🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,093 in Tampico versus $1,157 in Guadalajara.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,742 in Tampico versus $1,844 in Guadalajara.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,390 in Tampico versus $2,530 in Guadalajara.
🙂Living in Tampico costs roughly 6% less than in Guadalajara, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tampico18% lower, Guadalajara14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tampico
Guadalajara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.47MX$112
$10.46MX$181
-38.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.92MX$727
$38.85MX$673
7.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.99MX$104
$7.99MX$139
-25.03%
Cappuccino
$3.34MX$57.8
$3.19MX$55.2
4.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86MX$14.93
$1.38MX$23.99
-37.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.26
$0.93MX$16.15
-11.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.42MX$24.69
$2.10MX$36.45
-32.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09MX$36.30
$3.89MX$67.4
-46.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tampico
Guadalajara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.05
$1.40MX$24.29
3.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.89MX$67.4
$2.65MX$45.84
46.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.79
$1.66MX$28.85
-6.63%
Eggs
$3.98MX$69.0
$2.51MX$43.52
58.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.47MX$77.5
$9.63MX$167
-53.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.46MX$147
$7.67MX$133
10.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.05MX$191
$10.37MX$180
6.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77MX$47.99
$2.65MX$45.85
4.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20MX$20.78
$1.45MX$25.21
-17.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.41
$1.80MX$31.25
-2.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59MX$27.59
$1.56MX$27.11
1.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83MX$31.76
$1.80MX$31.18
1.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.68
$2.01MX$34.79
7.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64MX$28.48
$1.34MX$23.17
22.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.52
$1.08MX$18.64
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$4.40MX$76.2
-2.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.82MX$188
$11.22MX$195
-3.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.50
$1.62MX$28.05
8.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60MX$45.01
$3.22MX$55.9
-19.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Tampico
Guadalajara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MX$13.28
$0.52MX$8.94
48.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.44MX$458
$26.91MX$466
-1.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.66MX$46.01
$2.71MX$46.94
-1.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.15
$1.59MX$27.63
56.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.94MX$85.6
$11.68MX$202
-57.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33MX$22.98
$1.32MX$22.87
0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.7KMX$722.3K
$24.2KMX$419.0K
72.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KMX$380.9K
$23.7KMX$410.4K
-7.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tampico
Guadalajara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0MX$1,369
$31.32MX$543
152.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.85MX$448
$24.53MX$425
5.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.95MX$415
$27.53MX$477
-13.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tampico
Guadalajara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.83MX$673
$33.01MX$572
17.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.82MX$274
$19.54MX$339
-19.04%
Cinema Ticket
$5.19MX$89.9
$5.03MX$87.2
3.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tampico
Guadalajara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$238MX$4,122
$187MX$3,234
27.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,662MX$63.5K
$6,425MX$111.3K
-43.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tampico
Guadalajara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7MX$1,468
$49.73MX$862
70.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.7MX$1,087
$50.8MX$879
23.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$161MX$2,787
$98.5MX$1,706
63.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6MX$1,362
$90.9MX$1,575
-13.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tampico
Guadalajara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$502MX$8,695
$706MX$12.2K
-28.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$317MX$5,496
$438MX$7,590
-27.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$819MX$14.2K
$1,355MX$23.5K
-39.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.7K
$842MX$14.6K
-26.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,682MX$29.1K
$3,208MX$55.6K
-47.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,410MX$24.4K
$1,998MX$34.6K
-29.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tampico
Guadalajara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$597MX$10.3K
$797MX$13.8K
-25.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.75
11.48
2.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tampico: June 2, 2026
Last update for Guadalajara: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $502 in Tampico and $706 in Guadalajara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Guadalajara pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Tampico vs $39.00 in Guadalajara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $257 per month, with Guadalajara cheaper across the board.
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
Tampico vs Guadalajara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tampico or Guadalajara?
Tampico wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Guadalajara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tampico the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tampico or Guadalajara?
On paper, Guadalajara earns 34% 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 Tampico vs Guadalajara?
Rent for a central apartment: $502 in Tampico versus $706 in Guadalajara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tampico or Guadalajara?
Shoppers in Guadalajara pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Tampico vs Guadalajara?
Dining out is cheaper in Tampico – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $39.00 in Guadalajara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tampico or Guadalajara?
At $1,093 in Tampico versus $1,157 in Guadalajara, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tampico but tight or insufficient in Guadalajara. The gap between the two cities makes Tampico the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tampico or Guadalajara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tampico delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,093 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tampico hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tampico 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.