A 66-year-old retiree who moved from the U.S. to Mexico shares his list of affordable purchases for $5 or less.

Despite having resided in Mazatlán, Mexico for 15 years, I am still taken aback by how little or much things cost. Beyond the tourist zones and resorts, prices drastically decrease.

I am a 66-year-old retiree who relies heavily on Social Security checks. However, in Mexico, I can afford an apartment that is only half a block away from the beach for just $420 per month. Additionally, I spend an average of $160 a month on non-essential items such as dining out, entertainment, and occasional purchases.

In a country where the minimum wage is equivalent to $8 to $12 per day, here's what you can buy for $5 or less.

1. The basics

One reason I love living in Mazatlán is the affordability of my monthly living expenses. I spend $5 or less on essentials.

• My monthly water bill for my two-bedroom apartment
• My monthly electricity bill (when I’m not using air conditioning)
• A premium hand car wash
• Two hours of gardening
• One hour of house-cleaning service
• Decent-sized, decorative palm tree for my apartment

2. Groceries

Fresh produce, dairy products, and meats are affordable in Mexico, and buying seasonal produce can further lower prices. Currently, $5 will buy you half a dozen pineapples, while in the summer, it will get you 16 pounds of mangos.

With $5, I can purchase groceries on a regular basis.

• 40 eggs
• 10 pounds of sugar
• 5 pounds of fresh ginger
• 5 pounds of turmeric root
• Eight heads of lettuce
• 12 pounds of carrots
• 10 pounds of tomatoes
• 3 pounds of avocados
• 10 fresh oysters
• A pound of fresh-caught swordfish or dorado
• A whole roasted chicken with potatoes, tortillas and salsa
• 1 pound of 3-inch wild-caught shrimp
• 4 quarts of organic milk from a local dairy
• A half-pound of locally roasted, organic coffee beans

3. Drinks and beverages

In Mazatlán, it's often said that beer is more affordable than water. While small beach cafés may offer cheaper drinks than upscale restaurants, alcohol prices are generally inexpensive across the board, even when compared to the U.S.

Here’s what you can get for $5:

• A 10-pack of Pacifico or Tecate beer
• Two 3-liter bottles of Coke
• 15 gallons of purified water
• Two 3-liter bottles of Coke
• Two liters of freshly-squeezed orange juice
• A cocktail made with name-brand alcohol
• Four big bottles of Topo Chico mineral water
• Two cappuccinos or lattes
• A 16-ounce draft of artisan beer, plus another 5-ounce pour
• Three fresh coconuts

4. Full meals

Dining out in Mazatlán doesn't have to be expensive. There are numerous affordable cafes and taco stands where meals cost around $5.

Certain entrées at more formal restaurants can also be within this budget range.

Some of the things I've purchased for $5 or less include:

• Three to 10 street tacos
• Three restaurant tacos
• An order of Huevos Rancheros with coffee and juice
• A BLT
• A burger with fries
• Eight boneless chicken wings and beer on tap
• A dozen chicken wings
• Seafood or tortilla soup
• A four-topping medium pizza at Dominos
• Almost a pound of grilled pork ribs
• Four large croissants

5. Fun activities

On the beach in Mazatlán, you can enjoy a private concert from a strolling band playing traditional Sinaloa music style known as banda, which sounds like horn-heavy German polka, for only $5.

With a $5 budget, you can accomplish a lot.

• A bicycle rental for a little more than an hour
• A salsa class
• A yoga class
• A Zumba class
• A reserved seat at a movie theatre
• A dozen red roses, for a great date
• Three boat rides to Stone Island, featuring a scenic coastline south of Mazatlán proper.

6. Health products

In Mexico, medicines, doctor visits, and prescriptions are significantly cheaper. However, what can $5 purchase in terms of these necessities?

• Two consultations with a licensed doctor
• A 236-milliliter bottle of Pepto-Bismol
• 30 600-milligram ibuprofen tablets
• 30 550-milligram Ciprofloxacin antibiotic tablets
• Four Oral-B toothbrushes
• Three tubes of Crest or Colgate toothpaste

If you're not feeling well, a basic vet visit or a shot of antibiotics are both available for just $5.

7. Transportation

Public transportation in Mexico is affordable, with $5 getting you more than a gallon of gas.

• 16 rides on Mexico City’s very efficient Metro subway system
• An Uber, Lyft or Didi ride
• The "green bus" in Mazatlán is used by nine people as it travels along the coast.

The low prices in Mexico allow me to enjoy a stress-free life by doing more of the things that bring me joy. I can live the life I love and love the life I live.

Since 2006, Janet Blaser, a former journalist from California, has been living in Mazatlán, Mexico and focusing on expat living. Her first book, "Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats," is an Amazon bestseller. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

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