I'm here in Guatemala, so I thought I'd do some ERE recon and fill you in on how much it'd cost to live here.
At Lake Atitlan, a peaceful and tropical locale, you can rent a room with a shared bath and kitchen for $215/mo. This includes electricity, so your only other real expense is food and laundry.
Food: If you buy from the marketplace, one person can easily live on $150/mo. for food.
Laundry is about 62 cents per pound at laundromats to have it washed and folded--I imagine you could do it more cheaply by yourself, but I haven't seen a self-serve laundromat here. Assuming you just get laundry down for you, I'd say this will cost $20/mo.
That leaves $15/mo. for things like new clothes, toiletries, and whatnot. Doable.
I don't think this would be a particularly enjoyable life, however. I'd say a bump up to $600 could give you spending room for entertainment.
Still, I personally wouldn't consider moving here. This has made me realize that I'm a city person.
Guatemala Budget: $400/mo.
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secretwealth
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I'm paying per megabyte here so can't upload a pic, but the pics for a Google search of "Lake Atitlan" are pretty accurate. Also search "San pedro atitlan".
The lake is very isolated, yes. It takes 5 hours to get here from the airport--the isolation means the high crime rate of Guatemala isn't an issue in this area. The locals are largely Mayan and tightly knit. They haven't learned to capitalize on the tourists as shrewdly as the Thai have, and they are friendly enough. Still, I don't think the locals interact much with the tourists.
The lake is very isolated, yes. It takes 5 hours to get here from the airport--the isolation means the high crime rate of Guatemala isn't an issue in this area. The locals are largely Mayan and tightly knit. They haven't learned to capitalize on the tourists as shrewdly as the Thai have, and they are friendly enough. Still, I don't think the locals interact much with the tourists.
SecretWealth -- It's very interesting that you are in Guatemala. What a lovely country (at least to visit).
About 10 years ago, I spent three months in Guatemala, including a trip to Lake Atitlan. From what I recall, there were many tiny little villages scattered around the shores. The five or so that I visited were not very memorable and didn't seem like great places to live. It would be neat to hear your impressions.
The primary issue with living in Guatemala is that it's dangerous. The country is cursed with natural disasters (volcanoes, earthquakes) and crime is rampant - no joke. But if you can find a save haven, like Antigua, living there might not be so bad.
About 10 years ago, I spent three months in Guatemala, including a trip to Lake Atitlan. From what I recall, there were many tiny little villages scattered around the shores. The five or so that I visited were not very memorable and didn't seem like great places to live. It would be neat to hear your impressions.
The primary issue with living in Guatemala is that it's dangerous. The country is cursed with natural disasters (volcanoes, earthquakes) and crime is rampant - no joke. But if you can find a save haven, like Antigua, living there might not be so bad.
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secretwealth
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The way I see it, the (unsustainably) fast track to ERE would be:
1. Save $40k
2. Invest all of it in high dividend REITs
3. Move to an ultra cheap third-world country
Of course, this wouldn't last. The dividends would get cut, the company would go bust, the visa would run out, inflation would render the investment income insufficient, or all of the above. But to take a 1 year mini-retirement, I think it's certainly doable.
1. Save $40k
2. Invest all of it in high dividend REITs
3. Move to an ultra cheap third-world country
Of course, this wouldn't last. The dividends would get cut, the company would go bust, the visa would run out, inflation would render the investment income insufficient, or all of the above. But to take a 1 year mini-retirement, I think it's certainly doable.
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secretwealth
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Food is not very impressive. The market is very cheap, but the quality is horrible, and the meat isn't really hygienic enough--I wouldn't eat any of the meat sold there.
There are a lot of Spanish schools, hippies, and volcanoes. So, hiking, language learning, and getting high are pretty much the recreational options here. One could also start a coffee plantation or perhaps work on one--a lot of coffee is grown here. If I moved here I'd probably start my own café and learn to roast the best beans in history.
There are a lot of Spanish schools, hippies, and volcanoes. So, hiking, language learning, and getting high are pretty much the recreational options here. One could also start a coffee plantation or perhaps work on one--a lot of coffee is grown here. If I moved here I'd probably start my own café and learn to roast the best beans in history.
Antigua is a little more cosmopolitan with a bustling expat community but the rents are somewhat higher than Panajachel.
