This Picture-Perfect City Doesn’t Come Cheap (San Miguel de Allende)

Is San Miguel de Allende only about fancy restaurants and packaged tours? Or could we somehow manage to have an authentic experience at a reasonable price?
💵 Take a look at our travel budget bit.ly/2NcrKDZ
WATCH NEXT:
○ We Came to San Miguel de Allende Thinking it was Overrated bit.ly/3P9vIrO
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ABOUT US
Imagine finally ticking off all those experiences on your bucket list. Every Sunday, we share the inspiration and practical tips you need for enjoying your own freedom years. We're Stephanie and Gillian, a couple who said goodbye to our corporate careers after years of saving and investing. We've been traveling the world full time ever since.
MUSIC FROM KZbin LIBRARY
Copycat by R.LUM.R
MUSIC FROM EPIDEMIC SOUND
Express by Eveningland
A Picture of Time by Dvine
Lost time by Eveningland
Unchained by Wai
Sand on Your Face by Giant’s Nest
00:00 Introduction
01:28 Entertainment
05:05 Guanajuato
09:11 Dining out
10:05 Groceries
11:36 Airbnb
13:05 Total spend

[@OurFreedomYears]

And that was San Miguel de Allende! Are you ready to pack your bags and book a flight?

[@beckloera7556]

Love your video. You should really go to Taxco, just as pretty as SMA but half the cost.

[@roundpaws]

Yup. Looks amazing and a relief from the heat of the coast. My ideal is to live on the coast of Mexico for 8-9 months and then the interior during the hottest. Gotta figure a budget to allow that!

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@beckloera7556 Great tip - thanks! So many great places to choose from.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@roundpaws Sounds like a perfect plan! We're in Mexico City now and the weather is just perfect.

[@travelrefocused]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope you had a great time in San Miguel despite your high costs. I'd like to offer our experience of 2.5 months in San Miguel last year. For two people, we spent an average of $2200/month. This included eating out about five meals per week, our health insurance costs and dental work, which included exams and cleanings for two people and 5 fillings. Our accommodation looked very similar to yours. We stayed outside the center of town in a great quiet neighborhood called Guadalupe. Although we visited that expensive market once to take a look, most of our grocery shopping was done at small local tiendas. Much of our dining out was done outside of town center with the occasional splurge. We also took a trip to Guanajuato and we agree it's a great place. We did many excursions that cost nothing including hiking to a small waterfall. Just walking around that beautiful town was entertainment enough to be honest. We walked everywhere. Our favorite experience was hanging out with the owner of a mezcal place who graciously befriended us after I offered him my photographs of his place. He took us to his family's agave farm out in the countryside and we had lunch at a little local place on the side of the road where a family cooked us chickens from their home made grill. I completely agree that San Miguel can certainly be expensive. There are many expats there with inflated rental prices (and yes the Airbnb tax in Mexico doesn't help). In fact, it was one of the more expensive places we visited in Mexico. With that said, we still found it to be affordable. San Miguel was a beautiful experience for us and we would happily visit it again.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much for sharing! This is a wonderful summary of your time and super helpful for anyone planning their own trip. Especially having a chance to hang out with a local family at their farm -- what a special experience! 😊

[@Fell214]

We (two people) spent $1,300 per month for a wonderful local house in the Atascadero neighborhood and $450 per month on groceries (only visited two restaurants) during our two-month stay earlier this year. We shopped at Ignacio Ramirez Market, La Comer’s, City Market, and the Panio bakery. We walked most places, so only spent about $20 on transportation per month. Less than $2,200 per month total. Similar to Croatia.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Well done! It sounds like you got a lot of mileage out of a relatively small spend. Definitely cooking at home for most meals makes a big difference.

[@ferminadaza9418]

Si you went to Mexico to do exactly what you do in USA.

[@Fell214]

@@ferminadaza9418 Restaurants aren’t that important to us. Neighborhoods, museums, concerts, local parks, Christmas celebrations, churches, local town square, dinner with new local friends. Did all of these and more in SMA. Enjoyed our visit.

[@harmlessgrey]

It's so special that you travel with your dogs. I just love seeing them in these videos.

