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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Mood: Tranquilo
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I know, for me anyway that I spend a lot less for clothes in Baja. If I wear something other than swim trunks its shorts. Saves on long pants. Don't
always wear a shirt (though most folks wish I would) when I do its a T shirt. I usually go barefoot but have several pairs of flip-flops for when I
get dressed up........these long pants I'm wearing now are killing me and rubbing the hair off my legs......a few more days and they will be a distant
memory for a couple of months.......Ahhhhhhh Baja.........dt
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Many of the items listed above are what Mexicans never buy. Not because they're expensive, but because it's not part of their tablefare.
1. 1lb Lean Hamburger - I only had a hamburger in one place and La Paz and it was overpriced and empty.
2. Loaf of White Bread - Mexicans eat those rolls (bodilla, I think they're called) and they sell for 10cents a piece.
3. 1lb Cheddar Cheese - Mexicans have there own cheese which I now find in safeway. Never had a quesadilla with cheddar.
4. 1 Pound Bacon - I don't recall bacon being added to my huevos ranchero.
All comparisons are amongst US cities and Mexico. Why would we expect to buy our products in Mexico at our prices. I would think that when you move to
another country be prepared to eat native foods or pay a higher price. |
Have to disagree with you some. I believe it depends on the area. Yes, all canned items are more expensive in Bahia Asuncion, even the Mexican
brands. But most of the fresh veggies, when available, are also more expensive. And
1. Our local markets sell hamburger meat---quite lean, and since there is not really an American community there, the locals must be using it.
2. Lots of the awful Bimbo white bread is sold in town. No bakery.
3. Cheddar cheese? No, but the local white cheeses are not that cheap and some stores sell chunks of packaged jack cheese.
4. They seem to sell a lot of that Tablemaid brand of bacon---the kind that disappears in the pan when cooked.
Number 2 and 4 we don't buy.
Our agent and friend from La Paz told us he was surprised to see that our town does not have a panadería, a pastelería, or a real quality ice cream
store. We keep telling him he should move there and open all three. 
It would also be nice to have a reliable fresh veggie stand---when the veggie truck comes to town, it is a race to the stores.
So, as with all things Baja, it is different everywhere. Oh, fish fillets are real cheap---our friends give them to us all wrapped up and fresh
frozen. Easy than fishing. 
Diane
Forgot---our price comparisons are between Bahia Asuncion and the San Diego area only.
[Edited on 10-7-2008 by jdtrotter]
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cajones
| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
I think the heating oil costs in the winter will eliminate Boston from any overall cost of living comparison.
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I'm not so sure about that. In order to live in La Paz from May through October, and be as comfortable as in Boston, one has to run the
airconditioning full time. La Paz avererage daytime high temperatures:
May 94
June 94
July 97
August 96
September 94
October 90 |
I'm so sure! Hook is right on the no A/C & you're wrong. I'm in a newly constructed casa, built with foam block. I plumbed & wired for A/C,
but ended up not putting any in. I could tell even before doors & windows went in that it was MUCH cooler inside than conventional cement block
construction. Even when outside temps are over 100 for weeks on end, my interior temps have never gone above 80! Don't need no stinking A/C. In two conventional cement block construction casas before current one, I've
NEVER run A/C full time. Nobody I know living in the La Paz area runs A/C full time....if they have
A/C!
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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Location, location, location
I swear, one of the things I enjoy most in Mexico, is being able to go to the source for many things. You know my penchant for the beer agencias,
especially ones attached to breweries.
Anyway, today we cruised into an area of orange groves just north of Guaymas on Hwy 15. On one side was a rustic packing house with a small retail
stand.
We got this bag of juice oranges, about 20-25 kilos worth, for 50 pesos. It's a little early in the season so they arent primo yet (wow, I havent used
the word primo since the 60s!). Who cares if they come in a recycled onion bag from Washington.
Tomorrow, we hit the big, weekly farmer's market in Guaymas around the mercado central. We hear there is even chicken, eggs and meats direct from the
farms around here that also distribute to the major supers. Also going to a fruta y verdura commercial distributor who will sell to the average Joe.
Stay tuned...........
Sometimes you gotta think outside the caja..........or rather inside it, when it comes to frutas y verduras.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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50 pounds of oranges for less than $5?
it's an insult to the oranges!!!
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ArroyoTaxi
Junior Nomad
Posts: 88
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Los Barriles
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can you put a price on fresh, hot tortillas? something you can never get in Canada/US. it's true: eat tortillas, fish and fresh salsa when in baja.
at home, eat steak and salmon.
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Cajones
Banned
Posts: 81
Registered: 9-13-2008
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ArroyoTaxi
can you put a price on fresh, hot tortillas? something you can never get in Canada/US. it's true: eat tortillas, fish and fresh salsa when in baja.
at home, eat steak and salmon. |
You're kidding right? You must not get out much. Los Angeles is the second largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. You can get fresh hot tortillas
almost everywhere in Southern California...and they are made by the same people who make them in Baja, with the same ingredients.
