Cost of Living: Ajijic vs New York (2026)

Ajijic is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $879/month there vs $4281/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

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.

New York edges ahead 56 to 51. 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.

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.

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.

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $879/month in Ajijic, $4281/month in New York (Numbeo). That's 79% cheaper rent in Ajijic.

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.

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.