The towns along Lake Chapala’s north shore, in central Mexico, offer loads of Old Mexico’s charm

Cobblestoned streets lined with gaily-painted buildings…burro-drawn carts ambling through the square… The towns along Lake Chapala’s north shore, in central Mexico, offer loads of Old Mexico’s charm. Yet you also find modern homes and condos built to exacting U.S. standards, gourmet supermarkets with U.S. specialty items, and familiar warehouse stores and brands. If you want Mexico’s low cost of living and charm without giving up U.S.-style amenities, look no farther than Lake Chapala.

I recently visited Lake Chapala to see if it lived up to its reputation as an area where the living is easy, comfortable, and inexpensive. I can safely report that it’s all still true.

In Lake Chapala, you can find plenty of one- and two-bedroom condos starting at just over $100,000. (For instance, I saw a two-bedroom, two-bath condo in a small gated community with a pool and a gym for just under $110,000.)

Villas and small homes start at about $140,000. If you have $200,000 to spend on a property, you’ll have plenty to choose from. And remember—property taxes are also low in Mexico. You’ll rarely spend more than $200 a year in taxes on a property.

For daily cost of living, you pay pennies on the dollar buying your fruits and vegetables at the local markets. There are also convenient supermarkets if you don’t speak Spanish (and in Lake Chapala you can get by without it—many locals speak some English).

Got a hankering for peanut butter, cheese whiz, Thai noodles, or some other item you’re used to buying in the U.S.? No problem. Thanks to the area’s large and thriving expat community, many products you know and love from the U.S. are available here.

For instance, I bought a kilo-sized (that’s 2.2 pounds) brick of one of my favorite cheeses—Cabot Creamery’s extra-sharp cheddar—for about $7.50. That’s little more than I paid in the States for this Vermont specialty. I also saw a variety of ethnic ingredients, like curries, soy and oyster sauce, and plenty of pasta sauces. Depending on how much you eat out, the monthly grocery bill for a couple can run about $250 to $300, locals say.

You can do your own cooking and cleaning if you enjoy it—but maid and gardener service is still inexpensive here. Maids in Lake Chapala generally cost $3 to $4 an hour, while gardeners run $3.50 to $5 an hour.

Thanks to Lake Chapala’s temperate climate, heating and air conditioning are seldom needed, which cuts down costly electric bills. Propane gas, used for cooking and water heaters, is pretty inexpensive—perhaps $30 to $50 a month, depending on your usage.

Both cable and satellite TV are available, with plans starting at about $35. Basic telephone service starts at less than $20.

Of course, you can always pay more for all of these items. But for those living on a budget, the Lake Chapala area still offers Mexican charm and U.S. convenience at affordable prices.

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