Check out my Website For FREE information on Moving to Mexico - www.josearteaga.com Living in South Central Merida Yucatan Mexico 🇲🇽 Living in Merida Mexico - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SJfrMiSqipA.html Top 7 Reasons Why You'll LOVE Merida Yucatan Mexico 🇲🇽 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zkHx3egEj2I.html Cost of Living in Mexico 2023 🇲🇽 How much Money do you Need to Live in Mexico? - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WISrqfj78lA.html
I had to literally start thinking in pesos, instead of doing math with dollars! I no longer think of living here as cheap, but affordable. If locals can’t afford something, I don’t allow myself to afford it either. It really helped keep my spending in check. Your videos have helped us so much. We’ve been in Mexico for a year and a half now……. And loving it💕
That is awesome! It is also a great way of looking at it. It is not "Cheap" But it is definitely more affordable! Thank you so much for sharing! Viva Mexico!
“…If locals can’t afford something, I don’t allow myself to afford it either.” Hey, I really like that perspective and way of thinking. It should be added to the List of Wise Sayings (if it isn’t already there). I agree with it.
Living alone, it's actually cheaper to eat at the local cocinas economicas than cook for yourself. I can eat well locally for 60 pesos which includes soup, agua sabor, rice, beans, tortillas and "guisado" or entre. For 70 pesos there's a cafeteria-style place which is basically all I could possibly eat, plus fruit for dessert, or a better entre at the 60 peso place plus salad or spend 80 pesos for a nice big piece of battered fish as the entre.
You are 10000% Correct. Even if you are not single those cocinas economicas are a great idea and value! They always offer different things and its a great way to eat for only a few dollars! Thanks for sharing!
@@JoseArteagaTravels Plus it supports people actually providing services to the people working in the community every day, rather than catering only to tourists or special occasions. I live in Reforma in Oaxaca de Juarez, which is pretty upscale and not much housing, so these places are indispensable to the people who commute here for work. Plus they make a steady income. I ran a coffee house for ten years in a small town back in Canada and I made a good living selling meals mostly for $5.95 CAD, which coincidentally is now about 80 pesos. That's with a $12.00/hr minimum wage and the other attendant Canadian costs like property taxes and insurance. These places in Reforma are not only affordable but very profitable. They work hard, they're busy and they make a good living. It also shines a light on just how much margin the upscale places are making - often for inferior food - and how much of that just goes to the landlord or a corporation. It's cheaper for me because there is zero waste. If I buy groceries they tend to go bad in the fridge before I get to them. Plus you get a meal in minutes that took hours to prepare.
Living within your means is hard for the average U.S. citizen since the culture is based around having it all right now instead of doing with what you can afford, commercialism and keeping up with the Jones, I grew up poor and have worked hard all of my life, I love vegetables, rice and beans and I am not afraid of eating from a street vendor like some gringos, my mom is 90 and still gets around, she says we all have to eat a peck/bushel of dirt in our lifetime and it makes our immune system stronger, I am the youngest of her 8 children and have to agree, she also said if you learn how to cook well, you will never go hungry.
Amen! Thank you for sharing your wise words of wisdom! You are 1000% correct about everything. That's why the upcoming/current financial crisis will be even worst than most people realize. Simply because they are not ready for it and it shows. Anyone complaining 1,000 is not enough right ow will be in for a world of hurt sooner than later. Thank you again for sharing!
@@JoseArteagaTravels Hola José: I am moving this week from a tourist/expat town kinda like where you are but further south in Mexico. I will be going to a town about 30 minutes up the hill (foothills) is what we call it in California anyway. I have been paying 6000 pesos for a furnished two bedroom apartment. Now I will have an even bigger two bedroom two story house for 4500 pesos. Here I have a stove and refrigerator which I will have to buy when I move. I might start with a hot plate and cooler (and ice.) I need to cook much more. They don’t have or even know what a tv dinner is jaja. Well, I need to be a bit nicer, even though I think I am nice already! I will take all the advise you have to give. Thanks… wait for some updates to my move and all it involves. Puedo comunicar en español mejor que todos los expats aquí. 🤠
Living within means is hard. As a US citizen I have had struggles with that. I just turned it all around. I sold my large floating house and bought a tiny floating house in the same moorage (its like a big family). I went from 2000 sf to 500 sf. I have no garage and I have no storage units. OMG the freedom that comes with that. Everything I own is in my 500sf floating house. Now my thoughts are turning to what to plant in my 4x8 garden box! Can't wait for growing veggies. I do plan to retire in Mérida. I already own my house there. My favorite thing food wise is the day I arrive in town to go and get sopa de lima from the Santiago market. After a long day of flying it is a healing balm to my body, and so delicious! Street tacos-hello yum. :)
Update: Maybe I will have to email Jose or pay for a one on one call. The owner wanted me to sign a contract for 6 months. I wanted to just pay each month and move whenever I wanted or if I found something better. Well, I am on the look for a different place. I wonder about signing a contract and being obligated to pay if I move early?? I was warned once that there are bad contracts out there.
