Comments on: The Cost of Living: Canada vs. Mexico http://www.travelswithnathan.com/2010/02/28/the-cost-of-living-canada-vs-mexico/ Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:22:29 +0000 hourly 1 By: natsegal http://www.travelswithnathan.com/2010/02/28/the-cost-of-living-canada-vs-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-40656 natsegal Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:49:38 +0000 http://www.travelswithnathan.com/?p=372#comment-40656 Hi Dave, Thanks for the post. As for your questions, I'll give you as much info as I can. First off, the Malecon is the boardwalk next to the ocean. Here in La Paz it's made up of tiles, each about 8 inches square. As for our day-to-day costs, here's a bit of a breakdown. We have a 600 sq/ft. apartment here which is nice and roomy. A big plus is the 10 foot high ceiling. Base cost is $460.00USD, or $230.00 each. Internet is $500 pesos/month (or about $45.00USD). Electricity is another $20.00USD. Overall, I think our costs are around $800.00USD/month. That includes everything. Food prices vary (have a look at my post on Trocadero which is extremely expensive). As for tacos on the street here, they're anywhere from 12-20 pesos, (from 90 cents to $1.60USD). One of my favorite places is La Fonda. Good food at low prices. Breakfast would be about 60 pesos, or roughly $5.00. That would come with your meal, coffee and tip. The beach here is so-so, not that it's bad; there just isn't much of it and some sections get a fair bit of seaweed. If you really want to go to the beach, head north to Tecolote', which has a great beach. It's about 15-20 minutes from here. Still, the beach here is regularly cleaned. As for quiet, no, not much, since it's right next to the Malecon, and right next to that is a main road. Overall, I find Mexicans to be quite friendly. Many of them positively light up if you make an attempt to speak Spanish. Overall, I find the Mexicans to be very kind and I'm very comfortable here. Granted, I'm not fluent in Spanish, but I know enough to get by in many situations. Hi Dave,

Thanks for the post. As for your questions, I’ll give you as much info as I can.

First off, the Malecon is the boardwalk next to the ocean. Here in La Paz it’s made up of tiles, each about 8 inches square.

As for our day-to-day costs, here’s a bit of a breakdown. We have a 600 sq/ft. apartment here which is nice and roomy. A big plus is the 10 foot high ceiling. Base cost is $460.00USD, or $230.00 each. Internet is $500 pesos/month (or about $45.00USD). Electricity is another $20.00USD. Overall, I think our costs are around $800.00USD/month. That includes everything.

Food prices vary (have a look at my post on Trocadero which is extremely expensive). As for tacos on the street here, they’re anywhere from 12-20 pesos, (from 90 cents to $1.60USD). One of my favorite places is La Fonda. Good food at low prices. Breakfast would be about 60 pesos, or roughly $5.00. That would come with your meal, coffee and tip.

The beach here is so-so, not that it’s bad; there just isn’t much of it and some sections get a fair bit of seaweed. If you really want to go to the beach, head north to Tecolote’, which has a great beach. It’s about 15-20 minutes from here. Still, the beach here is regularly cleaned. As for quiet, no, not much, since it’s right next to the Malecon, and right next to that is a main road.

Overall, I find Mexicans to be quite friendly. Many of them positively light up if you make an attempt to speak Spanish. Overall, I find the Mexicans to be very kind and I’m very comfortable here. Granted, I’m not fluent in Spanish, but I know enough to get by in many situations.

]]> By: Dave Taylor http://www.travelswithnathan.com/2010/02/28/the-cost-of-living-canada-vs-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-40655 Dave Taylor Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:27:24 +0000 http://www.travelswithnathan.com/?p=372#comment-40655 Great stuff, Nathan. I'd like to read more about your day-to-day costs. If you stop by a street vendor for a taco, for example, how much is that in USD? Or if you want to buy a few new books to read? Also, you talk about the boardwalk, but let me exhibit my cluelessness: that's on the beach, right? How's the beach? Clean? Quiet? I had a good friend who lived in Hawaii for a year and he got a lot of hassle from the locals because he was visibly a haoli (white guy). Do you see any of that sort of discrimination or hostility there in BCS, or is everyone pretty cool? And how about the fact that you're not fluent in Spanish? Great stuff, Nathan. I’d like to read more about your day-to-day costs. If you stop by a street vendor for a taco, for example, how much is that in USD? Or if you want to buy a few new books to read? Also, you talk about the boardwalk, but let me exhibit my cluelessness: that’s on the beach, right? How’s the beach? Clean? Quiet?

I had a good friend who lived in Hawaii for a year and he got a lot of hassle from the locals because he was visibly a haoli (white guy). Do you see any of that sort of discrimination or hostility there in BCS, or is everyone pretty cool? And how about the fact that you’re not fluent in Spanish?

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