Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Aguascalientes

For one person, living is cheaper in Aguascalientes: $1,113 a month against $1,387 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,387
/mo nomad
Aguascalientes
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,113
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Almaty and in Aguascalientes

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,387 in Almaty versus $1,113 in Aguascalientes.

  • Almaty $1,387
  • Aguascalientes $1,113

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,135 in Almaty versus $1,744 in Aguascalientes.

  • Almaty $2,135
  • Aguascalientes $1,744

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,883 in Almaty versus $2,375 in Aguascalientes.

  • Almaty $2,883
  • Aguascalientes $2,375

Living in Almaty is roughly 25% more expensive than in Aguascalientes, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Almaty is 3% above, Aguascalientes is 17% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.31 ₸6,034
$12.50 MX$229
6.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 ₸19.7K
$44.72 MX$821
-3.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 ₸3,988
$7.00 MX$129
25.71%
Cappuccino
$3.30 ₸1,497
$3.86 MX$70.9
-14.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 ₸620
$1.64 MX$30.09
-16.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₸409
$1.21 MX$22.21
-25.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 ₸1,419
$2.18 MX$40.03
43.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 ₸1,860
$3.26 MX$59.8
25.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ₸754
$1.47 MX$26.98
12.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 ₸406
$2.22 MX$40.72
-59.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 ₸933
$1.56 MX$28.69
32.05%
Eggs
$2.37 ₸1,074
$2.45 MX$45.02
-3.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.64 ₸5,730
$8.03 MX$147
57.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 ₸3,000
$8.61 MX$158
-23.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.87 ₸4,928
$11.47 MX$211
-5.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ₸845
$2.32 MX$42.51
-19.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 ₸1,075
$1.33 MX$24.38
78.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 ₸1,358
$1.54 MX$28.29
94.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.83 ₸1,282
$1.76 MX$32.37
60.80%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 ₸347
$1.62 MX$29.66
-52.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 ₸264
$1.36 MX$25.03
-57.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 ₸723
$0.99 MX$18.21
60.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₸449
$0.83 MX$15.18
19.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54 ₸1,153
$4.38 MX$80.4
-42.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 ₸5,005
$8.88 MX$163
24.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₸550
$1.81 MX$33.32
-33.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₸1,093
$3.42 MX$62.8
-29.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₸113
$0.59 MX$10.78
-57.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.84 ₸9,901
$24.33 MX$447
-10.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 ₸581
$1.22 MX$22.36
4.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸291
$1.16 MX$21.37
-44.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.74 ₸4,870
$10.96 MX$201
-2.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.69 ₸314
$1.54 MX$28.21
-55.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K ₸10.1M
$21.7K MX$397.6K
2.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K ₸13.3M
$23.9K MX$438.9K
22.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.8 ₸39.8K
$55.6 MX$1,021
57.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.83 ₸4,909
$24.71 MX$454
-56.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ₸7,887
$24.50 MX$450
-28.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 ₸31.6K
$31.42 MX$577
121.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.58 ₸12.1K
$22.39 MX$411
18.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68 ₸3,031
$5.16 MX$94.7
29.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$446 ₸202.2K
$220 MX$4,039
102.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₸5.4M
$2,916 MX$53.5K
307.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.7 ₸42.5K
$55.6 MX$1,021
68.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.91 ₸21.3K
$37.98 MX$697
23.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 ₸64.7K
$104 MX$1,916
36.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₸60.5K
$69.9 MX$1,284
90.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$773 ₸350.6K
$516 MX$9,475
49.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$497 ₸225.5K
$361 MX$6,620
37.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 ₸630.4K
$810 MX$14.9K
71.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$880 ₸398.9K
$642 MX$11.8K
36.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,546 ₸1.2M
$1,183 MX$21.7K
115.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,506 ₸683.0K
$1,176 MX$21.6K
28.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$834 ₸377.9K
$884 MX$16.2K
-5.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.65
11.2
84.38%

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

Last update for Almaty: October 5, 2026

Last update for Aguascalientes: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$497
Aguascalientes
$361 27.5% $137
Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$251
Aguascalientes
$244 2.8% $7.1
Eating Out
Almaty
$205
Aguascalientes
$196 4.5% $9.3
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$188
Aguascalientes
$121 35.7% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$116
Aguascalientes
$105 9.6% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$83
Aguascalientes
$42 49.8% $41
Getting Around
Almaty
$27
Aguascalientes
$34 23.3% $6.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $773 in Almaty and $516 in Aguascalientes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aguascalientes pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Almaty vs $45.00 in Aguascalientes. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $244, with Aguascalientes cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Almaty
🇲🇽 Aguascalientes
🕒 Local time
16:06 4:06 PM
04:06 4:06 AM
12 h behind Almaty
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,475,400
863,893
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 453 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.57 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Almaty Aguascalientes 12,770 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Almaty
  • Aguascalientes

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
Almaty vs Aguascalientes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aguascalientes cheaper than Almaty?
Aguascalientes is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Almaty or Aguascalientes?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Aguascalientes. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Almaty and Aguascalientes?
Rent for a central apartment: $773 in Almaty versus $516 in Aguascalientes. 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 11% less than in Almaty. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $446 in Almaty versus $220 in Aguascalientes. 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 Almaty or in Aguascalientes?
At $1,113 in Aguascalientes versus $1,387 in Almaty, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Aguascalientes but tight or insufficient in Almaty. The gap between the two cities makes Aguascalientes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Almaty or Aguascalientes more family-friendly?
For families, Aguascalientes is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Almaty, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Almaty or Aguascalientes?
Safety-wise, Almaty and Aguascalientes 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 25% less than in Almaty. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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