I had to comment on this video. This video is one of the most real and informative videos on moving to Mexico I’ve come across (thus far). I’ve watched MANY… I’m a African American woman (Jamaican descent). I’ve been watching mostly videos of other African American ppl that have relocated out of the U.S. My thought was they’d give me more of a “real/authentic” insight (culture wise) in helping me make an informative decision. I’m not saying I haven’t learn things, but most sugar coat for whatever reason (views, money, recognition 😬). When others decide to “keep it real” it’s more out of frustration then authenticity. Thank you!
Jose, you’re absolutely correct in your video. I have been going back and forth to Mexico for years. Once I’m there in Mexico act like the locals and follow their advice on the do and do nots. They figured out on how much spend and live on, you should too.
Yes agreed, you can live frugally out here. I have 3 places(chinese, pollo asado and tostada stand) where I can eat for 80 to 120 pesos a meal with drink. 👍 and I usually eat only one meal a day. 👍👍
Lovely video I’m Mexican soon to retire back in my country n totally agree with all you say, for a solo living I can make it there since I know my way around simple life low profile peace an harmony is all I need . Thank you for all you do .
I saw your amazing joint video with Jordan of Tangerine Travels & immediately viewed your channel. You are living in the beautiful old colonial city of Merida described in your videos as “Out here.” You may want to consider editing out sneezes, background noise that you’re waiting to end before you speak & time spent looking for a historical graph of USD to peso exchange rates. Those things don’t add value to the viewing time or length of the video. Your content is great & I wish you much success in growing your channel.
Another great Video. You are Truly our “Eyes and Ears” and “Foots on the ground,” giving us an Honest Perspective about what Life is Really like Living Mexico. This is a very informative Video.
@@Bob-SlapBattles Well considering inflation there’s three people in my House including myself I would budget for 18,000 pesos right now at 17 pesos for one dollar
Prices have definitely gone up in merida for basics & food 2019 vs 2022. I noticed it since I keep a close tab on my expenses. Prices here in the 🇺🇸 have gone up between 40% to 100% at the grocery store, restaurants including fast food, rent, home, & car repair services, cars, utilities, insurance, medical. It's absolutely insane!!!! People are walking out of dealerships with $1000 car payments 🙈🙈🙈🙈
Resonated with everything you said about living on 1000 month. I worked my way in with work permits, so before I retired, I added a little on to the income through legitimate work. Eat and cook at home, shop from the locals, grow your own food which can be done in even small spots or pots, keep working on the Spanish, stay away from expat enclaves. I'm in one of those for medical reasons. After surgery, heading for the Yucatan. See you in a year and half!!!
Great video! Very true! I’m living on a $1,200 budget for now, hope to increase my income soon. And very glad there are still $5,500 (MX) per month rentals out there, I saw this for a 2-bedroom cute little house. 😊
Hi José. Saludos desde Zapopan Jalisco México. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you so much. I came here in 2019. I was living in Los Angeles. I really enjoy taking the public transportation. And another option we have is we have the Mercado del mar.(Fish Market) those if you who love fish and seafood. That's another way to save money and get fresh food. I also buy locally at verdurerias(vegetables.and fruit shop. Or El Tianguis. That's how you save and eat healthy. Thank you so much Jose. All the best brother
You are given such a great information, for people out there, because one of the reason people leave the country is because you can't live in the states with the retirement money we get, so you need to be another Mexican person just live a simple life, thank goodness I only have to worry about food and utilities, because I own my house, but like you said we have to spend money in furniture, medical bills etc etc. Thanks 🎉
Lots of good tips Jose! Greetings from Canada. I have a temporary resident permit for Mexico and will be coming back end of this month. Your trips are very useful. Thanks!
@@JoseArteagaTravels Thanks, Jose! I’ve been watching your videos constantly in front of my (Mexican) wife and she finally agreed to make the move yesterday! Have to figure out how to sell our home/stuff first. I will most certainly be in contact to set up some consultations with you. Thanks for your great videos! ❤️🇲🇽
You have shared soooooo much useful information. I'm moving to Merida in Julio. Thank you for your honesty and perseverance. My mother taught me when I was young how to shop for nutritious food on a budget. And I can still eat in the US for less than $300 a month. I'm glad I like beans. LoL Thanks man!
