Pros and Cons of Living in Guadalajara
Last updated on Jul 02, 2023
Summary: The pros of living in Guadalajara, Mexico include its vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and friendly people. The city is also known for its beautiful architecture, rich history, and vibrant nightlife. Additionally, the cost of living is relatively low compared to other cities in Mexico. On the other hand, the cons of living in Guadalajara include the high levels of air pollution, the lack of public transportation, and the high crime rate. Additionally, the city can be quite hot and humid during the summer months.
What are the pros and cons of living in Guadalajara?
Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in Guadalajara responded:
"I like the weather, cost of rent, fresh food don't like: dogs barking, heavy traffic," explained one expat living in Guadalajara.
"Expats and digital nomads in Guadalajara enjoy the city's vibrant culture, friendly locals, and affordable cost of living. They also appreciate the city's excellent infrastructure, with reliable public transportation and a wide range of modern amenities. Additionally, the city's mild climate and proximity to the beach make it an ideal place to live. On the other hand, some expats and digital nomads may find the language barrier and lack of English-speaking services to be a challenge. Additionally, the city's high crime rate can be a concern for some," said one in Guadalajara.

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What do expats in Guadalajara appreciate most about the local culture?
"The people. We also loved alambres carbon, the markets, the aguas and tortillas. Music was wonderful," explained one expat.
"Expats living in Guadalajara appreciate the vibrant culture, including the arts, music, and traditional cuisines. They find the city a culturally diverse and welcoming place. Many expats in Guadalajara also enjoy the mild climate, friendly people, and reasonable cost of living.The city's cultural calendar is filled with festivals, concerts and cultural events throughout the year. Additionally, Guadalajara boasts great public transportation, health care facilities, and educational options, all making it a great place to live as an expat," said one person in Guadalajara.
"The language is fun to learn, the food is great, a lot of people I've met are really special and I've made some friends, although it hasn't been easy. They are a close-knit culture with their families and don't accept gringas very willingly, but I'm okay. There are astoundingly beautiful places that I could never see the like in the States," remarked one expat in Guadalajara.
What do expats find most challenging?
"The utter lack of punctuality. The casual approach and the scandalous leeway business and professionalism are given. The poverty, perhaps, is the most jarring of them all. Be prepared to be galvanized by it," said one expat in Guadalajara.
"Pounds to kilos. :-) Power-outages for no reason. Bugs (especially black widow spiders and scorpions hitching a ride on the plant trucks). exchange rates and devaluations. (Luckily we had a USD account when they devalued the peso by 50%," said a person living in Guadalajara.
About the Author
Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC
Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.
Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.
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