Budget Day!

Today is Blanco Budget Day!  We are working at completing our budget as we prepare for our retirement in Mexico.  Below are examples of cost on some everyday items.
Viva Mexico!!


Automotive
Premium gasoline - $2.95 a gallon. Regular $2.45
Wash auto - From $2.40 to $4.8
Lubricate auto, change oil and filter - $22
Car Insurance - 31.5 per month 5 year old car

Medical and Dental
Clean teeth - $16
Tooth filled - $30 Porcelain.
Doctor's office visit including EKG - $35
Health insurance - $ 22/month per person

Housing
Furnished one bedroom apartment with living room, kitchen and bath - $245 to $420.
Beautiful, furnished apartment (two bedrooms) in a nice neighborhood from  - $450 per month. 
Property  tax $15/month

Personal Care
Ladies haircut and permanent - $21
Mens haircut - $3.5

Utilities
Electricity - $30 for two months.
Propane gas for cooking - $25 per month
Telephone basic service - $15
Water for drinking - $4.5 per month
No heating or air conditioning required
Internet - 13.5  per month

Entertainment
Cost for ticket to movie theater (first run film) $3

Maid
Basic thorough house cleaning one day (4 - 5 hours) each week - $10.5

Food
Prices for groceries can change depending on the area and the place where you shop and the time of year.  Municipal markets are good places to buy local fresh products as well as the “tianguis” (Mondays in Chapala, Wednesdays in Ajijic and Thursdays in Jocotepec). Most of the natives buy their groceries there, most of the time the items are cheaper and a shopping day at the market can give you a good idea of a busy, cheerful and colorful day in Mexico.

There are well known local stores and 2 nation wide chain of supermarkets that sell excellent quality products at a higher, yet reasonable price

The following are average prices per pound. The prices of the fruits may go lower or higher depending the time of year.



Chicken, whole - $3.2
Bacon - $2.9
Hamburger - $1.45
Pork shops - $2.18
T bone steak - $3.35
Beef Fillet - $3.4
Tomatoes - $0.44
Cucumbers - $0.44
Potatoes - $0.55
Broccoli - $0.58
Strawberries - $1.45
Oranges - $0.25
Bananas - $0.36
Margarine bar - $ 0.36
Flour - $0.40
Eggs (doz.) - $1.68
Coffee - $1.4
Rice - $ 0.91
Sugar - $ 0.72
Beans - $ 0.73
Fish (red snapper) - $ 3.27
Box Corn Flakes - $ 1.85
Bottled Drinks
Beer six pack (325ml) (11 ounces) - From $4.56
Coca-Cola (2 liters) (0.53 gallons) plastic bottle - $ 1.03
Milk (2 lt) (0.53 gallons) - $ 1.6
Fruit Juice (1 lt tetra pack carton) (33.8 ounces) - $1.03
Assorted soft drinks (355 ml) (12 ounces) aluminum can - $0.52
Assorted light soft drinks (355 ml) (12 ounces) aluminum can - $0.56