A couple decided to leave the United States to escape the high prices of live and now they are happy in Mexico, where they own 2 houses worth $75,000. Miriam Gutiérrez (31 years old) and her husband Eric (32 years old), lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they paid $2,000 per month on rent. There, the average price of a house was about $465,000 which was impossible for them to have their own house there.
Tired of the high cost of living and due to the desire of being closer to their family, they decided to move to Mexico. There, they found a more affordable life and the possibility of fulfilling their dream of owning a house without becoming indebted to anything. So, let’s learn more about their new life and the situation with prices.
From paying a high rent to owning 2 houses
Once in Mexico, Miriam and Eric bought their first house in Tijuana for $40,000 and they paid for it outright. However, that wasn’t everything because they decided to build a second house in Mexicali, just one hour and a half from where they live, with a maximum budget of $35,000.
In total, they spent %75,000 between both properties, which is a fraction of what a single home would cost in the U.S. Crazy, right?
What if I told you the second house was made out of a 40-feet shipping container, which is a trend that many people are doing because of its low cost and originality.
Shipping container house
In March of this year, the couple bought a 200-square-meter plot of land for $8,000. A month later, they got another container of 40 feet for $2,500 and they started to transform it into a home with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom.
Until now, they have invested $20,000 in construction and they are planning on surpassing $35,000 in total. The idea is to use this house as a second home when they visit Miriam’s family in Mexicali and, when they don’t use it, they will rent it through Airbnb to generate additional income.
How everything started
In February, Miriam found the perfect piece of land surrounded by desert and for a great price. Then, in March they had already started the construction.
First, they installed a metal fence, and then added electricity and water, which cost them $4,800. However, their container didn’t come with a roof, so they spent $3,800 to extend the walls and add one.
The couple is doing most of the work themselves, which helps keep prices down while allowing them to build at their own pace.
Design and distribution of the home
The house includes an open-concept living room and kitchen, plus a separate bathroom and bedroom. They’re also planning to build a small loft on the roof area for a second bedroom. Miriam says she can’t wait to finish decorating and make it their own. “We’d love to add a pool and a barbecue area for when our family comes over,” she shared.
Costs
Do you want to know more details about this? We have a list of the current cost breakdown, so let’s have a look at it:
- Land: $8,108
- Land deed: $800
- Land cleaning and leveling: $80
- Metal fence: $3,552
- Shipping container: $2,500
- Electricity setup: $600
- Water installation: $650
- Address registration: $32
- Roof and shade: $3,600
- Wall extensions: $200
- Labor: $164
- Window/door frames: $0
In total all the costs sum $20,286, but they plan on investing $15,000 more to finish and decorate the house.
A better life with lower prices
The difference of prices between the United States and Mexico was the main reason why the couple decided to move, because they would have spent 13 times more of what they infested if they had bought a house in Nevada.
Miriam and Eric’s story shows how escaping high prices can completely change your life. By moving from the U.S. to Mexico, they traded endless rent payments for two fully owned homes, peace of mind, and financial freedom.
Their journey proves that sometimes, the key to a better life isn’t earning more money — it’s finding a place where the prices make living well possible.