ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LIVING AND RENTALS IN THE GUADALAJARA MX AREA

Among the carrots on the stick: Comprehensive medical insurance can be purchased for as little as $200 a year. Property taxes are approximately $40 to $120 a year for an average home. Insurance costs on housing are low -- most homes are made of concrete forms and stucco, with virtually no need for fire insurance. Costs of some goods and services range higher -- such as for long distance service and automobile maintenance -- but food and other services are surprisingly low-cost.

The following cost of living estimates for the Guadalajara area (central subtropical Mexico near Mexico City and Puebla, both cities with multimillions in population) were obtained from Mexico Retirement and Travel Assistance fall/December 1997 issue and converted to U.S. dollars.

AUTOMOBILE

Premium gasoline: $1.69 per gallon
Wash auto: $1.87
Lubricate auto, change oil and filter: $14.82

MEDICAL AND DENTAL

Clean and X-ray teeth: $19.33
Tooth filled: $19.33
Doctor's office visit, including EKG: $40

HOUSING RENTALS

Furnished one-bedroom apartment with living room, kitchen, and bath: $275 to $300 per month
Beautiful, furnished six-room apartment (two bedrooms) in a nice neighborhood: $450 per month
Unfurnished garden-style condominium with pool (two bedrooms, two baths) in Guadalajara's best neighborhood: $550 per month
Nice, modern two-bedroom home in gated community: $600 per month

PERSONAL CARE

Women's haircut and permanent: $19.93
Men's haircut: $3.24

UTILITIES

Electricity: $9.84 per month
Propane gas for cooking: $14.90 per month
Telephone basic service: $15.90 per month
Water for drinking: $7 per month
No heating or air conditioning is required

ENTERTAINMENT

Ticket to movie theater (first-run film): $1.87 to $2.49

MAID

Basic, thorough house cleaning one day (4-5 hours) each week: $6.23 per week

LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANER

Clothes for two people at commercial laundry (washed, dried, and folded): $8.20 per week
Dry clean trousers or skirt: $1.91

RESTAURANT/EATING OUT

Dinner at excellent restaurant: $12.45
Chicken dinner at good medium-priced restaurant: $5.75
Broiled prawn dinner in Chapala: $7.50

FOOD

The following are prices per pound for fresh meat, vegetables, and fruit, current as of September 1997: Chicken, whole: $0.62

* Bacon: $2.81
* Hamburger: $1.33
* Pork chops: $2.26
* T-bone steak: $3
* Beef fillet: $4.52
* Turkey: $1.30
* Tomatoes: $0.62
* Cucumbers: $0.14
* Potatoes: $0.16
* Cabbage: $0.10
* Broccoli: $0.31
* Strawberries: $0.79
* Oranges: $0.09
* Bananas: $0.15
* Parkay margarine (400g): $1.58
* Flour: $0.24
* Eggs (dozen): $1.08

BOTTLED DRINKS

Six-pack of beer (Corona 325 ml): $1.68
Coca-Cola ( 2-liter plastic bottle): $0.92
Milk (2 liters): $1
Fruit juice (1-liter tetra-pack carton): $1.39
Assorted soft drinks (355 ml. aluminum can): $0.34

Imported Scotch and bourbon are comparatively expensive, costing about what they do in the United States, or more. Domestic alcoholic beverages are relatively inexpensive. The best Kahlua costs $8.59 for a 946 ml. bottle. Passport Scotch (700 ml): $11.33, Don Pedro Brandy (940 ml): $8.56, Barcardi Carta Blanca Rum (680 ml): $4.15, and Smirnoffs Vodka (915 ml): $6.91. Mexico produces excellent tequila, beer, wine, and brandy.

MISCELLANEOUS

Regular grind coffee (1-lb. can): $3.72
Basic subscription cable TV: $19.30 per month
First class air-conditioned urban bus fare: $0.57
Veterinarian consultation: $10

I kid you not.