Cost of Living: Ajijic vs New York (2026)
Mexico vs United States — relocation comparison
- No VAT exemption
- €350/yr accountant
- No VAT exemption
- 15.3% social
- €1000/yr accountant
Sourced from Numbeo · Updated May 2026
Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated May 2026
Sun
How much sky you actually get
Sun clocks out early in New York's winter. Plan accordingly.
Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)
Settler Essentials
Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo
Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals
Reproductive Rights
Because your body shouldn't need a visa too
Decriminalized nationwide by Supreme Court in 2023. Access varies by state.
Post-Dobbs (2022): varies dramatically by state. Fully banned in ~14 states, protected in ~20 states.
Source: Center for Reproductive Rights
LGBTQ+ Rights
Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first
Rainbow Index source: ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map (European cities) / Equaldex Equality Index (elsewhere) — two distinct scales
The Short Version
- •Rent is 79% cheaper in Ajijic ($879/mo vs $4281/mo for a 1BR city centre).
- •Summers are slightly warmer in New York (28°C vs 26°C).
- •New York is safer by homicide rate (3.9 vs 24.9 per 100k).
- •New York scores higher on democracy (7.8 vs 5.3 / 10 EIU).
- •Street-level English is easier in New York (100/100 vs 20/100).
Ajijic vs New York — Common Questions
Is Ajijic cheaper than New York?▾
Ajijic is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $879/month in Ajijic vs $4281/month in the other city (Numbeo data).
Which is safer, Ajijic or New York?▾
New York is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Ajijic has a rate of 24.86 per 100,000 and New York has 3.90 per 100,000.
Should I move to Ajijic or New York?▾
New York edges ahead 56 to 49. Ajijic isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.
Is it easier to get residency in Ajijic or New York?▾
Ajijic: Mexico Temporary Resident Visa (moderate requirements, 1–4 years). New York: US Employment-Based Green Card (complex process, Permanent residence). See each city's profile page for full requirements.
Can I live in Ajijic or New York without speaking the local language?▾
New York 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.
What's the cost of rent in Ajijic vs New York?▾
A 1-bedroom in the centre: $879/month in Ajijic, $4281/month in New York (Numbeo). That's 79% cheaper rent in Ajijic.
Is Ajijic or New York better for democracy and rule of law?▾
New York 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.
Is healthcare better in Ajijic or New York?▾
New York scores higher on our composite healthcare index (79/100 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.
Plot twist: other matchups exist
Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.
Compare Ajijic
Ajijic vs Montreal
Compare Ajijic
Ajijic vs Toronto
Compare New York
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Let the algorithm judge you
2 min quiz — surprisingly accurate
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