Cost of Living Comparison Between Dili and Guadalajara Cost of Living Comparison Between Dili and Guadalajara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,803 per month in Dili vs $1,157 in Guadalajara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,617 per month in Dili vs $1,844 in Guadalajara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,431 per month in Dili vs $2,530 in Guadalajara, rent included.

Dili costs about 56% more than Guadalajara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Dili sits 35% above the global median, while Guadalajara is 14% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.97 $4.97
$10.46 MX$181
-52.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.25 $44.25
$38.85 MX$673
13.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.01 $8.01
$7.99 MX$139
0.25%
Cappuccino
$3.81 $3.81
$3.19 MX$55.2
19.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.38 MX$23.99
12.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 $1.39
$0.93 MX$16.15
49.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.10 MX$36.45
-6.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 $4.59
$3.89 MX$67.4
17.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.40 MX$24.29
79.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.65 MX$45.84
-10.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.66 MX$28.85
24.10%
Eggs
$2.65 $2.65
$2.51 MX$43.52
5.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$9.63 MX$167
-78.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.67 $9.67
$7.67 MX$133
26.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.98 $15.98
$10.37 MX$180
54.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.65 MX$45.85
30.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.45 MX$25.21
28.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.80 MX$31.25
13.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.56 MX$27.11
62.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.80 MX$31.18
13.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$2.01 MX$34.79
-36.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.34 MX$23.17
-26.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.08 MX$18.64
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71 $2.71
$4.40 MX$76.2
-38.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.96 $11.96
$11.22 MX$195
6.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.62 MX$28.05
41.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$3.22 MX$55.9
-10.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 $0.24
$0.52 MX$8.94
-53.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.91 MX$466
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 $3.52
$2.71 MX$46.94
29.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.30 $3.30
$1.59 MX$27.63
107.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.90 $19.90
$11.68 MX$202
70.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.32 MX$22.87
15.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$24.2K MX$419.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.7K MX$410.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$153 $153
$31.32 MX$543
387.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.62 $29.62
$24.53 MX$425
20.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.27 $49.27
$27.53 MX$477
78.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.44 $49.44
$33.01 MX$572
49.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.07 $3.07
$19.54 MX$339
-84.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.60 $5.60
$5.03 MX$87.2
11.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$187 MX$3,234
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K $15.9K
$6,425 MX$111.3K
147.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6 $59.6
$49.73 MX$862
19.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.93 $29.93
$50.8 MX$879
-41.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.0 $81.0
$98.5 MX$1,706
-17.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.8 $58.8
$90.9 MX$1,575
-35.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,096 $1,096
$706 MX$12.2K
55.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$918 $918
$438 MX$7,590
109.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,494 $3,494
$1,355 MX$23.5K
157.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 $1,699
$842 MX$14.6K
101.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,208 MX$55.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,998 MX$34.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,561 $3,561
$797 MX$13.8K
346.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.37
11.48
-53.22%

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

Last update for Dili: June 1, 2026

Last update for Guadalajara: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,096 in Dili versus $706 in Guadalajara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 347% higher in Dili, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Dili versus $39.00 in Guadalajara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $257 – making Guadalajara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Dili vs Guadalajara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guadalajara cheaper than Dili?
Yes – Dili is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,705 per month in Dili and $1,736 in Guadalajara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guadalajara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Dili and Guadalajara?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Dili, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Dili or Guadalajara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Dili and $39.00 in Guadalajara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Dili or Guadalajara?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Guadalajara, where all-in costs run around $1,157, than in Dili at $1,803. In Guadalajara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dili it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Dili or Guadalajara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Guadalajara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Guadalajara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dili makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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