In Antigua the used clothing market is behind the regular market and in Pana it is near the fire station. They are incredible. The one in Antigua is full of clothing donated by U.S. charities. Most of the clothing and shoes are large or XL while the locals are small or XS. In Pana you can find unbelievably colorful embroidered huipil tops that have been worn threadbare and buy them directly from the women who did the embroidery and wore them.
In Antigua the used clothing market is behind the regular market and in Pana it is near the fire station. They are incredible. The one in Antigua is full of clothing donated by U.S. charities. Most of the clothing and shoes are large or XL while the locals are small or XS. In Pana you can find unbelievably colorful embroidered huipil tops that have been worn threadbare and buy them directly from the women who did the embroidery and wore them.
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secretwealth
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Antigua is a really beautiful town--it reminded me a lot of Spain. The only problem is the air pollution from the diesel engines is really bad there (not as bad as Guatemala City, but close). It's relatively clean here on the lake, especially on the west end (where I am). I think the further west you go in this country, the cleaner (and healthier) the air gets.
Back in 1996, I arrived in Xela, Guatemala with $450 to last me for three months. I made an additional $100 or so teaching English and I put $200 on my credit card. I was able to live for three months on about $800. I did a lot of traveling within the country too. I visited the Pacific, the Caribbean,Antigua, Panajachel, Chichicastenango, and several other places.
I was in Guatemala again in 2010 and was able to rent a room with shared bath and kitchen for $100 a month. It was pretty nice and had wi-fi too. It would be possible for me to semi-retire to Guatemala right now and just live on my blogging income. The idea is tempting and I might try it eventually.
I was in Guatemala again in 2010 and was able to rent a room with shared bath and kitchen for $100 a month. It was pretty nice and had wi-fi too. It would be possible for me to semi-retire to Guatemala right now and just live on my blogging income. The idea is tempting and I might try it eventually.
Guatemala has a special place in my heart. I love visiting. Lake Atitlan is gorgeous but I agree with your observations that Pana is sleepy - tourists, bohemians and locals trying to make a living.
I read university report on the expat crowd that calls Panajachel home. It described the "pana panic" (I think it was called) whereby very few of the foreigners wanted to be photographed. Many of the full-time foreign residents either dropped out of their society of origin and/or were on the run..
Antigua might be more my speed, a bit more cosmopolitan.
I read university report on the expat crowd that calls Panajachel home. It described the "pana panic" (I think it was called) whereby very few of the foreigners wanted to be photographed. Many of the full-time foreign residents either dropped out of their society of origin and/or were on the run..
Antigua might be more my speed, a bit more cosmopolitan.
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secretwealth
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I prefer Antigua too--it reminded me a lot of Spain. The expats in Atitlan are the most washed up group of people I've ever seen. While I shouldn't be judgmental, I shall be: they're washed up hippie losers.
That being said, the lake itself is beautiful and there are a lot of new houses on the shore that would be beautiful places to live. Only problem is the lake is rising! The person I'm renting this house from said that he lost two houses to the rising tide and will probably lose another one this year. It's a bit scary, and sad.
I'm actually in San Pedro, on the opposite side of the lake to Pana--I went to Pana today and didn't like it. San Pedro is much quieter and more peaceful, but the expat crowd seems more pathetic. Sorry to sound so judgmental.
That being said, the lake itself is beautiful and there are a lot of new houses on the shore that would be beautiful places to live. Only problem is the lake is rising! The person I'm renting this house from said that he lost two houses to the rising tide and will probably lose another one this year. It's a bit scary, and sad.
I'm actually in San Pedro, on the opposite side of the lake to Pana--I went to Pana today and didn't like it. San Pedro is much quieter and more peaceful, but the expat crowd seems more pathetic. Sorry to sound so judgmental.
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NorthernIrelandERE
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secretwealth
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My original estimate? Halve that.
I just talked to a guy working in a restaurant. He said his wife and him live on less than $200/mo. They rent a house with a separate storage building and a huge garden. Their monthly expenses:
Rent $50/mo.
Food $50/mo.
He said you can easily live on $200/mo. in Guatemala. Easily. My favorite quote from the conversation:
"The only reason I took this job is I have a bunch of dogs. Dog food is expensive."
I just talked to a guy working in a restaurant. He said his wife and him live on less than $200/mo. They rent a house with a separate storage building and a huge garden. Their monthly expenses:
Rent $50/mo.
Food $50/mo.
He said you can easily live on $200/mo. in Guatemala. Easily. My favorite quote from the conversation:
"The only reason I took this job is I have a bunch of dogs. Dog food is expensive."