It is a great place!

Mexicans are very kind and welcoming. I have received many comments that the prices were high? I haven't been grocery shopping back in the US for over a year, but from what I hear the prices are up there too. Maybe people expect Mexico prices to be pennies on the dollar compared to the US?

@@dooglassandesperanza I agree. Those commenting that the prices are high are simply expecting prices to be MUCH less in Mexico. Their expectations aren't meeting reality. Mexico is, in most cases, NOT pennies on the dollar compared to the US. It's cheaper for sure, but not THAT much cheaper for most things. Medication, dental services, food, haircuts...those are a lot less.....about 1/3 less to 1/2 less. Land, rent, construction costs......now those things are MUCH less. Like a 5th to a 10th less. Interestingly, I have found gasoline and massages aren't really any cheaper at all. Looks like I'll be smuggling peanut butter in once I live there full time. 🙂

@@rickvillelli4652 Agreed! Mexico has developed a lot. Prices are going up for them too. The govt is taxing restaurants & Businesses more so consequently food is going up however prices are still less than the US. Also, as someone else mentioned, our exchange rate dipped really low in July, August down to like 16 so for expats who haven't totally converted to peso bank accounts things got really expensive. Also less are municipal water and bottled water delivery. The annual water bill which in our area is paid once a year with your property taxes was last year around $150 USD TOTAL which is about a what you would pay for one month in California. We have a large property (about 15,000 sq ft) with tons of grass & mature landscape, huge pool, etc. and a separate casita. The property taxes (which of even a $600K USD value equivalent home is about $200 USD year vs. $8,000 USD a year. I have Fiberoptic high speed wifi w/ landline from Telmex for 389 pesos/month which is about $22 USD. Housekeeping wages are 60 pesos a little over $3/hr vs $20/$30 an hour you might have to pay a cleaner for an Airbnb in the US so there are distinct advantages for residential and hospitality opportunities in MX. Gasoline has never been cheap in MX because they don't have local refineries. They send it to US and then it comes back but they are working on getting refineries which would be a game changer.

​@rickvillelli4652 that's 💯% right , we are Very Proud people !! Specially Now!! With the New Government of Presidente Obrador! Mexico is going Up! Check out the new Maya Train! And all he's done for Mexico 🇲🇽

​@@dooglassandesperanzaThe prices are higher at tourist towns like Loreto and gonna keep going up! Specially now with the latest wave of Americans Leaving everything to Finally Start Really living in Mexico

Kirkland cheddar cheese from Costco is pretty close tasting to Tillamook. Who knows it might be Tillamook. I've never looked for chicken noodle but they have Campbells in most stores here.

Inflation is affecting Mexico just like the rest of the world. Prices on many segments are up 25%-35% since COVID. Not sure what you mean by Miramar outdoor market? There is a farmers market at a nursery in Miramar and there prices are almost always more than the grocery store. There are lots of small vendors down on the Carretera and the few times I've shopped there they seemed very similarly priced to the grocery stores.

That’s what I meant, the farmers market 😊

@@dooglassandesperanza A big part of that is the exchange rate. At one point, it got down to 16:1, which is a 20% increase from pre-Covid when the exchange rate was 20:1 - a much easier conversion to calculate on the fly. 😂Oh, and I agree about the farmer's markets - we visited the one in Nopolo a couple of times when we first moved here and inevitably left with our heads spinning, realizing how much we had spent. Of course, again, it's one of those things where you have to have some discipline and not buy any prepared foods (e.g., chile rellenos or tamales.) But, sometimes, especially in the Summer, it's far and away the best choice on produce.

Miramar is bech city at East cost in nuevo leon state

Miramar is also a Colonia in Loreto BCS.

We are glad it was helpful

Thanks for the info!

Thanks for watching

Exactly

US 20 dlrs in home depot

Morning!

Glad we can help you with a few laughs!

Only place I can find Kirkland Cheddar Cheese!

@@dooglassandesperanza Oh, and I also meant to comment on that - I don't know if you've seen it, but Pescador has a really nice selection of cheeses behind the meat counter in back. It's where I get my "queso cheddar fuerte." (Sharp cheddar.) It seems like a very good cheese to me and is quite a bit less expensive than the Kirkland. But, I'm not necessarily the most picky about cheeses... 🤣

We usually just pop in to El Pescador once in a while to get US items we can't find elsewhere so I didn't know they had cheddar cheese there. We will definitely check it out.

