Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guadalajara and Yilan

For one person, living is cheaper in Yilan: $1,008 a month against $1,297 in Guadalajara, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Guadalajara
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,297
/mo nomad
Yilan
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,008
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Guadalajara and in Yilan

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 Yilan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Guadalajara versus $1,008 in Yilan.

  • Guadalajara $1,297
  • Yilan $1,008

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,086 in Guadalajara versus $1,731 in Yilan.

  • Guadalajara $2,086
  • Yilan $1,731

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,875 in Guadalajara versus $2,455 in Yilan.

  • Guadalajara $2,875
  • Yilan $2,455

Living in Guadalajara is roughly 29% more expensive than in Yilan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Guadalajara 4% lower, Yilan 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.46 MX$249
$3.55 NT$115
279.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.54 MX$805
$29.99 NT$973
45.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.11 MX$168
$4.61 NT$149
97.61%
Cappuccino
$3.83 MX$70.9
$2.88 NT$93.5
32.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$31.01
$1.03 NT$33.33
63.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$22.44
$0.65 NT$21.18
86.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 MX$49.40
$1.52 NT$49.41
75.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90 MX$90.5
$2.88 NT$93.4
70.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 MX$33.28
$3.16 NT$102
-43.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 MX$47.53
$1.71 NT$55.3
50.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$30.17
$2.74 NT$88.7
-40.51%
Eggs
$2.47 MX$45.72
$2.62 NT$84.9
-5.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.84 MX$163
$28.52 NT$925
-69.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.61 MX$178
$8.15 NT$264
17.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.43 MX$211
$17.07 NT$554
-33.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 MX$51.2
$4.36 NT$142
-36.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 MX$30.71
$1.89 NT$61.3
-12.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 MX$37.89
$3.10 NT$100
-33.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.84 MX$34.01
$2.17 NT$70.5
-15.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.84
$1.19 NT$38.51
67.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 MX$32.89
$1.88 NT$61.1
-5.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 MX$27.95
$2.41 NT$78.0
-37.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$19.96
$0.86 NT$27.78
25.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68 MX$86.5
$3.87 NT$125
20.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 MX$196
$15.70 NT$509
-32.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 MX$35.70
$1.40 NT$45.55
37.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 MX$61.1
$2.45 NT$79.3
35.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 MX$11.62
$0.75 NT$24.37
-16.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.17 MX$558
$36.68 NT$1,189
-17.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 MX$41.17
$2.75 NT$89.1
-18.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 MX$24.77
$0.97 NT$31.37
38.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.26 MX$227
$9.39 NT$305
30.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$27.85
$1.02 NT$33.23
48.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K MX$399.2K
$25.1K NT$814.8K
-14.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$437.2K
$19.5K NT$633.9K
21.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.89 MX$903
$47.16 NT$1,529
3.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.32 MX$413
$15.12 NT$490
47.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$577
$21.30 NT$691
46.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.26 MX$522
$31.11 NT$1,009
-9.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.12 MX$205
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 MX$124
$7.85 NT$255
-14.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$258 MX$4,776
$340 NT$11.0K
-23.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K MX$201.8K
$16.6K NT$537.7K
-34.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 MX$1,070
$54.9 NT$1,781
5.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.83 MX$736
$31.44 NT$1,020
26.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$1,989
$84.0 NT$2,723
28.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3 MX$1,521
$62.2 NT$2,016
32.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 MX$15.7K
$275 NT$8,930
208.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$490 MX$9,049
$254 NT$8,237
92.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,534 MX$28.3K
$995 NT$32.3K
54.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$994 MX$18.4K
$727 NT$23.6K
36.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,068 MX$56.7K
$7,893 NT$256.0K
-61.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,898 MX$35.1K
$4,975 NT$161.3K
-61.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$750 MX$13.9K
$1,041 NT$33.8K
-27.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.68
2.27
414.54%

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

Last update for Guadalajara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Yilan: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Guadalajara
$490
Yilan
$254 48.1% $236
Groceries & Markets
Guadalajara
$276
Yilan
$375 35.5% $98
Eating Out
Guadalajara
$216
Yilan
$97 55.1% $119
Clothing & Footwear
Guadalajara
$129
Yilan
$105 19.2% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guadalajara
$102
Yilan
$84 18.4% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Guadalajara
$42
Yilan
$47 12.2% $5.1
Getting Around
Guadalajara
$42
Yilan
$47 13.6% $5.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $848 in Guadalajara and $275 in Yilan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yilan pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Guadalajara vs $30.00 in Yilan. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $375, with Guadalajara cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Guadalajara
🇹🇼 Yilan
🕒 Local time
18:15 6:15 PM
08:15 8:15 AM
14 h ahead of Guadalajara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,385,629
95,907
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TWD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 32.43 TWD (100 TWD = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 36.46 TWD (100 TWD = 2.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Guadalajara Yilan 13,000 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Guadalajara
  • Yilan

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 Yilan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guadalajara or Yilan?
Yilan wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Guadalajara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yilan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Guadalajara or in Yilan?
On paper, salaries run 39% lower in Yilan. 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 Yilan?
Rent for a central apartment: $848 in Guadalajara versus $275 in Yilan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Guadalajara or in Yilan?
Shoppers in Guadalajara pay roughly 36% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Guadalajara and in Yilan?
Dining out is cheaper in Yilan – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $44.00 in Guadalajara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Guadalajara or in Yilan?
At $1,008 in Yilan versus $1,297 in Guadalajara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yilan but tight or insufficient in Guadalajara. The gap between the two cities makes Yilan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Guadalajara or Yilan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Yilan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,008 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Yilan hard to pass up.
How safe is Guadalajara compared to Yilan?
Safety-wise, Guadalajara and Yilan 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Yilan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Guadalajara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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