Comparison · Guadalajara vs Mexico City · Mexico
Guadalajara vs Mexico City
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Isacdaavid, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Guadalajara for Mariachi, Tequila and lower day-to-day costs; choose Mexico City for Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology. Guadalajara is generally less expensive, and the two are about 461 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 461 km
- Less expensive
- Guadalajara
- Best time for Guadalajara
- October–March
- Best time for Mexico City
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Guadalajara | Mexico City | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | Mariachi, Tequila and Orozco murals | Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and Frida Kahlo |
| Best time to visit | October–March | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$170 | $120–$220 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | May, 33°C (91°F) | April, 27°C (81°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 25°C (77°F) | December, 21°C (70°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | GDL | MEX, NLU, TLC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Guadalajara for…
Mariachi, Tequila and lower day-to-day costs. Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest metropolitan area and the capital of Jalisco, is the home ground of mariachi, tequila, birria and the charreada. Its historic centre is a run of linked plazas around the twin-spired cathedral, the Teatro Degollado and the…
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Choose Mexico City for…
Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology. Mexico City sits at about 2,240 metres in a high valley ringed by volcanoes, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Its historic centre around the Zócalo holds the Templo Mayor ruins, the cathedral and Diego Rivera's murals, while Chapultepec…
Top sights compared
| # | Guadalajara | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guadalajara Cathedral | Zócalo |
| 2 | Hospicio Cabañas | Metropolitan Cathedral |
| 3 | Palacio de Gobierno | Templo Mayor |
| 4 | Teatro Degollado | National Palace murals |
| 5 | Plaza Tapatía | Palacio de Bellas Artes |
Food compared
| Guadalajara | Mexico City |
|---|---|
| Torta ahogada | Tacos al pastor |
| Birria | Chilaquiles |
| Carne en su jugo | Tamales and atole |
| Pozole rojo | Tlacoyos |
Which is cheaper?
Guadalajara is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$170 per person there, against $120–$220 in Mexico City (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Guadalajara on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Guadalajara and Mexico City are about 461 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Guadalajara and 5 in Mexico City.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Guadalajara or Mexico City cheaper?
Guadalajara is usually less expensive: about $90–$170 a day mid-range against $120–$220 (estimates).
+Is Guadalajara or Mexico City better for a first trip?
Pick Guadalajara for Mariachi, Tequila and lower day-to-day costs, or Mexico City for Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology.
+How far is Guadalajara from Mexico City?
About 461 km in a straight line.