Guadalajara, Mexico
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Guadalajara

🇲🇽 Mexico4.1Featured
$1,500
/ month
100 Mbps
Internet
11°C
Weather
✈️Create Travel Plan

💰 Cost of Living

Average monthly expenses for a digital nomad

🏠 Accommodation

1BR Center$800/mo
1BR Outside$550/mo
Hostel$18/night
Airbnb$1100/mo

🍜 Food & Dining

Local Meal$7
Mid-range$18
Groceries$45/wk
Coffee$2.75

🚗 Transportation

BestUber / Bus / Walking
Grab/UberAvailable
MetroNo

🎯 Other

Gym$30/mo
Coworking$200
SIM Card$15/mo

⚡ Digital Nomad Essentials

Everything you need to work remotely from Guadalajara

📶 Internet

Speed100 Mbps
Reliability4.2/5
ProviderTotalplay
5GYes
SIM$15/mo

☁️ Weather

BestNov - Mar
HotApr - Jun
RainyJun - Sep
Temp11°C
Humidity82%

✈️ Transport

Airport30 min
Walkable7/10
BestUber / Bus / Walking
RideshareUber
MetroNo

🛂 Visa

Tourist180 days
TypeVisa-free / tourist visa (many nationalities)
DN VisaNo
CurrencyMXN
TimezoneCST (GMT-6)
See all visa options →

Advantages

  • Lower cost of living than Mexico City and beach resorts while still offering big-city infrastructure
  • Fast fixed internet with multiple fibre providers and good café WiFi in popular areas
  • Pleasant climate with mild, sunny winters and warm but not extreme summers at altitude
  • Strong café culture in Colonia Americana and Providencia, with many laptop-friendly spots
  • Walkable, creative neighbourhoods with street art, independent bars and restaurants
  • Good base for exploring Jalisco including Tequila, Lake Chapala and nearby pueblos mágicos
  • Lively but more relaxed lifestyle than CDMX, with less smog and slightly smaller scale

Disadvantages

  • Spanish is dominant and English is not widely spoken outside younger and tourist-facing circles
  • Some neighbourhoods feel unsafe at night and require normal big-city caution
  • Public transport is improving but still limited; many residents rely on Uber or cars
  • Rainy season in summer brings heavy afternoon downpours and occasional flooding
  • Bureaucracy and rental processes can be confusing for newcomers without local help
  • Air quality can dip in certain months and traffic can be heavy on main arteries

💼 Top Coworking Spaces

Best places to work in Guadalajara

WeWork Midtown Jalisco

📍 Av. Adolfo López Mateos Nte 95, Ladron De Guevara, 44600 Guadalajara, Jal. • 300 Mbps • Meeting rooms

$22/day
$190/month

WeWork Americas 1254

📍 Av. de las Américas 1254, Country Club, 44610 Guadalajara, Jal. • 300 Mbps • Meeting rooms

$22/day
$190/month

BEST Oficinas

📍 Av. Chapultepec Sur 15, Americana, 44160 Guadalajara, Jal. • 150 Mbps • Meeting rooms

$15/day
$200/month

Hacker Garage

📍 C. Miguel Lerdo de Tejada 2186, Americana, 44160 Guadalajara, Jal. • 100 Mbps • Meeting rooms

$10/day
$140/month

IOS Offices Punto Sao Paulo

📍 Av. De Las Américas 1545, Providencia, 44630 Guadalajara, Jal. • 200 Mbps • 24/7 • Meeting rooms

$25/day
$230/month

☕ Best Cafes to Work From

Laptop-friendly cafes with good WiFi

Café Palreal

📍 Arcos Vallarta / near Americana

WiFi Speed50 Mbps
WiFi Qualityexcellent
PowerYes
Noisemoderate
Work Score9/10

El Terrible Juan Café (Americana)

📍 Colonia Americana

WiFi Speed50 Mbps
WiFi Qualityexcellent
PowerYes
Noisemoderate
Work Score8/10

Zuno Café

📍 Colonia Americana

WiFi Speed50 Mbps
WiFi Qualityexcellent
PowerYes
Noisequiet
Work Score9/10

Black Coffee Gallery Chapultepec

📍 Chapultepec / Americana

WiFi Speed40 Mbps
WiFi Qualitygood
PowerYes
Noiseloud
Work Score7/10

Macondo Café

📍 Near Americana

WiFi Speed40 Mbps
WiFi Qualitygood
PowerYes
Noisemoderate
Work Score7/10

Saint Malo MX

📍 Colonia Americana

WiFi Speed40 Mbps
WiFi Qualitygood
PowerYes
Noisemoderate
Work Score7/10

🏘️ Best Neighborhoods

Where to stay in Guadalajara

Colonia Americana

Trendy, central neighbourhood full of cafés, bars, galleries and street art. Frequently recommended as the best base for digital nomads thanks to its walkability, creative vibe and concentration of laptop-friendly spots along streets like Chapultepec and José Guadalupe Zuno.