We love living in Mexico for a few months in the winter. Due to frequent travel we don't get the cheapest deals, but we always got good value. The key to staying within our budget is to stay away from the tourist areas, which sometimes means missing some nice things. But travelling by bicycle (when we stay more than a month) we always find amazing places full of awesome people. we're looking to spend more time as we get older, but places like Colombia and Panama, even El Salvador, also interest us. Well, great info here. I'm subscribing!
I own an extra house in Tlaquepaque. It was just walls, ceilings, and as basic as hell. My renter has done a lot of sweat equity inside. I bought the materials and he put in a kitchen, finished the bathroom, painted and so on. His rent is $100 a month. My wife will not raise his rent. But the place is now very nice and we will make some decent money when it comes time to sell it.
Thanks for the guides, I've been thinking of moving to Merida after graduating in the United States if I can find a job remotely, I think I'm very frugal and don't need much to be happy so the calm and slow lifestyle sounds really nice and I'll probably be able to save alot of my salary and use it to travel and help my family
🙂I'm thinking to move to Mexico in the future! Would rent my house here, in the USA, and use this money to live in Mexico. It should be much more than I need. And also should be easy to live there for me as I lived 50 y in Poland - my home country, not as rich or spoiled as the USA are....
Thanks for all this valuable information. I had a big hit of nostalgia looking at your awesome footage of Mérida. I lived there for more than a year, and I'm amazed at how pretty the city is.
The way I learned reading and writing Spanish is by attending a Christian church. The hymns (songs), Bible verses and preachings contain similar words. Also, volunteering, helping, and in giving offering or tithe will help others tremendously. In fellowship with them you can practice your Spanish.
That is awesome! GREAT ADVICE! I never even thought of that but you are 10000% right that is an amazing way to learn and also give back! Thank you for sharing!
Hey José! I started in Monterrey, interesting city and good people but the prices are very similar to the US, Texas prices. Going to see how Puebla and Oaxaca compares.
In America so many people is shop shop shop. They shop for things they don't even need. It is like the anxiety of owning stuff is affecting everyone. I moved from NyC to Medellin and couldn't believe all the stuff I left behind and dont even miss all that crap. Simplify your life and you will realize you dont need much.
Where have you been in my life? I love that being a Cuban you're half way into understanding living in Mexico before you even got here - and have a "3 jumps ahead" on any Gringo like me trying to figure, what it's like living in Mexico. Do a Video on "Faith driving them and their Economic Life"? People in our town in Tepic, hitch hike, take a bus or what ever from their small town to the big city - and knowing God will provide for them, and some people will help them out with bus fare to return to their village. It's a way of life down here. Jose, did you know that Pope J.P.II ALWAYS started his World Tours ONLY from Mexico. True. It's 2 x's worse for Ex-pats right now in Mexico. Inflation is like REALLY 10%, then add a loss in USD purchasing power with the World Decline in the USD of -9.8% USD/Mex.Peso. That equates now to like a total -20% HIT to Expats purchasing power during this last 12 months.
José, you mentioned that as a source of extra income, expats should consider selling something homemade at a local weekend feria, or offering their services to their neighborhood/community, for a price. I agree; I’ve considered doing this, down the road, with the hopes of eventually relocating from the US to Mexico. I’m wondering, if once a resident visa is attained by a foreigner, are there any restrictions for foreigners who earn money within Mexico (if pesos are being earned) that might pose to be a problem, and if so…what does this entail? Thanks so much. I really appreciate your honest and informative videos.
Once you attain legal residency and start a business then you must get a business license and pay taxes to Mexico like every other business does. There are no real restrictions that I know of to immigrants. There might be a few businesses you might be restricted from but for the everyday immigrant no real restrictions of any kind.
@@JoseArteagaTravels thank you for explaining! The reason I ask is because I lived in Peru for five years, in which I had a resident visa during that time. I know that every country differs as far as their laws, but in Peru, in order for a foreigner to earn any type of income within the country, they had to specifically have what was known as a “work visa”, which also required the foreigner to show evidence that they continued to earn a certain amount of income within Peru, in order to maintain their work visa. Any other resident visa that one had there, aside from a work visa, did not allow them to earn even the smallest amount of income within the country. I am loving how easy a transition and living in Mexico would be. I have family in Monterrey, so perhaps I could get residency through showing that I have Mexican relatives?
