|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
boomerexpat
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
Posts: 135
Location: Mexico
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:42 pm Post subject: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
 |
|
Question I'm sure many of you get tired of hearing about but I've looked on numbeo but I was wondering from people who actually live there and can speak from personal experience - so, how much does it cost?
Scenario:
1 person
furnished 1 bedroom apartment
central location, safe neighborhood with things to do within easy walking distance.
not just sitting at home eating beans and rice but seldom dining upscale restaurants. Mainly eat at home or take lunch but 1x per day eat out.
member of a decent gym
???? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sports City is a very nice gym in Mexico City. A little pricey though. The one time initiation fee was around 6,000 pesos and after that around 2,000 pesos a month for one person. Excellent gym!
They also have Gold's Gym but I'm not familiar with their prices. Here's a website with a list of gyms in Mexico City.
http://www.gymvisit.com/findagym.htm?loc=southamerica/mexico/mexicocity
Nice areas of the city to live in: I lived in the south on Insurgentes Sur and it was very nice. Not sure of the other areas though. If you're close to Insurgentes you will be able to use the wonderful Metrobus. It is a great piece of public transportation.
Groceries? I went to Wal-Mart because it was located close to my house. I also went to the markets on the weekends. They have everything you'll need almost and usually pretty cheap. The one in walking distance from my house had fish, chicken, fruits & vegetables. You can also eat outside with the street vedors. Very cheap food. Just be careful, they sometimes use too much grease.
Have fun! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:49 am Post subject: Re: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
|
|
| boomerexpat wrote: |
Question I'm sure many of you get tired of hearing about but I've looked on numbeo but I was wondering from people who actually live there and can speak from personal experience - so, how much does it cost?
Scenario:
1 person
furnished 1 bedroom apartment
central location, safe neighborhood with things to do within easy walking distance.
not just sitting at home eating beans and rice but seldom dining upscale restaurants. Mainly eat at home or take lunch but 1x per day eat out.
member of a decent gym
???? |
I don�t belong to a gym, but otherwise your requirements describe my lifestyle pretty closely. Excluding the private health insurance I pay for, I spend about 10,000 pesos a month. I should add that my one-bedroom furnished apartment might be hard to find in my area for the rent I pay, $4000 a month. Furnished apartments at any price can be hard, but not impossible, to find in most parts of Mexico City. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
boomerexpat
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
Posts: 135
Location: Mexico
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:08 am Post subject: Re: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
|
|
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Excluding the private health insurance I pay for, I spend about 10,000 pesos a month. I should add that my one-bedroom furnished apartment might be hard to find in my area for the rent I pay, $4000 a month. Furnished apartments at any price can be hard, but not impossible, to find in most parts of Mexico City. |
Isla, thanks for the feedback. Cheaper than I anticipated. What would you say is the average price for a decent (can be old but doesn't look run down and the building is maintained) furnished one bedroom? One where you might have to look a little but is commonly out there?
So, I can better understand what type of neighborhood yields what type of rent, would you mind telling me the neighborhood you are in?
Do organic fruits and vegetables hike up the price a lot? Any idea? In the US they were prevalent enough you could get them without paying a major premium if you shopped carefully. Not so in Thailand. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dragonlady
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:19 am Post subject: Re: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
|
|
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| ...Excluding the private health insurance I pay for, I spend about 10,000 pesos a month. I should add that my one-bedroom furnished apartment might be hard to find in my area for the rent I pay, $4000 a month... |
 If you don't mind us all asking, what do you spend 6,000 pesos a month on if it doesn't include rent and private health insurance??
DL |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:20 am Post subject: Re: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
|
|
| Dragonlady wrote: |
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| ...Excluding the private health insurance I pay for, I spend about 10,000 pesos a month. I should add that my one-bedroom furnished apartment might be hard to find in my area for the rent I pay, $4000 a month... |
If you don't mind us all asking, what do you spend 6,000 pesos a month on if it doesn't include rent and private health insurance??
