So, with that in mind, this post below outlines my my expat stints across Mexicofrom a tiny beach town on the Pacific coast to the food capital of Oaxaca. Thank you for that. Aloha and thank you for the excellent read. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can use them to travel within a city, or between cities, and theres no set route its all word of mouth. Naturally, I asked, what criteria does a town need to meet when youre looking for the next place to live and explore? Is this possible in the area you stayed at or should I be looking more towards Sayulita? Although its mostly online trolls asking it, its a good question and one worth answering. That was one of the main reasons I considered retiring there. Then I lived in Mexico twicetwo different spotsfor roughly a year. Just curious about air conditioningdo you use it? The ADO bus is pretty much the only bus service in Mexico that has an online booking option, so if you want to book a budget 2nd or 3rd class bus you need to go to the bus station where they will tell you the schedule in-person, and you pay in cash. San Francisco, aka San Pancho, was my first experience in Mexico. In the video and these breakdowns, I very specifically quote pesos and not dollars as my costs because the exchange rate may vary, but you will be paying for your life in pesos! When I was living in Merida I did my weekly grocery shopping in the Walmart superstore and somehow spent $100 per week, even paying in Pesos. and that isnt so bad, but I think you can live better than you describe for 2500/mo. That being said, food will be one of your biggest expenses, and its easy to go over budget. Thats including medical treatments, gym memberships, and a lot of extras they would never be able to afford back home. These all come recommended, and if you plan to move to the area they are a good base. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Subscribe to the Magazine Today and Save 65%, IL Magazine: Discover the World's Best Retirement Haven for 2023 + 15 more, about subscribing to International Living Magazine. Stay protected while traveling and sign up withSafety Wing Travel Insuranceby clicking here! In the supermarket a middle shelf bottle of Mezcal will cost you around $15.00 and a six pack of beer will cost you $5.00. In more off the beaten path places, you can live comfortably on $500-$1,000 per month in places like Oaxaca, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Escondido, etc. We shop at Walmart or Leys. I would love to move to another country but without a work Visa it would be challenging to work. clear: both; It's natural, some local markets will have cheaper fruits and vegetables while other markets will have cheaper meats. Excellent detail and good for planning some long adventures around the world! How do you handle the heat? Rent in Mexico City is getting more and more expensive. I do think prices have gone up a bit since then, mostly the global cost of food. 3. The quietness of where we specifically own our apartment works well for renters who work remotely as they are not disturbed by busiling city sounds. } Although it wasnt as cheap, I have continued to make Mexico a regular stop on my travels in the years since I lived in San Pancho and Oaxaca. Very touristy region in general but convenient and safe. Mexico also has a very generous visa policysix months on arrival for Americans, which helps keep total living costs low. San Pancho is a great town for nightlife if you like a bit of variety but nothing too crazyno dance clubs, but we did have two great bars and a lot of live music throughout the week. Monthly Stays Near Me And, lastly $100 per month for home maintenance yet you own your own home? Guanajuato is a wonderful place, but I prefer beach resort towns or university towns where theres cultural and infrastructure. Im moving there in about a month. There's something for everyone's needs and budget. If you dont speak a word of Spanish and you want to stay in a less-touristic city, your best bet will likely be hostels. Jan. 1, 2013 -- intro: American couples can retire in comfort on a budget of less than $1,000 a month if they are willing to look overseas, according to a new report from the live-abroad . Manzanillo 15. Housing (not applicable to us}; Its located below most of the United States, so imagine driving from Texas to Seattle and you have an idea of what it might take to get to another area of Mexico. This is great, thanks so much! PS. Merida, Mexico. What do you thing, Shannon? Prop Tax $12.50 My income is fixed and I am at the upper level of poverty. Also confusing whats up with all the abbreviations? Explaining I really learned what doesnt work for me. From the few