πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,093 in Yilan versus $1,157 in Guadalajara.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,693 in Yilan versus $1,844 in Guadalajara.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,294 in Yilan versus $2,530 in Guadalajara.
πLiving in Yilan costs roughly 6% less than in Guadalajara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Yilan18% lower, Guadalajara14% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Yilan
Guadalajara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62NT$114
$10.46MX$181
-65.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.73NT$967
$38.85MX$672
-20.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.34NT$168
$7.99MX$138
-33.17%
Cappuccino
$2.95NT$93.0
$3.19MX$55.1
-7.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10NT$34.59
$1.38MX$23.95
-20.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69NT$21.65
$0.93MX$16.12
-25.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55NT$48.92
$2.10MX$36.38
-26.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91NT$91.6
$3.89MX$67.3
-25.19%
π Groceries & Markets
Yilan
Guadalajara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.57NT$112
$1.40MX$24.25
155.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77NT$55.8
$2.65MX$45.76
-33.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00NT$62.9
$1.66MX$28.80
20.48%
Eggs
$2.63NT$82.7
$2.51MX$43.44
4.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$31.73NT$999
$9.63MX$167
229.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91NT$249
$7.67MX$133
3.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.67NT$493
$10.37MX$179
51.11%
Apples(1kg)
$4.73NT$149
$2.65MX$45.77
78.49%
Banana(1kg)
$0.87NT$27.39
$1.45MX$25.16
-40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31NT$72.6
$1.80MX$31.20
28.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73NT$54.5
$1.56MX$27.06
10.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34NT$42.19
$1.80MX$31.12
-25.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39NT$43.91
$2.01MX$34.73
-30.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.17NT$68.3
$1.34MX$23.12
61.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30NT$40.82
$1.08MX$18.61
20.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19NT$132
$4.40MX$76.0
-4.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.23NT$511
$11.22MX$194
44.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44NT$45.24
$1.62MX$28.00
-11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66NT$83.7
$3.22MX$55.8
-17.39%
π Getting Around
Yilan
Guadalajara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00NT$31.63
$0.52MX$8.92
92.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.29NT$1,079
$26.91MX$466
27.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.85NT$89.6
$2.71MX$46.86
5.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19NT$37.49
$1.59MX$27.58
-25.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.97NT$314
$11.68MX$202
-14.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05NT$32.91
$1.32MX$22.83
-20.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KNT$838.1K
$24.2KMX$418.2K
10.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KNT$741.1K
$23.7KMX$409.6K
-0.59%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yilan
Guadalajara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.6NT$1,877
$31.32MX$542
90.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.18NT$541
$24.53MX$424
-29.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.06NT$694
$27.53MX$476
-19.87%
π Sport & Entertainment
Yilan
Guadalajara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.87NT$1,003
$33.01MX$571
-3.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.17NT$541
$19.54MX$338
-12.13%
Cinema Ticket
$9.79NT$308
$5.03MX$87.1
94.63%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Yilan
Guadalajara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$359NT$11.3K
$187MX$3,228
92.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.4KNT$642.6K
$6,425MX$111.1K
217.74%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Yilan
Guadalajara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9NT$2,230
$49.73MX$860
42.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.23NT$1,077
$50.8MX$878
-32.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.7NT$2,477
$98.5MX$1,703
-20.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8NT$2,731
$90.9MX$1,572
-4.55%
π Accommodation & Living
Yilan
Guadalajara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$303NT$9,544
$706MX$12.2K
-57.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292NT$9,185
$438MX$7,576
-33.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$669NT$21.1K
$1,355MX$23.4K
-50.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$492NT$15.5K
$842MX$14.6K
-41.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,553NT$237.7K
$3,208MX$55.5K
135.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,424NT$170.7K
$1,998MX$34.6K
171.45%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Yilan
Guadalajara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,040NT$32.7K
$797MX$13.8K
30.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.18
11.48
-81.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yilan: June 2, 2026
Last update for Guadalajara: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Yilan and $706 in Guadalajara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Yilan pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $31.00 in Yilan vs $39.00 in Guadalajara. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $257, 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
Yilan vs Guadalajara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yilan or Guadalajara?
Yilan wins on cost β 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 Yilan or Guadalajara?
Yilan pays 30% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Yilan vs Guadalajara?
Rent for a central apartment: $303 in Yilan versus $706 in Guadalajara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Yilan or Guadalajara?
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 Yilan vs Guadalajara?
Dining out is cheaper in Yilan β 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 Yilan or Guadalajara?
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, Yilan or Guadalajara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Yilan delivers better value β 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 Yilan compared to Guadalajara?
Safety-wise, Yilan and Guadalajara 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 β expenses run 6% less than in Guadalajara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.