Time to Retire in Puerto Rico

Actually, that is a fairly decent estimate.The only things I would have no idea about are health insurance and property tax. Maybe just a little more for gasoline.

We are also retiring to PR.  I don't speak fluent Spanish but my husband does he was born and raised in Puerto Rico I was born here in New York on the mainland so I think she'll do okay I've been working on my own stuff if you'd like we can keep in contact let me know

That budget sounds pretty much OK.
Water could be cheaper. We pay $15 - $20, I know of others who pay $60 and that's considered high.
Electricity, if you get inverters for A/C you might pay $100 less.
Don't forget car maintenance and some new shorts, Tee shirts and chancletas every now and then

As for the places, Humacao doesn't have good beaches unless you're thinking of Palmas del Mar. Then again real estate is more expensive there. Luquillo and Fajardo have great beaches and you will be able to buy a nice place for 150K.

So you think most of the number are spot on or over?
Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Hi Lulu,
More than likely you will do fine, depending on where you move to, there may be more English or less.
Sure lets keep in touch.

That was very helpful, thanks
Not sure what these inverters are?

I am also thinking about the possibility of installing solar panels in the house, but I am not sure how much they cost and with out a specific roof size I am not sure how many panels would fit.

Lots of ideas, but not sure how things will develop,
By the way I do like Fajardo and Luquillo the most. Not so sure about Ceiba, it may be noisy with the base there.

How far off am I on Groceries for 2 people?

Thanks

ReyP wrote:

Not sure what these inverters are?

Check this out: https://www.bijlibachao.com/air-conditi … india.html

ReyP wrote:

I am also thinking about the possibility of installing solar panels in the house, but I am not sure how much they cost and with out a specific roof size I am not sure how many panels would fit.

Although we have plenty of sun there are not a lot of solar panels used for electricity. The relatively high initial cost and long payback time may be the reason for that.

ReyP wrote:

By the way I do like Fajardo and Luquillo the most. Not so sure about Ceiba, it may be noisy with the base there.

The base has been gone for quite some time now.

ReyP wrote:

How far off am I on Groceries for 2 people?

I think we spend less, around 450 for two people but we buy pretty much standard items only.

The people who sell and install inverters claim that a standard sized bedroom can be cooled for 25-35 dollars electricity per month. I will check with my FIL who had one installed a couple of weeks ago. We don't need A/C up here in the hills. It cools down nicely at night.

Hi Gary,

Once again very helpful.

I think then I can consider Ceiba a little more.
As to Electricity I plan to lower the number from 140 to 70, I rather have the money ready than be caught short.

As to Inverter A/C, I seen those units, but I did not know what they were called nor what was the difference, the link was spot on, thanks.

Once I find the right house I will check into the solar panels to see if it may be worth it for me. It would be nice not having to pay electricity. There are some that you can connect a battery or two and it keeps them charged so that you get electricity from the battery at night since the panels are useless then.

I also plan to look into a water tank, this way I have water and electricity regardless of the public utilities whim.

Thanks
Rey

Thanks Gary for checking for me.
It is hard when you have no real contacts and are trying to figure all this stuff out.

By the way LULU, where are you guys planing on moving to and whent are you guys planing on retiring?

Hang on, Rey.. You had 400 for electricity in your first post.
We pay around 100-120 for a house without A/C.
We have an electric water heater a couple of computers that are used intensively, fridge, small freezer, fans and lights.
I'd say you should look at $200 including the two A/Cs you plan to install.

You will need a lot of solar panels if you really want to save. Since you're looking at a coastal city with wind most of the time maybe a windmill might be an idea?

A water tank or two is no luxury, neither is a generator. We've been without water since this AM and the electricity was gone from 7AM until 5 PM today. After a "winter" with not many outages we've lost power three times for many hours this week! I couldn't live without my generator.

ReyP wrote:

Thanks Gary for checking for me.
It is hard when you have no real contacts and are trying to figure all this stuff out.

Although we may seem to be nothing more than 'magical names' on your screen there are real people behind those names.

Go ahead and ask your questions. I'm sure more people will chime in with answers.

Hi Gary,

I would love it if I can get away with 200. For me is like 2 computers (on all the time) one TV running all day (2 dogs like to watch TV too) and the 2 A/C at night to cool things down.

Yes water tanks are a must and either panels or a generator to be run when ever the electric power goes away because the electric company wants to tick us off.

The 100-120 you stated includes the crazy fuel charges also? -- I heard that they charge for the fuel they use to create the electricity and for the creation and delivery of the electricity also. One would think that the two would be a single charge. When I buy bread I do not have to pay additional  for the electricity or fuel used to run the oven. It is one price.

ReyP wrote:

The 100-120 you stated includes the crazy fuel charges also? -- I heard that they charge for the fuel they use to create the electricity and for the creation and delivery of the electricity also. One would think that the two would be a single charge. When I buy bread I do not have to pay additional  for the electricity or fuel used to run the oven. It is one price.

Yeah the way they bill is kind of funny...

On my last bill I paid
$24.57 basic charge
$60.30 for the fuel
$22.39 for buying electricity.
$107.26 total

I used 487 kWh so I paid around 22 ct for a kWh.

Here's my last bill (name, address, acct. # etc. removed)
[right click - view image gives you a larger version]

I know a retired couple here in PR who is installing solar panels on their house.  When you are ready, I can get you in touch with them so they can share their experience with the process.

frogrock wrote:

I know a retired couple here in PR who is installing solar panels on their house.  When you are ready, I can get you in touch with them so they can share their experience with the process.

I would love to hear how the whole process goes, how reliable is the system, is it producing only partial or enough for the whole house, what are they doing about their evening use of electricity and how big of a difference did it make on their bill.

If you could check for me, I am sure others would also gain from this information.

By the way, Gary has help a lot with the estimates, do you have different numbers you can share?
Thanks

Gary wrote:

ReyP wrote:

The 100-120 you stated includes the crazy fuel charges also? -- I heard that they charge for the fuel they use to create the electricity and for the creation and delivery of the electricity also. One would think that the two would be a single charge. When I buy bread I do not have to pay additional  for the electricity or fuel used to run the oven. It is one price.

Yeah the way they bill is kind of funny...

On my last bill I paid
$24.57 basic charge
$60.30 for the fuel
$22.39 for buying electricity.
$107.26 total

I used 487 kWh so I paid around 22 ct for a kWh.

This is awesome, I mean your help and level of detail, not the bill.
Thanks