things I just read about it, it hits on all the things I love in an expat spot small and walkable downtown, opportunities to engage with and volunteer in the local community, and good local food! If you have the time, we recommend visiting the country first to get a sense of where you'd like to live. I am now retired and living in Buena Vista, Baja California Sur almost full time. Americans retiring to Mexico basically use geo-arbitrage to spend their money and social security checks in a country where the USD goes a lot further. We are about to be neighbors. I useSafetyWing travel health insurance, if youre young and healthy its only around $40 per month. ZGAS $30.00 Im on the fence between Asia and Latin America, I love them both for different reasons, so rather than compare these aspects of life to each other, below is the food, life, and culture you get for that budget living in a beach town on Mexicos Pacific coast. What is CFE, ZGAS and CAPA? What is OOP? Oaxaca or Hautulco Santa maria if I typed that right. This is about 1200 per month. US citizens get six months on arrival. Taxis are going to run you a fair bit more. }. *YouTube video and photos coming soon* You can go below $500 per month if you keep to a tight budget in the outlying efforts. I recognize this as a gift to many, done with humility and grace. Many books extol living in Mexico for $1000-$1500 a month (20-40% of the cost of living a similar lifestyle in the states). Car Ins. I have traveled extensively throughout Mexico and find it a wonderful country the more one learns the more fun one has, for certain!!! I do not know your life style, but I love walking in P.V. Im just curious what that $4000CSD goes towards without prying into your personal life. So, I am very grateful for your time and your willingness to assist people. In Mexico, theres much diversity from one town to the next, so select a town where you feel comfortable. There is a divide there. Things like meat and dairy products will cost a lot more than fruits, vegetables, and carbs, so consider going vegetarian if youre traveling in Mexico on an extreme budget! The average annual wage in Oaxaca, for example, is around $10,500thats an average and many Mexicans live on less than that sum (particularly indigenous and rural populations). Mexico is 2/3rd the size of Western Euro. Touristy but a very clear personality with organic markets, yoga shops, surfers, etc. someone must be ripping him off. Lots of restaurants, shops, a language school, etc. HA! Here are some tips for staying within your $100 per month food budget while traveling in Mexico. This means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click through these links and make a purchase. I did not see you mention the fact that SP has a full Hospital. See if you can organize a work-to-stay job with a hostel, where you work a few hours at the front desk in exchange for free accommodations! If you have no desire for any creature comforts, you can realistically live on $500 USD per month. Tulum 10. Wide, clearly marked, well-maintained roads and highways are easy to navigate and drive. That quality is to be admired. Capt/Drm (2021), Im planning to move to Mexico. My wife and I are planning on becoming snow birds next winter. Robin smiled broadly explaining everything we have fits in our car, including our lovely kitty Lily. When they want to set out to explore another part of Mexico its as easy as packing the car and off they go. Hope that helps generate some ideas! I live on about $1,500 per month (which includes social security benefits). Although there are some bars that get hopping during the high season, its not a late hours place and it will be fairly dead in shoulder and off season. Are there a lot of foreigners there? /* Create three equal columns that floats next to each other */ Sounds fancy. My baseline (and total) costs to live in Mexico came in under $745 every month. I dont think anyone buys glasses every month. The super-store grocery shops in Mexico like Chedraui and Walmart carry a lot of imported goods and costs can add up fast! Id appreciate if you could you break it down ? With its abundance of modern services and amenities and the year-round temperate climate, Cuernavaca is well-known for its upscale . Hi Shannon, If youre on an extreme budget, I would recommend in-land mountainous cities likeQuertaroandSan Cristobal de las Casas, because theyre much cheaper to live and travel in than cities by the beach in Mexico. Food. When I lived in San Pancho, which is just north of Puerto Vallarta, there was a Polo Club in the town with active polo matches and such. Im a dual citizen US/MX. I will be glad to offer you accomodation! San Pancho has a truly great