Living at Lake Chapala in Mexico

Unfortunately not all information about Lake Chapala on the internet, or in print publications is accurate. A CBS evening news feature last year and articles in several publications, including Time, Forbes and AARP, The Magazine have focused on the low cost of living at Lake Chapala. Even the
article titles: "Living the Vida Cheapo" and "No Money, No Problem" have given folks the false impression that they can live here on impossibly low amounts of money.

What's the real scoop?
How much it costs to live anywhere depends on our individual lifestyles. There are a lot of personal choices and variables:

• How much do you shop - do you stay out of boutiques or are you a shopaholic?
  
• How much do you drink - do you have a glass of wine on special occasions or several drinks before and after dinner?
  
• How often do you eat out - once a month for breakfast or do you eat out two or more times a day?
  
• What do you eat at home - fresh salmon or canned tuna?
  
• How much do you entertain - do you have folks over for dominos and brownies for do they come for steak?
  
• Do you have a car - how much do you drive?
  

The only way we know to give you an indication of the real costs at Lakeside is to print actual costs. Each January issue of our Living at Lake Chapala webzine at www.mexico-insights.com, we poll six households and record what they really spend in a typical month.

Over the last six years, our three singles' monthly costs average between $1200 and $1800 U.S. per month. Our three couples are spending from $1800 to $3,000 U.S. per month. All of these folks are living the lifestyle they want, and are enjoying the things they like to do.

This is not a scientific study, but the figures include prorated car and heath insurance costs, rent or property taxes, prorated amounts for renewing immigration papers, and all living expenses. We asked our participants not to include any foreign travel or their longer trips within Mexico.

All of these participants have a part-time housekeeper and a part- time gardener, and all live in very nice homes - not mansions, not estates, not castles - but attractive, comfortable homes with from two to four bedrooms. One participating couple has a pool, another has adopted five large dogs and several cats, most attend performances at the Lakeside Little Theater and classical concerts at the auditorium.

I know a single woman who says she spends $5,000 a month. I'm sure she does, but I'm not sure on what. Then too, few of us worry about how much we can spend, we think a lot more about how to keep within our budget.

I've also known foreigners who live here for far less than our participants, but they've made some concessions to keep to their budgets. They've rented a room in a boarding house or rooming house, or found a tiny place that needs work to keep their rent low. They eat a lot more tacos and tamales than steaks. They don't keep a car, and don't shop or go out much - still they can live on very low incomes or military pensions in a real clean safe place. It isn't as much fun and it isn't easy, but it can be done.

Keep in mind that the Mexican government requires those of us who live here full time prove that we have an income of about $1,000 U.S.dollars per month for the head of household and about $500 for each dependent.

Every January we update this monthly costs feature in the Cost of Living column of Living at Lake Chapala at http://www.mexico-insights.com/. All othere months we we report current prices of various items in that column.

The June 2007 issue includes the costs of computers and various accessories, supplies and add-ons. The July 2007 issue will take a look at the cost of laundry products and appliances. In other months we've reviewed groceries, vet charges, haircuts and shaves for gentlemen and haircuts, manicures and pedicures for the ladies.

You name it, we'll get you the prices. We know it helps you plan for your new life here.

Life is Good at Lake Chapala!

Labels: Cost of living, Monthly budget, Retirement in Mexico

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Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.