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!