BajaNomad

BAJA FUEL PRICES ?

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 10-12-2014 at 02:09 AM

Hola,

today passing an arco station in los angeles, the price for regular was $ 3.47.9. sure would be nice if it keeps dropping.

what's the price of magna sin ? diesel ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

David K - 10-12-2014 at 07:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola,

today passing an arco station in los angeles, the price for regular was $ 3.47.9. sure would be nice if it keeps dropping.

what's the price of magna sin ? diesel ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


Close to this, posted 2 months ago: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=74790

ncampion - 10-12-2014 at 07:37 AM

Just got back from a road trip to Denver and found regular gas at a Pilot Truck stop in Arizonaa for $3.09/gal. I used to try to hit Mexico on empty when driving down and fill up in Ensenada, now I'm going to fill up in San Diego.

woody with a view - 10-12-2014 at 08:40 AM

$3.03 Friday in Yuma at Arco on 16th by the freeway!

Mula - 10-12-2014 at 09:27 AM

Pemex Magna was 13.13 in Insurgentes the other day - up from 13.04 the week before.

DENNIS - 10-12-2014 at 09:28 AM

13.13 here too.

greengoes - 10-12-2014 at 09:50 AM

3.80 a gallon, mas o menos, look for more increases in the coming months.

No es ninguna ganga.

Fuel prices for October, 2014..

BajaCactus - 10-12-2014 at 10:50 AM

Magna.............$ 13.13 pesos per liter
Premium..........$ 13.89 pesos per liter
Diesel..............$ 13.72 pesos per liter

These prices are in liters... since 1 gallon = 3.7854 liters and today (October 12th, 2014) 1 dollar = $12.60 pesos (+/-), we can calculate the approximate price per gallon:

Magna.............$ 3.944 dollars per gallon
Premium..........$ 4.173 dollars per gallon
Diesel..............$ 4.121 dollars per gallon

BajaCactus
"Where Baja is so much more than a dream..."

bajadaze - 10-12-2014 at 12:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola,

today passing an arco station in los angeles, the price for regular was $ 3.47.9. sure would be nice if it keeps dropping.

what's the price of magna sin ? diesel ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


13.13 x 3.785 (liters in a gallon) = 49.7 pesos per gallon
49.7 / by 12.5 exchanged rate = 3.98 per gallon.:fire:http://forums.bajanomad.com/images/smilies/flaming.gif

MitchMan - 10-12-2014 at 01:20 PM

Wow, you guys are using a very low exchange rate. The internet rate has averaged about 13.42 recently, so the ATM exchange rate without fees has averaged about 13.36 recently. That would put the USD per gallon at about $3.70 USD/gal for Magna.

I don't why the price for a barrel of oil on the global market is so low recently. Heard various things. I also heard that ISIS is selling black market oil at $30 USD per barrel from the oil fields that they control now. Also, heard that the USA is now producing as much oil per day as it uses; net deficit in oil imports/exports = 0. If true, that's new development. Maybe that has something to do with oil prices dropping, hence dropping price of gasoline in USA. For whatever the reason, I hope that all this will result in a lowering of the price of gas in Mexico. We shall see.

[Edited on 10-12-2014 by MitchMan]

norte - 10-12-2014 at 02:15 PM

Maybe Mexico should become self-sufficient, similar to the track our current government has put us on.

Bob and Susan - 10-12-2014 at 02:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
Wow, you guys are using a very low exchange rate. The internet rate has averaged about 13.42 recently, so the ATM exchange rate without fees has averaged about 13.36 recently. That would put the USD per gallon at about $3.70 USD/gal for Magna.


you'll never get that exchange rate (13.42) ...
the average "real" exchange rate is 12.6 recently

DENNIS - 10-12-2014 at 03:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
13.13 here too.


What exchange rate was the station giving for dollars?



Only a fool would know. :lol:

Bajahowodd - 10-12-2014 at 05:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by norte
Maybe Mexico should become self-sufficient, similar to the track our current government has put us on.


