So I expanded my research overseas, looking for a place to life that would feel safe, inspiring, and, of course, affordable. I still wanted to be able to visit my family regularly, so it also couldn’t be too far from San Francisco.
One day, as I described my frustration in finding the perfect place to retire, a friend recommended Ajijic, Mexico, citing its favorable weather, rich culture, and natural beauty. It’s also just a four-hour flight (plus a short drive) from San Francisco.
Though I was concerned about the language barrier — I speak only a little Spanish — he assured me that English was widely spoken there.
So, in 2023, I quit my job, packed two suitcases, and flew across the border to start the next chapter of my life.
The town sits on the dreamy shore of Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest natural lake. It’s also surrounded by the foothills of the Sierra Madre, a mountain range full of hiking trails.
Ajijic is also famous for its cultural activities — there are art shows, concerts, and festivals all year round. My favorite, the carnival before Lent, fills the streets with colorful floats, school bands, and men in funny wooden masks dancing in the tradition of the Sayacos.
Having a lower cost of living has made my early retirement comfortable
Generally, I’ve seen two-bedroom rentals in Ajijic cost about $1,000 a month — about a third of the prices I’d been finding in San Francisco.
My monthly utility costs, including internet and phone, dropped from about $350 to $110. Dinner at a decent restaurant is about $20 per person here, whereas I used to spend about $60 dining out back home.
Before moving to Ajijic, my biggest worry was healthcare access. So far, my experiences here have put my mind at ease.
Here, a semi-recent trip to the emergency room for a fall, including a consultation, X-ray, and a splint, cost me less than $150. Even with insurance, I’d expect to pay at least triple that amount for a similar visit back home.
Financial freedom has allowed me to pursue a fuller life
I moved to Mexico for financial freedom, but the bigger reward has been the reinvention that’s come with retiring early here.
With more time on my hands, I began gardening and painting murals in my backyard — hobbies I’d wanted to explore for years.
Since moving to Ajijic, I’ve finished writing two novels, started screenwriting, and even won a partial scholarship to a writers’ retreat in France. I spent two weeks driving through the French countryside, something I’d never imagined.
Inspired by the creative drive, I auditioned at a local theater and was cast in a play. Acting had been my childhood passion, and returning to the stage after college brought that dream back to life.
Over the past two years, I’ve joined an improv troupe, performed at community events, and even sung with a local band.
Retiring in Mexico has done more than stretch my budget — surrounded by Ajijic’s cobblestone streets and bougainvillea-draped walls, I’ve been pushed to live a richer life with even more possibilities.
