Gouchomarx - 8-6-2009 at 02:55 PM
I assume from what I've seen that the housing prices are lower. Especially if you are living near the water. And I know that gasoline usually costs
less.
What are the other costs like ? Utilities such as water, electricity, gas (propane ?), telephone ? How reliable is the telephone service and is DSL
offered wherever telephone service is ?
How about food and the other necessities of life ? If you want to buy the kind of things we do in the U.S., are the prices more or less ?
The bottom line question is whether there is a reasonable cost difference to support living after retirement in Baja ?
DENNIS - 8-6-2009 at 03:22 PM
If you don't factor in your house, which could go from almost nothing to mucho, it's pretty much just like San Diego. Lots of little differences,
depending on the commodity but, pretty much the same, maybe a bit more.
Those days of "Mexico on five bucks a day" are long gone. I recently saw a book for sale here, " USA on five bucks a day." [that's a freakin joke]
Osprey - 8-6-2009 at 03:23 PM
It used to be fairly simple to answer your questions. Not any more. Things are just changing too fast, up there, down here. Do this and you'll get
good answers that may help you. Tell us where and how you live, how much things cost where you are let us know where you think you might be looking at
in Baja. There are retirees from all over Mexico on this forum and they are very helpful if you steer them in the direction you're going.
Just one example: the news tells me there are some places in the U.S. right now where it is difficult, at any price, to purchase veggies. That's a new
one on me.
Woooosh - 8-6-2009 at 08:46 PM
There's no correct answer... Are you asking: "Can I live the same lifestyle I enjoy now in the states for the same amount of money or less in
Baja?" (and it depends what part of Baja too). You can live in an ocean side trailer park, in an enclave of million dollar homes- or anywhere in
between. Choose your price point. There are other countries further south of Mexico that are good options also.
At 13:1 everything in Baja you buy (or the bills you pay) with pesos right now is a realative bargain. Baja Norte CostCo and Home Depot prices aren't
very different. Land line phone lines/DSL cost a little more than in the states (We pay 750 pesos for TelNor phone and 2Meg DSL). Gas prices vary
with PeMex. Electricity rates for heavy users (you mentioned DSL) are less, but not cheap. What is cheaper are the local foods, property taxes, the
road side taco stands and going to the movies. But the best reasons for moving to baja are totally free- the sunsets, the ocean and all the
recreational and cultural opportunities. JMHO
UnoMas - 8-6-2009 at 09:23 PM
Just figure it will cost you the same as in the U.S. for similar type living standard to what you are living now, anything less is a bonus, and as
woooosh said the view is free.
[Edited on 8-7-2009 by UnoMas]
fishbuck - 8-6-2009 at 10:28 PM
There is a post on here for a nice little house near the beach with it's own runway for $85,000.
A nice little house here in Socal near the beach will run you about $850,000. And no runway either.
Bajajorge - 8-7-2009 at 09:03 AM
I live the winters in San Felipe on an RV solar lot. The lot is on a gentle slope overlooking the Sea of Cortez some 2-3 miles
away. It costs me about $1100USD per month to stay there.
That includes eating out some 2-3 times a week, fuel and of course numerous
adult beverages.
PS-My total investment is about $25,000USD, lot, concrete storeage building, covered patio, solar panels, and the beat up VW I drive around in when
I'm there.
[Edited on 8-7-2009 by Bajajorge]
meme - 8-7-2009 at 09:15 AM
I must agree with Bajorge. Also living here in San Felipe. Eating & drinking are much less than most places in U.S. Water deivery & gasoline
are our biggest expences as we too live in solar area. We eat out usualy at least 3 times a week with a total of about what it would cost us to eat
out once a wek in U.S. Not counting beverages ofcourse. But they are less in San Felipe also. Phone & Internet services are much less than we ever
paid in U.S. We have lived here over 11 years now & seen the prices go up & up about yearly.
We still cannot live the same lifestyle in the U.S. for the same dollars/pesos we live on here.
Bajame - 8-7-2009 at 05:57 PM
I just rent here in San Ignacio.. My total for rent, utilities is about $ 300 a month. The biggest cost is gasoline as the bank is an hour from me
and I love to putter around and visit the beaches, ranches and find interesting hiking places. Will have to slow it down a bit, that is till fall
comes.
