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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Baja is not "cheap" as it was in the past. My suggestion is to add up all the basic expenses, and since you have four children, multiphy the basic
expense figure by at least 2---maybe 4.
Good Luck
Diane and John
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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As other posters have pointed out, the cost of the casa is either in our out of the equation depending on what you think "cost of living" means. It's
the big decision item here or on the mainland. Most newcomers to our area love the beach and most have made the decisions to rent/buy based on "beach
or nothing". Smarter ones have taken advantage of the really good buys/rentals possible "off the beach" back in the boonies in the little villages
seen all over Baja. Then it's "live in your world, play in ours". It really rings a big bell for me cause some of my Mexican neighbors have asked me
to help them find buyers/realtors when the property had no ocean view--when I mentioned that they said "if you want to see the ocean, just walk or
drive down there" -- they really don't get the view thing. I have a nice ocean view but truth be told I spend about 90% of my leisure time on the lee
side of the house, in the shade, out of the wind where the view is lost.
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meme
Senior Nomad
Posts: 756
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: San Felipe,BC
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I think the Key word in the question is COULD.
The REAL question is CAN YOU?
We could live on $1000.00 a month (we have lived on less) if we lived & bought like that's the limit. But 'been there, done that" so think since
it's not the limit NOW we just do not! So now it would be $1000.00 to $2000.00
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajagypsy
All I need is my dogs, my kids and my hubby, a tent and we are good to go!!! |
yes but you need Food shelter and entertainment for all of those 3,000 plus
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Oso
This has probably been discussed in other threads, but I would like to hear opinions as to the best US banks with Mexican banking ties for receiving
direct deposit SSA & other pension checks while living down there. |
Citibank (Banamex USA)
Call for details: 800-222-1234
You will need to establish an address in Mexico.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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okay, folks, it just depends on what you want and what you need...and those are two separate things as most of us know.
I am living just swell in Baja on less than 1500/month and that includes maintaining a (paid for) home in the US. I have a lovely palapa (two story,
concrete bedroom and 1 1/2 baths, trailer, etc), rented, no equity, in little fishing (once upon a time) village on the Baja with a lovely view of the
sea. it's nowhere near the 600/month people keep saying is minimum here. my lease is good for another 3.5 yrs and I anticipate a rent increase at
the end of that but have another 5 year guaranteed renewal period.
that amount includes two flights a year to the states, eating out frequently but modestly, and most of the usual stuff. no boat, but I can find crew
positions. one little 4x4 easy on gas. a kayak and my feet for other transportation. if you think you can't do it, you can't. if you think you
can, and have modest needs and haven't bought into the USA lifestyle, you can. I believe that I could live cheaper in the states, in my home in the
Phoenix area, but why?
no one know the future but the odds are good that prices will continue to escalate. I've budgetted for that, and at times wonder if I will be moving
further south...Central or South America...but know that's just panic/BajaNomad/Gringo Gazette talk. I'm a frugal person and have never managed to
spend all my income, even now.
and oh, I'm nowhere near 65, nor 62, but someday not too many years away I hope to be able to tap into those IRAs at 59.5. I've been living this life
for many years, half time in Mexico since 1997, and until last year when I officially called myself retired, worked only 3-6 months a year. it can be
done! being single and dependent free helps a lot I must admit.
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jimgrms
Senior Nomad
Posts: 664
Registered: 9-30-2005
Location: oceanside ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: its always good
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I could live pretty well on 1200 1500 a month renting in the states colorado my house payment is 1200 ;so if i sold and took my equity and
Navy soc sec and ibew pensions , and leased a small beach house , hell i could afford a decent boat, and a girl friend
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Very good Information;
Virginia and I lived on $800 a Month until we left in 2000.
The amount you will need is determined by the Location. a non-Beach location such as La Purimiso, San Ysidro, Los Bocanas,Cuidad Constitution would be
much Cheaper than Loreto or Muelge.
Buy Mexican Products-Consume Mexican Food- Drink Mexican Beer and you will be Surpised!
Good Luck.
Skeet/Loreto
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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i think the cost of living in loreto is pretty close to the same as in oregon
i was in yuma last week and if you dont mind living in the foot hills in a rv resort its a lot cheaper then either ii just live better in loreto
jerry and judi
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by reefrocket
$80 gas (exploring) per month
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You're kidding right? I can almost fill my tank ONCE for that amount.
When folks ask me if it's cheap and are there good deals in Baja I simply reply"Ain't no deals no more" .
That's not entirely truthful. You can find bargains like here but like many of you say food and home costs have gone up considerably.
As we would like to enjoy both worlds during trh year we would not want to give up our northerly home. Rather use it as a reprieve from the
intolerable heat for 4 mo, That would mean supporting two homes. That is not inexpensive so there is no way we could do it "cheap".
[Edited on 4-14-2007 by Sharksbaja]
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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Pompano has the right priorities.  
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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A couple years back I took a little trip through Baja. It started as a 2 week trip but ended up being 4 months.
1 man, 1 truck, fishing gear, camping gear, no spanish.
It was very fun and enlightening.
I spent a couple of months in La Paz. I stayed at the Hosteria Convento. It was $13/night. The room was small but good enough. Private bath with hot
water in the morning and evening. Cold shower mid day if you were brave enough. Common kitchen in the open courtyard as well as a TV all in spanish.
My fellow guests were middle class Mexicans and the backpacker set mostly Euros.
