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Kgryfon
Senior Nomad
Posts: 624
Registered: 1-27-2009
Location: East Bay, CA
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Cost of living, repeated
I'm sure this question has been asked and answered numerous times, but I can't find it in the archives. Can I actually live decently in La Paz on
$1700/mo retirement? Decently means I need internet, AC, and one-two bedrooms reasonably close to the Malecon. Dive or fishing trip once in a while.
Dish Washer would be cool. So would a clothes washer/dryer or someone who would do that for me. Rent a place, I guess, since all my equity of 40+
years was lost in the housing bubble in CA. What say ye?
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Kgryfon
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Sorry, forgot to add that I'd like a house, not a condo. I like to do home improvement stuff and need my garage workspace.
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Kgryfon
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Plus, I drink and smoke cigarettes, too. Whenever I feel like it. What are the cigarette costs? Just being real here. Can $1700/ mo keep me in a
reasonable life style? I don't trust the real esate ads. Don't need to live in a mansion, BTDT. Just want to fish and scuba once in a while and
hang the rest of the time.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
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Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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yes
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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woody with a view
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i'd think you were doing something wrong if you can't swing that.
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rhintransit
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to expand on my previous yes...
rental definitely. mortgages require high downs and have high interests. can't tell if you've actually been to La Paz which is the only way to
evaluate the market. MLS's and want ads are rare. you've got to cover the ground and do your own search.
rental of 500-800 gives you a wide range of possibilities. long term gives lower rates. except in gringo or more modern condos/apts you won't get
dishwashers, nor dryers. usually an ac unit of some kind. garages also scarce, but covered parking and patio type areas are available.
I've no idea of the cost of cigarettes. assume cost is relative to amount of smoking and drinking you plan to do. cost of fishing/diving depends on
how you do it...hire panga/captain/dive boat groups or find friends with boats, etc etc etc. all variable.
but 1700 is a good retirement income here and many many do it on less.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Location: Sonora
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I think it would be tough, trying to afford going fishing or diving once a week. That alone could eat up about 1/4 of your income, assuming about
100.00 per trip for all costs (rentals, bait, tips).
BTW, is that 1700.00 AFTER TAXES??
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Good Advice
From the Gnukid........
I would suggest before you cut your ties with the mother country, if at all possible you should try and live in LaPaz for 6 months and see if the
budget works out.
If it doesn't, you have had a great vacation, if it does, then go for it.
Remember, some things are cheaper here, some are not. You will have to modify your NOB lifestyle and attitudes to make it work.
One question..........have you been to LaPaz before in the summer, and how much time have you spent in Mexico/Baja???
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wessongroup
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Ditto's ... would suggest that anyone spend an entire year in a location to get a real "feel" ... before cutting the string... enjoy while your down
... 
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Kgryfon
Senior Nomad
Posts: 624
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Location: East Bay, CA
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Wow! Such a great bunch of information! Thanks, folks. Someone asked if I've been to LaPaz/Baja. Heres my SA experience: Once took a road trip
with a boyfriend that started in SF went through Ensenada, across to San Felipe, and back. Later flew into La Paz with said BF once. Went back to La
Paz by myself once (no longer with said BF). Took my kids (twenty-somethings) to Rosarita once. Took my kids to Belize once. So, I'm not totally
new to the area and am fairly comfortable moving around by myself.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Moving
I can't stress enough.......before you make the jump, live or spend a lot of time in the area that you are interested for as long as you can. There is
a world of difference between visiting/vacation and living here.
I have seen many who do not do enough research, including living here, that end up going back NOB or are miserable because they don't do their
homework.
[Edited on 4-2-2012 by bajaguy]
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Kgryfon
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Location: East Bay, CA
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Hook, that was fishing/diving once in a while, not once a week. And excellent point, my $1700 will be before taxes. That's for pointing that out!
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Lobsterman
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Registered: 10-7-2008
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Will Kgryfon have to pay taxes on her NOB income to either the USA or Mexico?
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
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Registered: 11-7-2006
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rent, rent, rent
don't buy, rent - give it a year or two minimum to explore, orient and settle in... or not
keep your options open and the freedom to move around
La Paz is different outside the malecon tourist area/experience; no community parks, no trees to speak of, inadequate street signage.
Go visit Todo Santos, San Jose del Cabo and the East Cape region's smaller towns and villages that are an easy commute in.
Southern Baja summers are a different animal from the warm, balmy winters and springtime. "Hellahothumidhurricaneweather" is your new word.
Your cultural experience varies seasonally. Many of your ex-pat friends will leave for their northern homes when the weather turns hot so your
opportunities for shared social activities will change, too.
Reality and variety-- on a Baja budget!
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Kgryfon
Hook, that was fishing/diving once in a while, not once a week. And excellent point, my $1700 will be before taxes. That's for pointing that out!
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Yes, my misread.
So, figure you will fall in the 15% bracket. That's a reduction of another 255/month, just to the Feds, assuming no deductions. Then, there's the
State. Hope you arent from California......but it looks like you might be.
[Edited on 4-2-2012 by Hook]
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Kgryfon
Senior Nomad
Posts: 624
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Location: East Bay, CA
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" Go visit Todo Santos, San Jose del Cabo " Did that on one of my trips. Rented a car and drove the loop from Cabo up to La Paz, back down through
Todos Santos and back to Cabo to fly out.
Yep, I'm from California.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Move from California
If you have a relative or friend living in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington or Wyoming you might want to consider moving your
home of record to one of the above states to avoid California personal income tax........that will save you some money.
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Mula
Super Nomad
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Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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and plan for air conditioner costs in the summer months.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Lobsterman
Will Kgryfon have to pay taxes on her NOB income to either the USA or Mexico? |
If the income is strictly from SS she should not have them withold anything for taxes. She still should file annual tax return but should not owe
anything to IRS or CA.
Bob Durrell
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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If you're not 100% locked into La Paz you should consider something in the Punta Banda area, just south of Ensenada. AC is not needed in summer and
there are rentals available within a block of the water for $300-$400. Plus you are within 2 hours of the border for shopping NOB including Duty Free
stores where you can by ciggarettes 3 cartons for $25 and booze is also cheaper.
Bob Durrell
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