View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
_anethon
Joined: 25 Apr 2003 Posts: 12 Location: California
|
Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 5:32 pm Post subject: living expenses resource |
|
|
Hey do you know of any current resources on living expenses in Mexico? I'm not too worried about it myself, because I've done it before. But my wife's parents are worried, so I'd like some decent data to show them on what our expenses will be like.
Thanks.. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
_anethon
Joined: 25 Apr 2003 Posts: 12 Location: California
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ben Round de Bloc
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946
|
Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 1:03 am Post subject: Where? |
|
|
If you could be a bit more specific about where in Mexico, it would help a lot. Cost of living as well as teachers' wages vary greatly from region to region. When you say Mexico, are you referring to DF? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
thelmadatter
Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 1212 Location: in el Distrito Federal x fin!
|
Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 1:52 am Post subject: apt hunting |
|
|
As I posted before, Ill be living in Toluca, just west of Mexico City. How do I find out what a decent price is for a furnished 1 bedroom? The director who hired me says he knows of a place but my cynical (NJ) nature is suspicious. But after reading some of the articles posted above, using his lead may be the best thing - esp. since I am short on time. What do I need to know and what questions do I need to be asking? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
LM
Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 25
|
Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 2:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The last link from Mexconnect has some good advice for finding a place. The classifieds are going to have mostly the expensive places. I would get there first, then start asking by word of mouth.
Ask your employer to find a family that can host you for about a week while you look for a place. Start asking around with your students and co-workers. You can also go into general stores in the area around the school and ask if they know of any vacancies.
In the Toluca area, avoid Metepec. It is outrageously expensive. My husband (a Toluque�o) says that the downtown is very reasonable and you would be close to lots of shopping, transportation. The Tec is only 10 minutes from downtown. Avoid the area around the Juarez market and the bus terminal. It's too noisy there. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Beemers
Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 7
|
Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 2:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="_anethon"]
http://www.employnow.com/livingexp.htm
this one seems a little out of date, since the exchange rate is off
Does anybody else feel that $40 US is high for montly(in-city) travel expenses. I guess if you are taking taxis everywhere, or are the prices of buses and combis on the rise? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
samiam
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 7 Location: Puebla, Puebla Mexico
|
Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 1:23 am Post subject: Cost of living prices in Puebla |
|
|
Here are figures from when I was in Puebla last summer. All figures are in American dollars:
Apartment: According to my friend who teaches English out there, $120 a month or so.
Holtels: From $10 a night (for a dive) to $20 a night. I found a nice hotel room for $15 a night.
Buses: 35� one-way if staying in the city, no transfers but there almost always a bus going to your destination. No formal bus schedule but busses arrive every 20-30 seconds in busy locations during the day. In theory, there are route maps, but those are nay-to-impossible to find.
Maps: I finally found one after being in town for a couple of weeks; cost me $2.
Food: American food is more expensive; Mexican food has roughtly the same cost. A liter (1/4 gallon) of milk is 50�. Going out is cheaper; a meal costs $3 or so.
Film developing: $4-$5 to have a 24-exposure roll of color print film developed and printed at a one hour mini-lab
Taxis: Depends on distance; should not ever cost more than $5 to go across town.
Movies: Are in English with Spanish subtitles (with the exception of children's movies); $2-$3 a ticket. Tickets are often half cost or "buy one get one free" one day of the week. Movies are sometimes one or two months behind American releases; however there are exceptions to this ("Lord of the Rings" was released the same day in M�xico as it was in the US). Selection is not varied as it is in the US; in particular, super-violent movies ("The Matrix", etc.) are usually not popular enough to have a theatrical release there. It is very common for the operator to mess up when changing reels, causing there to be an unplanned intermission in the middle of the movie.
Concerts: Often times free in the Z�calo or under $5, the exception being American acts who play in Mexico City.
Computer supplies: 10-30% more expensive than getting stuff at Fry's (a popular computer discount retailer in the US).
Museums: Most are free one day out of the week; otherwise cost $2-$3 to enter.
- Sam |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City
|
Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 3:41 am Post subject: Last post numbers |
|
|
The post above mine is pretty dead on for prices. Earlier, someone (beemer?) asked if $40 was too high for monthly transportation. That really depends on you and where. Driving a car? Expenses aremuch higher than that. Taking a Mexico City or Guadalajara metro every day runs between $20 and $35 dollars a month. Add a taxi or two and you are a little over the $40 mark. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
MELEE
Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2583 Location: The Mexican Hinterland
|
Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: apt hunting |
|
|
thelmadatter wrote: |
As I posted before, Ill be living in Toluca, just west of Mexico City. How do I find out what a decent price is for a furnished 1 bedroom? The director who hired me says he knows of a place but my cynical (NJ) nature is suspicious. But after reading some of the articles posted above, using his lead may be the best thing - esp. since I am short on time. What do I need to know and what questions do I need to be asking? |
1st try to avoid yes/no questions when buying things or contracting services in Mexico. The Mexican version of "the customer is always right" is "the answer is always YES!" --except if you where the obvious perfered answer is no.
EXAMPLE:
Q: Do you ever have problems with water in this building?
A: NO, never.
Q: How many times in the last year were both the tinaco and sistern empty?
A: About three to five times, but never for more than two days.
2nd Ask everything you could possibly think of, and don't feel bad repeating your questions because you might get different answers.
I'll try to think of some more questions later and post them if I have time.
Best of luck,
MEL |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ben Round de Bloc
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946
|
Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 4:04 pm Post subject: Asking the right questions |
|
|
MELEE, you've made a good point about how to ask a potential landlord questions.
As you said, often landlords give the answer that they think you want to hear. Sometimes it's a matter of perception: theirs vs. yours.
Your Q: Is this a quiet neighborhood?
Landlord's A: Yes, it is very quiet here.
Real A: It's half a block from frequently used railroad tracks. Large groups of teenagers play various sports in the street until 3:00 a.m. There's an iron works shop two houses away and a daycare center next door.
Your Q: Is the plumbing in working order?
Landlord's A: Yes, in very good order. However, the shower in the bathroom doesn't work, but I'll have it fixed very soon.
Real A: The toilet needs to be repaired, but you can flush it by dumping a bucket of water into it. The kitchen sink leaks. The tinaco (holding tank) on the roof overflows whenever there's water coming in from the city's water supply causing the excess water to drip through cracks in the ceiling, but since city water only comes to this part of town two or three times a week, not a big problem. And, hell will freeze over before I get someone in to fix the shower!
Your Q: Can I have a telephone line installed?
Landlord's A: Yes, of course. Just contact Telmex.
Real A: Yes, of course. Just contact Telmex and pay off the 5,000-peso phone bill that the previous tenants left unpaid when they skipped out.
Best wishes!
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City
|
Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 5:10 pm Post subject: bang on |
|
|
I couldn't stop laughing after reading that. All quite true. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|