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December 11, 2011

 

I live in a city of around 225,000 with another city of the same size right next door.  Living in a much larger city or much smaller one would mean lot’s of differences in convenience and cost.

 

Freedom

 

A law was passed in May, 2011 changing all the rules for immigration to Mexico.  Rules were supposed to have been published by last November and we’re still waiting.  I have been getting yearly papers that allow me to live in Mexico for a year and included the one time import of my household goods.  That puts me in the category of Temporary Visitor Non-immigrant Not permitted to work.  There are several categories including one that is a Permanent Resident Not permitted to work.  I was told that the fees for that category were around $3500/yr for 5 years then no further fees or paperwork.  My one-year permit is about $120.  It doesn’t seem worthwhile to go for Permanent Resident.  A recent acquaintance thinks the fee ought to be a lot lower and is going to check with his company who hires skilled foreigners and has employees that deal with Immigration.

 

If I change my address, I’m required to report it to Immigration.  I’m not sure what that will entail; I’ve been remiss.  If they catch me before I do, I might be deported.  I included the change of address the last time I renewed my immigration papers and nobody batted an eyelash.

 

The Mexican Congress passed a law a year or so ago requiring everyone to register their cell phones before April 1 of 2010.  It’s simple and straightforward and can be done at banks, convenience stores, cell phone distributors or online.  As far as I can tell, the information is being kept confidential by both phone company and government.

 

I am free to write, speak or publish on anything, even politics.  There are some import restrictions.  Don’t directly criticize the government.  Don’t attack anyone personally.  Don’t participate in political organizations or demonstrations.  Hell, I’m a guest in the country, they make the rules.

 

Bottomline, I’m subject to less government restrictions on the freedoms I need to enjoy life here than I was in the US.

 

Security

 

However much it’s blown out of proportion in the US media, I seriously doubt I’m at any greater risk here that I was living in Las Vegas, Raleigh, Durham, Jacksonville or Kennesaw.  Only time will tell.  To be fair, more and more people are reporting personal experiences with the narcos, gangs or violence whether by simple criminals related to the wars between narco families and between the families and government.  The government has ramped up its efforts in the last year.  The hope is that it will end is a similar way to the way it ended in Colombia.

 

Housing

 

Mecican comfortable housing for two people can be had for as little as $200/mo.  Moderate luxury can be had for around $400-450, at which level you’ve got all the comfort you want.  Purchase prices can be extrapolated by multiplying the rents by 1,000; $200,000 can get you a really nice house depending on location.  Very few houses have air conditioning, pretty much not needed; almost none have central heating; heating pretty much needed Dec-Jan to Feb-Mar.  Portable gas heaters run around $120-$150, we have 2.

 

My expenses breakdown roughly as follows:

            Rent – about $265 for a 2 bedroom apartment in a really convenient location..

            Electricity – $40-45/mo.

            Water for cleaning and bathing – $6/mo.

            Drinking water - $15-20/mo.

            Gas for cooking and hotwater $9/mo.

            Gas for heating (4 months) $9/mo.

            A/C – don’t need it.

            Maid – about $10/day, maybe 3 days a week

                        Cleaning, cooking, laundry, errands.

 

Household shopping

 

This includes food and routine needs at the equivalent of a Wal-Mart SuperCenter including Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club plus purchases at local stores and convenience stores.

$200-300/mo.

 

Technology

Cell Phones - $30 for a basic cell phone (that’s all we need.)

Air time - $16-25/mo.

Landline and Internet(5mb) - $30/mo. 

Cable TV on two TV’s - $16/mo.

 

Clothing and manufactured good in general

Varies from a lot cheaper to a lot more expensive depending category and quality.

 

Food

Definitely a lot cheaper than in the US.

 

Medical

Prescriptions, brand or generic, 50% of the price in US, though it may pay to maintain US prescriptions and order off the Internet or go to a Wal-Mart in the US.

Some packages and dosages are not available here.  Some medications prescribed by US docs are not available at all.  

 

Office visit (Internist) $40-$60.

 

Extensive lab work $40-60.

 

Surgery, no experience, I’m told it’s competent and less than US.  Insurance is a good idea if you don’t have any pre=existing conditions, I do.  Right now, I’m depending on being able to get back to the US for surgery under Medicare.

 

Insurance  Forget about what you may have read or heard on TV.  The $300/yr for government insurance applies only to the lowest income levels, doesn’t cover a lot of pre-existing conditions and may not be able to provide the meds or procedures you need at the time you need them even if covered.

 

Eating out

$3.00 can get you a delicious, simple breakfast, lunch or dinner.

$25.00 can get you a meal equivalent to a $60 meal in the US.

 

Entertainment

$6.00 for a first run feature in 3D in modern multiplex.

$3.00 for a regular flick, $2.00 with Senior discount.

Live show or concert by other than a national headliner $4.00

Many free events sponsored by the city and state government.

Culture abounds.

 

Transportation

Mostly, I walk from home to anywhere within a mile and a half radius.  I’m likely to take a cab home, it’s all uphill, some of it really steep.

Public transportation is nearly free, but doesn’t pass too close to the house.

A $4.00 or less taxi ride gets me anywhere I want to go in the city.

 

I don’t have a car and don’t need one.

The 3 or 4 times a car made sense it was $50/day including 100% insurance.  Gas and tolls can easily cost more.

 

Intercity buses are comfortable, reliable and reasonable.  With the 50% Senior Discount, they are dirt cheap.  Sure they may take longer than driving of flying, but what’s the hurry?  I’m retired, my time is my own.

 

What do I gain and what do I lose?

 

Here’s the list in stream of conscious order.  You decide which is which.

  • Clean fresh air
  • Reasonable, if not minimal, cost of living
  • White bread, not
  • Bureaucracy that makes thing complicated the few times you have to confront it.
  • Poverty in plain view
  • I can’t own a pistol legally
  • Living in a really pretty part of the world
  • Less congestion
  • Less baggage
  • Less government interference in my private life
  • Mexican sense of time means things take longer
  • Mexican bureaucracy, the few times it confronts you, leads to some frustrating contretemps.
  • New, fresh, exotic treats for all 5 senses.
  • Cable, satellite, Internet less reliable than the US.  A 1mb line cost about as much as an 8mb line in the US.
  • Less prepackaged, predigested, poorly handled food; smaller, local suppliers; we take responsibility for proper food handling ourselves.
  • Labor is affordable.
  • People are private, but open, straightforward, friendly, courteous.
  • Peace of mind.
  • Plummeting dollar
  • Receiving Social Security
  • Can vote for US president, no one else.

 

 

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