As we prepare for our third snowbird adventure I thought it would be handy to summarize them for the last two winters. I like to keep track of these expenses and it’s nice being able to see our expenses year over year summarized in one spot. I envision a chart of some kind to document future year over year comparisons. Yeah! Another spreadsheet, lol. I’m a bit of a geek that way (she says as her husband rolls his eyes!)
As our dollar weakens we’ve noticed a substantial difference from our first visit to Mexico as snowbirds in 21/22 where our Canadian dollar was as high as $17 pesos/$1 Cdn dollar. When we left last year in October of 2022, our dollar was worth approx $14.50 pesos and as of today we are only getting $12.73 pesos to our dollar. After the bank fees, it is closer to $12.35 pesos to the dollar. That impact, plus other factors have led us to the decision to try something new this winter. Rent at La Parota RV Park in Lo de Marcos where we’ve stayed the last two winters, will be $13,000 pesos per month plus electric (it’s gone up by $1,000 pesos each year so far). With the dollar as it is now, that’s approximately $1,100 Cdn which is a big difference from the $700/mo we paid just two winters ago. Although we will return to Mexico, we won’t be returning to Lo de Marcos. Instead of driving an additional three days (on horrible roads) we’re going to spend the winter in San Carlos.
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Below is a recap of our primary expenses itemized for each of the two years we’ve spent as snowbirds. Year over year costs for the same time period increased by over $3,000 Canadian. I haven’t included expenses for everyday things like groceries, shopping, fuel while stationary etc. These would vary significantly by person and the way I look at it, we have those expenses at home (although they may vary) while the expenses itemized below are specific to travelling away from home for the winter season.
Recap of Snowbird Expenses (Canadian $)
October 18, 2022 to April 21, 2023 (6 months)
Nanaimo, British Columbia, CA to Lo de Marcos, Nayarit MX
BCAA Travel Medical (7 months for both of us) = $1,639
*150 refunded once home because we returned 1 month early
Ferry cost = $440 each way (including reservation fees) = $880
Mexican RV & Truck Insurance = $2,252 ($1649 RV + $603 Truck)
*approx $1500 refund from ICBC once home
Tourist Visas (FMM) = $87 ($1,276 pesos)
Truck Temporary Import Permit (TIP) = $633 ($9,261 pesos)
*refunded $600 upon exit
Accomodations: $6,341
From Home To Lo de Marcos: $320
- 1 night Mountain Shadows, Wells NV
- 2 nights Sam’s Town KOA, Las Vegas NV
- 2 nights Totanaka RV Park, San Carlos MX)
Five months in Lo de Marcos (Oct 31 to Mar 30) - $5,019
*Monthly rent $12,000 pesos plus electricity at $3.5 pesos/kWh
*Expense includes bank fees to withdrawal cash
- November $883
- December $875
- January $868
- February $875
- March $940 ($ dropped and increased withdrawal fees)
- Electricity November to end March $503 ($6,702 pesos)
- Deposit for 2023/24 winter $75 ($1,000 pesos)
From Lo de Marcos to home: $1,002
- 1 week in Mazatlán $3,600 pesos ($274 Cdn)
- 5 nights @ Tucson/Lazydays AZ KOA = $246 US ($332 Cdn)
- 1 night @ Kingman AZ KOA = $53 US ($72 Cdn)
- 1 night @ Tonopah NV RV Park = $35 US ($48 Cdn)
- 2 nights @ Scandia RV Park in Bend, OR = $147 US ($196 Cdn)
- 1 night @ American Heritage Campground in Olympia, WA = $59 US ($80 Cdn)
WiFi/Cellular: $550
- T-Mobile SIM card for travel through US - $100 ($50/card - one each way)
- Solis hotspot day passes used = approx 20 for trip down/back and while in Mazatlán - $180
*$12/day but I buy the day passes when they’re on sale at $9/day Cdn
- Local WiFi in Lo de Marcos $500 pesos/month - $175
- TelCel SIM card $200 pesos/month - $95
Total cost Diesel = $4,750
Total cost Diesel Exhaust Fluid (10 - 2.5 gal boxes)= $200
Total cost Mexican tolls (20 tolls each way) = $950
*$390 down and $560 back due to increased toll costs and weakened Cdn dollar
Return toll summary:
Lo de Marcos to Mazatlán= $3,573 pesos ($268 Cdn) 😳
Mazatlán to Los Mochis = $1,908 pesos ($140 Cdn)
Los Mochis to Guaymas = $1,184 pesos ($89 Cdn)
Guaymas to US Border = $843 pesos ($64 Cdn)
TOTAL = approx $18,300 Cdn
*before $2,250 in rebates once home ($600 TIP, $150 Medical Insurance, $1,500 vehicle insurance)
*does not include any day to day expenses while living as snowbirds such as shopping, grocery, restaurant, gas expenses etc
Below is a summary of the same expenses for our first year as snowbirds in 2021/22
Recap of Snowbird Expenses (Canadian $)
November 8, 2021 to May 8, 2022 (6 months)
Nanaimo, British Columbia, CA to Lo de Marcos, Nayarit MX
BCAA Travel Medical (6 months for both of us) = $1,320
Ferry cost = $380 + $410 (including reservation fees) = $790
Mexican RV & Truck Insurance = $1,800
*approx $1,200 refund from ICBC once home
Tourist Visas (FMM), Truck Temporary Import Permit (TIP), RV Casa Rodante = $755
*refunded $510 upon exit
Accomodations: $4,111
From Home To Lo de Marcos: $320
- 1 month, 3 days Totanaka RV park, San Carlos MX $944
Winter stay La Parota, Lo de Marcos, Nayarit, MX
- Four months, 1 week in Lo de Marcos (Dec 13/21 to Apr 21/22) - $2,995
*Monthly rent $11,000 pesos plus electricity at $3.5 pesos/kWh (Electricity use averaged $1500 pesos/mo)
*Expense includes bank fees to withdrawal cash
From Lo de Marcos to home: $796
- 1 night in Mazatlán $700 pesos ($51 Cdn)
- 8 nights @ Las Vegas KOA = $745 Cdn
WiFi/Cellular: $520
- T-Mobile SIM card for travel through US - $50 (only bought one to go down)
- Solis hotspot day passes used = approx 20 for trip down/back and while in Las Vegas - $180
*$12/day but I buy the day passes when they’re on sale at $9/day Cdn
- Local WiFi in Lo de Marcos $500 pesos/month - $145
- TelCel SIM card $500 pesos/month - $145
Total cost Diesel = $4,477
Total cost Diesel Exhaust Fluid (10 - 2.5 gal boxes)= $200
Total cost Mexican tolls (20 tolls each way) = $714
- $297 entering
- $417 leaving
TOTAL = approx $14,700 Cdn
*not including $1,700 in rebates once home (TIP, BC Vehicle insurance)
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