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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,755 per month in Dili vs $1,149 in Guadalajara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,648 per month in Dili vs $1,858 in Guadalajara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Dili vs $2,568 in Guadalajara, rent included.

Dili costs about 53% more than Guadalajara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Dili sits 31% 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
$5.03 $5.03
$10.71 MX$186
-53.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.57 $44.57
$37.63 MX$655
18.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 $7.92
$8.08 MX$141
-1.98%
Cappuccino
$3.79 $3.79
$3.24 MX$56.4
16.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.37 MX$23.82
12.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 $1.39
$0.90 MX$15.74
54.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.14 MX$37.24
-7.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.86 MX$67.2
13.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.39 MX$24.14
79.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.50 $2.50
$2.69 MX$46.91
-7.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.68 MX$29.32
17.26%
Eggs
$2.74 $2.74
$2.54 MX$44.26
7.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$9.19 MX$160
-78.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.58 $9.58
$7.91 MX$138
21.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.07 $16.07
$9.98 MX$174
61.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.70 MX$47.04
32.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.46 MX$25.49
21.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.87 MX$32.48
8.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.51 MX$26.33
61.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.71 MX$29.80
15.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.99 MX$34.61
-35.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.38 MX$24.03
-26.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.12 MX$19.46
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 $2.69
$4.56 MX$79.5
-41.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.10 $12.10
$11.22 MX$195
7.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.56 MX$27.16
40.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$3.23 MX$56.3
-11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 $0.26
$0.52 MX$9.04
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.06 MX$454
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.66 MX$46.35
28.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.31 $3.31
$1.61 MX$28.10
105.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.29 $20.29
$11.77 MX$205
72.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.33 MX$23.14
12.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$23.6K MX$410.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.2K MX$420.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 $150
$30.98 MX$539
382.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.47 $29.47
$23.74 MX$413
24.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 $50.6
$27.13 MX$472
86.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.8 $50.8
$34.02 MX$592
49.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.07 $3.07
$19.92 MX$347
-84.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.57 $5.57
$4.85 MX$84.5
14.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$189 MX$3,296
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K $15.7K
$6,333 MX$110.3K
148.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.9 $60.9
$49.35 MX$859
23.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.51 $29.51
$50.8 MX$885
-41.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.0 $79.0
$99.8 MX$1,737
-20.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.6 $60.6
$93.1 MX$1,621
-34.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 $1,117
$720 MX$12.5K
55.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$941 $941
$438 MX$7,634
114.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,486 $3,486
$1,321 MX$23.0K
163.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 $1,651
$847 MX$14.7K
95.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,277 MX$57.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,021 MX$35.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dili
Guadalajara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,612 $3,612
$797 MX$13.9K
352.92%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Guadalajara: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Dili versus $720 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 353% 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 $45.00 in Dili versus $38.00 in Guadalajara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 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 53%, 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 $2,633 per month in Dili and $1,723 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 in 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 in Guadalajara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Dili and $38.00 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 living in Dili or in Guadalajara?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Guadalajara, where all-in costs run around $1,149, than in Dili at $1,755. 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.

Dili vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities