πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,025 in Aguascalientes versus $1,265 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,543 in Aguascalientes versus $2,297 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Aguascalientes versus $3,329 in Phuket.
πLiving in Aguascalientes costs roughly 19% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Aguascalientes23% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Aguascalientes
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.12MX$140
$4.70ΰΈΏ153
72.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.46MX$596
$45.37ΰΈΏ1,482
-24.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.07MX$122
$8.43ΰΈΏ275
-16.13%
Cappuccino
$3.20MX$55.4
$2.93ΰΈΏ95.6
9.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.72
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.40
56.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80MX$13.84
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.99
116.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80MX$31.19
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-25.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15MX$54.5
$3.72ΰΈΏ122
-15.32%
π Groceries & Markets
Aguascalientes
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.28
$2.23ΰΈΏ72.9
-39.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.25MX$38.86
$1.83ΰΈΏ59.8
22.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58MX$27.28
$2.17ΰΈΏ70.8
-27.19%
Eggs
$1.96MX$33.85
$2.21ΰΈΏ72.3
-11.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.97MX$138
$19.74ΰΈΏ645
-59.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.16MX$124
$3.63ΰΈΏ119
97.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.66MX$167
$13.53ΰΈΏ442
-28.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$3.28ΰΈΏ107
-31.10%
Banana(1kg)
$0.97MX$16.72
$1.61ΰΈΏ52.6
-39.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.83MX$14.36
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-65.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42MX$24.53
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.1
-31.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40MX$24.27
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.93
-8.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97MX$16.73
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.36
-34.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90MX$15.50
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.29
-9.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.39
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.67
62.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14MX$71.6
$4.41ΰΈΏ144
-6.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.98MX$155
$19.38ΰΈΏ633
-53.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.98
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.1
-15.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66MX$46.08
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.6
-1.85%
π Getting Around
Aguascalientes
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.59
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.79
-59.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.01MX$381
$11.39ΰΈΏ372
93.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07MX$18.57
$3.02ΰΈΏ98.6
-64.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93MX$16.15
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.48
-6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.0
$14.10ΰΈΏ461
-77.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24MX$21.51
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.51
-8.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KMX$383.5K
$28.2KΰΈΏ921.1K
-21.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.2K
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-28.80%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aguascalientes
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.40MX$768
$122ΰΈΏ3,975
-63.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.16MX$349
$13.57ΰΈΏ443
48.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.39MX$405
$18.31ΰΈΏ598
27.74%
π Sport & Entertainment
Aguascalientes
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.83MX$447
$60.2ΰΈΏ1,967
-57.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.83MX$378
$17.14ΰΈΏ560
27.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15MX$71.8
$8.69ΰΈΏ284
-52.24%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Aguascalientes
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178MX$3,075
$693ΰΈΏ22.6K
-74.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,589MX$44.8K
$15.7KΰΈΏ512.3K
-83.49%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Aguascalientes
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1MX$884
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,944
-14.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96MX$605
$34.77ΰΈΏ1,136
0.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2MX$1,474
$115ΰΈΏ3,743
-25.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.7MX$930
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,720
-35.48%
π Accommodation & Living
Aguascalientes
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$385MX$6,663
$613ΰΈΏ20.0K
-37.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$384MX$6,645
$437ΰΈΏ14.3K
-12.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$571MX$9,868
$2,094ΰΈΏ68.4K
-72.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$595MX$10.3K
$1,509ΰΈΏ49.3K
-60.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,228MX$21.2K
$3,749ΰΈΏ122.5K
-67.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,241MX$21.5K
$2,616ΰΈΏ85.4K
-52.55%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Aguascalientes
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$920MX$15.9K
$508ΰΈΏ16.6K
81.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.24
5.33
110.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aguascalientes: June 2, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $385 in Aguascalientes and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Aguascalientes pays 81% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $34.00 in Aguascalientes vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $293 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Aguascalientes?
Aguascalientes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aguascalientes or Phuket?
Aguascalientes pays 81% more on average, 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 Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $385 in Aguascalientes versus $613 in Phuket. 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 93% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $178 in Aguascalientes versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Aguascalientes or Phuket?
At $1,025 in Aguascalientes versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Aguascalientes but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Aguascalientes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aguascalientes or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Aguascalientes is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Aguascalientes or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Aguascalientes and Phuket 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 β expenses run 23% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Aguascalientes vs other spots: cost of living compared