In this guide
To budget for Filadelfia, start from the minimum wage (G. 3,044,000 a month since 1 July 2026) and add three items that barely exist in Asunción: water, since much of it comes from rain cisterns and tanker trucks; air conditioning, with summers above 40 °C; and trips to the capital, about 470 km away. Always carry cash: few shops take cards.
What is the reference salary?
The minimum wage rose 5% under Decree 6225/26: G. 3,044,000 a month for daytime work, G. 117,077 a day and G. 12,683 an hour (ABC Color, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). Use it as a floor when comparing a job offer in Filadelfia, and if the job is formal, ask when you will be enrolled in IPS, the social-security health system: with public care so limited locally, that coverage is worth real money.
What changes when you look for housing?
- Land: in 2019 the municipality said the Fernheim Cooperative was still the main landowner in town, and that of 5,690 urban lots, 2,708 could be titled to non-members (ABC Color, 2019 (opens in a new tab)). If you plan to buy, first ask whether the deed can be in your name.
- Water: groundwater is too salty to drink and much of the drinking water comes from rain-fed cisterns (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). The aqueduct from Puerto Casado feeds distribution centres in Filadelfia, but in 2022 it had repeated faults and, where there was no network, water was sold by tanker truck (Última Hora, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). Ask how many litres the cistern holds and who pays for each tanker load.
- Heat: the hottest months run from November to March (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). Check how many air-conditioners there are and their condition, and ask to see a summer electricity bill.
- Contract: Paraguay has no specific tenancy law; the usual deposit is one month and, if no term is stated, one year is presumed (Infonegocios, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Electricity: if the meter is not in your name, ANDE, the state power company, charges a connection fee (G. 89,745 for single-phase 1x10 in September 2024), and outside the metro area it can take longer than the usual 48 hours (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
How shopping and payments work
The big weekly shop happens at the Fernheim Cooperative supermarket in the centre, with a 3,500 m² hall and parking (ABC Color, 2018 (opens in a new tab); Fernheim (opens in a new tab)). Plan around the colony's rhythm: according to Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab), most shops close on weekdays from 12:00 to 14:00, on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday.
- Cash: only a few shops take cards; hotels, larger restaurants and the cooperative supermarket are the exceptions (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- Banks: the two banks are on Avenida Hindenburg and, according to the same guide, exchange US dollars and Brazilian reais.
- Before a long trip: Filadelfia is the last place to stock up properly before the deeper Chaco (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Buy what you need for the ranch or fort trip here.
How much do trips to Asunción cost?
Filadelfia is about 470 km from Asunción on the Transchaco highway (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)), roughly six hours' drive (Daytrip (opens in a new tab)). If you travel often, this is the line that blows the budget.
- By bus: in February 2023 Wikivoyage listed about 7 hours and a G. 140,000 fare (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). Check the current fare at the terminal before you plan.
- By car: count fuel for the full round trip, plus a night's lodging if your errand does not fit in one day.
- Big purchases: bundle everything you cannot get in Filadelfia (spare parts, medical specialists, appliances) into a single trip.
How much to set aside for healthcare?
In August 2024 no public service in Filadelfia was open 24 hours: family-health units (USF) worked 7:00 to 15:00, lab tests were done at the Policlínico Municipal and emergencies went to the Hospital Materno Infantil de Villa Choferes del Chaco, about 15 km away; private care was very expensive (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). The Health Ministry lists the USF U'je Lhavós, Teniente Martínez, Filadelfia and Arco Iris in the district (MSPBS (opens in a new tab)). Keep a fixed monthly health amount, plus another for a trip to Asunción if you need a specialist.
Free things to do
- Colony museums: run by the Fernheim Cooperative and free (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)); they are in the centre and easy to walk between.
- Centro de Interpretación del Gran Chaco: open Wednesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 17:00, free entry (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Avenida Hindenburg and Parque de las Memorias: the main street and its green space, for an evening walk once the heat drops (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
FAQ
How much do you need to live in Filadelfia?
It depends on rent, water and how often you travel to Asunción. As a reference, the minimum wage is G. 3,044,000 a month since 1 July 2026; add water, air conditioning, trips and a health buffer.
Can I pay by card in Filadelfia?
Only in a few places: hotels, larger restaurants and the cooperative supermarket. Carry cash for the rest.
Where does Filadelfia's water come from?
Much drinking water comes from rain-fed cisterns because groundwater is salty. An aqueduct runs from Puerto Casado, and where there is no network, water is bought by tanker truck.
How far is Filadelfia from Asunción?
About 470 km on the Transchaco highway, roughly six hours by car. By bus, Wikivoyage listed about 7 hours in 2023.