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's a lot of work to travel with them but really rewarding! 😊

[@Jamesbruceblakley]

One thing to keep in mind is that in San Miguel has many more expensive options, but you can always find cheaper options. For example, you stayed in a gorgeous apartment. You could have found one for half the price.

[@OurFreedomYears]

So true! In fact, we met a couple who were staying in San Miguel for 8 months and their apartment was much nicer than ours at a much lower price. 😂

[@kirbyelsereno]

Hi ladies, I enjoy your videos because you both are cheerful. I am part of a gay couple living here in San Miguel de Allende and we spend $50 to $70 usd per week on groceries at La Comer. We eat out two or three times a week or more. If you know where to go you can eat good stuff and not break the bank. For example in centro you can eat at Los Burritos. A grilled chicken sandwich with fries and drink is $3.70usd. There are many small cafes that have good food and nice prices. You have to walk around to find them. We also love gorditas and they are not expensive. There are tons of less expensive restaurants on Salida a Celaya. ( a street that La Comer is on). Cheers!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much for watching and for sharing your experience in San Miguel! As a resident, I'm sure you know all the places to get great value meals and groceries. Great tips here for anyone visiting SMA - thanks!

[@michellehonig6905]

Love your videos! thank you for being so honest about everything and sharing all the costs, that’s so helpful.

[@OurFreedomYears]

So great to hear that you find them helpful -- thank you! 😊

[@jameskratz4612]

Enjoying the Mexico content. The views from the Miradouro had me reminiscing about my recent trip to Lisbon and all the wonderful city views there. Also, I was salivating watching your food tour in Guanajuato, because all of that food is really common in Southern California beach cities and so delicious! Looking forward to your next location…

[@OurFreedomYears]

Wonderful - glad to hear it! Mexico City is next on the itinerary and we're definitely including more delicious food. 😊

[@GoWithLess]

Another fantastic video with stupendous editing! I love seeing SMA through your lens and stomachs. We are heading back in October for 3 whole months, staying in a house sit for 7 weeks, an Airbnb for a month, and a luxury hotel we booked when it was on mega sale pre-opening. The house sit is up by the botanic garden (a 30-minute sweaty walk straight uphill) and it comes with a car. It'll be our 3rd time doing this sit so we know the area pretty well. We go to City Market every 2 or 3 days but we avoid the super pricey imported cheese and meat and alcohol. The sushi is as pricey as US grocery store sushi (already too pricey!). We eat our amazing, inexpensive cheese in Europe! Normal items cost the same at nearby not-at-all-fancy Soriana (same owners). City Market's bakery is YUMMY and we love their cheese bread and almond croissants. Most of our fruit and veggies come from the Tuesday Market and they are super affordable. Because Airbnb charges up to 35% in taxes and fees, we have worked directly with hosts. Our protection goes away so we are careful but have saved quite a bit. Lastly, as gorgeous as SMA is, it's the community there that keeps me returning. I've never been in such a friendly place in my life. Happy you had a good visit!

[@OurFreedomYears]

So great to hear that you're heading back to SMA in the near future! It really is a beautiful place. And it sounds like you've really got the lifestyle there nailed...especially navigating City Market so that you don't blow your grocery budget 😂 The occupancy tax is quite a shocker...it really motivated us to book direct with the owner in Puerto Escondido.

[@MrModel--CAPTURED-ON-FILM]

I used to spend summers in San Miguel when I was young, studying horseback riding up at the Atascadero, and 'sneaking' into the art institute for fun, and every place in-between. Beautiful city, wonderful memories.

[@OurFreedomYears]

That sounds incredible! What a wonderful place to spend your younger days. 😊

[@marthaliner8166]

Definitely a fair shake for San Miguel. We live here and find it to be a magical place to live, but it is what you make it. While it is not necessarily a budget friendly city, when it comes to expat life, the community in San Miguel usually makes it a better option than Guanajuato. Foreigners have lived in San Miguel in large numbers since the 1950s, and we have a wonderful blend of people that really like one another. Friends of ours that lived in Guanajuato found it difficult to fit in with locals and did not have access to a large pool of expats to be friends with, making it a rather lonely experience. Here in San Miguel, it is easy to be friends with both sets of people.

