A common question about living in Lake Chapala is how much it costs to live here. I can tell you from personal experience that it is about 60% less (between a third and a half) of the cost of living in the Vancouver, Canada area. To give you an idea, here is a few of the recent expenditures that I have paid. I am using the current exchange rate. (14.25 CDN & 19 USD)
Car insurance (year) = 5906 Pesos - $414.45 CDN - $310.84 USD
Maid (6 hours) = 500 pesos - $35 CDN - $26 USD
Restaurant meal for 2 (inc, 1 glass wine, 1 lemonade, 1 desert & tip) = 450 pesos – $31.50 CDN - $23.68 USD
Take out Chinese for 2 = 99 pesos - $6.95 CDN - $5.26 USD
Cost of gas per litre = 20 Pesos/litre - $1.40/litre CDN - Sorry, calculate your own USD/gallon
Rent (2 Bedroom,2 Bath home) = 16000 Pesos - $1122 CDN - $842 USD
Take out chicken dinner (1 chicken, 3 sides, large pop) = 145 Pesos - $10.17 CDN - $7.63 USD
Plumber (on a Sunday!) 320 Pesos - $22.45 CDN - $16.84 USD
Cell phone minutes (unlimited calling to U.S. and Canada and data, valid for 21 days) = 200 Pesos - $14.04 Cdn - $10.52 USD
Tacos (4) = 40 Pesos - $2.80 Cdn - $2.10 USD
Restaurant Breakfast for 2 egg dishes and 2 juices = 220 Pesos - $15.44 CDN - $11.58 USD
Car Tax (1 time/year) = 584 Pesos - $40.98 CDN - $30.73 USD
2 large bags of assorted vegetables and fruit from the farmers market for 2 people for 1 week roughly 220 pesos - $15.44 CDN - $11.58 USD
2 slices pizza 34 pesos - $2.38 CDN - $1.79 USD
Fish & Chips at the local pub 80 pesos - $5.61 - $4.21 USD
Micro brewed craft beer at local pub (pint) 55 pesos - $3.86 CDN - $2.89 USD
From the Supermarket (Walmart)
Mayonnaise 54.50 Pesos - $3.82 CDN - $2.87 USD
Whole fresh chicken 29.00Pesos/kg - $2.03/kg CDN - $1.52/kg USD
1 litre milk 15.90 Pesos - $1.11 CDN - $0.81 USD
Box of Cheerios (480 gr) 42.90 Pesos - $3.01 CDN - $2.25 USD
1 litre yogurt Danone 25.50 Pesos - $1.57 CDN - $1.18 USD
1kg fusilli pasta 25.00 Pesos - $1.75 CDN - $1.31 USD
White eggs (18 pack) 36.50 pesos - $2.56 CDN - $1.92 USD
Tostadas 200 gr 17.50 Pesos - $1.22 CDN - $0.92 USD
So, is the cost of living cheap here? Compared to the U.S. or Canada, the answer is a resounding "Yes".
Here is a website which compares cost of living with different cities:
Ajijic is one of the cities so you can easily compare to where you live.
If you have any questions on what things cost here, just drop me a question through my 'Contact' page' and I will be happy to help.
Michaela & Ricardo are your FULL SERVICE Real Estate Agents. Along with our Retirement Seminars, our over 20 years of combined experience Lakeside, and our network of area Professionals, we help guide you to from beginning to forever in your Retirement Journey to Lake Chapala, Mexico.