DL |
The $10,000 a month includes my rent. Sorry if that wasn�t clear, DL. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:28 am Post subject: Re: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
|
|
| boomerexpat wrote: |
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Excluding the private health insurance I pay for, I spend about 10,000 pesos a month. I should add that my one-bedroom furnished apartment might be hard to find in my area for the rent I pay, $4000 a month. Furnished apartments at any price can be hard, but not impossible, to find in most parts of Mexico City. |
Isla, thanks for the feedback. Cheaper than I anticipated. What would you say is the average price for a decent (can be old but doesn't look run down and the building is maintained) furnished one bedroom? One where you might have to look a little but is commonly out there?
So, I can better understand what type of neighborhood yields what type of rent, would you mind telling me the neighborhood you are in?
Do organic fruits and vegetables hike up the price a lot? Any idea? In the US they were prevalent enough you could get them without paying a major premium if you shopped carefully. Not so in Thailand. |
As I've mentioned, furnished apartments are hide to find. The one I rent belongs to a friend who used to use it as a place for visiting friends to stay, and so he furnished it. When I moved in more or less permanently, he just left it the way it was, which was very convenient for me!
I live in colonia Cuauht�moc, a few blocks in back of the US Embassy.
I never looked for organic produce when I lived in the US and have never looked for it here, so I can't help you with that part of your questions. I will say that even in supermarkets, where I usually do my food shopping, fruits and vegetables are fresher (and cheaper) here and have more flavor than what I used to buy in supermarkets in the States. No need to fear the invasion of plastic tomatoes from California in the winter! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
boomerexpat
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
Posts: 135
Location: Mexico
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:23 am Post subject: Re: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
|
|
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
As I've mentioned, furnished apartments are hide to find. ! |
thought you meant aparts at your price point. what do unfurnished tend to go for? Is furnishing one expensive? in the US it would come to thousands easily. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
boomerexpat
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
Posts: 135
Location: Mexico
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
Since most don't seem comfortable giving out numbers - which do you think is correct?
So far 10K is the number put out there.
On the other hand, in Bangkok if you want to live the lifestyle I outlined you are looking at around - give or take depending on your deal - 1500 USD.
That is not lavish by any means and yes some get by on way lower but if you want to live a humble middle-class lifestyle, centrally located, within 20 minutes walk of mass transit (too much is the hottest months) you are looking at that much or more.
According to numbeo that translates into 1,379.01 USD in Mexico City or 18000 pesos.
So, which number would you see as the one to expect - 10K or 18K.
Big difference especially as low as teaching gigs seem to pay in Mexico City.
Thanks! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| boomerexpat wrote: |
| Big difference especially as low as teaching gigs seem to pay in Mexico City. |
Right!
Contrary to what many "say"...TEFLing in Mexico City pays VERY LITTLE. Which brings me to an important point...have some saved so that you will be able to get back home. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dragonlady
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
|
|
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Dragonlady wrote: |
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| ...Excluding the private health insurance I pay for, I spend about 10,000 pesos a month. I should add that my one-bedroom furnished apartment might be hard to find in my area for the rent I pay, $4000 a month... |
If you don't mind us all asking, what do you spend 6,000 pesos a month on if it doesn't include rent and private health insurance??DL |
The $10,000 a month includes my rent. Sorry if that wasn�t clear, DL. |
I'm reading: 10,000 (net after taxes?) minus 4,000 rent leaves 6,000 left. You've said your private health care premium is over and above the 10,000.
Sorry, Isla I'm not asking for details. Solely for the purpose of comparing earnings vs monthly expenses here in Veracruz, my inquiry was how the remaining 6,000 is spent on living in DF, and my surprise was one of 'how do you do it' not a criticism. 
I know the OP's question was w/r/t DF, and I apologize for responding as I don't live there. I believe I live very well here, but maybe I should consider moving  . Is the cost of living really that much less in DF?
Using only Mexico teaching earnings:
My rent 4000
I easily and comfortably (for the nay-sayer) spend another 9000 on
food (normally cooking at home),
utilities (gas, water, electricity, telephone, internet),
local transportation (no car - mostly by bus rather than cab),
clothing,
pet care,
gifts,
house and garden repair/maintenance (most but not all reimbursed by landlord),
entertainment (homebody, but at least 1 excursion out of the city),
vices,
business expenses such as work permit, further education (annual averaged over 12 months),
teaching material/resources/printing
... what have I missed?
