Cost of Living

Mexico

If you still envision a third world banana republic littered with 50 year-old cars, buses with livestock spilling out of the windows populated by banditos and work-challenged peasants, it's time to take another look.   While you were having a little siesta, Mexico became the 10 th largest economy in the world with many major cities including the second largest in the world, Mexico City offering both world-class culture and American style creature comforts.   The cars are now new and in many cases produced right here (they introduced a little thing called financing several years ago, and just like the U.S. all of a sudden everyone had a new car). The shopping malls will knock your socks off not to mention the Wal-Mart Supercenters which are ubiquitous.   The text-messaging Mexican kids and young adults wearing the latest from “Bebe” or “7 for all mankind” are tech-savvy and have never met a computer they couldn't fix! And, available housing is as modern and upscale as you want it to be or at least as much your pocketbook dictates.   Modern International Airports, squeaky clean subways, over the road buses you won't believe and modern highways complete the package.   So, wake up a smell the tortillas!

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is Mexico's second largest city and compares in size to Chicago. It has all the trappings of a large cosmopolitan city and many of the brands you are familiar with.   It's close proximity to Lake Chapala (30 to 45 minute drive) so enriches the Lakeside lifestyle that many ex-pats say they would not live here were it not for Guadalajara.

 

 

Lake Chapala

The Lake Chapala expatriate area is comprised of a series of small towns on the North rim of the lake and has become a world-renowned retirement area for not only North Americans, but also increasingly Europeans and folks from many parts of the world.  It also serves as a weekend and vacation area for affluent Mexicans primarily from Guadalajara and Mexico City.   It's legendary weather, scenery and services combine to create a resort style ambiance with all the comforts of home.   A detailed description of the area is available on this website.   Did we mention the perfect weather??