vibe if you like small towns. How long have you lived in Mexico? If would only just listen and do everything I say, your life would be the same. do not forget to add these. Es me corozon (its my heart). .signup-row:after { We love it because it is a good combination of a touristy town while at the same time retaining a tranquil nature. Learn more about Mexico and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Also in most of Baja in or near the cities Mexicans do earn a lot more than the average minimum wage. A Little Adrift is proudly ad-free; all opinions and suggestions are my own. I am disable/retired vet(53), however, functional. One of the best things about living in Mexico is the variety of cities and towns to choose from. Beach is gorgeous but not very safe for kids swimming (though some do) because of strong waves/undertow. content: ""; As a U.S. citizen, I receive a six month visa on arrival automatically, and this can be reset simply by crossing a border and coming back indefinitely. Any idea how the schooling would work? Whats the price you put to your life? Locals though are obsessed with turning out lights and lowering the electric bill. Im hoping we can make the move before retirement age, so we have more years to enjoy our time there. Sayulita was perfect to have nearby if I needed to vary up my food, explore a bit, or just get out of town for a few hours. Huatulco 16. But the real question is, "Do you really want to do that?" The lifestyle with that budget won't suit most people, and you might not survive long if you're living that frugally. Im not looking for fancy, just a good relaxing atmosphere. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 70 points, or 0.2%. With apartments going for 2-3x what they were before the pandemic. My dream is to travel the world in 3 years, I was planning to travel with my husband but unfortunately our relationship ended recently. Living in Mexico can sometimes seem like life in a rollercoaster. I am not a partier. Thanks so much for all the great info! Robin Chacon. I worked a lot so my bike took me most anywhere I wanted to go. The three-bedroom, four-bathroom home is situated on a 5.6-acre lot in the gated Las Campanas development . Our perceptions and reality of the world are often skewed; that is true of Mexico. Im all about the small towns, and I also dont party much so maybe San Pancho is next for me? Health Ins $250.00 I always useHostelWorld.comto find budget stays in Mexico . San Pancho and Sayulita are more well known, but just south of them are even tinier surfing towns where I know friends have enjoyed months near the water. As in most cities, going outside the city center will allow you to spend less. The downside to Leon is the climate. Rent a house in Guanajuato is at least USD1,000 a month. night. Thank you. Would you recommend I book an Airbnb? In fact, during high season there was live music at one of the bars or restaurants nearly every night. My top recommendation for where to live in Mexico on $500 per month isSan Cristobal de las Casasbecause its a beautiful city with lots of things to do and its very inexpensive. The community is different than what you find in San Miguel or PV, it seems there are more opportunities to integrate into Mexican life. Although Robins not retired, its nice to have left the high-powered corporate world back in upstate New York and only work two to four hours a day. :). To finish up I asked Robin if she had advice for anyone wanting to explore Mexico by living in different places. I found your blog because I was looking for more info on how to manage the tourist visa. They built a love project side business doing drone photography. I pay 600/mo. This is a list of 130 countries where you can live for under 500 United States dollars per month. Food costs a bit less than America. Ideal would be apartment with swimming pool. Budget $4,000.00. Discovering the joy of photography, I love taking amazing photos of all the places weve lived. Its the sum total of it all that I loveby living outside the U.S. (I now reside in Barcelona, Spain), I am able to scale back the hours I have to work each week to survive, and instead focus that attention on doing things I love: volunteering in the nearby community center, taking photographs, and having the time to enjoy the friendships I make. I now live in Puerto Vallarta. If youre in a city that does have ride-hailing apps, like Merida, Mexico City, or Oaxaca, you cansave money by always using an app like Didi or Uberto call taxis when you need them. I dont know anyone there, but it seems like in the last couple of years there has been a bit of coverage about it (and some people saying it has a tight-knit expat