Our Real Cost of Living in Merida, Mexico: Every Number, No Filter

Erica and Jeff sat down and did something most people are too polite or too embarrassed to do: they shared their actual monthly budget, line by line, no rounding up, no conveniently missing categories. The total for a full month in Merida, Yucatan, not counting their mortgage payment, came out to $2,020. That covers groceries, a weekly housekeeper, dining out, all utilities, and getting around a city they have lived in without owning a car for nearly a year.

Some of the numbers are genuinely hard to believe if you have been paying American prices your whole life. Their electricity runs about $2 a month thanks to 16 solar panels. A housekeeper comes every Saturday for six-plus hours, cleans everything including the windows, the fridge, and the washer and dryer, and it costs $124 a month total. A root canal, out of pocket, no insurance, runs around $280. Back in Pennsylvania, that same procedure with insurance could cost $1,500 to $2,000.

They are also honest about the parts that are not a straight-line downgrade from American living. Starlink plus a Telmex backup runs about $223 a month. Groceries, between Costco, the local supermarket, and a bulk meat rancher they found, still come to around $752. Jeff has thoughts about Uber as a lifestyle. Erica has thoughts about Jeff's thoughts. It is that kind of episode.

The whole conversation comes with the caveat they repeat more than once: these are their numbers, not yours. Your lifestyle determines your cost, and they are not here to sell you on anything. If you want to watch the full breakdown with visuals, the video is on YouTube. If you found this useful, share it with someone who is thinking about making the move.