[@OurFreedomYears]

This is a great assessment from a local and we would definitely agree. While we were in San Miguel, we could see that there is a very vibrant community available for expats and it would certainly be a great choice for a long-term stay.

[@Val-T.]

San Miguel looks really great ! I was really surprised by the cost of the apartment, though, it's not the prices you have in mind when you think about central Mexico. Great video as usual. :)

[@OurFreedomYears]

We generally found accommodations on Airbnb to be more expensive than expected, but certainly part of that is the huge occupancy tax. Between the tax and Airbnb service charge, that's 30% getting added to the base rental cost. 😅

[@kimberlylalley7255]

What a beautiful place! Great job editing. Your boys are so well behaved. Kudos to Jasper and Huxley.

[@OurFreedomYears]

They're (mostly) well behaved, patient little boys. 😂

[@nabilel-ghoroury]

Glad you made it to Guanajuato! We loved it and found it incredibly charming. We thought about a day trip to SMA, but decided to save that for another trip. In Guanajuato you can definitely eat for less than $10 a meal at restaurants aimed at locals.

[@ltdodgen]

You can do that in SMA as well…I had the best enchiladas for 1.85 usd at a little hole in the wall outside the city center and several other delicious humble meals in little places I encountered. The stalls at the markets have great inexpensive and yummy offerings too. But if you can afford it it seems a shame not to enjoy a couple of splurge meals at one of the many exceptional restaurants in town.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We did find great food in San Miguel at all price points...but definitely appreciated the wide range of cheap eats in Guanajuato as well. 😊

[@ajrosales7305]

So beautiful can’t wait to be back

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's truly a beautiful city...we really enjoyed our time here. 😊

[@julietschida9114]

Hey guys, Just love your videos ❤. I have a few questions if you don’t mind. Could you share this Airbnb list? Also being a fur ever mom, I’m always curious on how far you had to walk from it to pet relief area when people rent in a city. We had to walk 6 blocks to the nearest grass area and minimum 3 times a day and plan that out right

[@Moorea2008]

"I'm definitely counting that as my cardio for the day." LOL, that's exactly the kind of thing I'd say while walking up a hill. And thank you for spelling all the words in Spanish correctly in your video. ;) In case you wanted to remember it, the name for the cactus you ate is nopal. And the singular form of "tamales" is "tamal," not "tamale," a common mistake. ¡Que viva México!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Hopefully my Spanish will keep improving! It's been a tough slog starting from zero. 😂 At least Gillian had a year of Spanish already.

[@Moorea2008]

@@OurFreedomYears You're doing great, and your attitude is spot-on. Put me in France and I'd be lost!

[@aaronung9472]

Loved the video

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@rookiemaquillage]

Since you travel with your pets, do you choose destinations that would have a good pet food and supply store and vet? I saw there is Petco next to the LA Comer.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We certainly double check each destination in advance and see what the options are for getting decent dog food. In Saranda, Albania, for example, we ended up cooking meals for the dogs since no quality food was available. Mexico, of course, has lots of great options.

[@markdarnell614]

OK...Cool! You DID make it to Parque Juarez!

[@OurFreedomYears]

We found it! Our favourite place for an afternoon walk.

[@paulettenguyen5688]

Great informative video!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much! 😊😊😊

[@latinaalma1947]

