Cost of Living Comparison: Popular Retirement City’s

Mexico is a popular retirement spot, people from all over the world are choosing Mexico. About 50,000 snowbirds spend part of the year in Mexico and more than a million foreigners permanently live here. Retirees are looking for warm weather, beautiful surroundings, quality health care and a lower cost of living. Nowadays, retirees have a smaller budget that they need to stretch further and they are looking to Mexico where they can live a fulfilled life for a lower cost.

Living in Mexico can drastically reduce your bills, but do not take our word on it; let the numbers speak for themselves. I have selected three top retirement cities in America and two cities in the Riviera Maya, to do a cost of living comparison on everyday items and services. So you can get an idea of the kind of retirement life you can have with your budget in the Riviera Maya.

	Phoenix, AZ	Orlando, FL	Austin, TX	Playa del Carmen	Tulum, MX
Restaurants
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	10.50	10.00	12.00	4.09	2.38
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	52.50	40.00	50.00	32.35	27.25
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	6.00	7.00	6.02	4.60	6.13
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)	3.25	3.00	3.00	1.70	1.02
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)	5.00	4.00	4.50	2.72	1.70
Cappuccino (regular)	3.65	3.06	3.65	2.18	5.45
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)	1.41	1.51	1.79	1.02	1.02
Water (0.33 liter bottle)	1.18	1.31	1.42	1.14	0.68
Groceries
Milk (regular), (1 liter)	0.74	1.04	1.14	0.95	2.04
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	2.29	2.51	2.52	1.73	1.91
Rice (white), (1kg)	3.18	2.87	2.79	0.68	1.36
Eggs (12)	2.20	2.62	2.29	1.70	3.27
Local Cheese (1kg)	7.80	11.82	11.49	4.43	4.09
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg)	5.84	8.77	9.18	5.11	5.45
Apples (1kg)	3.43	4.28	3.90	2.01	2.72
Oranges (1kg)	4.41	4.50	2.90	0.78	1.36
Tomato (1kg)	3.20	5.28	3.62	0.78	1.36
Potato (1kg)	2.46	2.47	2.67	1.12	2.04
Lettuce (1 head)	1.21	1.67	1.96	0.95	0.68
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	1.82	1.70	1.81	0.92	1.36
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	12.00	12.00	13.50	7.15	10.22
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	2.50	2.35	1.42	0.79	1.02
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)	2.08	4.20	2.40	1.53	1.70
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro)	7.50	5.84	6.25	3.41	3.27
Transportation
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.12	2.00	1.00	0.48	0.34
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	64.00	50.00	35.00	N/A	N/A
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.00	2.40	3.38	1.87	2.72
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)	1.38	1.62	1.24	1.36	0.68
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	32.50	36.00	31.00	10.22	4.09
Gasoline (1 liter)	0.90	0.95	0.89	0.87	0.82
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	20,000.00	20,500.00	20,000.00	13,282.02	17,028.23
Utilities (Monthly)
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment	173.60	140.16	171.43	91.10	238.40
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.12	0.15	0.37	0.11	0.14
Internet (6 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	53.12	55.00	44.00	22.12	61.30
Sports And Leisure
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	35.83	29.17	38.22	47.00	47.68
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	10.00	25.00	20.00	17.03	13.62
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	9.88	11.75	10.00	3.92	6.81
Clothing And Shoes
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	39.17	28.00	45.57	56.19	34.06
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	21.33	40.00	42.80	20.43	28.61
1 Pair of Nike Shoes	67.00	57.50	82.14	74.92	54.49
1 Pair of Men Leather Shoes	70.00	82.50	103.75	40.87	81.74
Rent Per Month
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	828.57	868.75	1,418.75	476.79	613.02
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	739.38	723.75	838.67	195.82	238.40
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	1,334.00	1,568.17	2,673.12	1,183.46	1,430.37
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1,179.14	1,170.71	1,544.44	476.79	817.36
Buy Apartment Price
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre	1,829.86	1,021.58	4,090.29	726.54	1,498.48
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	1,453.13	1,004.63	1,632.53	749.24	1,021.69
Salaries And Financing
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax)	2,621.37	3,445.83	3,884.93	737.89	340.56
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly	4.31	4.32	4.29	9.00	9.00
Source: Numbeo	Updated	Updated	Updated	Updated	Updated
www.numbeo.com	Jan. 2015	Jan. 2015	Jan. 2015	Dec. 2014	Jan. 2015

As you can see in this cost of living comparison, the cost of living in Mexico is much lower than in the States. Even if you don’t want to leave the States behind completely and would like to just be a snowbird in Mexico, your retirement savings is going to stretch further!


Maybe someday soon you will retire in Mexico.


Now if you have any question about the cost of living or how to retire in Mexico, please feel free to contact any of our Top Buyer’s Representatives and we will be glad to help you find your very own piece of paradise.


And remember, here at Top Mexico Real Estate…


We make it happen!