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
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One of my roofers recently returned from mainland mex. he said, everything was expensive work boots 500 pesos, tortillas 100 pesos. Some things are
alot cheaper, but no real law enforcement can get very expensive, he who has the most money for bribes wins.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
50 pounds of oranges for less than $5?
it's an insult to the oranges!!! |
Just got done juicing about 1/5 of the bag, Woody. Basically, a 1/2 gallon of fresh squeezed cost me about .95 cents.
Gonna pick up a couple pineapples today. Mai Tais from scratch with Bacardi light and Appleton's dark tonite!!!!!
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3533
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Poor Hook - now that the Angles are out of it he's reduced to wandering the markets by day and planning his evening's libations - probably turning the
clock ahead when his wife's not looking so 5:00 comes sooner. Don't worry buddy - time heals all wounds. Well except for 1962; some things are just
too horrible to ever fully recover from.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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not sure where to put cost of drugs, questionable under groceries, but the upcoming topics of rent, home prices, dining out, and building products
don't include it either, so throwing am throwing it out here.
for years I have bought my prescription drugs, nothing exotic, in Mexico as the prices were much cheaper (and I didn't have to bother with getting an
Rx), despite some concerns that have been raised about quality (maybe by the drug companies, maybe a legitimate concern, no se). I generally use the
cut rate chain such as Similares for best prices. however now they can't even come near the USA prices offered on generic drug programs through
Target, Walmart and the like. for example, ERT (if you don't know what that is, you don't need it, don't worry), costs me between 112 and 180 pesos
for a 30 day supply. no discount for larger quantities. there is a 25% discount every Monday that I take advantage of for the lower range.I can now
get three months supply for 10 bucks in the USA. this particular drug is a gringa drug, but there are hundreds of others, antibiotics, etc, that
would be common across the board.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
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Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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Living in Rosarito
I think that food prices are cheaper. That theory goes out the window if you are looking for pre-processed packged food, i.e., lettuce in bags,
frozen foods, etc.
A great deal of the produce is from the U.S., but is priced for the Mexican market - the customers don't care if the oranges, lemons, grapefruits,
etc. are perfect in appearance, they only care about flavor. Certainly the Hass avocados are a great deal cheaper and much more flavorful than the
U.S. versions.
The meat is generally priced cheaper, you just have to educate yourself about the differences in the way they cut it.
If the meat is prepackaged to appeal to American tastes, you pay a higher price.
The full service butchers in the supermercados (remember those days in the U.S?) will bend over backward to help you with a special request. Making
friends with your grocery people goes a long way here, they remember you and your interests.
Also, buy what is in season. Don't expect good tomatoes in winter unless you are willing to pay for hothouse boxed cherry tomatoes from the U.S. in
winter.
Overall, I believe we eat healthier and cheaper by using the fresh, seasonal ingredients available and ignoring the processed foods.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Santiago
Poor Hook - now that the Angles are out of it he's reduced to wandering the markets by day and planning his evening's libations - probably turning the
clock ahead when his wife's not looking so 5:00 comes sooner. Don't worry buddy - time heals all wounds. Well except for 1962; some things are just
too horrible to ever fully recover from. |
Nothing horrible happened in 1962, unless you were a Giant's fan and can remember the line drive McCovey hit that was caught by Bobby Richardson.
You must mean 1982...........1986............or 1995. And now 2008. I thought it was a great call by Scioscia and I cant believe Aybar didnt make
contact.
We dont talk about the Angels around here anymore, until pitchers and catchers report in 09. 
Go Rays !!!!! What a great story all year.
Anyway, back to the C of L thing. We went to the open air Wednesday vege market near the mercado central in Guaymas. Some great bargains there, some
only average. Big head of cabbage was 7 pesos, kilo of perfectly ripe roma toms were 12 pesos, aguacates were 26 pesos/kilo, large pina miel was 20
pesos.
But I think the best deal I saw was the large brown eggs (we think the brown ones taste better) at 28 pesos for flats of 30 eggs. At 11/1 exchange
rate, that's about 7-8 cents per egg. Too big a quantity for us, though.
[Edited on 10-8-2008 by Hook]
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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Don't forget the kilo of large camarones at the Ensenada fish market for $100 pesos!
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Nothing horrible happened in 1962, unless you were a Giant's fan and can remember the line drive McCovey hit that was caught by Bobby Richardson.
[Edited on 10-8-2008 by Hook] |
Lived in the city at that time. They moved "Stretch" from the outfield to 1st base to save his knees. He was a hell of a hitter with one severe
problem. Always knocked the ball out of the park when they were 4 runs ahead. Was "VERY" bad in the clutch. Couldn't hold a candle to Mays, whom I
watched throw a ball from the center warning track to the plate on one hop. Good old days.
Sorry for the hijack. Couldn't resist.
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Bernardo
Junior Nomad
Posts: 44
Registered: 12-3-2007
Location: La Paz
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Mood: Bien
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I guess you could reduce the dollar prices to match the increase in the value of the dollar - that is if Sorianos has not increased their prices to
reflect the loss of the value of the peso.
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