Huge food and rental wow. Loads of places in MX are like Guanajuato, less expensive than San Miguel....as with many places, the less touristy fewer the conveniences a town has, the cheaper it is. A place that might be nice for a long term stay, though I havent done it, is Dolores HIdalgo...the Vasquez talavera facotry there is terrific almost all my talavera I bought there. I drove my van from Antigua, Guatemala with a friend who had a beachhouse near Veracruz , dropped my husband off there to enjoy the beach and her pool. Then she I I went to SMA, Dolores, Taxco shopping for objects d'arte/ artesanias to furnish each of our new homes in the Antigua area. SO MUCH FUN! It was a once in a lifetime housewares shopping trip. We do have artesanias here in Guatemala, but not the same selection of talavera, silver, mixed metal objects tin lights etc. I will enjoy my purchases the rest of my life. They enliven my home here. The furniture in that Airbnb is uncomfortable to LIVE with which is true of almost all furniture in rentals...uncomfy chairs and sofas abound as well as beds.I have done such rentals in Madrid, other SPANISH TOWNS lots of places in MX and it is always the same. From an owners perspective I understand CHEAP and tossable when damaged BUT. the poor bodies of renters esp older people as I am now. Much of my Mexican travel was in the 80s and 90s when costs were SUPER cheap and it WAS more adventurous. Older now I NEED more lujo but then I wanted more adventurous surroundings and Mexico met those needs ...an undeveloped Yucatan we haunted on Christmas vacations ws our favorite.In the late 90s we retired early and anchored for mos off Isla Mujeres for before heading to Belize, Bay Islands of Honduras and then Guatemala for hurricane storage up the Rio Dulce . THAT is how we found this paradise where we now live on former coffee finca land outside of town, a huge tropical garden perched on the skirt of inactive Volcan Agua overlooking two more volcanos one active FAR in the distance. I adore Mexico still, it has been a love affair of 70 years since I first went there at 5 and many family trips because we were Texan. The differences between then and now are astounding but it was all tremendous...what a lucky girl I have been.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks for sharing your experiences -- this is really helpful to other travellers considering Mexico and other destinations. It's wonderful to hear that you still love Mexico after 70 years of visits! Amazing! 😊

[@Riomusic23]

Amazing view happy watching

[@OurFreedomYears]

Wonderful - thank you! 😊

[@ShihanTomCallahan]

2/3rds of that cost was the AIR bNb ….and a tour to Guanajuato. I am considering moving there however. We are artists so do you think living there full time is TOO expensive? Does Guanajuato have the same art scene? Thanks for this vide. It was very well done

[@OurFreedomYears]

Based on the feedback we've received, San Miguel has the larger expat community versus Guanajuato and might be the better option for a long-term residency. If you're renting long term and you're flexible on location and other factors, you can certainly find a place that costs much less than what we paid. Good luck with your plans!

[@andrews3978]

Awesome video as always! I am with you for the combined history and food tour!! Somehow, I am thinking(based on past videos) that Stephanie found that one! Been wondering if any of your friends ever meet up with you guys at one of your locations. I know your Dad joined you at one point at one of your stops but would be interested to know if other family and friends get in on the action. Looking forward to the next update.

[@OurFreedomYears]

In fact, we're looking forward to Gillian's family joining us in Oaxaca next month! We were hoping to do more family trips over the past couple years but COVID got in the way. Hopefully now that everyone's triple vaccinated, we can have more meet ups. And yes, I'm the one who sourced the food and history tour -- good guess! 😂

[@andrews3978]

@@OurFreedomYears Based on my binge watching of your videos, that was an easy call. In my binging, I came across where Gillian shared the news about your Mom. I know its belated, but of course never too late to express how sorry I was to hear about this. Stephanie, I am sure your Mom was overjoyed to see you take on this life adventure with your soulmate. It was also just another example of how resilient and positive you both have remained in spite of some huge obstacles and sad news while embarking on this nomadic adventure. You continue to inspire.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@andrews3978 Thanks so much for the kind words. It's been a very difficult year but I'm trying my best to face each day with positivity.

[@colleenconrad491]

We seem to be following a similar travel pattern to you guys! Thanks for all the wonderful videos. I do have a general question, I've found since Mexico doesn't allow dogs on buses (long haul) how are you guys traveling from place to place each month? I'm assuming plane or private transport, the plane part is easy, but have you tried to travel between towns on land with the dogs? Just curious how difficult this has been in Mexico and what methods you've used. Thanks again and keep exploring! Woof

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great question! It's too bad that Mexico doesn't allow dogs on buses but we've found the same situation in most countries. We used a shared transfer service to travel between San Miguel and Mexico City. It was convenient and a little cheaper than a private transfer.

