Cost of Living in Lake Chapala, Mexico

"If one buys local or Mexican brands, food is relatively inexpensive. Eating out is 1/2 or less than in the U.S. The cost of living monthly is dependent on: a. If you own a home.
b. your lifestyle. We projected that we will save between $8 -10,000 annually by living here. Gone are the $150/mo. water and sewer bills and the $180 / gas and electricity. Every little bit of savings adds up," said one person in Ajijic.

"That is such a personal question. I recommend that people housesit in the community they are thinking of retiring in so they can gauge costs, safety, reliability of utilities, etc," remarked one expat in Lake Chapala.

"Living in Lake Chapala can be significantly more affordable than living in the United States. The cost of living is lower, including the price of groceries, restaurants, and services. Utilities, such as electricity and water, are cheaper as well. Property taxes and other taxes are lower, meaning more of your money stays in your pocket. In addition, some domestic services such as housekeeping, gardening and deliveries are more affordable in Lake Chapala as they are substantially cheaper than U.S. equivalents. With all of these cost savings, many people are able to stretch their budget further than if they were living in the United States," said one expat in Lake Chapala.

"Mexico stretches my dollar considerably! For example, I joined a fantastic gym and get 3 personal training sessions per week -- for about $63 US/month," wrote a person living in Lake Chapala.

"Initial indications are that living in Mexico will meet or exceed our expectations. Our motivation was to find a place where we could live within our income until such time as we may require assisted living... Having gone through a number of years of paying over $6,000 a month for a family member in assisted living was a big reason for our move. We didn't want to put this kind of burden on our children. Assisted living here, if needed, is affordable and the care meets or exceeds what we paid for earlier..," explained one expat living in Ajijic.

"The cost of housing in Lake Chapala varies depending on the type of housing that you are looking for. On average, you can find basic living accommodations such as a one or two bedroom apartment for around 600-1,000 USD a month. For larger homes, the cost can climb up to around 2,500 to 4,000 USD a month," remarked one expat in Lake Chapala.

"Much lower. We pay our property taxes and water yearly. Our taxes are $699 MX and water is $1000 MX per year. Electricity is expensive in Mexico but still less than the US and is paid every other month. We have our propane tank filled on the off month and runs about $1600 MX for 2 months. Phone and internet is $600 MX per month and that is with unlimited long distanse. We have satelite which comes out of Canada. They have grocery stores that carry US products but it is imported and therefore expensive. Produce, eggs, meat, chicken and fish is amazing and reasonable. You can pay as much as you want or as little as you have for a house and find something to fit your needs," explained one expat living in Lake Chapala.

"The housing costs here are much less than in the US. Taxes and utilities are very, very reasonable and there is no need for A/C or a Furnace since the climate is perfect. Upkeep is simple masonry, plaster & paint with labor costs being very reasonable. This house would rent for $550-600/month, but we recently rented a very nice older house for friends at $450/month for a winter visit. Those are hard to find," said one expat in Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

"Renting a nice 1 bedroom apartment in Lake Chapala typically costs between 800-1300 USD per month. When renting a larger 2 bedroom apartment, the average cost can range from 1400-1800 USD per month," remarked one expat living in Lake Chapala.

"Many rental properties in Lake Chapala have a refrigerator and stove as standard appliances. Washing machines and dryers may also be included depending on the property. Other common appliances in rental properties in Lake Chapala include ovens, dishwashers, and microwave ovens. Further amenities such as air conditioning and hot water heating may also be included in the rental," remarked one expat living in Lake Chapala.