To reply to your post, after decades of avoiding it, Mexico has finally decided to bring in outside foreign companies to help them tap their huge reserve in the gulf. It requires deep water drilling that Mexico is lacking the expertise and technology to do.

That said, I have to ask the question.
Is there any of you who would cancel a Baja trip over gas prices?

I think I know the answer, which leads me to query why there are so many threads posted about the price of gas in Mexico. Jf you are a Baja person, you will go, no matter the price of Pemex.

Floatflyer - 10-12-2014 at 05:21 PM

Yesterday at Costco in Burlington, WA=$2.89!!!

David K - 10-12-2014 at 05:53 PM

Today in San Marcos/Escondido Costco it was $3.29!

norte - 10-12-2014 at 06:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Quote:
Originally posted by norte
Maybe Mexico should become self-sufficient, similar to the track our current government has put us on.


To reply to your post, after decades of avoiding it, Mexico has finally decided to bring in outside foreign companies to help them tap their huge reserve in the gulf. It requires deep water drilling that Mexico is lacking the expertise and technology to do.

That said, I have to ask the question.
Is there any of you who would cancel a Baja trip over gas prices?

I think I know the answer, which leads me to query why there are so many threads posted about the price of gas in Mexico. Jf you are a Baja person, you will go, no matter the price of Pemex.


so will this foreign investment lower the price of gas at the pump?

DENNIS - 10-12-2014 at 06:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
prices?

which leads me to query why there are so many threads posted about the price of gas in Mexico.


It breaks the monotony of talking about Casas de Cambio. :lol:

ncampion - 10-12-2014 at 06:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Quote:
Originally posted by norte
Maybe Mexico should become self-sufficient, similar to the track our current government has put us on.


To reply to your post, after decades of avoiding it, Mexico has finally decided to bring in outside foreign companies to help them tap their huge reserve in the gulf. It requires deep water drilling that Mexico is lacking the expertise and technology to do.

That said, I have to ask the question.
Is there any of you who would cancel a Baja trip over gas prices?

I think I know the answer, which leads me to query why there are so many threads posted about the price of gas in Mexico. Jf you are a Baja person, you will go, no matter the price of Pemex.


Since I more or less live in Baja full time, I don't cancel trips because of fuel prices. However one of the reasons that we decided to move to Baja was the generally lower cost of living there. Makes our retirement dollars go further. In the past five years we have seen this "advantage" more or less disappear. Fuel is at par or slightly more than US, Propane, electricity and other necessary living expenses are about the same and even the food products that we like are the same or higher than US. This with generally lower quality. This will weigh in with many people who already live in Baja or are considering moving there. Something to think about.

Hook - 10-13-2014 at 07:31 AM

Just got back from 2.5 months in the States. Lowest prices I saw were in New Mexico where regular gas (not E-85) was 2.91 and diesel was as low as 3.31.

Anyone traveling in the corridor between Taos and Albuquerque; the cheapest fuel seemed to be in the community of Bernalillo and the indian reservations near there.

There is clearly nothing about Mexican fuel pricing that has any semblance to market pricing. It just keeps going up, up, up................

Agree, ncampion, outside of owning property and paying the modest taxes on it, there is very little goods left in Mexico that are much cheaper than the US.

[Edited on 10-13-2014 by Hook]

Hook - 10-13-2014 at 07:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
I don't why the price for a barrel of oil on the global market is so low recently. Heard various things.
[Edited on 10-12-2014 by MitchMan]


There is pretty clear evidence over the last three months that the economies of Europe, China and, to a lesser extent, the US, have begun to slow. Slowing economies mean less oil consumption. When evidence starts to show this, money invested in oil finds other places to invest it, irrespective of the actual amount of oil being used.

The oil markets are no longer purely supply and demand. Hedge funds and other aggregations of capital have made sure of this.

In the short term, barring a major international incident, energy stocks are probably not the place to be.

