Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aguascalientes and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $1,113 in Aguascalientes, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Aguascalientes
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,113
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$996
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aguascalientes and in Lima

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aguascalientes and in Lima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,113 in Aguascalientes versus $996 in Lima.

  • Aguascalientes $1,113
  • Lima $996

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,744 in Aguascalientes versus $1,594 in Lima.

  • Aguascalientes $1,744
  • Lima $1,594

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,375 in Aguascalientes versus $2,191 in Lima.

  • Aguascalientes $2,375
  • Lima $2,191

Living in Aguascalientes is roughly 12% more expensive than in Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Aguascalientes 17% lower, Lima 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aguascalientes
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.50 MX$229
$4.42 PEN 15.16
182.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.72 MX$821
$35.04 PEN 120
27.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.00 MX$129
$6.84 PEN 23.44
2.34%
Cappuccino
$3.86 MX$70.9
$3.27 PEN 11.22
18.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 MX$30.09
$1.10 PEN 3.78
49.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$22.21
$0.65 PEN 2.22
86.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 MX$40.03
$2.58 PEN 8.85
-15.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 MX$59.8
$4.47 PEN 15.34
-27.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aguascalientes
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$26.98
$1.59 PEN 5.46
-7.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.72
$2.58 PEN 8.86
-13.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$28.69
$1.36 PEN 4.65
14.71%
Eggs
$2.45 MX$45.02
$2.95 PEN 10.11
-16.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.03 MX$147
$9.10 PEN 31.19
-11.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.61 MX$158
$5.81 PEN 19.91
48.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.47 MX$211
$9.83 PEN 33.68
16.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 MX$42.51
$2.01 PEN 6.89
15.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 MX$24.38
$1.08 PEN 3.69
23.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 MX$28.29
$1.37 PEN 4.70
12.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 MX$32.37
$1.48 PEN 5.06
18.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 MX$29.66
$0.96 PEN 3.30
68.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 MX$25.03
$0.85 PEN 2.92
60.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 MX$18.21
$0.88 PEN 3.02
12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.18
$0.87 PEN 2.97
-4.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 MX$80.4
$5.90 PEN 20.24
-25.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.88 MX$163
$8.81 PEN 30.21
0.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 MX$33.32
$1.92 PEN 6.57
-5.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 MX$62.8
$3.20 PEN 10.98
6.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Aguascalientes
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 MX$10.78
$0.68 PEN 2.33
-13.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.33 MX$447
$26.74 PEN 91.7
-9.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 MX$22.36
$3.81 PEN 13.06
-67.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.16 MX$21.37
$2.04 PEN 7.00
-43.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 MX$201
$7.14 PEN 24.49
53.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$28.21
$1.65 PEN 5.65
-6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K MX$397.6K
$22.2K PEN 76.0K
-2.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K MX$438.9K
$25.7K PEN 88.0K
-6.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aguascalientes
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.6 MX$1,021
$73.0 PEN 250
-23.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.71 MX$454
$16.26 PEN 55.7
51.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.50 MX$450
$27.60 PEN 94.6
-11.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aguascalientes
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.42 MX$577
$33.07 PEN 113
-4.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.39 MX$411
$19.49 PEN 66.8
14.88%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 MX$94.7
$7.39 PEN 25.33
-30.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aguascalientes
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$220 MX$4,039
$182 PEN 624
20.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,916 MX$53.5K
$13.3K PEN 45.7K
-78.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aguascalientes
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6 MX$1,021
$52.6 PEN 180
5.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 MX$697
$34.23 PEN 117
10.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,916
$83.8 PEN 287
24.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9 MX$1,284
$79.0 PEN 271
-11.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aguascalientes
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$516 MX$9,475
$723 PEN 2,479
-28.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 MX$6,620
$340 PEN 1,166
6.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$810 MX$14.9K
$1,184 PEN 4,060
-31.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 MX$11.8K
$635 PEN 2,176
1.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,183 MX$21.7K
$2,449 PEN 8,394
-51.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,176 MX$21.6K
$1,372 PEN 4,702
-14.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aguascalientes
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$884 MX$16.2K
$653 PEN 2,237
35.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.2
8.94
25.28%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aguascalientes: October 5, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aguascalientes
$361
Lima
$340 5.7% $20
Groceries & Markets
Aguascalientes
$244
Lima
$226 7.3% $18
Eating Out
Aguascalientes
$196
Lima
$124 36.7% $72
Clothing & Footwear
Aguascalientes
$121
Lima
$112 6.8% $8.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aguascalientes
$105
Lima
$117 11.5% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Aguascalientes
$42
Lima
$48 14.7% $6.1
Getting Around
Aguascalientes
$34
Lima
$43 29% $9.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $516 in Aguascalientes and $723 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aguascalientes pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Aguascalientes vs $35.00 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $226 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Aguascalientes
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
22:49 10:49 PM
23:49 11:49 PM
1 h ahead of Aguascalientes
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
863,893
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.59 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.292 USD). 1 EUR = 3.84 PEN (1 PEN = 0.26 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aguascalientes Lima 4,670 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aguascalientes
  • Lima

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lima cheaper than Aguascalientes?
Lima is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aguascalientes or Lima?
Average pay runs 36% 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 Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $516 in Aguascalientes versus $723 in Lima. 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 Lima runs roughly 10% less than in Aguascalientes. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $220 in Aguascalientes versus $182 in Lima. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Aguascalientes or in Lima?
At $996 in Lima versus $1,113 in Aguascalientes, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in Aguascalientes. The gap between the two cities makes Lima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aguascalientes or Lima more family-friendly?
For families, Lima is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aguascalientes, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Aguascalientes or Lima?
Safety-wise, Aguascalientes and Lima 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 Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Aguascalientes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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