Enough $$ to live on in Zihua

I have some friends who argued that one person, as a resident with IMSS healthcare, could live comfortably enough in Zihua on 8000 pesos a month.
The other person replied it would be almost twice that. Does anyone care to offer an opinion on a minimum amount to rent, eat and live here per month?

In my opinion, you said it exactly right. What one person can live on comfortably is half or less than half of what another person needs. So much depends on your lifestyle and your personal definition of "comfortably". The amount of money needed per month is going to vary quite a bit from person to person. I have Mexican friends who live on less than 8000 pesos a month- a family of four!

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Linda from Canada
check out my books at www.livingthedreaminmexico.com AND please have a look at www.cookingwithclaudiainzihuatanejo.blogspot.com as well as www.albertoinzihuatanejo.blogspot.com

This doesn't exactly answer your question but, when I applied for permanent residency, I was required to prove a monthly income of at least US$1,500.00

If one must argue over how much money one needs to "live comfortably" in Zihuatanejo, then one might be seeking the wrong place to live. This ain't like moving to some retirement community in Florida. If you want to live here you do whatever it takes, and with love.

http://youtu.be/3LWT--5nfrA

Good point. And getting that residency card is not cheap either. Without it, you have to leave every six months. It is possible to live here cheaply. I know people who are living here on small social security checks. But everyone has their own definition of comfortable.

I believe you can live in Zihua on your ss income. The question to me is ..."do you want to"? Everyone would be different.

Sydney is right. In order to get a resident visa you have to prove a monthly income of a minimum of $1,500US. Which, in my opinion, would be enough to get by here. I think $8000p would be very little, especially if you are renting and want to have somewhat comfortable living accommodations. It is not cheap to leave here. Especially if you buy your food at La Comercial.

I love that answer, Rob!

Heck there are millions of folks who live in the US on nothing but their SS check. I think I'd rather live in Mexico if I were living that close to the bone, though I don't think Z would be my first choice under those circumstances.

I could live on 8000p/month there. I don't think I'd want to tho, I had enough of that when I was in college.

That was pretty much my point. I did that already.

Exactly! I'd rather keep working than live on that little.

That's only 600 bucks!

Hard to do unless you're able to live rent free.

Think in pesos. It helps. Not on how much stuff you can buy but on how you view the market in Zihua. At least it helps it for me.

You notice I work for 10 weeks each year even though I am supposed to be retired.

Retirement is over-rated! Right?

Not so much that retirement is over-rated but that you must have at least reasonably good health to enjoy it.

And health can be an inhibitor of happiness more than money ever will be.

Retired or not, when you have your health you have everything! But it is much easier to work at staying healthy when you are retired. For me, staying healthy is my most important job.

i knew a guy that lived on 3000p a month for years ! he climbed trees for coconuts, ate bananas off his trees, rode his bike to the beach to collect firewood for cooking, and probably ate 1 big meal a day. had 2 dogs and an old 4 banger truck. it can be done. just depends on your resourcefulness and how easily you get bored....