Ateo - 10-13-2014 at 07:54 AM

I'll tell you one thing: My customer bought a station in San Ysidro recently and his gas sales have been boosted significantly by the upward march of Mexican fuel prices.

bajabuddha - 10-13-2014 at 08:07 AM

Back 'in the day', in the '90s there was a fair community of ex-pats living in Mulege (in town, not at Posada or the Orchard) who were there because the cost of living was low enough they could live comfortably in Paradise on their $1k / month Social Security check. One guy told me he could pay rent, eat out twice a day, have a maid in twice a week for a couple of hours to clean up after him, and afford his 'toddies'. They would meet for their morning coffee/Pacifico klatch every morning at Donna Moe's for an Egg McDonna, then on to El Candil next door, and La Jungla Jaime's in the afternoon. The price of fuel was a factor then too.

Those days are GONE. By y2k most (if not all) had moved to Yuma or El Centro because it was cheaper living in the States. It used to be cheaper to cross the border to Mexico to shop, too; now it's just the opposite.

My guzzler of a truck (F250 w/V-10) gets horrible mileage when pulling my 5th wheel, and not much better empty. That limits what side trips i'll be taking while in Baja, too. I can 'afford it', but the price at the Pemex is a very valid question; it also determines the prices at the registers too. Pescadores need fuel for their boats for fish and camarones, trucks need to deliver to the stores. When fuel goes up, so do the sticker prices and menus. It may not cause anyone to cancel their trip to Baja, but it may determine how long one's stay may be when they get there.

As far as foreign influence on deep drilling is concerned and lowering the prices, my first thought is, you gotta be kidding, right? More pieces of the pie to share, more profit is more power, and it ain't going to 'trickle down'. They aren't in it for their benevolence. World economy will dictate Mexico's fuel prices, so time will tell. Right now, especially with all the road damage from storms, it will pay for the reconstruction (and has been for several years now) so my guess is, we'll just have to get used to it.

aguachico - 10-13-2014 at 08:10 AM

Internet posted exchange rates are for 'block' buyers of cash.

I got 13.2 from my ATM last week because of no transaction fee.

I saw the Bellas Artes pemex advertising an exchange rate of 13:1. After they rip you off, it's propbably 12.7:1 which is the average rate for casitas.

Yes the cost of fuel as kept my baja trips north of Ensenada. I feel for resorts that rely on drive in business only.

MitchMan - 10-13-2014 at 04:22 PM

It's still pretty cheap to live in Baja, all things considered, especially if you own your own casita.

My calculations say that, if you own your own casita, one adult can live quite well in Baja for $500 USD/month PLUS the cost of entertainment, medical, and traveling away cost. Two people can live for $800 USD/month PLUS medical, entertainment, and cost of travel away from Baja. The $500 or 800 above includes food, Mexican medical ins, auto ins, cable TV and Internet, phone, electricity, propane, gasoline, prop taxes, Fido fee, water, incidentals, clothing, auto repair, and some house maintenance.

I consider eating out as entertainment as it is not truly a necessity.

If you live extravagantly, insist on driving a gas guzzler to do basic around town driving instead of a small vehicle, do not budget at all, and avoid being economical, sure you can ring up a lot of money, but if you do that, I don't see how you can say the cost of living in Baja is the same as living in the USA. Also, one giant factor in the cost of living in USA Vs Baja is that in the Baja, you don't have the entertainment opportunities like you do in the USA such as going to performing arts theatre, Laker games, Alicia Keyes concerts or pro football/baseball games. The towns are small so there is no racking up miles or Auto repair, and who needs dry cleaned clothes, shoe repair, or a 3 piece suit? Come on, water utility is $13 usd/mo, electricity is $0.10/KWH, and who needs a hot water heater in summer? I have 5.5 tons of mini-split A/C, but I can keep that to $60 USD/mo in Summer and down to $25 USD or less off season.