community, which is a strong plus). Thats the reason they decided to move to Mexico. ET Back in the States, we had so much stuff. Guanajuato is a very nice place Id recommend. Unlocked is a new home tour series. Rent on small towns can be 5k pesos, so you would be living very close to the limit an sometimes you will be tight on money. We spend around $400-$500 per month on groceries, including non-food items and dog food. 3.utilities. Lives in Mexico 3 y 500 usd is arround 10k pesos. The most recent place, ticking all of the boxes with its pristine nature and low cost of living is Cozumel in the Mexican Caribbean. I have visited there a few times, and I love it, despite some of the negative parts of the city, and state of Guerrero. So you are scraping by on the equivalent of almost $2,500 USD per month? . My landlords have always asked me to be very conscious of it, so I believe that the price can be very dear. My advise is to find something decent for 400-500 US$ per month. The perfect side hustle for a little extra cash while out and about roaming around Mexico. Now, downsizing to an apartment or small house and living a simpler life she said they are a lot happier. I will share with you how I lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico for less than $500 USD a month. I am quite spoiled where I live now with fiber and regular speeds in the 300-500GB range and I know I wont get speeds like that in Mexico but wanting some reasonable idea of what it is like there. Bowen says his monthly budget of $2,500 is covered by his Social Security check of $1,800 plus investment income. Have been to Mazatlan to surf a few times , 10 years ago , but now looking for the idyllic small beach town. Good luck with the retirement planning. Maybe ask for some assistance if you Spanish is a bit weak. Clearly the financials are interesting. For $1300 a month they lived very comfortably. But if youre looking to save money you can take 2nd or 3rd-class buses that can be half the price. Keep reading for tips on how to save money on your transportation bill in Mexico. float: none; There are many, many expats living in the area. Its all a win for a happier healthier life. Other than the kitchen, it had everything else you would expect in a studiofull-size bed, counter with stools (where I worked from), closet, and a bathroom (a tour is shown in the video above). Both of those were included in my rent. The longest I have stayed is 10 days, so thanks for your tips! The bus makes a number of stops, but its not so bad. Health insurance is reasonably priced, but will be a significant budget consideration. The absolute cheapest way to eat in Mexico is by onlybuying locally grown and produced foodat farmers markets, and then cooking yourself. A high point of living in Mexico is the fact that apartments and houses come with full kitchens (though mine was minus an oven), this is really great if youre keen to cookanything you rent here will likely come with a stove and pots and pans if its a furnished apartment. Out-of-home dining: 8,000 pesos Groceries and sundries: 9,000 pesos Transportation: 1,000 pesos Utilities: 2,500 pesos Personal services: 1,600 pesos Sports and leisure: 4,000 pesos Childcare: 0 Clothing: 1,000 pesos Rent: 29,000 pesos Insurance: 10,525 pesos Credit card: 0 Then there will also be quirky situations and opportunities that are harder to find but certainly exist. He knows everyone in town and could help you understand the town, the people, and how to rent a place longer-term. Sure it is. border: 0.2rem solid #ffb500; While there arecertainly dangerous places in Mexico, the country is huge. When we need milk etc. Average Cost to Retire in Mexico. Electric is $100 every other month. In 20 Minutes You Can Start Speaking Spanish. More like $1800 for a mix of average lifestyles.. We use a mix of paid campgrounds and free areas. We have internet, telephone etc. 4000.00 Canadian Dollars Would give you a decent life in Canada. Its very shallow and light on the waves in parts since its an inlet. We love exploring and taking amazing photos.. Here is a summary of potential cost of living in Mexico in 2023, according to Numbeo: Family of four estimated monthly costs are US$1,850 (35,970MXN) without rent. I like active places like Puerto Vallarta where theres modern conveniences and more choices. Budget. One could take busses, but I prefer a taxi. Theres a river that feeds into the inlet water, and that area has a lot of pebbles, or there are sandy parts with tons of children wading and paddle boarders floating around. Now he doesnt have to keep long working hours or put up with painful months of bitterly cold weather. Continue. 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