MikeLikeBaja - 8-7-2009 at 10:24 PM
If you buy a house next to a runway, wouldn't you think eventually the runway becomes a full airport? Then you live next to an airport. That does not
sound peaceful.
I find Mexico to be less expensive. Especially if you don't have expensive taste.
TMW - 8-8-2009 at 09:36 AM
Probably the best thing to do is pick out where you want to live and spend some time there. If your thinking of living full time in Baja then you want
to make sure you can take it during the summer and winter months. Lots of nice places, maybe take a year and get the feel of it.
Bajabuff - 8-8-2009 at 02:27 PM
Hi, BTW, I have .5mgDSL and phone for 372 pesos/m. Because of limited usage on the network and fiber-optic infrastructure I have faster transfer rate
in La Mision than with my 2mgDSL in LA.
Cypress - 8-8-2009 at 02:35 PM
Costs less than in the USA. It's Mexico!
Bob H - 8-8-2009 at 02:35 PM
We need more details on what you are looking for. What level of lifestyle, near water, or inland.... etc. Budget?
For me, I would rent a place in Mulege for several months and then decide if I wanted to step in to something more permanent. Mulege is my kind of
place!
Bob H
Cypress - 8-8-2009 at 02:51 PM
Mulege is a great place. If the fishing was decent, I'd probably be there right now.
Great Answers
Gouchomarx - 8-10-2009 at 11:09 AM
I realize that so much of my thinking right now is vague, but these help.
I'm planning for a full-retirement within the next two years provided the economy doesn't have any new surprises. I planned on being done now, but
like everybody else,I took a significant hit and need to recoup on my investments and property values.
One of many options I've been considering is a waterside residence on the Cortez coast. Somewhere outside of any big towns like San Felipe, but within
a day's drive of the border. I know that there is a wide range of housing prices so that's not a concern. I'd find something that fit within the
amount I'd be willing to risk. Probably around the 50k range for a starter. A friend once said that "you shouldn't spend anything more in a foreign
country than you're willing to walk away from". Wise words, I think.
I was more concerned with what the day to day expenses and hassles were like. From the responses, it seems that there isn't going to be much
difference in cost from picking a location in the states. Reading a lot of the posts here, I get the impression that the ownership or leasehold
issues can be complex and frustrating and you need to be very careful to follow a different set of rules.
Right now I'm planning another trip to the area below San Felipe once the heat breaks to look at places below Puertecitos and see what's happening on
the road construction. If I find an area I like, the decision then would be whether to jump in or wait for that highway to be finished which will
probably raise prices on available real estate.
Is there any talk of extending the electrical power down that highway once completed ?
Again, thanks for the help.
[Edited on 8-10-2009 by Gouchomarx]
Bajahowodd - 8-10-2009 at 11:35 AM
I have no specific knowledge regarding this project, but it is quite typical in Mexico that utility lines come soon after pavement.
Electricity ?
Gouchomarx - 8-10-2009 at 12:10 PM
Hasn't the road from San Felipe to Puertecitos been paved for around twenty years now ? In July, I noticed that the power lines only go a short
distance down that road. Somewhere around Punta Radar ? Since the land between there and Puertecitos seems to be more densely populated, you would
think they would have extended them. I remember seeing a lot of power lines around El Vergel, but no lines coming into town ? Was that a project
that failed ?
oxxo - 8-10-2009 at 01:21 PM
We spend about 10% to 15% less in Baja per month than the comparable lifestyle in SoCal. Plus we get to live on the beach. YMMV.
oldjack - 8-10-2009 at 03:16 PM
RE: cost in BCS.... my experience is that EXCEPT for housing you can live just as frugually in the States as you can down here... it is not the
bargain in was in the past... electric is expensive, home insurance is equal to U.S. price(comparing my own situation); except for a taco... dinners
will cost about the same as a medium-priced U.S. place... dsl service in Los Barriles is expensive(you can sit at Tio's and get some wireless service
... but not very fast) PEMEX.. what can you say you have to have it..... and it is one hour to La Paz or one hour to San Jose.. Costco/Home Depot
prices seem to be higher than U.S. and smaller selection....
cheap property tax/tortillas are the most notable advantages in BCS... I get good prices on steaks at Sorianna's and roasted chicken is about $1
cheaper there also...
my neighbors make BCS worthwhile... they are gone 6 months of the year though.....