Also, set up your banking right and you can get top peso for your US dollars from the ATM, currently Visa Credit/Debit card exchange rate =13.4203, so ATM rate should be 13.35 right this second with no fees. If you fail to do this, then you will pay 12.0 or worse which would be equivalent to paying 11% interest expense on all the money you spend per year.

The only things that are truly cheaper in Baja than in the USA are labor and cost of housing, and the big one is the inexpensive life style.

Bajahowodd - 10-13-2014 at 05:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajabuddha
Back 'in the day', in the '90s there was a fair community of ex-pats living in Mulege (in town, not at Posada or the Orchard) who were there because the cost of living was low enough they could live comfortably in Paradise on their $1k / month Social Security check. One guy told me he could pay rent, eat out twice a day, have a maid in twice a week for a couple of hours to clean up after him, and afford his 'toddies'. They would meet for their morning coffee/Pacifico klatch every morning at Donna Moe's for an Egg McDonna, then on to El Candil next door, and La Jungla Jaime's in the afternoon. The price of fuel was a factor then too.

Those days are GONE. By y2k most (if not all) had moved to Yuma or El Centro because it was cheaper living in the States. It used to be cheaper to cross the border to Mexico to shop, too; now it's just the opposite.

My guzzler of a truck (F250 w/V-10) gets horrible mileage when pulling my 5th wheel, and not much better empty. That limits what side trips i'll be taking while in Baja, too. I can 'afford it', but the price at the Pemex is a very valid question; it also determines the prices at the registers too. Pescadores need fuel for their boats for fish and camarones, trucks need to deliver to the stores. When fuel goes up, so do the sticker prices and menus. It may not cause anyone to cancel their trip to Baja, but it may determine how long one's stay may be when they get there.

As far as foreign influence on deep drilling is concerned and lowering the prices, my first thought is, you gotta be kidding, right? More pieces of the pie to share, more profit is more power, and it ain't going to 'trickle down'. They aren't in it for their benevolence. World economy will dictate Mexico's fuel prices, so time will tell. Right now, especially with all the road damage from storms, it will pay for the reconstruction (and has been for several years now) so my guess is, we'll just have to get used to it.


I totally understand your concern about foreign companies. However, Mexico is sitting on a crapload of deep water oil reserves in the Gulf, for which they have neither the technology nor the equipment to tap.

The current useable reserves would by them self cause Pemex prices to continually increase.

I am absolutely not a fan of international oil companies. But, the key here consists of two factors.

First, can Mexico sign contracts that won't give away the store.

And, can they rely on enough of the new crude to be available inside the country to keep their domestic prices down.

bajabuddha - 10-13-2014 at 05:26 PM

Howodd, too true, and like I said, time will tell. BP and gang are not in it to play 'nice', it's all about the profits.

Mitch, it depends on where in the US you're talking about. Here in my li'l hamlet in southern NM you can buy a site-built home for less than you think, and yes, eating out is a 'luxury'.... I've lived in both places, and here is cheaper than Mulege, all-in-all. Especially the gas prices for now.

rts551 - 10-13-2014 at 05:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
It's still pretty cheap to live in Baja, all things considered, especially if you own your own casita.

My calculations say that, if you own your own casita, one adult can live quite well in Baja for $500 USD/month PLUS the cost of entertainment, medical, and traveling away cost. Two people can live for $800 USD/month PLUS medical, entertainment, and cost of travel away from Baja. The $500 or 800 above includes food, Mexican medical ins, auto ins, cable TV and Internet, phone, electricity, propane, gasoline, prop taxes, Fido fee, water, incidentals, clothing, auto repair, and some house maintenance.

I consider eating out as entertainment as it is not truly a necessity.

