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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Cost of Living in Chapala, Mexico

February, 2025

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Currency Conversion Site    Chapala Travel Information  

Cost of Popular Medicines in Chapala, Mexico

Our readers have written to us asking how much it costs to live in Chapala, Mexico. While much depends on your particular style of living, your housing needs, and how you dine out or entertain yourself and your friends, below is a sample list of commonly purchased items to give you an idea of the money it takes to live in this charming town. This list is by no means exhaustive.

At the time this list was published, the Peso was trading at 20.42 = $1 USD. You can use the above conversion site to see today's rate. 

Transport

Most ExPats choose to have their own car for their transport needs, however, Chapala is an easy town in which to be car free. Local buses run every few minutes on a daily basis, Taxis are nearby, plus Uber is more active than ever in the area.

Airport taxi to Chapala 520 Pesos, Chapala to airport 600 Pesos

Uber to Guadalajara airport 400 Pesos

Uber Chapala to "new bus station" 330 Pesos

Taxi from Chapala to Ajijic, 80-110 Pesos

First class bus ticket to Guadalajara 62 Pesos

Bus from Chapala to Ajijic, 12 Pesos

Vallarta Plus Bus, Zapopan to La Penita, 375 with Inapam Card. Double that without.

Sunsets on Lake Chapala are popular with Everyone

Sunsets on Lake Chapala are popular with Everyone

 

 

 

 

Housing

Housing is a large expense for anyone in any location. Depending on your needs and if you live alone or have a roommate, housing prices can run the gamut. Prices in Ajijic are considerably higher, and San Antonio is about comparable to Chapala. Maid service in Ajijic is substantially higher than in Chapala. You may also need to pay for bus fare for the maid to come to your home.

Rent - small apartment in Chapala, 6,000 Pesos/month from a local. Some medium sized upscale apartments can run 9,000 Pesos+.  Small apartment through another Gringo, can run 9,000 Pesos to 13,000 Pesos. Of courses, you can always pay more. If you go through a real estate agent to rent a place, most likely your price will be listed in Dollars and it will be these higher prices. Try to rent from a local Mexican and pay your rent in Pesos.

Some Mexicans want to rent to you in USD. We say make the most of their cultural inclination to bargain. Most Mexicans simply want the income without the bother, so if you are proactive (paying rent for months or a year in advance to get a discount, offer to pay for some improvement or purchase something for the house or apartment in exchange for less rent, etc.) they will get the sense of partnership and will want to work with you. We know people who have repainted their places, put in extensive gardens and such, and the Mexican landlords were so happy, they took the amount of improvement off the rent.

Check to be sure what your rent includes: Utilities? Cable TV? Internet? Also ask them to recommend a maid or gardener to you.

The Chapala Guide...come see for yourself

Cell phone through TelCel, 200 Pesos, unlimited text and phone calls to the States and Canada, for 30 days.

Laundry 33 Pesos per Kilo folded

Maid Service 3-4 hours once per week approximately 150 Pesos for the time period

Pantene shampoo 200ml 37 Pesos

Optimis 200 ml shampoo, 27 Pesos

Bar soap 15-24 Pesos

Colgate Total toothpaste 150mg, 55 Pesos

Oral B toothpaste, 150mg, 53 Pesos

Entertainment

You can spend as little or as much as you like to entertain yourself here. Chapala has excellent weather, so walking around taking part in local activities provides a good deal of fun for free. There always seems to be a fiesta, a festival or a saint's day. You can meet friends at a restaurant, or hire your maid to do the cooking for you in your home. 

1 liter box of wine, 80 Pesos

A beer at local bars and restaurants 35 Pesos

Glass of Chardonnay at restaurant 99 Pesos

Bottle of Cabernet at restaurant 610 Pesos

500 grams steak at restaurant 435 Pesos

Grilled pork chop at restaurant 268 Pesos

Thai Salmon with coconut at restaurant 286 Pesos

Pacific tuna 250 grams at restaurant 289 Pesos

Placid Lake Chapala

Placid Lake Chapala

Plate of arrachera (marinated flank steak) at restaurant 320 Pesos

Mixed Grill at restaurant 780 Pesos

Beef hamburger 155 Pesos

Napolitano Pizza 185 Pesos

Vegetarian Pizza 145 Pesos

Hawaiian Pizza 145 Pesos

Margarita 160 Pesos

Tequila, 100% Agave, Orendain 1 Liter bottle blanco, 269-294 Pesos

Tequila, 100% Agave, Centenario 1 Liter bottle blanco, 362-380Pesos

Fish and chips 119 Pesos

Octopus tacos for3 pieces 169 Pesos

Street Tacos 19 Pesos each

Arrachera salad 243 Pesos

Chicken Roquefort, vegetables and salad 310 Pesos

Groceries

Prices will vary widely depending on where you shop. Choose from local vendors, the Mercado at the Plaza, Super Guba, La Dispensa, Surtidor, Soriana's, Wal*Mart, Super Lake or El Torito's. We like to shop with the local vendors and in doing so, we save measurably on daily foods.

