I often bought organic veggies (expensive) at the Friday market in Sayulita, so the food budget is generous for a range of eating styles. But one thing's for sure about the Mrida Mexico cost of living. A single person is hard-pressed to spend more than $1,000 here on a modest budget. Your blog is FANTASTIC ! The bus makes a number of stops, but its not so bad. My husband and I are locals, we know Mahahual quite well, we also own a building with four one bedroom furnished apartments that we rent to expats short and long term. My dream is to travel the world in 3 years, I was planning to travel with my husband but unfortunately our relationship ended recently. The small towns are economical, but most are very primitive in infrastructure and with limited activities, but you are appreciated more in those places. bringing the total for medical expenses to $450, which may not be typical of everyone. Also, one must consider inflation; something that is no less a concern in Mexico than in the US or Canada. More like $1800 for a mix of average lifestyles.. You mentioned you stay in Barcelona, how did you manage to live there longer than 90 days? Less heavy with expats than any other surrounding town. Puerto Vallarta 2. Given that the U.S. has its own social injustices, and given that housing is skyrocketing, many expats look to Mexico as a place where they can afford to live a type of life that feels less attainable in the U.S. right now. CFE, ZGAS, CAPA, and Fidi? .fullwidth-signup{ (When renting a hotel with AC, its usually a tad less than double the nightly rate without it). } In the tourist areas, yes. But if youre looking to save money you can take 2nd or 3rd-class buses that can be half the price. Thats a really good point, thank you Randall! How to Call a 1-800 Number from Mexico for FREE! Oaxaca or Hautulco Santa maria if I typed that right. width: 100%; Ive been thinking of retiring in San Pancho. Some of these places can be economical, but they are very primitive places to live. Hi Shannon. and that isnt so bad, but I think you can live better than you describe for 2500/mo. I would love to share with you if you havent seen yet. Certainly, smaller towns are cheaper, because they dont have a lot to spend your money on and restaurants are more questionable. The rent is $420 per month, not including. Slow travel = cheap travel,youll save more by staying in the same place for a month or longer. I do not know your life style, but I love walking in P.V. Norrie also pulled out of the tournament in Mexico, saying he needed to rest after reaching final in back-to-back events. Naturally, I asked, what criteria does a town need to meet when youre looking for the next place to live and explore? Playa del Carmen 4. Can you comment? It is rare and exceptionally kind of you to offer your personal adventures. I was lucky to have friends in town so I could split one of the big pizzas for our weekly Friday-night gatherings, and my friends Victoria and Steve often hosted potlucks. I hope this guide helps you on your travels in Mexico! I discovered photography and I love it! she beamed. Great Article! I just read that you can still get a 6-month visa online, but people trying to get one at the border have recently been subject to the whims of border agents. Budget for living in Mexico on $500 a month. What part of town do you suggest? The cheapest way to travel between cities is by taking a bus. Hmm, I dont think SP is the best place for a night owl. Thats the reason they decided to move to Mexico. Answer (1 of 16): The base answer is that in absolute terms the answer is yes (with that amount there are places you could retire in the US), but the operative part of this question "Is it enough for you to live there" is an impossible to answer question. My wife and I live in the Riviera Maya; one of the most expensive places in Mexico, however it bothers me when posts, even for inland Mexico provide bogus numbers that arent providing the entire story. It's more than possible to live well in Ecuador on less than $500 per month! A lovely beach in Puerto Vallarta with the Sierra Madre mountains in the background. + Ultimate Guide to Living in TulumContinue. Hi Shannon, night. Sayulita might be a much better fitit will have its own happenings, and its still a chill town but its 20 minutes closer to Puerto Vallarta where you could surely go if you craved a bit more activity occasionally! https://www.amnestyusa.org/fleeing-for-our-lives-central-american-migrant-crisis/. Groceries $600.00 I ask this, because of this report, I wondered why so many Central Americans are risking life, limb to come here while Americans are thinking of living there? For a midrange hotel in Puerto Vallarta, look atHotel Mercurio. Welcome to my Tulum Travel Guide. I give them credit for their amazing skills. Good questions. It costs me 4000.00 honest Canadian Dollars a month to live as I do. Is it really humid in San Pancho? The super-store grocery shops in Mexico like Chedraui and Walmart carry a lot of imported goods and costs can add up fast! Its freeing. Oaxaca: I lived here for six months and found it is one of the most affordable expat cities in Mexico. Any idea how the schooling would work? 1. I make a small commission on purchases you make through a select few product linksthis keeps ALA ad-free and never affects my recommendations. When we need milk etc. Why would you need this much unless you run a company or some such? My food budget was pretty generous, so if you cook at home, even adding the cost of cooking meat, I think you could get by on 1,000 pesos each week. Health Ins $250.00 Thanks so much for all the great info! $300 for airfare? 