged items (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)).
- At public schools, MEC asked teachers and principals not to require extra supplies, photocopies or notebooks (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). Buy only what the kit lacks.
- At private or subsidised schools, MEC asked them to give families enough time to get supplies. If the list is long, ask what is needed in the first week and buy the rest later.
How much does back-to-school cost?
As a national reference, in February 2026 the parents' federation Fedapar estimated (InfoNegocios (opens in a new tab)):
Item · Amount
Total per pupil at a subsidised private school · from G. 1,200,000
Supplies at a private school · G. 2,500,000 to G. 5,000,000
3rd-grade textbook (Maths, Language and similar) · G. 103,000 to G. 140,000 per subject
All 3rd-grade textbooks · G. 650,000 to G. 750,000
Textbooks are the heaviest cost. Before buying new, ask the school whether earlier editions or second-hand copies are accepted.
Families from Brazil: watch the textbooks
Most of San Alberto's residents are of Brazilian origin (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), and many families have books or supplies bought across the border. Notebooks and pencils are fine; for textbooks, buy exactly what the school asks for, because Paraguayan schools follow the MEC curriculum taught in Spanish and Guaraní (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), so a Brazilian book for the same subject usually will not do.
How to save without running around
Consumer agency Sedeco's advice on school supplies still applies (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)):
- Check what is left at home from last year.
- Buy gradually rather than all at the last minute.
- Compare prices in at least three shops and check items are complete and in good condition.
- Buy from formal shops and ask for an invoice, so you can complain later.
- If you pay in instalments, the shop must tell you the cash price, interest, number of instalments and total (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)).
What if you cannot find it in San Alberto?
- Order it: bring the title, author, publisher and ISBN if you have it. Ask how long it takes and whether a deposit is needed.
- Ciudad del Este: San Alberto sits at km 80 of the Supercarretera de Itaipú (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)); if you are going to Ciudad del Este anyway, take the list with you.
- Correo Paraguayo: in October 2025 the standard domestic rate was G. 5,500 up to 500 g and G. 10,000 up to 1.5 kg, with a minimum of 2 to 3 working days (La Nación (opens in a new tab)).
- Phone orders with delivery: Law 1334 gives you seven days to withdraw when the contract was made off the premises, for example by phone or at home, provided the product is unused (Law 1334, art. 26 (opens in a new tab)).
When is it busiest and how to pay?
- February is peak month: in 2026 most private schools started on 9 February (La Nación (opens in a new tab)) and public schools on the 23rd (Hoy (opens in a new tab)). Shop in January if you can.
- Copies and printing: bring the file as a PDF and, for big jobs, send it ahead on WhatsApp and ask the price and turnaround.
- Payment: QR codes handle 68.1% of Paraguay's electronic payments (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)), and Bancard-network merchants can accept Pix (InfoNegocios (opens in a new tab)). Carry some cash for single copies.
FAQ
Where can I buy school supplies in San Alberto?
At the town's bookshops and stationers: bring the full list and buy in stages. For specific books or a big shop, Ciudad del Este is about 90 km away.
What is in the MEC school kit?
It depends on the level: in 2026 there were 23 kit types, each with its contents listed on the bag and a QR or WhatsApp line to report missing items. Kits go to public and subsidised schools.
How much does the school supply list cost?
Fedapar estimated in February 2026 that supplies for a private school cost G. 2.5 million to G. 5 million, and the total at a subsidised school starts at G. 1.2 million.
Can my child use textbooks bought in Brazil?
Usually not for textbooks: Paraguayan schools follow the MEC curriculum in Spanish and Guaraní. Buy the ones the school lists.