[@manuvital9071]

@@OurFreedomYears Hi, just discovered your great videos. We've just arrived in Mexico city and plan to tour Mx's cities by the month. I don't know how much luggage you 4 (pups included) are traveling with throughout the world, I have 2 extra large and 2 smaller bags. Can you share contact information for the Mexican Shared Transfer Service you used?? Thanks for sharing your inspiring experiences!

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@manuvital9071 We used Bajio Go for all our transfers and found it to be quite reliable. In terms of luggage, we have two 26" suitcases, two backpacks and, of course, two dogs and their carriers.

[@tammyvig8253]

Just a request to add how you are traveling from location to location. Car, plane etc. thanks! Love your videos!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great idea - thanks!

[@eddieherman1054]

I spent several weeks in San Miguel and it was nice but, Guanajuato I loved! ❤️

[@OurFreedomYears]

Yup! Guanajuato seems like a great place to visit next time we're in the region.

[@yoelciegoson]

your were right to say that the green drink is healthy. The cactus (nopal) is good for bringing down the blood sugar levels

[@OurFreedomYears]

Excellent! And it tastes great as well 😊

[@roundpaws]

Your videos are my favorite of the expat travel genre. The editing is fantastic. Do you do it yourselves?

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks so much - that's so great to hear! In fact, we do all the editing ourselves...I'll pass along the compliment to Gillian who is the main editor. 😊

[@roundpaws]

@@OurFreedomYears excellent job - very very professional! 👍

[@l.a.ramslvr3143]

I was born and raised in Queretaro, 45 minutes from SMA and my wife and I love it there and would love to retire there once we are ready to retire in Mexico. Homes we like in SMA are $500K and up. Maybe Queretaro or Merida Yucatan will have to do LOL.

[@OurFreedomYears]

I've heard great things about Merida and Queretaro so they seem to both be excellent alternatives. Good luck with your plans! 😊

[@rookiemaquillage]

If you could do things differently, would you rather be based in Guanajuato City than San Miguel and do the day trip to San Miguel?

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great question! We're happy to have seen both towns and, if we were back in the region, we would certainly try Guanajuato for the month instead.

[@Lilacsandterriers]

Does the terrain in downtown Guanajuato have as many steep hills as St Miguel DA? What about treacherous looking cobblestones? I’m looking at retirement possibilities, and these things could become an issue in St Miguel DA, even if the cost there is doable!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Guanajuato is also quite hilly although we only spent a day there so we can't speak to the cobble stone situation. San Miguel is worth further research as it has quite a large retired population so there must be more accessible sections of the city.

[@Jmcivor777]

So how are you guys finding the pace of your travel? Seems to be about a month per country (?) sometimes a month per city. Is that pacing working for you? Perhaps for a future video, what are you packing differently now? We are thinking of things like a kitchen knife sharpener, good santoku, or good coffee press, good veggie peeler, maybe a silk pillow case, or even our own breathable sheets?....

[@OurFreedomYears]

Right now we're doing a month per city and we're trying to stay in each country for at least two to three months. We'll actually be in Mexico for four months as there's so much to see. We're still enjoying the pace as it allows us to really settle in and get to know each destination. We pack most of those items you mentioned except for the pillow case and sheets (a bit too bulky for our suitcases). You can check out our latest packing list here: bit.ly/3jrW7Cu

[@Jmcivor777]

@@OurFreedomYears Thanks for that list. It was very thorough. I like the food stuff items - didnt think of cloth napkins or a tea strainer- great ideas. I think I would need a checklist laminated so I could remember to take it with. 1 month per city...Im hoping that would work for us but Im such a forward thinker/planner I might be in planning mode by end of week 2.🤷🏻‍♀️ or maybe retirement will help me to chill! Thanks. Wish you both better weather timing moving forward ;)

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@Jmcivor777 Glad it was helpful! I'm sure you'll figure out a good pacing once you get on the road. We always remind ourselves to appreciate where we are vs spending too much time forward planning!

