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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
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Utilities?
What do you guys pay for utilities? I've heard they were relatively cheap, and then I talked to a realtor who said that I should expect to pay
$100-$300 just for power. Is this correct?
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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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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Very much depends on usage here, since the system is tiered.
Cheap, if you manage to stay within the first tier, little above average in the second tier, and "pay through the nose" if you reach the third one,
which is easy to do in a larger home.
And propane ( commercial stove and 40 gl waterheater ) runs around $ 50.00 a month.
[Edited on 11-7-2008 by vandenberg]
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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It also has a lot to do where you live. In some parts of Baja you will need some level of air conditioning in the summer and in others none. What part
of Baja are you looking at???
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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
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I found a great place at the south end of Rosarito, I'll be flying in to visit and check it out next week.
http://www.pristinebaja.com/baja_home_133a.html
It seems great, $650 and a nice place. 2bed/2bath 1,600 sq feet, ocean view, and a rooftop terrace with a built in fire pit. But once the realtor
told me that, it had me second guessing my price range. If I'm going to pay a ton for utilities, I'm going to need a cheaper place.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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$35,000 US for electricity, but that should last a while. At least 15 years for the batteries and who knows about the rest. 
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
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I'm utterly confused by that reply! But thanks for the effort.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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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 phoenix2121
I'm utterly confused by that reply! But thanks for the effort. |
Phoenix, Welcome to the board.
Don't let those kind of replies deter you from participating.
El Jefe is likely referring to being "off grid" and having to go solar, which could set you back some coin.
Lots of Nomads from the area you mention who should be able to give you a close idea.
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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Phoenix,
A friend of mine, who only uses AC in the bedroom to sleep, just showed me her last CFE (electric) bill ... 7,500 pesos for two months. That's over
seven hundred dollars US.
CaboRon
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vandenberg
Very much depends on usage here, since the system is tiered.
Cheap, if you manage to stay within the first tier, little above average in the second tier, and "pay through the nose" if you reach the third one,
which is easy to do in a larger home.
And propane ( commercial stove and 40 gl waterheater ) runs around $ 50.00 a month.
[Edited on 11-7-2008 by vandenberg] |
Anyone who has a fridge and TV won't stay within the first tier. I think it's 100kwh per billing period (two months).
Expect $75 per month for modest usage. Around $20-25 for gas. Phone is $25. Add internet for $35.
If you are conservative you should get by with less than $150 per month. I know some who live quite well on half that. Of course not in a $650 per
month home. 
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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Phoenix
BTW, I know the area you're considering well. Be prepared for poor water quality/quantity and budget an additional $15-20 per month for potable water.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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You will NOT need any air conditioning there and based on living several years in a similar sized home in the area I would estimate your CFE
(electric) bill to run you in the range of $70 -80 USD every two months. Telnor (phone) with Infinitum (DSL) will run you from $50-80 USD monthly
based on bandwidth you choose.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
BTW, I know the area you're considering well. Be prepared for poor water quality/quantity and budget an additional $15-20 per month for potable water.
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Man - you drink a lot of bottled water or have a large household. The wife and I go through maybe two 5 gallon containers a week and we get them
filled for about 65 cents each.
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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
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You guys are awesome, thanks so much!
I just got off the phone with the guy renting the place, and he says that I'll have to purchase a stove/refrigerator... is this common in a rental
unit? Most places in the states provide those for you. I'm not against purchasing one, it just seemed odd.
Also, it turns out there is no furnace... I know the average low in the winter is around 50 degrees, so I guess just make use of the fireplace, or
maybe some space heaters?
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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Its very common to have to provide stove and fridge... they have places to buy them used to be delivered for about $150 each. New can run $300/each
for the apartment style. It does seem odd though... mexico.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
BTW, I know the area you're considering well. Be prepared for poor water quality/quantity and budget an additional $15-20 per month for potable water.
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Man - you drink a lot of bottled water or have a large household. The wife and I go through maybe two 5 gallon containers a week and we get them
filled for about 65 cents each. |
With frequent water outages I average 4-5gal containers per week. Maybe in Rosarito you can fill them for .65 but down here it costs $1.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by phoenix2121
You guys are awesome, thanks so much!
I just got off the phone with the guy renting the place, and he says that I'll have to purchase a stove/refrigerator... is this common in a rental
unit? Most places in the states provide those for you. I'm not against purchasing one, it just seemed odd.
Also, it turns out there is no furnace... I know the average low in the winter is around 50 degrees, so I guess just make use of the fireplace, or
maybe some space heaters? |
It is NOT common. These are either new units that have not been fitted out or the last tenant took the appliances. For a rental
HE should purchase the appliances.
Lack of a furnace IS common. What most do is a propane heater connected to a 10gal bottle. You can move it where/when you need. I know, I know, but I
wouldn't be concerned about CO2. These houses leak like sieves.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
With frequent water outages I average 4-5gal containers per week. Maybe in Rosarito you can fill them for .65 but down here it costs $1.
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I have found several places that will fill the five gallon bottles for 7 pesos each. Actually that works out to less than 60 cents each right now. As
far as the water outages - your place doesn't have a pila?
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phoenix2121
Junior Nomad
Posts: 85
Registered: 8-16-2008
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Thanks Dave, but it looks like I'm stuck purchasing the two. I'm alright with it I suppose, it just sounded funny. Units are pretty new, and have
never been rented long-term is what I'm told.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\'t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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As far as a fridge and stove, I have seen some that don't have either but most seem to have at least a stove. The first home I rented in Baja didn't
have either one but the landlord made a rent concession to me for a couple of months to help out with that. Might be worth trying to negotiate...
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schwlind
Nomad
Posts: 362
Registered: 8-30-2008
Location: Daytona Beach, FL/San Antonio Del Mar (Colonet)
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We're located in San Antonio Del Mar (south of Ensenada) and are completely off grid.
Granted it was about 5 years ago, but we bought a Trace Inverter (4500), 4 120w Kyrocera solar panels, 16 6 volt batteries, and all the other stuff
you need to put it all together... we figure we spent about 11,000 to 12,000 for everything. Earlier this year there was a horrific wind storm and we
lost our panels... but replaced them with 4 BP panels... for a total cost of another $5,000... the output now is far greater and we are very pleased.
Since we are only there occasionally what we have now works great... no doubt when we are there full time, we'll have to upgrade...
I never realized electricity in Baja was so expensive... but then what do I know... our all electric house in FL costs us from 180 to 375 per month
depending upon the season...
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