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 In fact, try this on for size: The Mexican government raised the 2023 minimum wage to 207 pesos (about $10.82) per day. You will surely have an easier time getting settled with dual citizenship. This means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click through these links and make a purchase. Sayulita has great beaches for what youre after. If I could meet expats on my way it would be great ! Grenada -- $16.34; Seychelles -- $16.34; Going on relaxing walks with waterfalls, wildlife, and not another soul in sight is perfect for amazing photography. If you are at all interested in Baja, check it out. Can A Poor American Live In Mexico On 500 Dollars A Month Social Security?? Hi Shannon, I would research in those groups for things people have said about each town, and pose a question to the expats if there isnt muchthey will undoubtedly have some great thoughts for you! I actually live in Spain now, but the Pacific coast of Mexico will always hold a special place in my heart. And this budget is on the high-end for one person; if I had looked around for an apartment or shared a house with friends my costs would have lowered to $600 (and my friend Earl says thats about the cost of living in Playa del Carmen on the east coast beaches as well). I would love to move to another country but without a work Visa it would be challenging to work. I am often emailed a question thats roughly this question. Ive lived in Tulum for over 5 months and I want to share EVERYTHING you need to know to have the perfect trip. Read More 13 Street Foods You NEED to Try in Oaxaca (2023)Continue. Thanks gor the info! I dont know a lot about Pachuca since I havent been, but I think its a small town with a very local feel (meaning speaking decent Spanish is ideal). So, when youre ready to return, there is surely going to be an affordable quiet life still there and waiting. What part do you live in? Thank you for your insight and always the best to you, Shannon! Its all a win for a happier healthier life. You may be able to spend half that much if you live back in the neighborhood a short distance. I especially like Yelapa, because it is a very beautify bay within a larger protective bay (Banderas Bay). Food. and Im there summers and stay several blocks back from the beach. Note that when you move to Mexico, you will still have costs in the place you left, I.e. I share a heap of Mexico resources at the end. Just like everywhere, real estate costs vary, but the average housing purchase in Mexico in the first quarter of 2021 was just MXN310,750. content: ""; Loved all the extra links at the end! How do you handle the heat? Transport. I want out of this rat race. Your sharing of your life is exponentially a better resource for me. 4000.00 Canadian Dollars Would give you a decent life in Canada. I like active places like Puerto Vallarta where theres modern conveniences and more choices. You probably won't find something for less than 500 us or euros, at least not in a decent area. I have traveled extensively throughout Mexico and find it a wonderful country the more one learns the more fun one has, for certain!!! Read More Top 10 Things to Do in OaxacaContinue. Mexico or Costa Rica could both make for exactly the type of experience that you are looking for. Mexico has many coffee growing regions, so most coffee is pretty good here. Hmmm, maybe Mexico isnt going to be for me, after all. Visa should be no issue at all if you have a U.S. passport, and I havent traveled to Acapulco. How do you generate an income while you are living in different countries? While you can stay in hostelswithin budget in some cities, I recommend finding roommates for apartments viaFacebook groupsorvolunteering at hostelsin exchange for free accommodation. Then I lived in Mexico twicetwo different spotsfor roughly a year. So glad youve found it helpful and I wish you all the luck making the transition next winterMexico is a beautiful (warm) place to spend part of the year. Electricity in Mexico is very expensive. 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. The only real exception to this advantage is if you want to stay in or near to one of Mexico's popular beach destinations. For food with less than 400us a month you dont eat well. Like when they decided to live in Valle de Bravo in Central Mexico. 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. 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. For all the similarities in what type of communities you can find, after 1.5 years in Thailand, I understood that the culture gap would be nearly impossible to bridge in Thailand. I hate hostels, I do not have the character to be with other people. Upstate New Yorker Robin Chacon and her husband, Marty, love exploring Mexico. Also in most of Baja in or near the cities Mexicans do earn a lot more than the average minimum wage. width: 100%; I can be a little primitive, but its nice to have conveniences around as well. I found my monthly expenses were about $650 US: $230 US to rent a furnished apartment, maybe another $70 for monthly utilities and internet. Its no secret Im a vegetarian, so for me, a country gets bonus points for not only the accessibility of vegetarian food, but the understanding of the concept of vegetarianism. I am working on my Spanish, but as a senior citizen, its slow. Maybe ask for some assistance if you Spanish is a bit weak. Plus, with car insurance at a fraction of the cost, its easy to do. If you have the time, we recommend visiting the country first to get a sense of where you'd like to live. 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