Cost of Living Archives - Page 2 of 4

Lakeside Retirement Budget Planning

When planning a move Lakeside, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to plan your Mexico budget in advance. Of course you will inevitably make adjustments once you are on the ground in Mexico, but having a proposed budget will give you the peace of mind you need when making a major life move. While prices have risen in recent years, the good news is that Lakeside life is still quite affordable with careful planning. Visa Costs - the Bottom Line Your first expenditure once you've made the decision to move to Mexico will be your resident visa. Temporary Resident Visa We'll talk … [Read more...]

The U.S. and Mexico – Brothers From Another Mother

Jorge Ramos is a well-known Mexican American journalist and newscaster who has written numerous books, including the recent Stranger: The Challenge of a Latino Immigrant in the Trump Era. In this wide ranging interview in Mexico City, he discusses the election of the new Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, commonly known as AMLO, and interviews Americans living in Mexico and Mexicans who have returned from the U.S. This is a great birds eye view of Mexico today and why ~1.5 million Americans choose to make Mexico their home. Check it out and join us for one of our intensive … [Read more...]

Is It Too Late to Move to Ajijic?

There is a lot of current social media buzz about the flood of foreigners moving to Ajijic, rising prices, etc. A recent video by Tangerine Travels points out some of the drawbacks of Ajijic and generated a flood of comments. Additionally, some people say the town is ‘full’ and the expats are ruining the character of the town. So let’s look more in depth at the ‘ugly’ side of Ajijic: Rising Real Estate/Rental Prices It is true that prices for both home purchase and rental are rising. The Tangerine video stated that there is nothing available for purchase in Ajijic for less than $250,000 … [Read more...]

Can You Afford It?

Living costs are a moving target everywhere in the world and Lakeside is no exception. Jerry Brown and his wife, Lori, are local expats with their own YouTube Channel, Jerry Brown Travels. Recently they reviewed their current monthly household costs for living in Ajijic. Check it out for yourself and see if Lakeside living might be in your future. Also see our comprehensive article on the local cost of living and come to one of our week long learning seminars to plan your own budget and get your specific budget planning questions answered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqRgjzfp0LI … [Read more...]

The Climate in Lake Chapala Mexico

by Karen McConnaughey Bill and I had three main reasons for picking the Lake Chapala area as our retirement destination of choice. We wanted… - A temperate climate - A lower cost of living - To leave the rat race We had both worked since we were 16, and we were just tired of it. I thought Bill would want to retire to Florida (where he lived previously) or Phoenix (where his daughter lived). We were both tired of Kansas City winters and never wanted to shovel snow again. I knew if he chose either of those places, he would be saying ‘bye’ to me in his rear-view mirror. I just couldn’t … [Read more...]