Jose, I know this is a little off-topic, but I was just reading about the mayan Train coming soon to the Yucatan. They're supposed to start service on December 1st 2023 Not sure of the time it would take to go from Cancun to Marita mexico or the cost involved but I think it would be a great way to go to Marita without having to rent a car. I thought you could do a video on the subject.
In 1986, we could ride the local bus from downtown Cancun to the beach for 7 cents American each way and a taxi was something like 40 cents. You can't do that today.
im mexican and i agree hummm... and...I think that a thousand dollars is the average income of a middle class family in Mexico. There are cities where everything is very expensive like CDMX, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mérida, los Cabos or Cancun, because the country is divided into economic zones with different types of income, but there are states where the cost of living is much cheaper than those 1,000 dollars.
Other things to consider for affordability is electricity. If you own your home explore solar. If you are renting, hey keep the lights off and the fans running. I am also a huge fan of the family cocina económicas.
Your have to go to that bar at 2:06 just in front of the hotel. When it’s hot, and it can get really hot, go there, grab a beer and eat those free snacks. Thank me later.
Do they have soup kitchens and church meals available to the public? Not necessarily asking for any one specific town or city but in Mexico in general do they have soup kitchens and help for the homeless or lower class more frugal people?
Yes they do! The Government is not the one usually in charge of things like that. It's mostly done by the community itself or Church groups which there are many out here in Mexico
I just need to somehow join the triple AAA promotion in Cancun and then I'll be the greatest luchador ever!! Or maybe just be an interviewer or something.🤔
Not true many foreigners and Expats live in Mexico for around 1,000 or less a month. One key contributer is not spending money on an HOA or a Fancy rental. In order to spend like the locals one must live like the locals
Jose you right, the people there like when Alguien negocia los precios,es la cultura incluso cuando vas al mercado pides rebaja en los precios y a ellos les gusta, that’s their Mexican way
It is my dream to move to Mexico by my 68th birthday. My SSDI is 1140 and I struggle here and the crime is bad and getting worse. Is it possible for me to travel there alone and stay as a resident without having to come back? I do not want to come back here. Thank you, Jose, bless you!
Many people live in Mexico on a tourist visa which they renew every 180 days. Also if you do get Temporary residency you can also live with that indefinitely as well as long as you renew it when appropriate.
No limones?!? I wish I had a garden, and if I did, that would be my first tree!. I have seen them in the yards around Chapala, and they look incredibly productive: hundreds and hundreds on every tree. I could stop buying orange juice at Soriana at 30 pesos a carton, and drink limonadas with my breakfast instead. But you do not have a tree? What am I missing here?
With the current situation about the BRICS bringing their currency to displace the US dollar i will say that buying a house in Mexico is a life insurance in case that the US dollar value drops becsye the new BRICS currency
Great question! For more information on how you can ask me a Question for me to answer live on air please Click here for more information www.josearteaga.com/youtube-consultations
Just woolgathering if I were to live there on social security I'd have to live frugally within my means . I do speak some fair Spanish ( though my voabulary is not extensive more like a elementary 6th grade vocabulary ) but I can learn add to my vocabulary and go house hunting or likely apartment hunting . Try to get a good deal / price . I don't care to stay " American " food or products if they cost more , Once in a while go these American places and pay extra a few times but mostly go Mexican . Mexican local stores not Walmart / Costco ( never ever been to Costco ) but price and quality would have the bigger say when choosing things , No McDonald's or BK if they cost more . I've been in mexico a couple weeks several times and it's no big thing to leave American things behind
30% or about 1/3 your budget should be max. for rent. So that $325 of yours is a good example for that budget as a max. -- Cheaper would be better to save money obviously. -- For example: A small frugal 1 BR - in the Philippines can still be had in many places for $60 - $100 / month ! Add utilities internet electric water & phone for about another $125 with AC and some comfort. A couple can easily live on $1000 / month in frugal locations - and - they speak English ! -- A single person on the average $1500 SS check can live quite well if alone. - - - How much is a frugal studio in Merida cost - w / AC & elect internet water TV phone.....???
Jose, Does Merida have those nice fancy gyms? Like Smart Fit gym what does a membership cost for 1 month if you want to go every day? In dollars please… 😁💪🏻
I think it's funny you ask about fancy gyms Christopherhouse :) With RU-vid you can exercise FREE... unless you really need to flex muscles in front of a mirror?? Go watch William T videos
I totally agree! Like I have showed many times You can get by with little to no Spanish, but in order to do that one must be nice which some people are not and in fact get upset when the natives do not Speak Spanish. But in the end Speaking Spanish opens doors that you might not even know existed if you didnt know the language. It is not necessary but it does help a lot.
