Living in Baja California Sur is synonymous with ocean sunsets, clean air, and closeness to nature—for a reason, its capital is known as the city of 365 sunsets. But it also entails a higher cost of living compared to other areas of the country.
Although for many people it seems like paradise, maintaining a home here can be more expensive than doing so in central Mexican cities like Chiapas, Querétaro, or Sinaloa.
How much do you need per month to live decently in Baja California Sur?
According to the National Survey on Financial Health (ENSAFI) by INEGI, the most recent published in 2023, a person needs at least 19,600 pesos per month to live decently in Baja California Sur. This figure includes essential expenses such as food, housing, transportation, and healthcare.
In comparison:
In Sinaloa, 13,600 pesos are required per month.
In Chiapas, 7,000 pesos.
In Quintana Roo, the estimated living income is 14,500 pesos per month.
And how much do people earn in Baja California Sur?
According to the 2022 National Household Income and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH), households in Baja California Sur have an average current income of 30,472 pesos per month.
However, this average may hide internal inequalities, as many families live on incomes close to the minimum calculated by INEGI. Despite an increase a few months ago, families in Baja California Sur say it is not enough compared to the cost of living in the region.
The Weight of the Food Basket
Regarding food spending, the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL) indicated that in March 2025, the cost of the urban food basket was 2,447 pesos per month, an annual increase of 4.0% compared to March 2024.
In rural areas, it was 1,841 pesos.
General inflation in Mexico was 4.22% annually in the first half of May 2025, according to INEGI, driven by increases in basic products such as tomatoes and lemons.
What is the cost of renting housing in Baja California Sur?
This is where Baja California Sur stands out from the rest of the country. According to international cost-of-living comparisons such as Nomadlist (2024) and Numbeo (2025):
Monthly rent in La Paz (1 bedroom, downtown): $9,000–$20,000 MXN.
In Oaxaca, the same type of home costs between $6,000 and $9,500 MXN.
In areas like Cabo San Lucas, rent in private developments exceeds 30,000 pesos per month, mainly due to high tourist demand and the influence of the international real estate market.
Is it more expensive to live in BCS than in the center of the country?
Despite having higher average salaries,
living in BCS represents greater economic challenges, especially in areas such as housing
and food. The high cost of maritime transport and the dependence on products imported from the center of the country make supplies more expensive, especially in cities like Cabo San Lucas.
Meanwhile, central states like Querétaro, Puebla, and Guanajuato, although with lower salaries, have considerably lower costs of living, especially for food, rent, and transportation.
Source: posta