$$ Mid-rangeCafés with WiFiBars and nightlifeStreet artYoung crowd

Providencia

Leafier, more upscale district north of the centre with wide avenues, parks and quieter residential streets. Feels polished and safe, with plenty of restaurants and cafés but a more local, less touristy energy than Americana.

$$$ PremiumUpscale residentialParks and green streetsRestaurantsCafés

Chapalita

Western neighbourhood centred on a circular park, known for tree-lined streets, local restaurants and a strong expat presence. Good mix of houses and low-rise apartments, with easier parking and a more suburban feel while still being connected to the centre by rideshare.

$$ Mid-rangeTree-lined streetsLocal restaurantsExpat presenceSuburban feel

Chapultepec / Lafayette

Busy corridor running along Av. Chapultepec and into Lafayette, full of bars, venues, coffee shops and weekend markets. One of the main nightlife and cultural strips, with plenty of shared apartments and easy overlap with Colonia Americana.

$$ Mid-rangeNightlifeLive musicCafés and barsStreet markets

🏛️ Top Attractions

Best things to do in Guadalajara

🏛️

Historic Center & Cathedral

The heart of Guadalajara with its twin-towered cathedral, plazas, fountains and government palaces decorated with murals. A classic starting point to understand the city, with cafés and markets in easy walking distance.

💰 Free⏱️ 2.5h
🏛️

Hospicio Cabañas

UNESCO-listed former orphanage complex known for José Clemente Orozco's powerful murals. The courtyards and galleries provide a calm contrast to the busy city outside and are a must for anyone interested in Mexican art and history.

💰 $4⏱️ 2h
🛒

San Juan de Dios Market

One of Latin America's largest indoor markets, selling everything from street food and fresh produce to clothes and electronics. Intense but fascinating; ideal for trying local dishes and people-watching.

💰 Free⏱️ 2h
📍

Tlaquepaque

Colourful arts-and-crafts town in the metro area, with pedestrian streets lined with galleries, restaurants and mariachis. A popular half-day or evening trip for ceramics, textiles and tequila tastings.

💰 Free⏱️ 4h
🏛️

Zapopan Basilica & Plaza

Historic centre of neighbouring Zapopan with a baroque basilica, main plaza and surrounding cafés. Quieter than Guadalajara's downtown and a good area for an evening stroll combined with dinner.

💰 Free⏱️ 2.5h
📍

Colonia Americana Street Art Walk

Self-guided wander through Colonia Americana's side streets to spot murals, restored houses and creative cafés. Not a single attraction but a neighbourhood experience that shows why the area is so loved by digital nomads.

💰 Free⏱️ 2h
🌲

Bosque Los Colomos

Large park and wooded area north of the centre with walking trails, a small Japanese garden and picnic spots. A good place for runs, light hikes or a quiet break from the city.

💰 Free⏱️ 2.5h
📍

Tequila & Agave Fields (Day Trip)

Classic day trip from Guadalajara to the town of Tequila and surrounding blue agave fields, with distillery tours and tastings. Works well as a Saturday or Sunday adventure for nomads after a week of work.

💰 $60⏱️ 8h

🛡️ Safety & Healthcare

What to know about safety and medical care

🚨 Safety

Overall Safety3.4/5
Crime Ratemoderate
Safe at NightYes
Scamsmoderate
Solo Femalemixed

🏥 Healthcare

Qualitygood
Doctor Visit$30
English-SpeakingYes
Top HospitalHospital San Javier Guadalajara
InsuranceRequired

💬 What Nomads Say

Real reviews from digital nomads

Maddie R.
Content Writer • 1 months
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I spent six weeks in Colonia Americana and easily kept my monthly budget under 1,500 USD while eating out almost every day. I worked from Palreal and a few other cafés with solid WiFi, then used weekends for day trips to Tlaquepaque and Tequila. It felt like a perfect balance of affordability, comfort and culture. Spanish helps a lot, but even with basic phrases I managed fine."

David S.
Remote Software Engineer • 3 months
⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Guadalajara is one of my favourite bases in Mexico. Internet at my apartment and coworking space was consistently over 80 Mbps and Uber made it easy to get around. The downside is that some parts of the city feel hectic and I would not walk everywhere at night, but in Providencia and Chapalita I felt very comfortable. For the price, quality of food and weather, it is hard to beat."

Elena G.
UX Designer • 3 months
⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I came for one month and stayed for three. Colonia Americana gave me exactly the mix I wanted: inspiring cafés, street art, nightlife and other people working on laptops. It is not a polished, perfectly safe bubble and Spanish is basically required outside the nomad bubble, but if you want a very local feeling Mexican city that still works for remote work, Guadalajara is a great choice."

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