😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,157 in Guadalajara versus $1,093 in Yilan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,844 in Guadalajara versus $1,693 in Yilan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,530 in Guadalajara versus $2,294 in Yilan.
😐Living in Guadalajara is roughly 6% more expensive than Yilan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Guadalajara14% lower, Yilan18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.46MX$181
$3.62NT$114
188.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.85MX$672
$30.73NT$967
26.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.99MX$138
$5.34NT$168
49.63%
Cappuccino
$3.19MX$55.1
$2.95NT$93.0
8.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.95
$1.10NT$34.59
25.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93MX$16.12
$0.69NT$21.65
34.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.10MX$36.38
$1.55NT$48.92
35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89MX$67.3
$2.91NT$91.6
33.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.25
$3.57NT$112
-60.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65MX$45.76
$1.77NT$55.8
49.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66MX$28.80
$2.00NT$62.9
-17.00%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.44
$2.63NT$82.7
-4.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.63MX$167
$31.73NT$999
-69.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.67MX$133
$7.91NT$249
-3.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.37MX$179
$15.67NT$493
-33.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$45.77
$4.73NT$149
-43.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MX$25.16
$0.87NT$27.39
66.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.20
$2.31NT$72.6
-22.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.06
$1.73NT$54.5
-9.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.12
$1.34NT$42.19
34.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.73
$1.39NT$43.91
44.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34MX$23.12
$2.17NT$68.3
-38.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.61
$1.30NT$40.82
-16.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40MX$76.0
$4.19NT$132
5.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.22MX$194
$16.23NT$511
-30.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.00
$1.44NT$45.24
12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22MX$55.8
$2.66NT$83.7
21.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$8.92
$1.00NT$31.63
-48.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.91MX$466
$34.29NT$1,079
-21.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71MX$46.86
$2.85NT$89.6
-4.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59MX$27.58
$1.19NT$37.49
33.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.68MX$202
$9.97NT$314
17.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.83
$1.05NT$32.91
25.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KMX$418.2K
$26.6KNT$838.1K
-9.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$409.6K
$23.5KNT$741.1K
0.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$31.32MX$542
$59.6NT$1,877
-47.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.53MX$424
$17.18NT$541
42.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.53MX$476
$22.06NT$694
24.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.01MX$571
$31.87NT$1,003
3.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.54MX$338
$17.17NT$541
13.80%
Cinema Ticket
$5.03MX$87.1
$9.79NT$308
-48.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187MX$3,228
$359NT$11.3K
-48.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,425MX$111.1K
$20.4KNT$642.6K
-68.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.73MX$860
$70.9NT$2,230
-29.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8MX$878
$34.23NT$1,077
48.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.5MX$1,703
$78.7NT$2,477
25.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9MX$1,572
$86.8NT$2,731
4.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706MX$12.2K
$303NT$9,544
132.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$438MX$7,576
$292NT$9,185
50.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,355MX$23.4K
$669NT$21.1K
102.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$842MX$14.6K
$492NT$15.5K
71.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,208MX$55.5K
$7,553NT$237.7K
-57.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,998MX$34.6K
$5,424NT$170.7K
-63.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$797MX$13.8K
$1,040NT$32.7K
-23.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.48
2.18
426.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guadalajara: May 31, 2026
Last update for Yilan: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Guadalajara and $303 in Yilan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yilan pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Guadalajara vs $31.00 in Yilan. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 vs $376, with Guadalajara cheaper for home cooking.
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 6% 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 Yilan?
On paper, Yilan earns 30% less. 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 vs Yilan?
Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Guadalajara versus $303 in Yilan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Guadalajara or Yilan?
Shoppers in Guadalajara pay roughly 46% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Guadalajara vs Yilan?
Dining out is cheaper in Yilan – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $39.00 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 Yilan?
At $1,093 in Yilan versus $1,157 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 $1,093 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 6% less than in Guadalajara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Guadalajara vs other spots: cost of living compared