Comments on: The Cheapest Places to Live, Late 2008

By: tim howard

tim howard — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:27:13 +0000

i woulk like to rent biannually or annually near tren or goodb transportation,allowing me travel around the country:

I would something secure and not too costly.

tim howard

By: trina o

trina o — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:06:54 +0000

Hello everybody,

I am in desperate need of your help. I am a mother of four. We are trying to leave the US ASAP. I really want to move to Tequisquiapan Queretaro Mexico. I need to know about renting a 3 or 4 bedroom. My concern is safety and crime. I want to know how the police are and the military. How about kidnappiing etc. Someone please help. I want to make the move sooner than later.

Thank You

By: SiempreSuAmor

SiempreSuAmor — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:54:52 +0000

I just got back from Mexico, Playa del Carmen, 2 weeks. It is 40 miles south of Cancun, the beaches are perfect with waters just as clear as Cozumel, only a ferry ride away. Residents pay about US$130/mo for a 1 bedroom apartment some 5-10 blocks from the beach, but most also have homes in cheaper places like Chiapas. A single parent with 3 children can typically live off of US$400/mo in Playa plus still afford to maintain their other property & eat. An owned home in Chiapas cost about US$400/yr. I plan to retire there in 2 years. I’m 31/yo. My current income is about US$9K/mo. I have $30K in savings. So I’ll marry a beautiful Latina then have/with a few kids, get a huge house. The tax returns/dependents alone would be more than enough to live off of for the rest of our lives. See you there!!

By: Candace

Candace — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:11:31 +0000

Hi Everyone!! I really love the input from this site! My famiy – my husband, 7yr old, his parents, and myself – are considering moving to Ecuador due to the cost of living being so much cheaper. I do have a few reservations though and was wondering if anyone might have the answers. First, what is the cost of international schools in Ecuador, say Cuenca, or would it be better to homeschool? Second, is it truly safe and worth living there due to our 7yr old? My husband and I both want our daughter to experience a melting pot of people as we both did ourselves. He grew up in USVI and I lived in Panama Canal. Thanks for any input!

By: PETER

PETER — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:41:04 +0000

By Peter on June 15, 2009

Cheryl & Robert

First, I have to say, ‘what a good web site!!’. I have lived in Auckland(North shore)for 5 years. I was looking to go to Canada but the ‘twin towers’ stopped all enquieries for me. I have recently been looking again at Canada and in particuar, BC, only to find out, Vancouver has an area by the same name(north shore).
I would agree with all you say about Auckland.
I am british and would put the cost of living in Auckland, as a ratio, on a par with living in London UK.
Housewise, you pay a lot for what is tantamount to a wooden shed. You have continuous adverts on TV and Radio for moss and mold killers. Kiwi’s are by nature very competitive. I find them aggresive verbally and it really comes across in their driving. To be fair, I’m told this attitude is the ‘JAFA’(just a xxxxxxx Aucklander)and not all Kiwis are this way. The country itself has a lot of beauty. Ideally, southern hemisphere summer Queenstown/Arrowtown/Wanaka and northern hemisphere summer in BC. AHHHHHH bliss.

good luck to all of us looking for our shangrila

By: Wade

Wade — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:21:12 +0000

I’ve been reading good things about San Rafael, Argentina. What I find super attractive is due to it’s flat terrain, shady streets, and low humidity most people get around by bicycle. And that’s in an area of 170,000 people. I’ve been concentrating on places that are bike or pedestrian friendly due to a small pension. I’ve mentioned Arica, Chile and another place I’ll investigate is Quetzaltenango, known locally as Xela, pronounced Shayla. Americans are living there on $500 a month. Xela might be one of the very best places to study Spanish, has a new mall with 5 screen multiplex, even a new Wendy’s. Overall I’m leaning towards Argentina, but I’ll go where it’s affordable in 8 years. Hoping inflation doesn’t ruin my plans!

By: tim

tim — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:14:33 +0000

Italy and “cheapest” don’t go together very well, so I’m not the guy to ask. You need to find a specialized book or site just for Italy to answer that—or someone who knows the real estate market well enough to know where there’s still a hidden bargain there.

By: Toni

Toni — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:28:58 +0000

I am a second generation Italo-American female who would love to live in Italy somewhere near the H20 and the Mountains. My family was from Abruzzi but now everything is untouchable.
Any small semi-civilized towns with temperate weather in the winter months that you could suggest? Thanx

By: tim

tim — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:16:12 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experiences Dolores. That’s wonderful! I’m spending a month in Guanajuato this summer, just down the road from San Miguel de Allende, and am really looking forward to it.

By: doloresb

doloresb — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:49:37 +0000

I am a newly retired 58 yr old single femaie living the last three and a half months in Guatamala on Lake Atitlan. You cannot find a more breathtaking landscape…the local Mayan people are pleasant and simple and will do anything to help you out…the food is fantastic .. all coming from the land…
and it has cost me about $1000/mo for rent at my darling little cottage with frontage on the lake and one of it’s volcanoes…including food, transportation costs (launchas and tuk tuks!)internet cafes and an exchange rate of 1 USD = 8.08 Quetzeles.
I come home to the states in between … spending one month in the summer with my children (cape cod, massachusetts) and then two fall months in Buenos Aires. This is how I make my retirement money go the farthest. Living fabulously on very little.
I will spend a few months next year in San Miguel Al Allende in Mexico as I just found a darling studio there for $600 a month. Keep looking, keep asking people…and do your research. I have never enjoyed life more than I am now…and I never lived so inexpensively either!!