I ate humbly at taco stands mostly carne asada and fish and shrimp. I shopped at the mercado. I drank bellanas and tortugas of beer which is the
cheapest way. Only problem is they get warm fast so you must drink them fast. Not a big problem but you'll probably need a siesta and brave the cold
shower.
I lazed on the beach, walked on the Malecon etc. I never had it so good!
I did fish and explore a little and that's expensive.
But without fishing and stuff I probably spent 20-30 a day to "live".
I did get a little bored and needed more activities that added to the cost.
I never needed to camp because I always found motels for around $20. But I think that would be $30 now.
I don't sleep well on the ground so I'm not much of a camper.
I think now I could do the Mexican Motel Six trip for about $30-40 a day not including fuel.
If you have the time try it. It will change your life.
My favorite place was Puerto San Carlos which was a dreary little fishing village. But Mag Bay and the Pacific are awesome. My motel 6 there was
$9/night and my Mexican "girlfriends" were staying in the same place. Paradise!
[Edited on 4-14-2007 by fishbuck]
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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sylens
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Ensenada
Member Is Offline
Mood: ando bajando
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fishbuck
curious to know where you live in the usa that gas in baja is about the same as gas on the other side. for us, from california, gasoline has been a
delightfully surprising area of savings. same goes for utilities. maybe we're getting into lifestyle issues here, and a lot depends where in baja
you live, but we do not have or need a/c. heat's a different issue and we finally managed to get a costco portable propane heater for that. so we
pay 40 to 50 dollars per month on electricity, and about 10 per month on water.
and if you manage to buy your home and live rent free, that permits you to live very reasonably. especially if, like we did, you take the plunge and sell what you have in el norte to make the permanent move.
also, as mentioned in other threads, property taxes are ridiculously low.
there is no question but that we live considerably more cheaply here than we could in fresno, california. we do not pay california taxes either that also helps.
and yes, food and real estate prices are going up steadily, as they seem to be in el norte...
as others have implied, if you want to live in baja,
¡sí se puede!
lili
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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What is the current price for 1 gallon of magna? In SoCal it's about $3.15-3.20.
It's been a couple of months but I paid about $2.50/gal in San Quintin when it was about $3.00/gal in SoCal. That's cheaper but not much.
Now if it was $1.00/gal in Mx I'd be excited.
I figure by the time I finish my house it will cost about $250.000. It will be nice but no mansion. I don't consider that cheap. Ofcourse a similar
house on the water in Newport Beach would be 10x that but I think the days of living cheaply on the beach in Baja are over.
If you want to live in a trailer I guess you could do it cheaply.
And it is cheaper to live away from the water.
I use to live oceanfront in Newport Beach for about 10 years. Newport is no pristine beach in baja but I did love living there.It finally became too
expensive so I moved up the hill to Costa Mesa. I like it better and I'm less than a mile from the beach. And one thing I can tell you about the ocean
is it's not going anywhere.
But my dream is a nice house on the water in baja. An that ain't cheap no more.
[Edited on 4-15-2007 by fishbuck]
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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about 30 years ago i met a couple who were dead broke they couldnt afford anything out side there home a card or a stamp would over load there budget
i spent several evening listening to there stories and what they have done in there lives
i was so jelouse i made my mind up then to live every moment
live your dream in baja or where ever you are thingswill change so will your neibores prices of everthing will
so live as you love unabated by what the future will bring
your memories will allways be clear of the things you really love
dance the dance live the life tomorrow may never come if it does you lived throu more then most jerry
jerry and judi
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Excellent words Jerry! The Story of my Life and the Future of my Life.Skeet/Loreto
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3512
Registered: 8-27-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sylens
there is no question but that we live considerably more cheaply here in Ensenada than we could in fresno, california. |
Not to point out the obvious, but that stretch of Hiway 99 through Fresno looks a lot like the stretch of Hiway 1 through Ensenada.....
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Bajagypsy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1416
Registered: 8-31-2006
Location: BahÃa Asuncion BCS
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Mood: Living the dream
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I beleive one can live as cheaply as one wants. When we take our kids down (have done so twice) we do so very cheaply. Our first trip down with kids
was our honeymoon that trip cost us $4,500.00 Canadian. That was a three week trip around baja, than we did disneyland and seaworld. That includes
everything, driving from canada, hotels, food, drink, doing things with the kids. I think that is a very cheap price for 6 people. The next time we
took our kids down (in November) for three weeks, it was even cheaper, as we skipped disneyland and seaworld. That trip came to $3,000.00 Canadian.
We stayed at Shari & Juans, and then camped in Mulege. Again that covered everything our driving down to Baja and back, all food, lodging, drinks
diving, snorkleling everything. OUr kids are great at makeing up some game to play. They are 15 years old - 8 years old, and entertain themselves.
They bring books, beach stuff, homework and their game boys and that is all. They are allowed one little bag of stuff as we are limited on room.
Todd spear fishes and that helps cut down on our groceries, all though every once in a while the kids get sick of fish, so we would buy some beef at
the store. I can feed my family way cheaper in Baja than in Canada. I guess we are lucky that we do not require a 5 star hotel, and that our kids
don't need to be entertained every moment of every day. They are quite happy to stay in our tents for weeks on end. We have everything needed for a
comfortable tent stay. And what could be better than a child wakeing up, climbing out of their tent and going for a swim, or play on the beach. Way
better than being at home, where there are chores to do!!!!
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