10 Things To Consider When Retire In Mexico: Part 2

This is the second part of our article and covers some tips to keep a realistic view on how it would be retiring to a tropical paradise in Mexico. There is always a lot to consider before taking the plunge and retiring abroad, things that are not in the shiny brochures or sites trying to sell something.

1. Learn from the locals: As a friend use to say, “The longer you live in Playa del Carmen; the further away you stay from 5th Avenue”. There is many things you can do with your pension in a place like the Riviera Maya, but if you want to keep expenses low there is a lot to learn from locals: stay away from touristy areas, find your favorite locals spots, go to the beach with your own drinks and food and so on!

2. Be willing to stop comparing: A lot of retirees have time adjusting to the differences and you see them in expats favorite spots, talking on how much they miss Pop tarts. Mexico is not a sunnier-exotic version of North America, there is a lot of cultural and language differences, learn to live with what is available and make sure to ask friends and family to bring Pop tarts every time they visit.


3. Make a realistic budget: Living in the places is the best way to do this, make sure to keep a budget and adjust it accordingly. You will spend much less a month I you learn to live like the locals and not like a tourist on vacation, but this all depends on what type of life style you would like to lead. The only way to see how much you would spend is actually living and getting to know the area.


4. Embrace the stages of adaptation: It doesn’t matter how prepared you feel, there will be stages in your experience of living abroad. First, euphoria; and then reality starts getting to you and you might feel frustrated or even angry when things are not done your way. It is important to learn how to adapt not only to a new language, but also to a new medical and legal system, new holidays, new customs, etc.


5. Expect visitors, lots of them: Nothing prepares you for the long stream of friends and family visiting your home, people you haven’t seen in years suddenly contacts you asking how life is and casually mentioning how much they would like to visit. Keep this in mind when preparing your budget, if you love to have friends and family expect some extra expenses: going out, going on day-trips, visiting the local parks, etc.

Being expats ourselves, we have experienced the lows and highs of living abroad; feel free to contact us if you want to know more about retiring to Mexico.

Now if you have any question about this or any of the TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE properties we have listed in Playa Del Carmen, The Riviera Maya or anywhere throughout Mexico, please feel free to contact any of our TOP MEXICO EXPERT SALES TEAM and we will be glad to help you find your very own piece of paradise.

And remember, here at TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE…

We make it happen! 

10 Things To Consider When Retiring To Mexico: Part 1

Every year, thousands of retirees choose Mexico as their new home. Moving south of the border can certainly reduce your cost of living and a mere $30,000 a year can stretch a long way, however it is important to consider other aspects before taking the plunge and moving to paradise in Mexico.

   

 1. Start researching a few places: Imagine your retirement home and put together a list of the things you cannot live without. Be honest with yourselves and pick a place that has everything you need in the long term.

 2. Find information: There is plenty of websites dedicated to specific markets, read as much as you can. Take notes, contact a few friends or friends of friends that live in the area, ask questions!

 3. Brace yourselves: Do not let the excitement get to your head! Living abroad is not for the faint of heart: there are language and cultural differences. Many retirees come to Mexico and leave after a couple of years, it is important to have a good attitude! 

4. Beware surveys: There are many cost-of-living comparisons, they might show rents in Mexico much cheaper than in North America, but also there is different standards. If you look for a home with all the commodities you are used to: spacious bedrooms, dressing rooms, central a/c, pool and social areas expect to pay a little more.

 5. Live abroad, before retiring abroad: If you are retired take some time and stay in the areas you are considering retiring in. Pick different seasons to experience the life in each place, talk to people, meet some locals and expats; the more you do this, the more prepared you will be for the big move!

 We have met and worked with many retirees looking for their dream home, and have experience the ups and downs of living overseas ourselves. Now if you have any question about this or any of the TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE properties we have listed in Playa Del Carmen, The Riviera Maya or anywhere throughout Mexico, please feel free to contact any of our TOP MEXICO EXPERT SALES TEAM and we will be glad to help you find your very own piece of paradise.


 And remember, here at TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE…

 We make it happen!

I want good, durable furniture, but everything is so expensive in the Riviera Maya!

So you finally did it! You have a brand new condo near the beach, everything you dreamed of… You went through the high and lows of buying Mexico real estate, the jitters and the cold feet of finally signing the paperwork and owning a beautiful home in the magical Riviera Maya.


Everything in Mexico is cheap, right?? You went looking for furniture stores in Playa del Carmen and almost had a heart attack when you saw the prices, wishing there was an Ikea close by and you could just furnish your home and be done with it!


There is one thing about the Caribbean that is never shown in the shiny brochures for properties. You live a few meters away from the beach, the humidity and the sea salt destroy many common furniture materials. Buying cheap furniture will probably backfire, as it will not withstand the elements and the heat: chromed metal, vinyl and MDF; will be rusted, peeling or rotting within a few months or a couple of years.

So what do when you need affordable furniture and your budget is tight? Think outside the box and visit Temozon, Yucatan.

The Mayans living in this area have had it right all along, the secret to furniture that last forever is to use hardwoods or cedar wood. This is a great location to shop for wood furniture and spend your hard earned money in something both cheap and durable.

