66-year-old Retiree Who Left the U.S. for Mexico: ‘Here’s What You Can Buy Here for $5 or Less’

Most of us dream of the day we’ll become a retiree. Often fantasizing about have the option to go somewhere new, exciting, and even exotic with our newfound freedom. However, without a steady income, funds get a little tight. Particularly in America, where the cost of living is outrageously high. The cost of living will likely continue to rise, and with it so will everything else. Looking at living outside of the US, may be the solution to making your retirement funds stretch a little further.

Happy Retiree

66-year-old retiree Janet Blaser left the US and headed for Mexico. The journalist in California turned retiree in Mexico, has shared numerous excerpts from her life. She even wrote a book entitled, “Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats”. Her work now focuses on sharing her story and part of that is her monthly expenses. After seeing her monthly expenses, including everyday things like toothpaste and groceries, it’s no wonder she proudly tells her story.

Janet has lived in Mazatlan for just over 15 years and says she still can’t believe how little she pays for her monthly expenses. She lives off of Social Security so has to watch how much she spends but altogether lives a comfortable life. The retiree broke down a list of her month expenses and the results are shocking.

Breaking Down Bills not the Bank

Firstly, her monthly rent is astounding. The retiree pays only $420 a month, to live within walking distance of the beach. Being as some states don’t have rooms for rent that cheap, she’s clearly on to something. Secondly, she says that on things like entertainment and eating out she spends less than $200 a month. While all of that is pretty incredible, there’s something even more amazing about her monthly expenses. Janet shared a list of her monthly expenses, for each of which she pays $5 or less per month.

Utilities bills are a hot topic right now, as they seem to have skyrocketed in the last couple of months. Although this happens during the winter, inflation also plays a role in the high cost of utility bills. In February of 2022, Janet shared, each of her utility bills was $5 or less per month. She also noted that her electric bill is higher in the months she runs that air conditioner. However, for those kinds of expenses it’s safe to assume she still pays less than the average American household.

Next, her grocery bill is significantly lower than that of an average single American. Where she lives, for $5, retiree Janet can purchase half a dozen pineapples or 16 mangos. Additionally, the retiree can leave the grocery with fresh fish, veggies, eggs and other various groceries for $5 or less for each.

Food for the Soul and Wallet

Although here $5 doesn’t go far, in Mazatlan this retiree has made a comfortable life for herself. She’s been able to go out for full meals such as a burger with fries for $5 or less. Other meals include, Huevos Rancheros with coffee and juice, 8 boneless chicken wings with beer on tap, and four-topping medium pizza at Dominos. Street tacos are a big deal, after all they’re downright delicious. Moreover, they’re generally pretty cheap. Janet shares that you can get from 3-10 street tacos for around $5.

With rising costs of both living and entertainment, it’s becoming more difficult to do things like go to the movies or a concert. However, in Mazatlan these things are considerably cheaper than in the U.S. For $5 you can purchase a ticket to the movie theater, take a yoga or Zumba class, or rent a bike for an hour. You can also take a salsa class, buy a dozen red roses, or take a boat ride to Stone Island. Being surrounded by so many cool activities, you’re likely to want or need to get around. Although a car itself won’t be $5, you can take public transportation. $5 buys 16 rides on the train, 9 rides on the city bus, or a Lyft or Uber Ride.

Maintaining One’s Health

More importantly, it’s worth noting the cost of over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen and Pepto-Bismal also cost $5 or less. Furthermore, the retiree also shares that a patient can have a consultation with licensed doctor or get 30 550-milligram Ciprofloxacin antibiotic tablets for around $5. There are places in Mexico that can be expensive, namely tourist destinations like Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, but there are many places like Mazatlan where one can visit, or even live, and still be on budget. We all hope to be able to retire and still live comfortably.

Every country has its own upsides and downsides but considering the cost of living in other countries, it might not be a terrible idea to venture out. Retiree Janet has made a great and comfortable life for herself full of excitement and fun.