[@worldtravelerwendy]

Hi! Just found you through this video and I and my husband are now going through a lot of your prior videos - you're doing what we're interested in doing! And similarly minded. One question, about food and groceries, I/we find it hard to eat at home while traveling (beyond breakfast and picnic type meals), since I don't have my whole pantry, spice shelves, vinegars, etc. I'd love to see what you eat at home while traveling, any staple meals, that sort of thing. Have you done a video like that? If not it might make a good topic - ? Thanks for your videos, I and my husband are glad we found you!

[@worldtravelerwendy]

OH, and, we just visited SMA earlier this year too! We stayed out in Allende Colonia, just uphill from "restaurant row" which was a great temptation for dining out, which we definitely enjoyed, but also found I think less costly, more local places than in Centro. We are thinking we will go back for longer! We also stayed in CDMX twice and are looking forward to where you stay and how you find the city. Enjoy!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great question! We usually do a big grocery stock up on the first or second day since we're in each destination for a month. We do have a little kit in our luggage with knives, peeler, measuring spoons and other kitchen essentials (you can see our packing list here: bit.ly/3jrW7Cu). We also bring along any spices, salt, etc that we pick up along the way. In terms of meals, we usually keep it simple with proteins paired with lots of vegetables -- whatever is in season wherever we travel. Eating healthy at home helps offset all the delicious local food we try! Hope that helps 😊

[@worldtravelerwendy]

@@OurFreedomYears this is so interesting, thanks! I was wondering about packing spices, salt etc or if you buy fresh each month. I could justify either choice. Also, since I asked this, we've watched other videos where you've shown some of what you cooked. So interesting, and inspires me to practice this more at home to prepare for being on the road. Agreed that meat and veggies is key, but we also plan on adding cheese LOL! Happy travels.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@worldtravelerwendy Of course, can't leave out the cheese! 😂

[@kateevansnomadicwriter]

Thanks for the Guanajuato advice. I'm going to take it!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Excellent! Hope you have an amazing time there. 😊

[@lindadorman2869]

Sure, but where else can you get "cream of grasshopper" chocolate candy? Hilarious!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Right?! I had to take a hard pass on that one but Gillian seemed to enjoy it well enough. 😂

[@bullantoffroad]

For me my accommodation has been the cheapest part, $800 a month Australian. Eating out is what’s cost me the most. Queretaro was where I spent my first month. In San Miguel now

[@OurFreedomYears]

That's an amazing deal for your accommodation - well done! 😊

[@gregmiller9437]

My girlfriend and I notice Stephanie didn't comment on the Concha. Was it not something she enjoyed? :) Always love following along with the four of you!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Ha ha I loved the concha and have tried it again since. But we had so much other food to cover in the video that we couldn't fit in the tasting. 😂

[@markdarnell614]

There is an even better vantage point to see the Centro and the Churches...only a 5 minute walk up from Centro - at the ridge at the edge of the Atascaderos neighborhood. I swear - it looks like you're in Tuscany or Provence from that area!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great tip - thanks! If you're willing to tackle the hills, the view is a great payoff.

[@me-lg1yw]

Creamed grasshopper, mmm yummy!😜

[@OurFreedomYears]

It was very unexpected! 😂

[@mariateresavazquez9306]

Could you please share the name of the fancy restaurant @ min 9:11? Thanks

[@OurFreedomYears]

Of course...it's called La Dona de San Miguel...excellent food, beautiful space.

[@RonaldFelton52]

What is the name of the restaurant at (9:12)? 😀

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's called La Dona de San Miguel...excellent food, beautiful space.

[@vanmillin4236]

In the region, Queretaro may also have been an option you would have enjoyed at a lower price.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We've be hearing great things about Queretaro! It's a reason to come back to the region one day soon. 😊

[@beckloera7556]

@@OurFreedomYears Also La Huasteca Potosina is a Must in Mexico

[@martbright]

What was the tour you did to Guanajuato

[@OurFreedomYears]

The company is called Mexico Street Food Tours: www.mexicostreetfood.com/ One of the best I've had for sure!

[@sbkpilot1]

$2000 Airbnb.. yikes!!! yeah.. did not expect that despite it being a touristy destination, that's a lot. Glad you enjoyed Guanajuato, O am in agreement.. I too liked it better than San Miguel, less touristy and lots to do!

