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Ajijic, Mexico, lies on the northern side of Lake Chapala and is surrounded by mountains. Ajijic has a pleasant climate throughout the year.
Ajijic (pronounced ah-hee-HEEK) is a remarkably picturesque and friendly colonial town, a 500-year-old village on the shores of Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest.
Most importantly, thanks to the city’s elevation (it’s located at 5,000 feet above sea level), the weather is just about perfect all year.
Plus, more than 11.5 million Americans and Canadians live overseas…
And 2 million of them—nearly 20%—live in Mexico.
Mexico is far and away the most popular retirement and expat haven in the world for North Americans.
From world-class beaches along its Pacific and Caribbean rivieras… To 16th-century Spanish-colonial towns oozing with charm…Mexico offers up some of the best of Latin America.
Reviewed By Kathleen Peddicord
Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.
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Ajijic’s narrow, cobblestoned streets are lined with colorful houses, along with more boutiques, galleries, and restaurants than you’d expect in a town this size.
Less than an hour from Guadalajara, Ajijic has attracted retirees for decades thanks to its lake (despite the lake’s on-and-off environmental problems) and cool weather.
For instance, you could buy a property here, small and modest, for less than US$100,000. Or rent a two-bedroom home with lake views for $1,495…or less.
And, above all, Ajijic is an easy and established expat haven.
The town and the area around Lake Chapala, host the most organized, developed expat community in the world.
The Lake Chapala Society reports about 20,000 American and Canadian residents in Chapala proper.
Meantime, the Mexican government estimates that nearly 30,000 expats reside full-time in the state of Jalisco, the region where Lake Chapala sits.
In other words, the path has been cut.
Moving here, you could slide into a way of living not dramatically different from the life you left behind in the States.
You wouldn’t have to worry about learning the local language if you didn’t want to. You wouldn’t have to work to make a place for yourself among the local community. Plus, you could connect with the big and welcoming community of nonlocals.
You could wander into the restaurant down the street anytime and find English-speaking companionship, someone to complain to about the bureaucracy at the Department of Immigration or the challenges of studying to take a driving test in Spanish.
Retiring to Ajijic, you could make a comfortable life for yourself in a place that’s exotic, beautiful, safe, and very affordable.
Friends of Live And Invest Overseas, Akaisha and Billy, have taken this path. They’ve been in Chapala for years, where they live comfortably on $50 per day, including housing, food, transportation, entertainment, and in-country travel. They eat well, play tennis, socialize, and travel comfortably.
As they put it themselves, they want for nothing.
Don’t misunderstand. Ajijic isn’t a retirement village. This isn’t Sun City South, at least not formally.
This is a legitimate Mexican town that, over decades, has attracted such a volume of expat retirees that it offers the opportunity for a low-impact transition to a new life abroad.
Get a practical overview of living in Mexico—including lifestyle considerations, local routines, and what newcomers typically wish they knew before moving.
While your cost of living in Ajijic will most likely be cheaper than your life back in the States, it’s not one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico.
As with anywhere, your costs will vary depending on your lifestyle. Expats say a couple could live here on less than $2,000 a month, including rent.
Let’s take a closer look at the cost of living in Ajijic, Mexico. The costs in the chart below are for a couple living very well.
| Expenses | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | US$1,495 | Two-bedroom home with lake views. |
| Transportation | US$30 | Monthly pass for a couple. |
| Utilities | US$65 | Electricity, including heating and cooling, and water. Internet and Cable TV. |
| Cell Phone | US$40 | Monthly plan with calls and 10GB+ data. |
| Water | US$5 | |
| Cell Phone | US$35 | Including 500 minutes, unlimited data, and flexible contract with Cable & Wireless. |
| Entertainment | US$195 | Eating out twice a week at a local restaurant. Beers twice a week at a local pub. Movie theater trip twice a month. |
| Groceries | US$350 | Monthly grocery haul. |
| Household Help | US$350 | Twice per week. |
| TOTAL | US$2,231 |
Get a clear breakdown of everyday expenses in Mexico—including housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare—so you can budget accurately before you make the move.
Ajijic has attracted musicians, artists, and writers for decades, and on any given night you’ll find live music in the bars and restaurants and there are a number of art galleries dotted around town.