Muchas Gracias!

Baja is very isolated and almost everything has to be brought in from the mainland or US. Local markets will have a few items that are good deals but most of the items are more expensive than Ley's or Bodega. US inflation has a large impact here.

We have seen way too many scooter crashes on the uneven streets filled with holes and other obstacles. Happy holidays!

Thanks!

Yes, I saw that when I watched the video. Unfortunately I have been extremely sick the past few days with a stomach bug and was barely able to get the video together and out on time. Apologies for all the errors and lack of editing.

Haha! Thanks!

We would love to have you!

Wow, thanks

Good luck. We are following your project!

@@dooglassandesperanza Thanks Team!

We have thought about the possibility but it just doesn't pencil out. The break even on RV sites is 10 years. The Villas break even is 3.2 years and they generate 12x the income of a RV site.

@@dooglassandesperanza Interesting! I was thinking the same thing. ;)

I love to explore new stores

That's one of many things I love and miss bout Mexico, nothings the same there's tons of little stores and all offer different things

I totally agree!

Gracias! Trato de aprender más cada día

We always talk in pesos since not many people use dollar here. The minimum wage in Mexico is 277 pesos per day. Right now 277 pesos = $16.48 USD. Employees cannot be hired by the hour, only by the day. But that doesn't tell you alot because many people make more. There is a rising middle class in our town,and several wealthy millionaire (in USD) Mexicans who run many big businesses in town.

You should put La Paz on your list too. It would be our first choice if we wanted to go to a mid size city by the water.

@@dooglassandesperanzagreat option.

We have three outside markets and most of the produce there is from the supermarket and is higher price. We are in the desert and have very little water so very little produce is grown in our area. We do go to the outside markets to buy baked goods and goat cheese.

@@dooglassandesperanza it’s funny you say that because just across the sea of Cortez there is Sinaloa the richest all year grown fruits and vegetables state which by the way they export to many parts of the world. I just would not think produce in Loreto would be that high. With the exception of imported products. Also you must go to Playa Baja super nice and Isla Coronado ooo it’s very very nice Cheers!

Almost all of the produce in the supermarkets here come from the US. It all has the "product of USA" stickers. In fact I noticed the other day that our strawberries and blueberries say on the package that they are a product of Mexico and packaged in Salinas, California, USA. So they get picked in Mexico, shipped to California to be packaged, and then shipped back to Mexico to Loreto. Crazy. But in reality it is probably cheaper to buy all of the produce from Southern Cali because it is half the trucking distance as coming from Sinaloa and fuel is expensive. It costs me $400 in fuel to drive to San Diego and back in my truck.

Thanks

Nice *Vans* btw

Definitely have mixed feelings about US chain food outlets coming into Loreto. We don't want it changed but for those of us who live here full time and rarely go back to the US it is a little taste of home once in a while.

@@dooglassandesperanza Agreed. I'm speaking from a pure palate perspective. Nevertheless, I'm presuming that one wouldn't want a Marriott or a McDonald's parked next to your villa just because a few expats are homesick for fast food.

Agreed! But I fear the floodgates have been opened. There are rumors that Walmart, Chedraui, Little Caesar's, and more have already purchased land and been approved for construction next year. Loreto is changing fast.

@@dooglassandesperanza Tijuana has already been impacted by the development that you mentioned such as real estate and corporate properties. It looks like San Diego 2.0 now. It's fair to mention that these companies, not only produce waste that has to be dumped *somewhere* but operate in metrics that may be contrary to the community. Buyer beware.

Thanks

So good

Look locally grown

We actually have some big farming areas within an hour of our town. We get lots of locally grown vegetables and fruits like oranges, strawberries, and watermelons. Some stuff, especially in the big chain stores still is imported, and some fruits like apples always come from the US

Mexico charges a 16% IVA or sales tax on almost every good and service in the country. The tax is required to be already included in the price displayed so what you see is what you pay.

@@dooglassandesperanza I went to school in Cuernavaca in the 1980s. I spent a summer at a language school. I can’t remember if it was included then or not? Fuzzy memory… But good to know the information, thanks.

I don't know of anyone selling organic produce here in Loreto. There may be someone but I've never looked since we don't buy organic. There are a very few things that are available locally here at certain times of the year like oranges, corn, and strawberries but I doubt that it is organic and honestly the quality of the local produce is usually low. Almost all other produce comes from the US.

