😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,415 in Guadalajara versus $997 in Yilan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,274 in Guadalajara versus $1,701 in Yilan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,132 in Guadalajara versus $2,405 in Yilan.
🌍Living in Guadalajara is roughly 42% more expensive than in Yilan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Guadalajara is 3% above, Yilan is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.61MX$248
$3.36NT$107
334.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.0MX$850
$29.95NT$950
67.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$160
$4.62NT$146
104.11%
Cappuccino
$4.08MX$69.3
$2.82NT$89.4
44.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.06
$1.00NT$31.61
71.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27MX$21.56
$0.69NT$21.74
84.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$49.67
$1.45NT$45.93
101.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72MX$97.2
$2.81NT$89.3
103.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94MX$32.90
$3.05NT$96.7
-36.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81MX$47.77
$1.77NT$56.0
58.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82MX$30.95
$2.69NT$85.4
-32.34%
Eggs
$2.62MX$44.47
$2.51NT$79.7
4.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.31MX$175
$28.65NT$909
-64.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.24MX$174
$7.74NT$246
32.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.49MX$212
$16.99NT$539
-26.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14MX$53.4
$4.39NT$139
-28.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.99
$1.96NT$62.2
-9.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16MX$36.77
$1.85NT$58.8
16.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95MX$33.12
$2.18NT$69.2
-10.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$36.69
$1.18NT$37.58
83.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.36
$1.90NT$60.3
0.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51MX$25.70
$2.32NT$73.5
-34.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.22
$0.90NT$28.66
32.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.88MX$82.9
$3.84NT$122
27.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.68MX$198
$15.82NT$502
-26.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96MX$33.34
$1.43NT$45.32
37.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70MX$62.9
$2.55NT$80.9
45.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67MX$11.36
$0.75NT$23.95
-10.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.41MX$551
$35.87NT$1,138
-9.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.29MX$38.95
$2.62NT$83.1
-12.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45MX$24.59
$0.97NT$30.83
49.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.09MX$222
$9.45NT$300
38.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63MX$27.69
$1.00NT$31.61
63.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7KMX$386.1K
$25.5KNT$808.6K
-10.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$440.6K
$19.5KNT$617.3K
33.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.1MX$919
$47.65NT$1,512
13.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.86MX$405
$15.19NT$482
57.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51MX$569
$21.13NT$670
58.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.05MX$578
$31.85NT$1,010
6.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.91MX$202
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.96MX$118
$7.78NT$247
-10.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$270MX$4,592
$341NT$10.8K
-20.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4KMX$193.1K
$17.4KNT$552.3K
-34.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7MX$1,082
$54.4NT$1,726
17.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02MX$765
$31.05NT$985
44.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MX$1,937
$85.4NT$2,709
33.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.9MX$1,578
$62.3NT$1,976
49.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$912MX$15.5K
$274NT$8,708
232.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$531MX$9,023
$249NT$7,905
113.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,787MX$30.3K
$975NT$30.9K
83.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,044MX$17.7K
$744NT$23.6K
40.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,367MX$57.2K
$7,183NT$227.9K
-53.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,069MX$35.1K
$5,078NT$161.1K
-59.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guadalajara
Yilan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$794MX$13.5K
$1,009NT$32.0K
-21.32%
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: August 31, 2026
Last update for Yilan: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $912 in Guadalajara and $274 in Yilan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yilan pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Guadalajara vs $30.00 in Yilan. Groceries flip the comparison at $301 vs $368, 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 42% 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 27% 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: $912 in Guadalajara versus $274 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 22% 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 $50.0 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 $997 in Yilan versus $1,415 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 $997 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 42% 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