If you live extravagantly, insist on driving a gas guzzler to do basic around town driving instead of a small vehicle, do not budget at all, and avoid being economical, sure you can ring up a lot of money, but if you do that, I don't see how you can say the cost of living in Baja is the same as living in the USA. Also, one giant factor in the cost of living in USA Vs Baja is that in the Baja, you don't have the entertainment opportunities like you do in the USA such as going to performing arts theatre, Laker games, Alicia Keyes concerts or pro football/baseball games. The towns are small so there is no racking up miles or Auto repair, and who needs dry cleaned clothes, shoe repair, or a 3 piece suit? Come on, water utility is $13 usd/mo, electricity is $0.10/KWH, and who needs a hot water heater in summer? I have 5.5 tons of mini-split A/C, but I can keep that to $60 USD/mo in Summer and down to $25 USD or less off season.

Also, set up your banking right and you can get top peso for your US dollars from the ATM, currently Visa Credit/Debit card exchange rate =13.4203, so ATM rate should be 13.35 right this second with no fees. If you fail to do this, then you will pay 12.0 or worse which would be equivalent to paying 11% interest expense on all the money you spend per year.

The only things that are truly cheaper in Baja than in the USA are labor and cost of housing, and the big one is the inexpensive life style.


What kind of life do you have if you never do anything?

MitchMan - 10-13-2014 at 08:03 PM

Not living extravagantly is not the same, at all, with never doing anything. Living economically, on a budget not at all the same as never doing anything.

There are an infinite number of very fulfilling and constructive things to do while on a budget, living frugally, and knowing how to get real value with your time and resources and skills. In fact, I think it is quite restrictive to limit recreation to "going out".

Fishing is just one thing that doesn't cost much money at all. I can go out on my boat and fish all day on $35 USD. Study a subject, teach yourself a skill, read, work on a project around the house, keeping up the maintenance on the house and yard...very rewarding and gratifying, having some beers with friends, barbecues, working on the boats, doing photography and videography and doing the editing for a slide show or short video, programming a website, working with Photoshop on some photos to be printed out for wall decoration or slide shows, talking to neighbors and working on my Spanish speaking, entertaining and visiting with guest relatives and friends from the USA at my home in Baja, playing music, and, one of my very favorite things to do, cooking and barbecuing. All these things are very cheap and low costing. And, this is just scratching the surface. There are many more constructive entertaining things to do, the list is endless. And these are just some of the things that I do while in Baja, which is only 1/4th of my time. Got grand kids in USA...keeps me very busy and is very cheap to do. I work out a lot too...very cheap.

I know a lot of people who's only idea of entertainment is to go out to restaurants, cantinas and expensive entertainment events where all the entertaining is done for them, to them, and not by them...there's plenty of great TV on cable to be saved on DVRs for that kind of non-participation type entertainment. Nothing wrong with that. I do that sometimes...less and less though, these days (bar hopping, that is).

Hey, movies theaters in La Paz are only $4 USD! I smuggle in my own candy and drinks. I did say I was cheap, didn't I?

rts551 - 10-14-2014 at 09:04 AM

I can not live in Baja for 500 a month and I live in a town that has no entertainment as you define it. fishing alone, using your cost, twice a week would cost more than 1/2 your monthly budget.

I am not extravagant by any means but find over 1000 a month more realistic.

MitchMan - 10-14-2014 at 06:17 PM

As I wrote above, the $500 USD I mentioned was for basic living expenses that do not include 1)travel outside of Baja 2)medical costs 3)entertainment costs. The emphasis is on "living" expenses. I should have included, in this list of 3 exclusions, an exclusion for costs of hobbies and an exclusion for gifts to friends and relatives.

That $500/month amount presupposes that you structure your lifestyle to conform to reasonable economic choices such as a gas efficient vehicle for everyday transportation, not leaving appliances on when not in direct use, using Skype for all the calls and text messaging that you can make from home on your internet instead of on a cell phone or land line. During the summer I use a fan a lot and don't turn on the air conditioner until I need to. I use all energy saver bulbs for all lights, including the outside 4 security lights. FWIW, my Baja wardrobe consists of sandals (no socks), jean cut-offs, short sleeve Hawaiian shirt, that's it.

Fishing is an entertainment cost.

