Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guadalajara and Piedras Negras

For one person, living is cheaper in Piedras Negras: $1,204 a month against $1,298 in Guadalajara, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Guadalajara, Mexico
Piedras Negras, Mexico
Guadalajara
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,298
/mo nomad
Piedras Negras
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Guadalajara and in Piedras Negras

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,298 in Guadalajara versus $1,204 in Piedras Negras.

  • Guadalajara $1,298
  • Piedras Negras $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,069 in Guadalajara versus $1,874 in Piedras Negras.

  • Guadalajara $2,069
  • Piedras Negras $1,874

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,840 in Guadalajara versus $2,544 in Piedras Negras.

  • Guadalajara $2,840
  • Piedras Negras $2,544

Living in Guadalajara is roughly 8% more expensive than in Piedras Negras, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Guadalajara 4% lower, Piedras Negras 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guadalajara
Piedras Negras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.54 MX$254
$10.98 MX$206
23.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 MX$810
$42.64 MX$801
1.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.13 MX$171
$8.46 MX$159
7.92%
Cappuccino
$3.60 MX$67.6
$3.58 MX$67.3
0.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$31.04
$1.33 MX$25.06
24.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$20.30
$1.04 MX$19.55
3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 MX$50.9
$2.35 MX$44.09
15.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 MX$89.1
$3.92 MX$73.7
20.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guadalajara
Piedras Negras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 MX$32.67
$1.62 MX$30.40
7.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 MX$48.47
$2.61 MX$49.02
-1.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.55
$1.64 MX$30.71
-4.27%
Eggs
$2.48 MX$46.49
$2.51 MX$47.07
-1.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$162
$7.99 MX$150
7.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.72 MX$182
$8.43 MX$158
15.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 MX$214
$11.13 MX$209
2.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 MX$51.6
$2.74 MX$51.5
0.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 MX$29.24
$1.50 MX$28.18
4.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.16
$1.86 MX$34.97
0.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 MX$34.12
$1.85 MX$34.81
-1.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$38.27
$1.96 MX$36.87
4.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 MX$33.28
$1.83 MX$34.29
-3.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 MX$28.67
$1.37 MX$25.71
11.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$20.18
$1.06 MX$19.94
0.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.87 MX$91.4
$4.39 MX$82.4
10.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.38 MX$195
$10.39 MX$195
-0.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 MX$35.95
$1.73 MX$32.43
10.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 MX$62.6
$3.15 MX$59.2
5.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Guadalajara
Piedras Negras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 MX$11.63
$0.67 MX$12.52
-7.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.09 MX$565
$29.73 MX$558
1.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.20 MX$41.22
$2.60 MX$48.79
-15.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 MX$27.42
$1.97 MX$36.95
-25.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.25 MX$155
$10.94 MX$205
-24.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.68
$1.31 MX$24.66
16.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K MX$387.2K
$24.1K MX$452.3K
-14.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$432.5K
$23.3K MX$438.3K
-1.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guadalajara
Piedras Negras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.02 MX$921
$56.8 MX$1,067
-13.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.01 MX$432
$22.71 MX$426
1.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.26 MX$550
$29.38 MX$552
-0.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guadalajara
Piedras Negras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.67 MX$538
$32.02 MX$601
-10.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.62 MX$200
$20.04 MX$376
-47.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96 MX$112
$5.04 MX$94.6
18.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guadalajara
Piedras Negras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$239 MX$4,495
$216 MX$4,061
10.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$196.6K
$4,504 MX$84.6K
132.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guadalajara
Piedras Negras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 MX$1,045
$54.7 MX$1,028
1.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70 MX$746
$39.49 MX$742
0.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 MX$1,892
$99.4 MX$1,866
1.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6 MX$1,476
$87.8 MX$1,649
-10.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guadalajara
Piedras Negras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$904 MX$17.0K
$605 MX$11.4K
49.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$505 MX$9,478
$435 MX$8,165
16.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,472 MX$27.6K
$1,007 MX$18.9K
46.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$989 MX$18.6K
$749 MX$14.1K
32.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,506 MX$65.8K
$1,916 MX$36.0K
82.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,166 MX$40.7K
$1,103 MX$20.7K
96.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guadalajara
Piedras Negras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$847 MX$15.9K
$1,638 MX$30.8K
-48.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.53
11.31
1.95%

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

Last update for Guadalajara: November 2, 2026

Last update for Piedras Negras: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Guadalajara
$505
Piedras Negras
$435 13.9% $70
Groceries & Markets
Guadalajara
$273
Piedras Negras
$261 4.4% $12
Eating Out
Guadalajara
$213
Piedras Negras
$185 12.9% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Guadalajara
$124
Piedras Negras
$127 2.4% $3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guadalajara
$101
Piedras Negras
$109 7.5% $7.6
Getting Around
Guadalajara
$42
Piedras Negras
$45 6.6% $2.8
Sport & Entertainment
Guadalajara
$41
Piedras Negras
$42 3.7% $1.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $904 in Guadalajara and $605 in Piedras Negras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Piedras Negras pays 93% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43 in Guadalajara vs $43 in Piedras Negras. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $261, with Piedras Negras cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Guadalajara
🇲🇽 Piedras Negras
🕒 Local time
23:12 11:12 PM
23:12 11:12 PM
Same time as Guadalajara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,385,629
173,959
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.78 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 21.08 MXN (100 MXN = 4.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Guadalajara Piedras Negras 940 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Guadalajara
  • Piedras Negras

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
Guadalajara vs Piedras Negras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guadalajara or Piedras Negras?
Piedras Negras wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Guadalajara. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Piedras Negras the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Guadalajara or in Piedras Negras?
On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Guadalajara. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Guadalajara compared to Piedras Negras?
Rent for a central apartment: $904 in Guadalajara versus $605 in Piedras Negras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Guadalajara compared to Piedras Negras?
All in, you’ll spend $1,298 per month in Guadalajara versus $1,204 in Piedras Negras – Piedras Negras is about 7% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Are groceries more expensive in Guadalajara or in Piedras Negras?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Guadalajara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Guadalajara or in Piedras Negras?
Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Piedras Negras gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Guadalajara or Piedras Negras?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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