Cost of Living: Ajijic vs Chicago (2026)

Ajijic is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $879/month there vs $2388/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Chicago is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Ajijic has a rate of 24.86 per 100,000 and Chicago has 17.50 per 100,000.

Ajijic and Chicago are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Ajijic: Mexico Temporary Resident Visa (moderate requirements, 1–4 years). Chicago: US Employment-Based Green Card (complex process, Permanent residence). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Chicago is easier for street-level English (100/100) than Ajijic (20/100). That's the score that matters for doctors, landlords, and bureaucracy. Office English can still run higher than street English in both cities.

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $879/month in Ajijic, $2388/month in Chicago (Numbeo). That's 63% cheaper rent in Ajijic.

Chicago scores 7.8/10 on the EIU Democracy Index vs 5.3/10 for Ajijic. Both are functional democracies, though the gap matters if you're planning to stay long enough to care about local politics.

Chicago scores higher on our composite healthcare index (80/100 vs 62/100 for Ajijic). That score combines clinical outcomes (IHME), universal coverage (WHO), and resident perception (Numbeo) — not just whether hospitals exist but whether the system actually works for settlers.