20 Liters bottled water home delivery 27 Pesos (with tip)

Can of Raid spray, 82-93 Pesos

Flat of 36 eggs, 84 Pesos

Red Snapper 195 Pesos per kilo

1/4 pound of unsalted butter 32 Pesos

1 bolio (bread) 12-24 Pesos

Heinz Ketchup 397 grams 27 Pesos

Virgin Olive oil 750 ml 275 Pesos

Hunts BBQ sauce 620 grams 55 Pesos

Small can tuna 17 Pesos

Powder laundry soap 24 Pesos

Dish soap 900 ml 44-55 Pesos

6 double rolls quality Toilet Paper 64 Pesos

Ranch dressing 710 grams 87 Pesos

 

 

 

 

Strawberry Marmalade 140 grams 45 Pesos

Peanut butter local brand 340 grams 63 Pesos

Eggplant, 40 Pesos per kilo

Papaya, 25 Pesos per kilo

Watermelon 25 Pesos per kilo

1 kilo bacon, thick sliced, 200 Pesos

Cantaloupe 28 Pesos per kilo

Red apples 60 Pesos per kilo

Peaches, 150 Pesos per kilo

Red onions, 35 Pesos per kilo

Fresh Fruits are available Year Round

Fresh Fruits are available Year Round

1 liter container of fruit yogurt 45 Pesos

Whole roasted chicken with salad, tortillas and rice, 200 Pesos - whole roasted chicken only, 160 Pesos

Potatoes, 25 Pesos per kilo

White onions, 20 Pesos per kilo

Zucchini, 20 Pesos per kilo

Carrots, 15 Pesos per kilo

Broccoli, 30 Pesos per kilo

Asparagus, 250 Pesos per kilo

Grilled Meats are Plentiful

Grilled Meats are Plentiful

400 grams prunes 50 Pesos

Madarines, 30 Pesos per kilo

Fresh figs, 80 Pesos per kilo

Nectarines, 150 Pesos per kilo,

Mangos, 80 Pesos per kilo

1 liter of Blueberries, 100 Pesos

Tortillas, 26 Pesos per kilo

White beans already cooked, 35 Pesos per liter

Fresh spinach in a bag, 70 Pesos

1 package with 3 ears of sweet corn, 60 Pesos per kilo

 

Chapala Living Guide is based on our first hand eperience of living in Chapala, Mexico

 

Medical

Medical care and medicines are fairly reasonable here in town. For special or extensive medical problems you might prefer to go to Guadalajara for your care. For more complete information on this topic, see our Chapala Medical Page    

If you are interested in Continuous Care options or specific pricing for what is covered click on the previous links.

Taking a Break at the Fountain in Central Chapala

Taking a Break at the Fountain in Central Chapala

Doctor visit at local clinic to get prescription 50 Pesos

1 box of baby aspirin, 90 Pesos

Bifocals with frames 400 Pesos

Field of vision eye exam 2,000 Pesos

New crown 2,500 Pesos, 1,250 Pesos for other services, at Dentist 3,750 Pesos total)

Tooth cleaning 300-500 Pesos

Tooth implant 10,500 Pesos (includes pulling tooth, implant and crown)

Tooth pulling 800 Pesos

Exam and Echo Cardiogram - 800 Pesos by a cardiologist

First visit to doctor for complete patient intake and exam 800 -1,000 Pesos

Blood panel for Estrogens 390 Pesos

Natrazim blood pressure medicine, 28 tabs, 80mg. 155 Pesos per box

1 box Diclofenaco tabs, 100 mg, 20 tablets, 35 Pesos

Melatonin, 5mg, 20 tabs, 89 Pesos

Lanoprost eye medicine .05ml bottle 199 Pesos

Dorzolamida eye medicine 15ml bottle 160 Pesos

Ampicilina 500 mg, 12 caps, 36 Pesos

Ivermectin 6 mg, 4 tabs 101 Pesos

 

To summarize, a couple can easily live in Chapala on $1,800 - $2,500 USD per month. 

This is YOUR year.

Retirement is right around the corner and you're ready to go someplace where the weather suits your clothes. Spring-type temperatures year 'round, Chapala, Mexico is a dream come true and the place for you!

If you're looking to stay in chain hotels or for a lifestyle that is just like the States then you're ... Read more click here.

For more information, stories and photos of Mexico, click here

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About the Authors

 
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

 

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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