I Don't live there full time but will spend 3-6 months a year there shortly. I've had a house there for 20+ years.
Yes on many of the things Estella posted.
Electricity costs can be pretty high, more you use, the more you pay. $300-500 for 2 months during the summer if you like to
sleep comfortably. If your use goes into the top tiers you pay that rate for the next 12 months. But without June-mid-Oct use
the costs are reasonable. Live like a poor local and pay less, live like a Gringo and pay a lot.
Gasoline is $4.00ish a gallon.
Groceries are 30-40% less than in Phx, quality is good to only OK. Quality of food is better in larger places Ensenada, Puerto Valarta etc.
Some stuff is priced more, computers, top end cell phones, HDTV's are 25-50% more here vs the states.
Look at Yelp and Trip Advisor for restaurant reviews they are semi accurate. I agree with 5-6 out of the top 10 and are safe to eat at.
Summer months more problems arise because bacteria thrive in the RP weather May-Oct. Lomotil is a must to have around.
But after 6 months your body tolerates the different bacteria in food in RP, go elsewhere and there's different bacteria again.
Still many different places you can go and not get sick, just don't eat out every day.
Not really inexpensive anymore, but cheaper than Phx. The further you go into Mexico the less it costs generally.
Home owner insurance costs are OK, car insurance is cheaper than the States.
Service costs are much less than in the states, ex. A/C, appliance, auto repairs, cleaning, home repair, painting.
Lot's of scammers but there are a lot of good workers, when you find a good one stick with them. Ask your neighbors for recommendations,
Home repairs are usually done to be OK for 1-3 years , seemingly so it can get done again by the same people. Prep work is poor.
Water service is usually good but 3-4 times a year it becomes problematic unless you live at the resorts or Santo Tomas.
Unless you live in the Condos, get a back-up tank (tanks) with a pump for shortages that will happen.
Internet and phone cost's $30ish, Internet speed isn't very fast 600kbits to 1.5mbs speeds, streaming Nexflix iffy at best.
During busy times it really gets slow.
Cell phone service is decent to pretty good, Tel-Cel seems the fastest. Cost is 200-300 peso's a month without a ton of data.
Will get bogged down on busy weekends, US phone's work well, but you can't use them full time per your contract.
There is a lot to like and some not to like about RP, I suggest renting for 2-3 weeks to get your feet wet and then decide.