🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,167 in Aguascalientes versus $1,415 in Guadalajara.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,878 in Aguascalientes versus $2,274 in Guadalajara.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,589 in Aguascalientes versus $3,132 in Guadalajara.
🌍Living in Aguascalientes costs roughly 18% less than in Guadalajara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aguascalientes is 15% below, Guadalajara is 3% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76MX$233
$14.61MX$247
-5.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.62MX$805
$50.0MX$846
-4.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.57MX$128
$9.43MX$159
-19.72%
Cappuccino
$4.13MX$69.8
$4.08MX$69.0
1.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78MX$30.02
$1.71MX$28.92
4.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31MX$22.10
$1.27MX$21.45
3.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42MX$40.83
$2.92MX$49.42
-17.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55MX$60.0
$5.72MX$96.7
-37.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.21
$1.94MX$32.74
-20.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33MX$39.33
$2.81MX$47.53
-17.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.56
$1.82MX$30.80
-13.74%
Eggs
$2.59MX$43.84
$2.62MX$44.25
-1.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.41MX$142
$10.31MX$174
-18.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.96MX$151
$10.24MX$173
-12.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.16MX$205
$12.49MX$211
-2.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43MX$41.00
$3.14MX$53.1
-22.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MX$24.18
$1.77MX$29.84
-19.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64MX$27.78
$2.16MX$36.58
-24.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88MX$31.82
$1.95MX$32.96
-3.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66MX$27.97
$2.16MX$36.51
-23.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.54
$1.91MX$32.20
-20.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.06
$1.51MX$25.58
-29.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.06
$1.19MX$20.12
-20.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.73MX$80.0
$4.88MX$82.5
-3.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.66MX$163
$11.68MX$197
-17.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87MX$31.66
$1.96MX$33.17
-4.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77MX$63.7
$3.70MX$62.6
1.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MX$11.43
$0.67MX$11.30
1.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.72MX$435
$32.41MX$548
-20.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$22.50
$2.29MX$38.75
-41.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19MX$20.14
$1.45MX$24.47
-17.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.70MX$198
$13.09MX$221
-10.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57MX$26.46
$1.63MX$27.56
-3.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.2K
$22.7KMX$384.2K
-1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$435.3K
$25.9KMX$438.4K
-0.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.2MX$1,001
$54.1MX$914
9.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.57MX$449
$23.86MX$403
11.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.17MX$442
$33.51MX$566
-21.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.31MX$563
$34.05MX$575
-2.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.06MX$390
$11.91MX$201
93.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.43MX$91.7
$6.96MX$118
-21.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230MX$3,887
$270MX$4,569
-14.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,096MX$52.3K
$11.4KMX$192.1K
-72.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5MX$988
$63.7MX$1,076
-8.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.70MX$705
$45.02MX$761
-7.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,892
$114MX$1,927
-1.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3MX$1,289
$92.9MX$1,570
-17.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$540MX$9,122
$912MX$15.4K
-40.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371MX$6,276
$531MX$8,979
-30.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848MX$14.3K
$1,787MX$30.2K
-52.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$691MX$11.7K
$1,044MX$17.6K
-33.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,276MX$21.6K
$3,367MX$56.9K
-62.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,273MX$21.5K
$2,069MX$35.0K
-38.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$929MX$15.7K
$794MX$13.4K
17.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.2
11.68
-4.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aguascalientes: August 29, 2026
Last update for Guadalajara: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $540 in Aguascalientes and $912 in Guadalajara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aguascalientes pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Aguascalientes vs $50.0 in Guadalajara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $301 per month, with Aguascalientes cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Aguascalientes vs Guadalajara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guadalajara cheaper than Aguascalientes?
Aguascalientes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aguascalientes or Guadalajara?
Average pay runs 17% higher in Aguascalientes, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Aguascalientes and Guadalajara?
Rent for a central apartment: $540 in Aguascalientes versus $912 in Guadalajara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Aguascalientes runs roughly 26% less than in Guadalajara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $230 in Aguascalientes versus $270 in Guadalajara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Aguascalientes or in Guadalajara?
At $1,167 in Aguascalientes versus $1,415 in Guadalajara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Aguascalientes but tight or insufficient in Guadalajara. The gap between the two cities makes Aguascalientes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aguascalientes or Guadalajara more family-friendly?
For families, Aguascalientes is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Guadalajara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Aguascalientes or Guadalajara?
Safety-wise, Aguascalientes and Guadalajara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Aguascalientes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Guadalajara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Aguascalientes vs other spots: cost of living compared