Nah dont be so down on yourself! You should try this App for your phone called DuoLingo. It is a Free App and many people have learned Really good Spanish from it at any age! Try it out!
Can’t get residency anymore with this kind of income -. Cheap vs frugal is a good filtering concept though $ 33k us for broken ribs. Private hospitals not the cheapest
Not true you can check out this video for more information Mexican Lawyer Explains Temporary Residency Requirements 🇲🇽 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dEq6p4LULkA.html
This Channel has been around since late 2019 but I have been making content about living in Mexico on my other channel since mid 2018 when i moved here. I had to put the cooking channel on hold for now because it is expensive to produce and it does not generate any money for me to continue to do it just to do it. That whole idea of a show took a lot of effort and production and basically I was losing money with every show. I will be going back to cooking at some point, just not sure when. My first love is cooking so for sure I will be back at some point in the future.
Enforcing what? This is Mexico..... 😅🇲🇽 For more information you should check this video out Is Smoking Actually Banned in Mexico? 🇲🇽 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xmCeiAUatFw.html
It's hard to do when I am driving around because it is just stock footage of me driving around and I myself do not know 😅 But when I do the other kinds of videos I am trying to mention the area as applicable in future videos. I also have lots of videos done on certain areas and in lots of my walking videos I mention the area as well. Thanks for the suggestions! And yes I do have CashApp! Thanks! $josearteaga8
I'm a Mexican living in Mexico City. I don't know how can anyone live in Mexico City for less than 30,000 Pesos (1,655 USD). Just a room downtown can cost around 15,000 Pesos (827.55 USD). An apartment is no less than 25,000 Pesos (1379 USD). You can try living in a cheaper area, but be ready to live not having running water days at a time, losing your WiFi all the time, not to mention being ready to getting robbed.
I agree Mexico City is awesome but also insanely expensive! Thank god Mexico is huge and has tons of beautiful places availble for anyone who wants to live a simple, inexpensive, and tranquil life. Viva Mexico!
This is not true. I live on this budget in Mexico City. 2 story house, 2 bedroom with parking. Never have an issue with water or electricity. Quick internet. Just one block from the metro. By bike in 15 minutes I van be in Roma or Condesa, if I wanted. You just have to go out of the expat bubble and it is easily doable. Millions of Mexicans do it as well.
With a budget of twenty thousand pesos you can live very well in Mexico, just try to buy part of your pantry in the local markets, fruits and vegetables are cheaper and fresher than in supermarkets, another way to save a lot of money It's buying your own house and not renting, paying rent is like throwing money away, it's better to buy a house. One thing that many people do is buy a house in a city but also buy un terreno in a pueblo or rancho to plant their own vegetables and fruits and also raise their farm animals, spend the weekends there with family and friends, I live in the north of the country and this is how we live and it is a sustainable and recreational way of life.
How about "Everything comes to your house" video.? I joke, "Everything but Beer comes to your house, that you if you order more than a case - they will get it delivered to you.
We live in Guadalajara and eat very well and healthily at home for a lot, lot less than 200 pesos per day. If you can't cook or you just want to eat street food every day you are going to end up as fat as a whale.
I'm a new subscriber and I love your channel. I also like that we have an opportunity to support your channel for only $2- that makes it easier for me to contribute for every video I watch. 🙂
@@JoseArteagaTravels The dollar is in trouble. Because the BRICS nations are developing new global reserve currency backed by gold and commodities. Plus most countries are starting to DE-dollarize. As more time goes by it's only going to get worse for the U.S dollars. So the U.S dollar is on borrowed time. By the way Mexico is making a smart move economically by wanting to join up with BRICS, your smart to stay in Mexico for the long haul.
Here's some food for thought. And the truth. The minimum wage in Mexico is $11.54 an hr. $244.06 pesos, Or something like that. Do the research. In the U.S., in ALL red states, the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour! The blue states pay a few dollars more. CA pays $15.00, NY is $15.50. Don't tell me that the U.S. pay scale is so much more because it's not! It's CHEAPER to live in Mexico!!! People in America are starving because of the unlivable minimum wage in most states!! Most other countries have no idea how Americans suffer financially!!! Why would any immigrant want to come here?? Mexico's peso will out cost the U.S. dollar and before we😅 know it, retirees living in Mexico will not be able to afford living in Mexico on their Social Security. The Biden regime is deliberately destroying the U.S. and it's monetary system. We will start to see Mexico deporting retirees who live on SS payments in Mexico. Just wait and see.
