Retirement
At Lake Chapala, Mexico
Are
you tired of cold winters, humid summers and high taxes? Are you
considering retirement in Mexico? If so, you might want to consider
Lake Chapala (also called Lakeside). You really can stretch your
retirement income in this quiet haven and find a comfortable lifestyle
on about half of what it costs to live in the United States. You
have probably heard about the area and wonder if it's a place you
could live. Many gringos do. In fact, the largest contingent of
expatriates in the world lives in Lake Chapala, and the majority
of these folks are originally from the U.S. and Canada. Life here
is mellow, but there is plenty to do, and the coast (Puerto Vallarta)
is only 4 hours away by car.
Yes,
the climate is mild (summer may be the best time to visit when the
rains come early in the day, clear out by noon and leave the area
clean and green), and there are banks, restaurants, hotels, boating
clubs and almost everything else you will find at home (almost).
But this is Old Mexico. It is not the resorts, and that must be
kept in mind. Intrigued?
Lake
Chapala offers:
A
lower cost-of-living (generally 1/2 of that in the U.S.)
Cool
lake breezes
High
quality medical care
Plentiful
recreation, from golf to book clubs
Beautiful
scenery, tropical vegetation and Lake views
Easy
air access to the United States
English-speaking
residents and a strong expatriate network
Lake
Chapala, located 30 miles south of Guadalajara, is Mexico's largest
lake, roughly 55 miles long and 15 miles wide. This area was settled
by a Spanish priest in the early 1500s, and it became known as an
expatriate retirement spot shortly after WWII. Today, Lake Chapala
beckons to retirees, artists and craftsmen.
Ajijic,
a town of about 5,000 people, is the area's centerpiece. Cobblestone
streets and spectacular gardens hidden behind hand-carved wooden
gates and colorful walls contribute to its charm. This is where
most gringos choose to live and although it is a laid-back place,
there's plenty of nightlife, lots of restaurants and adequate shopping
(for serious shopping, Guadalajara is a short taxi or bus ride away).
English is spoken, making adapting to this new home easier than
in other parts of Mexico. Some books and guides will tell you that
it's possible to live on $600 a month in Mexico, and we suppose
that is true if corners are cut and sacrifices are made. We have
found, however, that $1,200 per couple is about the average cost
for a comfortable (but not elaborate) lifestyle in Chapala. It is
possible to spend much more! Some average prices of goods and services:
Telephone...$14/month
Dental
cleaning....$15 to $20
Doctor's
visit and EKG....$35
Men's
haircut....$4.00
Electricity...$15/month
Drinking
water...$6/month
Maid
for one day....$8
Coca-Cola
(1.5 lt.)....75c
Chapala
also has a cyber cafe, @Floresta Cyber Cafe, that offers eight new
work stations with fees starting at ten pesos for 15 minutes of
Internet access. Even Lake Chapala has entered the 21st century!
Find
out more about retirement in Mexico here,
and please visit our San
Miguel de Allende page to find out more about this colonial
city retirement spot.