[@OurFreedomYears]

Those occupancy taxes really take a bite! Yup, Guanajuato seems like a great place to spend time and we might just make our way back there some time. 😊

[@judithgrace9850]

I 💕😘 Querétaro.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We hope to get there one day! 😊

[@angelnaranjo9341]

México is incredibel 👍👍

[@OurFreedomYears]

We loved it there! 😊

[@JourneysTravels]

Demasiado cara!

[@OurFreedomYears]

😊

[@paulyeatman303]

I guess, when you're on vacation, $3000 seems like a deal. Everywhere I go, the #1 monthly cost is housing. If you can keep that down, you'll probably do ok.

[@OurFreedomYears]

So true! That's why we like to balance out high-cost places with lower-cost destinations.

[@johnperkins5450]

Can you explain more about the Mexican AirBnB tax? Is it only on Airbnb, or all accommodations? Thanks

[@tivsma]

the tax is on all accommodations, just look at any hotel site. ;)

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's a hefty tax that was quite a surprise to us since this was our first trip to Mexico. Combined with the Airbnb service fee, it adds about 30% to the base rental fee.

[@johnperkins5450]

@@OurFreedomYears thanks so much for your reply - very helpful!

[@omrouk]

Looks like you had an amazing time. I think we’d agree with you that Guanajuato is “better” (I hesitate to use that, since both are great) than San Miguel. Our visit to SM was after a visit to Mexico City. Our visit to Guanajuato was before a visit to Guadalajara. We really enjoyed our time in Guanajuato. If we’re in that region again, we think we’d like to visit Querétaro.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We've heard amazing things about Queretaro as well so we'll have to put that on the list for future travels in Mexico 😊

[@omrouk]

@@OurFreedomYears Both GoWithLess and 2GoRoam were in Querétaro shortly before our visit to Guadalajara in February. We had considered going there instead of Guadalajara, but we wanted to finish off our visit there which had been interrupted 2 years prior by the unexpectedly early arrival of the small human.

[@ltdodgen]

Different strokes for different folks as they say! I visited each one of those for a week or so each. I had been to San Miguel several times and was considering living there part time, but I wanted to give Queretaro and Guanajuato each a fair shake. While I enjoyed both cities very much, for me, it was no contest….San Miguel de Allende is pure magic. For an artistic soul the appeal is undeniable. I bought a small condo there so I can come and go as i please and continue exploring Mexico. I’m so excited! And it’s nice to have both of the other cities so nearby.

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@omrouk That's a pretty good reason for an interruption! 😂

[@OurFreedomYears]

@@ltdodgenWe hear you about the artistic appeal of San Miguel. It was like a beautiful painting around every corner.

[@roundpaws]

Any issues with street food etc and your tummies? Doesn’t look like you are worried about fresh produce from restaurants, juices etc.

[@OurFreedomYears]

We're fairly careful with our food choices as we travel for that very reason. We do eat street food on occasion but only from popular carts with good hygiene. We avoid salads and iced drinks from restaurants -- the usual common sense practices.

[@lizethperales6846]

Así es. Guanajuato es una colonia de San Miguel 😁

[@OurFreedomYears]

Good to know!

[@fosterfoster1218]

Are you guys noticing an increase in international airbnb housing prices along with airline tickets?

[@OurFreedomYears]

To be honest, we're not certain whether the prices of Airbnbs are increasing or if we're just willing to spend more to be comfortable. After 2+ years of living in Airbnbs including a few difficult stays, we've become more selective and also increased our budget accordingly.

[@CoronaSanchez]

Great video! What's the name of the restaurant?

[@OurFreedomYears]

It's called La Dona de San Miguel...excellent food, beautiful space.

[@CoronaSanchez]

@@OurFreedomYears Thanks!

[@gif24gt60]

Who can afford to shop at City market? For those prices, I have to head to Vietnam or Thailand or thrown in maylasia.

