Monthly cost of the basic food basket for an average paraguayan family in march 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Within the current social and economic context, analyzing the monthly cost of the Basic Food Basket (BFB) for an average family in Paraguay is essential for assessing the population's nutritional demand and the economic impact on food choices. This research was conducted by students in the Nutrition program at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Asunción, with the guidance of their professors. Objective: To determine the monthly cost of the BFB for an average Paraguayan family in March 2025. Materials and Methods: An observational and descriptive study was conducted, focusing on estimating the monthly cost of the Basic Food Basket (BFB). Costs were collected from several supermarkets in Asunción and Central Paraguay, and calculations were made based on the number of food servings recommended by group and age according to the Paraguayan Dietary Guidelines, published in 2017 on the website of the National Institute of Food and Nutrition (INAN), for an average Paraguayan family consisting of four people (an adult woman, an adult man, a preschool girl, and a school-age boy). Variables considered include: food group, food, weight and home measurement of a serving, number of servings per month, and weight per month. Results: The monthly cost of the CBA for an average family in Paraguay in March 2025 was PYG 2,051,758 ($256.23). The food with the highest contribution to the cost was premium beef (14%), followed by milk (12.9%), and finally Paraguayan cheese (8.1%). The cost of the CBA corresponds to 71% of the current minimum wage. Conclusion: The study provides the monthly cost of the Basic Food Basket in Paraguay in March 2025. The results demonstrate the importance of implementing public policies that reduce food inequalities. They also highlight the need to guarantee access to healthy food. This contributes to the overall well-being of the population.