I am really curious as what living expenses you spend that add up to a necessity of $1,000 USD/month on.

FWIW, here is how I came up to $500 USD/month. Certain infrequent costs were annualized and then divided by 12 months to get the monthly cost.
USD
Auto Ins 21
cable TV 23
Clothing 19
electricity 47
fido fee 37
Visa Fee (RT) 16
food 183
Gaso 45
Incidentals 15
internet 20
Mx Med Ins 10
Phone 16
Prop Tax 9
propane 10
maintenance 25
water utility 10

rts551 - 10-14-2014 at 06:26 PM

I am not about to divulge my finances on the internet. Suffice it to say I spend more than you do and am happy doing it.
Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
As I wrote above, the $500 USD I mentioned was for basic living expenses that do not include 1)travel outside of Baja 2)medical costs 3)entertainment costs. The emphasis is on "living" expenses. I should have included, in this list of 3 exclusions, an exclusion for costs of hobbies and an exclusion for gifts to friends and relatives.

That $500/month amount presupposes that you structure your lifestyle to conform to reasonable economic choices such as a gas efficient vehicle for everyday transportation, not leaving appliances on when not in direct use, using Skype for all the calls and text messaging that you can make from home on your internet instead of on a cell phone or land line. During the summer I use a fan a lot and don't turn on the air conditioner until I need to. I use all energy saver bulbs for all lights, including the outside 4 security lights. FWIW, my Baja wardrobe consists of sandals (no socks), jean cut-offs, short sleeve Hawaiian shirt, that's it.

Fishing is an entertainment cost.

I am really curious as what living expenses you spend that add up to a necessity of $1,000 USD/month on.

FWIW, here is how I came up to $500 USD/month. Certain infrequent costs were annualized and then divided by 12 months to get the monthly cost.
USD
Auto Ins 21
cable TV 23
Clothing 19
electricity 47
fido fee 37
Visa Fee (RT) 16
food 183
Gaso 45
Incidentals 15
internet 20
Mx Med Ins 10
Phone 16
Prop Tax 9
propane 10
maintenance 25
water utility 10

MitchMan - 10-14-2014 at 07:46 PM

Traditionally, when someone uses the term "finances", they are talking about your personal balance sheet at a given date that includes details of your total assets, total debt, net worth, and income and expenses for a current year.

Not asking you for that, in fact, didn't ask you for anything. I just expressed my curiosity of what would constitute your experience limited to just living expenses in Baja for one month. I mean you did express an opinion on my living expense with the implication that my number was not realistic and you did disclose that you are spending $1,000 a month. In the spirit of sharing helpful info in this forum, which many nomads do every day by divulging information of their own experiences, I just thought that info that supports a conclusion and an opinion merits simple substantiation, which is what I did.

You don't have to...your prerogative, of course. Didn't ask you for anything, certainly not your 'finances'. If you choose not to substantiate your number, so be it.

[Edited on 10-15-2014 by MitchMan]

rts551 - 10-14-2014 at 08:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
Traditionally, when someone uses the term "finances", they are talking about your personal balance sheet at a given date that includes details of your total assets, total debt, net worth, and income and expenses for a current year.

Not asking you for that, in fact, didn't ask you for anything. I just expressed my curiosity of what would constitute your experience limited to just living expenses in Baja for one month. I mean you did express an opinion on my living expense with the implication that my number was not realistic and you did disclose that you are spending $1,000 a month. In the spirit of sharing helpful info in this forum, which many nomads do every day by divulging information of their own experiences, I just thought that info that supports a conclusion and an opinion merits simple substantiation, which is what I did.

You don't have to...your prerogative, of course. Didn't ask you for anything, certainly not your 'finances'. If you choose not to substantiate your number, so be it.

[Edited on 10-15-2014 by MitchMan]


No thanks. learned a long time ago to keep most personal stuff to my self.

Each person probably needs to figure out their own budget and live their own life anyway. I am sure there are people spending way more than me.