---
title: "Aguascalientes vs João Pessoa for digital nomads"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/aguascalientes-vs-joao-pessoa
description: "Under balanced weights João Pessoa edges it, 58 to 57, winning 5 of the 9 factors. Aguascalientes is stronger on visa ease; João Pessoa on internet. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you."
dataset: 2026.11.2 (2026-11-09)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Aguascalientes vs João Pessoa for digital nomads

Under balanced weights João Pessoa edges it, 58 to 57, winning 5 of the 9 factors. Aguascalientes is stronger on visa ease; João Pessoa on internet. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you.

## Where they differ

- **Visa ease.** Aguascalientes leads on visa ease, 90 to 77, against João Pessoa.
- **Internet.** João Pessoa leads on internet, 73 to 62, against Aguascalientes. Measured download: 26.1 Mbps vs 42.2 Mbps.
- **Safety.** João Pessoa leads on safety, 35 to 28, against Aguascalientes. Homicides per 100,000: 25.64 vs 18.69.

Where they are close: within five points on getting there & around, healthcare, cost of living, air quality, quality of life, climate.

**Pick Aguascalientes if you want** no clear edge over João Pessoa in the data.

**Pick João Pessoa if you want** to spend about $100 less a month; faster internet (42.2 Mbps measured); the safer country figures; a dedicated digital-nomad visa.

## Factor scores (0–100, balanced weights)

| Metric | Aguascalientes | João Pessoa | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | 58 | 61 | João Pessoa |
| Safety | 28 | 35 | João Pessoa |
| Healthcare | 75 | 79 | João Pessoa |
| Internet | 62 | 73 | João Pessoa |
| Visa ease | 90 | 77 | Aguascalientes |
| Getting there & around | 22 | 17 | Aguascalientes |
| Climate | 67 | 67 | tie |
| Air quality | 56 | 58 | João Pessoa |
| Quality of life | 57 | 56 | Aguascalientes |

## Cost

| Metric | Aguascalientes | João Pessoa | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | $1,400 | $1,300 | João Pessoa |
| Central one-bedroom rent | no data | no data | — |

## Safety and health (country-level)

| Metric | Aguascalientes | João Pessoa | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Homicides per 100k | 25.64 | 18.69 | João Pessoa |
| Political stability (0–100) | 55 | 58.9 | João Pessoa |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 79 | 84 | João Pessoa |
| Life expectancy | 75.3 yrs | 75.9 yrs | João Pessoa |

## Internet (M-Lab measured medians)

| Metric | Aguascalientes | João Pessoa | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Download | 26.1 Mbps | 42.2 Mbps | João Pessoa |
| Upload | 9.4 Mbps | 23.4 Mbps | João Pessoa |

## Visa

| Metric | Aguascalientes | João Pessoa | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nomad visa | none listed | Digital nomad temporary visa (VITEM XIV) | João Pessoa |
| Minimum income for the visa | no data | $1,500/mo | — |
| Entry, US passport | 180 days | 90 days | Aguascalientes |
| Entry, EU passport | 180 days | 90 days | Aguascalientes |
| Entry, UK passport | 180 days | 90 days | Aguascalientes |

## Getting there and around

| Metric | Aguascalientes | João Pessoa | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-stop airport destinations | 11 | 13 | João Pessoa |
| Walkability (1–5, editorial) | 3 | 3 | tie |
| Transit (1–5, editorial) | 3 | 2 | Aguascalientes |

## Climate and air

| Metric | Aguascalientes | João Pessoa | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Comfortable months per year | 8 | 8 | tie |
| Annual mean PM2.5 | 24.6 µg/m³ | 24.1 µg/m³ | João Pessoa |

## FAQ

### Which is cheaper, Aguascalientes or João Pessoa?

João Pessoa is cheaper: about $1,300 per month versus $1,400 for one person.

### Is Aguascalientes or João Pessoa safer?

João Pessoa scores higher on safety (35 vs 28), based on national homicide rates and World Bank political-stability scores.

### Where is the internet faster, Aguascalientes or João Pessoa?

João Pessoa: a measured median of 42.2 Mbps versus 26.1 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024).

City pages: [Aguascalientes](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/aguascalientes) · [João Pessoa](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/joao-pessoa). Sources: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows); 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level); Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100); Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year); UHC service coverage index; Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes; M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024); Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables); NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means); WHO Ambient Air Quality Database, June 2026 update (V8); SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04); Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023); EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band); Walkability and transit ratings (editorial); Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations); OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API); Nostos long-stay visa guides; Starlink availability map.

HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/aguascalientes-vs-joao-pessoa