Living in Mexico on a 30,000 pesos monthly budget with a Honda CRV:

Monthly Budget (Total: $30,000 MXN)

​Rent: $8,500

​Groceries & Household: $9,000

​House Utilities (Gas, Light, Water, Net): $1,800

​CR-V Fuel (Gasolina): $2,650

​CR-V Annual Insurance: $800

​This covers a yearly premium of ~$9,600 MXN. By "paying yourself" $800 a month, you'll have the full amount ready when the bill comes due.

​CR-V Maintenance Fund: $400

​Set aside for oil changes and tires.

​School & Healthcare: $2,500

​Family Fun: $2,000

​Savings / Emergency Fund: $2,350

Food budget breakdown:

Where the $9,000 goes each month:

​The Weekly Fresh Market (Tianguis): $1,000 per week ($4,000 total)

​Meat & Protein: 2kg of chicken, 1kg of beef or pork, and a large carton of 30 eggs.

​Fresh Produce: All your tomatoes, onions, potatoes, lemons, and seasonal fruits like bananas or papaya.

​Daily Tortillas: Freshly made from the local tortillería (buying them here is cheaper than the supermarket).

​The Monthly Supermarket Bulk Trip: $3,500 total

​Pantry Grains: Large bags of rice, dry beans, lentils, and pasta.

​Cooking Essentials: Vegetable oil, salt, sugar, and coffee.

​Dairy: Milk for the kids and cheese (like Panela or Oaxaca).

​Bakery: Sandwich bread and crackers.

​Household & Personal Care: $1,500 total

​Cleaning Supplies: Large containers of laundry detergent, dish soap, and floor cleaner.

​Hygiene: Toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, and shampoo.

​3 Golden Rules to Stay on Budget

​The "Beans & Rice" Base: In Mexico, the most affordable way to fill up a growing family is to make beans and rice the star of every meal. It stretches expensive meat significantly further.

​Avoid the "Súper" for Veggies: Supermarkets like Walmart or Soriana often charge double for tomatoes and onions compared to your local tianguis. Save the supermarket only for boxed or bottled goods.

​Drink "Agua de Fruta": A 2-liter bottle of soda now costs over 35 pesos. Making a pitcher of water with a little sugar and a single piece of fruit from the market costs less than 5 pesos and is much healthier for the kids.