If you are looking for ultramodern furniture, this might not be the place for you; but there is a good variety of styles and finishes available. They also specialize in garden furniture, so you can find seating sets, dining tables, sun chairs and so many more!

When I left America, I had to leave my beloved World Market table and chairs, they were just too bulky to bring them all the way to Playa del Carmen. In Temozon I had the same table and benches that had cost me thousands in America, made by Mayan artisans with locally sourced wood. The cost of the table and two benches to the exact specifications and measures from the World Market web site, was of 3,900 pesos which to today’s exchange rate translates to about $295.00 USD.


It would be great to bring a Spanish speaking friend, so you don’t get the “gringo special prices” and can explain or haggle if necessary. Make sure to have photos and measurements in metric system of the furniture you need and to see samples of their work, it is customary for made to order furniture to pay 50% in advance. Make sure you get a receipt and all the contact details of the person building your furniture.


If you visit Temozon, do not leave without visiting the nearby archeological site of Ek Balam, and trying the traditional Temozon delicacy: smoked pork! A platter with smoked pork, beans, rice and salad with plenty of handmade tortillas sells for about 50 pesos, we always take friends and family and everyone loves this meat!





Now if you have any question of this or any of the TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE properties we have listed in Playa Del Carmen, The Riviera Maya or anywhere throughout Mexico, please feel free to contact any of our TOP MEXICO EXPERT SALES TEAM and we will be glad to help you find your very own piece of paradise.

And remember, here at TOP MEXICO REALESTATE…

We make it happen!

Sisal: Yucatan’s Untraditional Margarita

If you ever visit the city of Merida, you will be amazed by the splendor of the city and its traditional Haciendas. Stroll through El Paseo de Montejo and admire the European style mansions, which will transport you to the France of the Belle Époque.

The economic boom that made Merida one of the richest cities in America spanned from the late 19th century to the early 20th century; and it is largely due to the exploitation of the Sisal plant.

The Henequen plant or Sisal (Agave fourcroydes), is native to the Yucatan Peninsula. Its use dates back to pre-Columbian Mayan culture that inhabited the region and its use became widespread among the Spaniards who colonized the area.

The Sisal name was given to the fiber in other parts of the world because the fibers and its products were shipped from the port of Sisal, in the north coast of the Yucatan. Even today, a variety of the agave grown in Brazil is called Sisalana, and it is the product of genetic hybridization of the Agave Foucroydes native of the Yucatan.

The lightness, flexibility and strength of their fibers made it indispensable to make ropes and bags used world-wide for shipping and international trade; at a time when synthetic fibers were nonexistent.

Social movements such as the armed uprising of the Mayas in Yucatan known as the Caste War in 1847 and later the Mexican Revolution in 1910 began to weaken the economic and political framework that allowed the production of this fiber. Similarly, the appearance of synthetic fibers derived from petroleum, much cheaper and durable ended the period of exploitation of this fiber.

Something about the Henequen or Sisal that not a lot of people know is that is a plant related to the Agave Plant, the same plant used to make Tequila and Mescal. This plant is used to make a spirit known as Liquor Izamal or Sisal Liquor, and it is crafted only in the Yucatan. Casa Izamal, the distillery that produces it, offers two varieties: Blanco and an Anejo (aged)

If you want to try a much smoother and refreshing version of the traditional Margarita Cocktail, feel free to try the “Margarita Sisal”. This cocktail is a staple in the Live Hacienda “Sotuta de Peon”, where I tried it for the first time. This hacienda is the perfect place to learn more about Henequen fiber or Sisal and to enjoy a wonderful tour.

It took a little bit of begging, but the bartender agreed to share the recipe with me. It is a wonderful twist on the classic Margarita cocktail; made 100% with local ingredients. There is no need to add Cointreau Liquor, since the sour orange is not as sweet as traditional oranges, so it makes for a very simple recipe.

Margarita Sisal:

(Courtesy of Sotuta de Peon Hacienda Viva)

1 oz. freshly Squeezed sour orange* juice

1 ½ oz. ounces of Liquor Izamal or Sisal Distillate

Sugar or natural syrup to taste

Ice cubes

Salt

*Sour Orange: It can be found in supermarkets, the name in Spanish is “Naranja Agria” and it is different from regular oranges because the skin is thicker and darker. If you can’t find them, regular orange will work but you might need to add Cointreau Liquor to reduce the sweetness.

Directions:

1.       Use an orange wedge to wet the rim of the glass

2.       Pour some salt in a plate

3.       Dunk your glass in the salt and make sure the rim is covered with it

4.       Use a cocktail glass to mix all the ingredients and shake them vigorously

5.       If you want a frozen margarita, empty the mix in your blender and blend until all the ingredients are mixed

6.       Pour in a margarita into the salt rimmed glass

Now if you have any question of this or any of the TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE properties we have listed in Playa Del Carmen, The Riviera Maya or anywhere throughout Mexico, please feel free to contact any of our TOP MEXICO EXPERT SALES TEAM and we will be glad to help you find your very own piece of paradise.

And remember, here at TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE…

We make it happen!

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