Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂
This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.
Last month, Mark, Maya, and I happily kept traveling throughout Baja California Sur in Mexico. The grocery and car expense categories battled for the top position. As to be expected, fuel burned a lot of money as we rounded and explored the southern part of the peninsula. The gas prices in Baja haven’t changed much from last year, but they are fluctuating, just like propane. In any case, these prices are less than in the US now, so we will fill all our tanks before returning.
(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)
Our utility cost while in Mexico is higher than in the US, because we kept paying for our cheap and discontinued AT&T data plan north of the border and for internet in this country. We also pay for drinking water now and keep having to fill our propane tanks to run our fridge and cook. We can’t wait to get a compressor fridge that works on electricity, which we have plenty of thanks to our solar panels.
As always, most of our camping spots were free and attractive.
Just like lots of activities we enjoy: witnessing a triathlon in La Paz and a turtle release in Todos Santos, hiking, bird watching, beach and town strolling, hanging out with friends, snorkeling, watching sunrise and sunset.
In March we did stay at a couple of pay campgrounds (south of El Pescadero and in Loreto), ordered a part for our awning (which was shipped to a friend in San Diego, CA), and cooked more meals than in February.
There were also a few smaller expenditures: laundry, new flipflops and a quarterly blood test for Mark (did you notice how cheap these are in Mexico?), a small turtle souvenir for me, and a bone for Maya. All in all, not a bad month…
Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.
Sunset over the Pacific Ocean through a cactus
Donate to Roaming About to help maintain this website.
April 9, 2022 at 18:35
Inflation is hardly touching you in Mexico–unlike in the USA, I may say.
Cracking good expense report, Liesbet, under $1000.00!
April 11, 2022 at 16:31
We are now starting to see the effects of inflation in Mexico as well, Marian. I had to blink twice at the price of avocados in the little tienda today. Luckily, the fuel is still about the same. I think Mark and I will have to prepare for sticker shock whenever we cross the border into the US again! We probably should avoid driving in California. Or getting gas there anyway…
April 9, 2022 at 18:39
That camping spot–the aerial one–in Baja is just gorgeous.
April 11, 2022 at 16:32
Thanks, Jacqui. I’m hoping to write my next blog post about that partial place. 🙂
April 9, 2022 at 19:29
Hi Liesbet, I love the picture of you and Maya in Mesquite Canyon. From looking at the photo it absolutely does deserve its own post. How peaceful looking. It must be hard to leave some of the gorgeous places you see. On the other hand, grass never grows under your feet, does it? And I love the photo of Maya and friends, so very cute. Oh, and the food. Homemade pizza is one of my favorites, well frankly any kind of pizza is one of my favorites. 🙂 But homemade is the best. And the tortilla soup sounds delicious. It’s a good thing I ate before reading this post or I’d be heading for the kitchen Liesbet.
April 11, 2022 at 16:42
You can’t go wrong with pizza, right, Lea? Although I have had some crappy pies in my life as well. But never of the homemade kind, prepared by ourselves or by friends. 🙂 In general, Mark is more ready to leave places than I am. Because I always have so much to do – outdoors and indoors. I could stay forever in certain places, especially when they are peaceful and pretty. I don’t need much to be happy. I guess that means that my husband has itchier feet than me!
April 9, 2022 at 19:36
So we got gas near the border for $18.36. If I had drove another mile we could have gotten it for $18.24. But I’m not suggesting you drive to the border for cheap gas. I hope you get to stay in Mexico for as long as you want.
I love that canyon!!!
What a great expense report. I wish I was still tracking our expenses but March probably wouldn’t have been pretty. We traveled over 1500 miles with two vehicles!
April 9, 2022 at 19:37
Oh! And I just paid $2.50 for one avacado here in Tucson!
April 11, 2022 at 16:47
Our question is: why would you even buy an avocado at that price? Unless it’s a gift. 🙂 The prices for avocados in Baja have gone up even more. In Mulege, they’re 110 pesos a kilo now. That’s $3/pound.
April 11, 2022 at 16:46
I hope those cheap gas prices in Sonoyta will remain, especially if we end up following your route. We still have no idea where to go in the US.
Some parts about Baja are getting old, like the constant sand, dust, and wind… And street noise. Mulege is quite busy – in town anyway – for Semana Santa. Camping is still possible everywhere, but less attractive than previously because of the weather. It’s gotten hot and sticky. And sand likes to stick even more when it’s humid out… Especially on Maya.
The canyon was very cool. One of these week, I’ll write a post about it. 🙂
April 9, 2022 at 20:14
I shouldn’t have looked at this post when I was hungry before dinner… that food looks marvelous! We didn’t stay at that hotel (Hotel California) in Todos Santos, but the back patio was a delightful place to have a drink and people watch. BTW, it sounds like you had the part shipped to someone else so you no longer need us to watch for it?
April 11, 2022 at 16:57
I’m glad you stayed in Todos Santos before, Janis. Such a lovely town to spend a few days as a tourist. We were camped too far from the city to be able to enjoy it in the evenings. Just day trips.
There was a chance my cousin and her husband would come for a visit to Baja and then, Todos Santos would have been one of two places where we planned to share an Airbnb for a week. Unfortunately, their trip didn’t work out.
You’re off the hook for packages! 🙂
April 9, 2022 at 21:15
It’s been a lot of years since I’ve had a month of expenses that cheap. I’m impressed how you manage to keep the expenses down each month.
April 11, 2022 at 16:58
Hi Pete,
Barring big health issues, mechanical failures, or camper problems, Mexico is cheaper to live in than the US. And that’s actually the main reason that we are still here. No more destinations or beach time on the program, just living a bit more affordably before we return to the US.
April 9, 2022 at 22:53
Another inspiring expense report, Lieset. I can’t believe that Maya came into your lives almost three years ago. How does the time pass so quickly.
April 11, 2022 at 17:23
Time goes wickedly fast, Donna! I can’t believe we have Maya for almost three years, either. And that you have never met her… One day! 🙂
April 10, 2022 at 08:23
Looks like some great excursions, good food, and lots of friends. Even for Maya!
April 11, 2022 at 17:23
Maya has the best life! She sure is a handful, though. But as long as she’s happy, we are happy. 🙂
April 10, 2022 at 12:59
Wow, that’s amazing! Congratulations on living both cheaply and well. 🙂
April 11, 2022 at 17:25
Thanks, Diane! We stick to a pretty healthy diet. Except when we eat the street fish tacos! I think those are on the agenda for lunch tomorrow, since are back “in town.”
April 10, 2022 at 18:51
Liesbet, Well done keeping expenses in check while enjoying life in Mexico.
April 11, 2022 at 17:26
Hi Natalie! It sure is easier here in Mexico to keep the budget down. Especially when we sit still for a while in a remote place without restaurants and stores, haha.
April 11, 2022 at 22:18
You did well with the expenses this month and the photos are great, as usual!
April 17, 2022 at 13:09
Thanks a lot, Deb. I can’t believe we have been in Mexico for three months already. At this rate, we might never leave. 🙂 Soon, it’s time to return to “real life” and higher prices in the US, though.
April 14, 2022 at 18:40
Sticker shock is everywhere now, you’re doing great with budget. I did well there too, then back to reality. Lol <3
April 17, 2022 at 13:15
Sigh… Back to reality is not something I look forward to, Debby. But, everything comes to an end. I think we will have to be even more careful about what we buy once we are back in the US.