I went to the market, called Commercial Mexicana, which is a chain similar to Safeway in the USA, and jotted down some prices of some typical items on the shelf. For those of you who care, here they are, after I've converted them to dollars. 1 0.68 If you would like a glimpse at what Mexican money looks like you can also learn more about some of the people who faces appear on the bills. They range from bandits to nuns, and provide an interesting glimpse into the national heroes of Mexico. While speaking Spanish will definitely make your life easier and fuller, it is certainly not a requirement.
Many locals speak a passable English, and anyone in the tourist industry definitely does.
The only problem is that the picture and sound are so much better, you may return home and find that you are unsatisfied with your current cable system. Then your vacation to Mazatlan would turn out to be expensive indeed. All of the locals we've met really appreciate it if you make an effort to speak Spanish, and don't just assume or demand that they should speak English. They will generally meet you more than halfway if you make an attempt. Nevertheless, you can still get along just fine if your only Spanish is Buenas Dias and Adios.