Because of the great climate, there are lots of outdoor activities to enjoy, including hiking, horseback riding, golf, tennis, and fitness classes.
Locals and expats enjoy walking the malecón or sipping a beer or coffee in the plaza while watching the world go by.
There is a large farmers market every Tuesday, where you can get tasty, organic food that comes from local farms. Clothes, made by indigenous communities are also on offer. As is natural cosmetics and herbal medicines.
And of course, as Ajijic is set on beautiful Lake Chapala, there is a host of water activities to enjoy, including kayaking and boating.
Crime is a concern across Mexico… serious crime is generally localized to certain areas.
However, Ajijic is generally a safe place to live. There is a low crime rate and the town is well-patrolled by the local police. Like any place, there are always some risks. The most common crimes in Ajijic are petty theft and burglary.
In Mexico, there’s a difference in the quality of medical care between public and private facilities. As an expat, you’ll likely seek out private care, which is excellent.
The best facilities have first-rate technology, English-speaking doctors, and low prices. Private facilities are the best option for expats. They’re similar to what you’re used to in the States or Canada.
Medical tourism is a fast-growing industry, with more Americans choosing to cross the border to seek quality, affordable health care in Mexico every year, and many Mexican doctors are trained in the United States, Europe, or Canada and speak English fluently.
Costs here are low, typically just one-third the cost you’d pay for comparable care in the United States.
There are a number of clinics in Ajijic with many top-class medical facilities. Also, doctors and nurses are on call 24/7. Plus, a lot of the staff in clinics speak English.
For more serious procedures, there are various hospitals located in the city of Guadalajara—about an hour away by car.
Explore how the healthcare system works in Mexico, what expats typically do for coverage, and what to expect for day-to-day care—so you can plan with confidence before you move.
Getting a residency visa in Mexico is extremely easy. However, you may not even need a residency since the tourist visa allows you to stay for 180 days.
Upon entering Mexico, U.S., Canadian, Australian, and EU-member citizens are automatically granted a 180-day tourist visa. The standard tourist visa, called an FM-T, is valid for six months and is free.
Beyond this, you’ll need to apply for a visa and start the process at the consulate in your home country. Mexican visa and immigration procedures vary…
On the whole, though, the country makes it easy for expats to move to Mexico. There are two main types of Immigrant Visas for people who want to stay in Mexico long-term: Temporary Resident Visas and Permanent Resident Visas.
Visas are typically granted to those with sufficient foreign income to support themselves, and unlike many countries, Mexico allows you to qualify with savings instead of monthly income (including an IRA or 401(K) balance).
The specific qualifying amounts vary depending on which country you’re applying from (they sometimes vary consulate to consulate within the same country) as well as year to year according to the Mexican minimum general income…
Generally, Mexico’s visa regime has you start as a temporary resident. You can hold a temporary resident’s visa for four years, after which, you convert to a permanent resident.
The Mexican Permanent Resident Card is also known as the Mexico retirement visa, although it’s more like a self-sufficiency visa. To qualify, you need to show income of $1,415 per month for temporary residency (valid for one year) or $2,358 for permanent residency (indefinite validity). That said, many Mexico expats never actually apply for residency… They just live here for six months at a time, do a border run to the States, and return for another six months
Residency in Mexico can lead to a second passport and dual citizenship in this country once you’ve held a visa for a minimum of five years. You’ll need to pass a naturalization exam that will test your ability to speak Spanish and knowledge of Mexican history, culture, and politics.
See our full guide to Mexico’s visas and residency options—so you can understand the main pathways, what typically qualifies you, and what to prepare before you apply.
Ajijic is warm year-round with an overcast wet season (mid-June to mid-October) and a partially cloudy dry season, with the dryest months being February to April.
Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from a low of 41 degrees F (5 degrees C) to a high of 87.8 degrees F (31 degrees C).
The best weather is from late April to early June. However, overall the weather is pleasant. In fact, Ajijic is renowned for its great weather—with a spring-like climate year-round.
Reviewed By Kathleen Peddicord
Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.
Start Your New Overseas Life Today
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
The idea of assisted living in Mexico is relatively new but gaining in popularity. And, you’ll find assisted living facilities in Ajijic.
When considering assisted living in Mexico, you have similar options as you might find in the States or Canada, specifically:
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