This 68-year-old retiree lives on a salary of $620 a month in Mexico. Take a look inside her $160,000 home
In 1999, I took a weeklong vacation with a friend to Mazatlan, Mexico – and it’s love at lightning. I was so enamored of the seaside city that I went to a real estate agent the next day and bought a tiny house for $28,000.
My plan is to make it a second home when I want to get out of California. But in 2002, at the age of 49, I decided to follow my favorite mantra – “Leap, and the net will appear” – and left the US to live in Mexico full-time.
After a few years in Mazatlán, I was ready for a change. I reviewed several sites, including Oaxaca and the Lake Chapala area, before turning to San Miguel de Allende, a colonial-era city in Mexico’s central highlands, famous for its ants. baroque bamboo.
Photo: Irene Barajas for CNBC Make It
I was very lucky to find a charming place in my price range for $160,000. Because real estate in Mexico is the cash market – 90% of foreign buyers are cash buyers – I had to sell one of my rental properties in Mazatlán and take out a small loan from my brother to fund it.
It took three months to complete the deal, and by 2006 I had fully moved in.
Build the perfect home
My 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in San Miguel has a front yard on the ground floor. On the 2nd floor is the living room, kitchen, dining area and a small terrace.
Photo: Clayton Conn for CNBC Make It
It’s a beautiful home with plenty of space for one person. But as a retired person who works in painting, printing and sculpting, I wanted a place dedicated to working on my art.
So in 2007, I started building a third-floor studio and a rooftop, expanding the total space from 900 square feet to 1,600 square feet.
Photo: Clayton Conn for CNBC Make It
I built two metal stairs from the front door – one leads to the rooftop garden, and the other leads to my studio so that guests don’t have to enter my bedroom to view my artwork.
Photo: Clayton Conn for CNBC Make It
I read a lot in the living room, which has a small library and a cozy fireplace. The small dining area connected to the kitchen is decorated with beautiful Talavera ceramic tiles.
Photo: Clayton Conn for CNBC Make It
I am very satisfied with the way the studio is set up. There’s plenty of natural light, a large wall to display my work, and enough space to host a workshop.
Photo: Clayton Conn for CNBC Make It
In total, the renovation cost about $32,000 and took less than a year complete.
What I like about San Miguel
A Unesco World Heritage Site since 2008, San Miguel is a lovely city full of old-world charm.
There’s nothing like walking the cobblestone streets and passing colorful colonial facades covered with bougainvillea. There are several small cafes, yoga studios, restaurants and events for writers and artists.
Photo: Irene Barajas for CNBC Make It
One of my favorite things to do is visit art galleries. Occasionally, I go to small venues to listen to live music for a meal or $15 for covers.
Photo: Irene Barajas for CNBC Make It
The only major downside is that the weather is much cooler here than in Mazatlán, which has forced me to buy sweaters, coats, and heaters that I’ve never needed before.
Although I mostly walk everywhere, I have a car mainly to transport my art or do day trips to nearby cities.
My income and expenses in Mexico
My income, which ranges from $1,100 to $2,500 per month, is a combination of Social Security, book and art sales, workshops, and rental properties in Mazatlán.
Here’s a quick look at my average monthly expenses:
- Real estate tax: $41
- Private health insurance: $250
- Car/gasoline insurance: $50
- Utilities (water, electricity, telephone, internet): $70
- Grocery: $110
- Entertainment / dining / shopping: $99
Total: $620 per month
Photo: Clayton Conn for CNBC Make It
I’m not sure if this is my forever home. Mazatlán still holds a special place in my heart, and maybe someday I will return. But I definitely plan to stay in San Miguel for the next 5 to 10 years.
I will never be able to build this perfect life while in America. The low cost of living in Mexico allows me to live an ideal retirement lifestyle and do what I love most: creating, teaching, and being surrounded by the arts.
Glen Rogers is an artist living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She has traveled to many sacred sites in search of connection, understanding and inspiration; Newgrange in Ireland, Knossos in Crete, caves in southern France and Las Labradas, Mexico. Find her on Facebook.
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