Guadalajara vs El Tunco
π°
El Tunco saves you $300/month
πΆ
Guadalajara has 4x faster internet
π‘οΈ
Temperate vs Tropical Monsoon climate
π
El Salvador offers a digital nomad visa
π° Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Guadalajara
El Tunco
Total Budget
$1,500/mo
$1,200/mo β
Rent (1BR)
$800/mo
$400/mo β
Coworking
$200/mo
N/A
Meal Out
$7
$3 β
Coffee
$2.75
$2 β
El Tunco is $300/mo cheaper (25% savings)
π» Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
π²π½ Guadalajara
πΆ Internet100 Mbps
π TimezoneUTC-7
π£οΈ Englishmedium
π Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
πΊπΈ US West8h
πΊπΈ US East8h
π¬π§ London4h
π©πͺ Berlin3h
π El Tunco
πΆ Internet25 Mbps
π TimezoneUTC-6
π£οΈ Englishmedium
π Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
πΊπΈ US West8h
πΊπΈ US East8h
π¬π§ London5h
π©πͺ Berlin4h
π‘οΈ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Guadalajara
ClimateTemperate
Avg Temp22Β°C
Rainy Days78/year
Best months: February, May, January, December
El Tunco
ClimateTropical Monsoon
Avg Temp28Β°C
Rainy Days191/year
Best months: January, February, March, December
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
18Β°27Β°
Apr
24Β°29Β°
Jul
21Β°28Β°
Oct
21Β°27Β°
GuadalajaraEl Tunco
π Full Comparison
Category
π²π½Guadalajara
πEl Tunco
π°
Monthly Budget
$1,500
$1,200
WinnerπΆ
Internet Speed
100 Mbps
Winner25 Mbps
π‘οΈ
Safety
3.4/5
4/5
Winnerβ
Nomad Score
4.1/10
4/10
π½οΈ
Food Scene
8/10
7/10
π
Nightlife
8/10
8/10
πΆ
Walkability
7/10
8/10
π₯
Community
medium
medium
1
Guadalajara wins
vs
2
El Tunco wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
π΅Budget Nomad
El Tunco
$300/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
π»Developer
Guadalajara
100 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
π¦Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
π‘οΈSafety-First
El Tunco
Significantly higher safety rating
πFoodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
πParty Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
π²π½Guadalajara
Pros
- +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 cafΓ© WiFi in popular areas
- +Pleasant climate with mild, sunny winters and warm but not extreme summers at altitude
- +Strong cafΓ© culture in Colonia Americana and Providencia, with many laptop-friendly spots
Cons
- βSpanish is dominant and English is not widely spoken outside younger and tourist-facing circles
- βSome neighbourhoods feel unsafe at night and require normal big-city caution
- βPublic transport is improving but still limited; many residents rely on Uber or cars
- βRainy season in summer brings heavy afternoon downpours and occasional flooding
πEl Tunco
Pros
- +World-class surfing with consistent waves year-round
- +Uses USD as official currency eliminating exchange hassles
- +Very affordable cost of living for Central America
- +Digital Nomad Visa available for up to 4 years tax-free
Cons
- βNo formal coworking spaces in town yet
- βInternet can be unreliable especially during storms
- βVery small town with limited amenities
- βParty atmosphere may not suit everyone