Minimum wage rises in Baja California Sur, but grocery costs and gasoline rise too

Carolina Vizcarra

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Public perception of the wage adjustment

Flor Cota, a cleaning worker in the state capital, noted that the increase does not necessarily translate into a direct improvement in quality of life, particularly in a state with geographic conditions such as Baja California Sur.

From the perspective of employers, Manuel, the owner of a tortilla shop in La Paz with five employees, explained that the minimum wage increase requires adjustments to business cost structures, which eventually show up in final consumer prices.

“With the minimum wage, the first thing we would have to do is raise product prices for consumers. That generates inflation and is the first area affected by the increase. If we raise wages, logically we will raise the price of certain products,” he stated.

For her part, Erandini Ramírez, a dentist in private practice with no employees, explained that although the minimum wage increase does not directly affect her activity, she does face generalized increases in supplies and services.

Tax adjustments and consumer price increases

Cigarettes are also subject to an IEPS increase of 200%, which directly impacts retail prices.

Fuels are likewise seeing IEPS adjustments at the start of the year. For Magna gasoline, the tax rose from 6.45 to 6.70 pesos per liter; for Premium gasoline, from 5.45 to 5.64 pesos; and for diesel, from 7.09 to 7.36 pesos per liter.

Average fuel prices and basic food basket costs in the state

These increases are compounded by the average fuel prices in Baja California Sur during January. According to state indicators, Magna gasoline averages 22.80 pesos per liter, Premium stands at 24.86 pesos, and diesel averages 24.15 pesos per liter.

These costs are part of the recurring expenses cited by residents during the survey, as they affect both transportation and the distribution of basic goods.

Average fuel prices and basic food basket costs in the state

In this context of wage adjustments and rising prices, Profeco issued a series of recommendations to face the so-called cuesta de enero (January squeeze) and avoid excessive debt at the start of the year.

In addition, it urges consumers to avoid impulse buying, review existing debts and pay them off as soon as possible, strengthen financial education, and stay informed about consumer rights in order to protect household income.

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The agency noted that periods such as the January squeeze can become an opportunity to reassess financial habits and adopt more conscious consumption practices, aimed at making better use of every peso spent on daily expenses.