Tropical Island Living for $380 a Month
By Bel Woodhouse

One of the best things about living abroad as a single is that you don't need as much space. Having lived in a three-bedroom house with a swimming pool for some time I was hit with the realization that I simply didn't want so much space anymore. My needs are simple and, argh, all that cleaning... No thanks. Plus, let's face it, I would prefer to be out exploring, going on day trips, or doing something I love rather than being at home wandering around a big, empty house.

So, making the decision to downsize was simple. I just needed to find a place that matched my list of must-haves:

• A safe, friendly neighborhood
• Good internet
• A quiet location (my last neighbor had a very lively and vocal Chihuahua)
• Close to the ocean so I can swim or snorkel in the Caribbean daily
• Close to supermarkets and downtown so I can walk everywhere

I told friends and local contacts what I was looking for and pretty soon I had found my perfect place—with the added bonus of the rent being just $380 a month.

My new, one-bedroom apartment is in the best—and safest—neighborhood on Cozumel, Corpus Christi. Nestled on a quiet street, it's my dream apartment. Each morning I awake to birdsong and smile. Some days I don't even want to step outside.

My apartment complex.

My home is just three blocks from major supermarkets and strolling the streets on the five-minute walk to get my groceries is wonderful. The architecture is gorgeous and I'm always discovering hidden gems like the small restaurant that just opened on the next block offering amazing breakfasts for under $5...

Big omelets, healthy options, or eggs any way you like them come with baskets of bread and a coffee. Or, enjoy a traditional Mexican breakfast, like my all-time favorite huevos rancheros—two crispy tortillas covered with eggs, hand-made salsa rojo (a red sauce made from fresh tomatoes), and sprinkled with cheese.

My favorite breakfast; huevos rancheros.

For me, the $200 a month I'm saving by downsizing means there's more money to do the things I love. There is the luxury of dining out at nice restaurants with friends, day trips and sunset sails, or anything else that takes my fancy.  

The best part is, no more paying expensive gym memberships. My exercise is walking everywhere and swimming with the mermaids—an ocean swimming club. Morning swims are with eagle rays and a rainbow of colored fish over swaying sea fans which, in my book, beats a sweaty gym any day.

I also spend a lot of time at home working, so a decent internet connection is important. It has to be reliable and strong. To my surprise the internet was included in my monthly rent, along with other amenities such as gas and water.

The only utility bill I pay for is the monthly electricity. The highest bill has been $22 for the month, compared to the $100 I used to pay at my previous home. Even in summer, with air-conditioning on nightly, it still works out cheaper.

Most of my time is spent out front on the palapa terrace enjoying a nice cool breeze. Because I spend so much time out there, my friends call it "the office” which, once the huge cloth hammock is hung, will soon be complete. It's so much more relaxing working with a nice view.

I spend most of my time working or relaxing on my shaded terrace.

The good news for you is that there are a lot of great rentals like this one on Cozumel. If you are after more than one bedroom, there are larger two- and three-bedroom apartments, houses, and condos regularly coming up for rent or sale. Rental contracts are either six months or a year, and renewable very easily.

As I write, on the market is a two-bedroom villa, surrounded by gardens, with a swimming pool, for $650 a month. I've also seen four- and five-bedroom, fully-furnished houses for $1,000 to $1,200 a month. No matter what your budget is, there is something for everyone on Cozumel.