[@omrouk]

The City Market caters to higher end, but there are staples that are more reasonably priced. It’s not really much different from comparing Loblaws to Walmart in Canada or Waitrose to Aldi in the UK

[@OurFreedomYears]

We thought it was fairly expensive for Mexico. But, based on the size of the place, it seems that a lot of people shop there!

[@ltdodgen]

The same people who shop at whole foods in the US. Wealthy people…or people with enough expendable income to budget for some fancy specialty foods.

[@alalesc3796]

Guanajuato is a beautiful and interesting city! Very colonial.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Yes, we were really impressed by it. 😊

[@latinaalma1947]

It sure didnt look.like thismor cost this in the 80s when I went there....a few snowbird Canadians living in dingy apts the insitute was there but closed. The streets empty of tourists I was a college administrator and wanted to check out the institute. Antigua Guatemala former Spanish colonial capital.of Central America UNESCO world heritage site is just as beautiful, now is more authentic and lower in cost. I have lived here 20 yrs. Glad I chose it over SMA.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Great tip about Antigua...it's another place we'll have to add to our list. 😊

[@larrypicard8802]

I prefer the capital Guanajuato, not as gringofied. I love pan dulce. The mercado in GJO is designed after a French train station. You missed the mummy museum?

[@OurFreedomYears]

As you saw in the video, we're also big fans of Guanajuato now and would certainly consider spending a month there if we do a return trip to the region. Didn't manage to catch the mummy museum!

[@elterrifico9522]

Toronto prices

[@OurFreedomYears]

Indeed!

[@themusiclab2621]

Pretty crazy to think that you guys are traveling the world full time and staying a month in each place, you have to have deep pockets to do something like that

[@OurFreedomYears]

Actually our lifestyle costs a lot less than it would if we lived full time in our hometown of Toronto. In fact I think we did a video on that very topic a couple years ago bit.ly/37Pfr8H

[@jasavak]

San Miguel isn't expensive if your a wealthy American visiting . Its great if you study art or just don't like as many Mexicans who speak Spanish in your area.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks for sharing

[@kennkid9912]

If you want cheape r but nice digs, avoid the American infested places. Chapala, Ajijic, San Miguel etc. As usual they drive up the prices for average folks, both Mexican and American. Trendy means spendy. City Market,not Mercado. that Brie is cheaper in our local supermarket. Like Whole Foods? AVoid. That means Whole Paycheck.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Of course, the prices are always higher when there are a lot of expats living there.

[@patoshea5351]

I do not agree...you can stitch 500peso carefully..I think you consider other cities historic such as beautiful Morelia sophisticated city..or Queretaro You should mention walk on uneven pavement and very steep streets in Guantijo ..not pleasant Sorry you missed the Guadalupe of Miguel..opposite of the tourist side...where you spent your money Mural area should be seen..up the street from Fabica You over budget..bad djsclaimer...yes you can live cheap

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thank you for sharing!

[@paulfine1883]

I rented a new one bedroom apartment for $ 275.00 including Wifi, internet & utilities.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Wow - what an amazing deal! 😊

[@bruce1897]

Ok You didn't bite so here goes anyway. Your not just offering information. Your having a relationship with your audience and I understand it does not feel intimate on your end . You're looking at the Camera and the back round is a whole mountain and sky. However the Camera captures a very defined frame with no to few distraction, the background is blurred out. Inclose up your faces are almost 55" big in our living room. Please with all due respect, Stop shouting at us. We're right here 3feet from you. I know in the beginning there's that tendancy. It's very difficult on viewers. That's tip one.

[@jdschall3418]

Idea: turn down your TV volume.

[@bruce1897]

@@jdschall3418 oh I leap on it.

[@tcmazz]

Seriously get real, if you don't like it then turnoff the TV.

[@OurFreedomYears]

Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated. 😊

[@brucechun1648]

I think they make way above average travel videos and as a fellow Canadian I’d love to see them continue to grow their channel. I’ve been working as a Cameraman for 30 years so if I can do anything to help with my unqualified and unsolicited advise it’s up to the two ladies to decide. Thanks for appreciating my help. I’ll shut up next time and do nothing to help out other Canadians. By the way. Sitting on my patio in San Miguel for the winter loved your series on México.