No. Usually lazy and just go to one store but we wanted to show the major stores in town.

Not sure. They have several different types of cream and one is thick like a milkshake.

There is beef available in most stores, we just don't eat it or much meat at all.

Some Leys are pretty good. The one in Ciudad Constitucion is nice

Pay out of pocket. It's only a fraction the cost of medical in the US. You can get full coverage insurance with a couple hundred dollar deductible for $300-$400 a month. If you are a permanent resident most emergency care is free.

We are very isolated here in Baja in the middle of the desert. We are over an hour away from any other small town and 4 hours away from any City. We get very little rain so there is very little of anything grown in Baja. That means that almost everything has to be imported in and most of it comes from the US because it is half as far as shipping it from mainland Mexico by truck. So even the farmers markets have to buy all their stuff at the grocery store and then resell it for a higher price. That's why all of the farmers markets here are way higher than just buying it at the mercado or the supermercado

Not at the grocery stores since all of the prices are clearly marked on the products as required by Mexican consumer protection laws (PROSECO). Sometimes smaller stores will not have prices on the items and then you could get gringo prices.

Exactly!

Well usa is mad because mexico won't buy GMO corn for human consumption

I don't know.

Ok

Because most Mexicans are not on a diet

Locals are the most friendly people you will ever meet. They appreciate it when anyone tries to speak Spanish.

Leys is 3 min from our resort. Farthest store is Mercado Juarez and that is about 5 min.

@@dooglassandesperanza awesome! Thanks! :)

@@dooglassandesperanza Is it easy to get a taxi?

Yes. Several taxi stands around town and you can call and have one at our resort to pick up in 5 min

There is a mercado in town and we actually visited it towards the end of the video. Unlike mainland Mexico, we are extremely isolated here in Baja in the middle of the desert. We are over an hour from any other town and over 3 and 1/2 hours from the nearest city. Everything in Baja including all the food has to be trucked in over 600 mi to our location. There are a very few farms that grow a very limited number of products nearby . Most Mercado's in town have to ship in everything including all the produce and meat and dairy from either the US or mainland Mexico. We are so far from mainland Mexico production that usually the majority of our produce comes from the US because it's cheaper to ship it in to Mexico and bring it down Baja. Definitely a unique situation in Mexico

Okay good to know we’ve traveled through out various parts of Mexico my husband is from there and I’ve always been impressed with the variety of fresh foods in the mercados. Love to have found your channel 👏

That is what fresh chicken looks like. I worked in the meat department at a store in the US in high school and they said the chickens were bleached before we got them so we always had to wash the fresh raw chicken.

@@dooglassandesperanza u have got to be kidding. I had no idea! Thanks for the info. :)

Because that's how real chicken looks like

Corn fed

@isay207 wow. I looked it up. U r right!! Thanks

There are more plastics in Mexico than I've ever seen in the US. Plastic is a way of life here

@@dooglassandesperanza The prevalence of plastic doesn't justify the continued use of single-use plastics. If anything, all the plastics you see in Mexico call for us to stop our use of single-use plastics even more

I agree. What I was trying to say is that there are no other options here. They don't sell paper plates. All of the takeout is in Styrofoam containers put into plastic bags. We buy all of our soda in cans but there's not that many cans available and most Mexicans buy plastic bottles because they're cheaper. Only plastic bags at the stores. We use reusable bags but most Mexicans don't. So we try to do what we can but we can't change the entire country.

Si, nos gusta la comida Mexicana y Americana.

Edmaar the way I see it Americans like the foods you mentioned! But obviously every race have their own main foods, i love beans 🫘 and love hamburger 🍔 too

@@felipearroyo9502 Es igual en Méx, en el norte se acostumbra desayunar carne seca con huevo y tortillas de harina con frijoles refritos, en el centro del país Chilaquiles, saludos desde el área noreste de Méx

Last time we were in the US things were very high. Mexico experiences inflation also, especially on goods imported from the US.

The economies of Mexico and the US are heavily linked. Historicaly the Mexican economy tends to trail about 6 months behind the US economy.

I have lived in Mexico for 15 years and you fail to understand is that the mexican economy is dependent on the US economy. And the Baja also has to import most of it's products from the mainland. The GOP has does not even enter the equation.

Inflation was only 1.36 on Trump's last day in office. Facts matter

Caused by the Democrats