😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,080 in Almaty versus $1,016 in Aguascalientes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Almaty versus $1,537 in Aguascalientes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,304 in Almaty versus $2,058 in Aguascalientes.
🌍Living in Almaty is roughly 6% more expensive than in Aguascalientes, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Almaty19% lower, Aguascalientes24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.90₸3,720
$8.18MX$143
-3.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.58₸18.2K
$34.16MX$597
12.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.92₸3,256
$6.90MX$121
0.29%
Cappuccino
$2.43₸1,142
$3.36MX$58.7
-27.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99₸465
$1.11MX$19.49
-10.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52₸247
$0.82MX$14.32
-36.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36₸639
$1.83MX$31.99
-25.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95₸1,387
$3.19MX$55.7
-7.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31₸617
$1.35MX$23.55
-2.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55₸258
$2.15MX$37.55
-74.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52₸716
$1.52MX$26.60
-
Eggs
$1.76₸829
$1.95MX$34.10
-9.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.66₸4,550
$8.23MX$144
17.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.67₸2,201
$7.43MX$130
-37.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.69₸3,620
$9.65MX$169
-20.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39₸657
$2.26MX$39.60
-38.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91₸901
$0.92MX$16.08
107.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94₸915
$0.89MX$15.52
117.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06₸972
$1.45MX$25.40
42.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58₸275
$1.37MX$24.03
-57.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43₸202
$0.94MX$16.52
-54.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30₸613
$0.93MX$16.19
39.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₸347
$0.82MX$14.27
-9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94₸913
$4.22MX$73.7
-54.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.66₸5,019
$9.37MX$164
13.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82₸387
$1.52MX$26.57
-46.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11₸992
$2.70MX$47.28
-21.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₸114
$0.55MX$9.67
-56.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.33₸8,633
$22.62MX$396
-18.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20₸567
$1.03MX$17.99
16.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71₸336
$0.94MX$16.45
-24.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.63₸2,181
$3.25MX$56.9
42.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.52₸245
$1.24MX$21.74
-58.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K₸11.1M
$21.6KMX$377.5K
9.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K₸12.9M
$23.4KMX$409.7K
16.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.4₸29.4K
$44.95MX$786
38.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.56₸4,029
$20.27MX$354
-57.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.90₸6,547
$23.48MX$411
-40.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.84₸22.1K
$25.07MX$438
86.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.46₸10.1K
$21.91MX$383
-2.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.20₸2,449
$4.12MX$72.1
26.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$268₸126.0K
$184MX$3,219
45.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.0K₸6.1M
$2,607MX$45.6K
399.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9₸40.0K
$53.1MX$928
59.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46₸20.9K
$35.73MX$625
24.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5₸46.8K
$84.3MX$1,473
18.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120₸56.4K
$54.9MX$959
118.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$643₸302.9K
$390MX$6,824
64.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$425₸200.1K
$378MX$6,605
12.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,157₸545.0K
$586MX$10.3K
97.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$776₸365.2K
$585MX$10.2K
32.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,362₸1.1M
$1,199MX$21.0K
97.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,364₸642.1K
$1,227MX$21.5K
11.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Aguascalientes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$834₸392.7K
$907MX$15.9K
-8.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.39
11.24
63.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Almaty: July 14, 2026
Last update for Aguascalientes: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $643 in Almaty and $390 in Aguascalientes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aguascalientes pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Almaty vs $34.00 in Aguascalientes. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $219, with Almaty cheaper for home cooking.
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 Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Almaty or Aguascalientes?
On paper, salaries run 9% 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: $643 in Almaty versus $390 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 23% 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 $268 in Almaty versus $184 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 $1,016 in Aguascalientes versus $1,080 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 6% less than in Almaty. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.