Savings for vacation (int'l travel) comes from other resources.
No private health care (by choice).
Private gyms are expensive here, but the beach is out your front door and the surrounding area is known for extreme sports. Lagoon and river kayaking, bicycling are just 2 inexpensive pastimes.
DL
Last edited by Dragonlady on Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:26 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
|
|
| boomerexpat wrote: |
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
As I've mentioned, furnished apartments are hide to find. ! |
thought you meant aparts at your price point. what do unfurnished tend to go for? Is furnishing one expensive? in the US it would come to thousands easily. |
Prices vary widely around the city. Some colonias are quite pricey, catering to the upper crust, such as anything that starts with Lomas (Lomas de Chapultepec for example), Polanco, and others.
Nice central locations are colonias Cuauhtemoc, Condesa, Roma, Roma Norte, Juarez, Del Valle, and Napoles. You really have to hunt around though to find a good price for a furnished one.
Unfurnished apartments are going to be cheaper, but unfurnished here means no fridge or stove. Landlords for unfurnished apartments are also going to ask for a guarantor. If you don't know someone who can co-sign your lease, there are companies that will do it, but that adds to the cost of rental. It's probably not worth getting an unfurnished place unless you plan to be here 2 years or more.
Check out segundamano.com.mx for listings. Key words to plug into the search are amueblado and departamento. There are many many listings there but you can start with the colonias I listed above.
I would say that for a furnished one bedroom, you should be paying 4000-6000 pesos. I've always found it harder to find a furnished one bedroom than a furnished two bedroom though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
boomerexpat
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
Posts: 135
Location: Mexico
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:33 pm Post subject: DL Veracruz budget |
|
|
DL,
Thanks for the details. Seems like numbeo is right on the rent for Veracruz then. For 4K what type of place (e.g., bedrooms, furnished/unfurnished) and location (central or outskirts) do you get?
Is it very hard to raise the 13K via teaching there? I've heard most of the jobs seem to be 6 to 10K.
Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: Cost of living Mexico City 2012 |
|
|
| boomerexpat wrote: |
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
As I've mentioned, furnished apartments are hide to find. ! |
thought you meant aparts at your price point. what do unfurnished tend to go for? Is furnishing one expensive? in the US it would come to thousands easily. |
I think she meant apartments at her price point in her area. But I know someone who lived in the same general area, further east on Reforma, and paid the same for an unfurnished apartment. In my area (near the airport) you can find something very, very nice in the $4000 range, and a house for $5000, and something reasonable for
$3500. You might want to consider just renting and unfurnished place and getting basic furniture. You'll probably recoup what you spent in a couple of months anyway. If you do rent a furnished place it is likely to be from someone who caters to foreigners and that will automatically cost you more. Ditto for finding apartments on Craig's List or other English language media. Also, there are areas that are not centrally located, but have access to good transportation might be less expensive, and have fewer (if any) foreigners. This can be an advantage if you are planning on learning Spanish, as you will pretty much have to use it to survive. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have NEVER earning less than 10,000 as a teacher - not even 20 years ago when I first started teacher. I find that most people who complain about low salaries have few qualifications, so end up taking bottom feeder jobs. In my current job I earn $25,000 a month, working 30 hours a week. If you have a degree and teaching experience you should have no problems finding a job in the $18,000 range, at the very least. Here is a breakdown of my monthly expenses to give you an idea of what you might spend. I don't pay rent, since I own my apartment (also bought on teacher's wages alone). But if I did pay rent, it would likely be around $3000 for the size apartment in this area, so I will put it at that figure.
Rent - $3000
Electricity - $200
Water - $100 (running)
Water - $150 (drinking)
Food - $2000 (two people)
Cell phones - (total of 4) - $400
Phone/Internet - $400
Dog food - $400
Maid - $2000
Eating out - $1000
Transportation - $200 (high end, includes a couple of taxi rides)
Spending money - $1500
As you can see, this is just a little over $10,000 pesos, and these are the expenses for 2 people, not one. I save at least half of my salary each month as well, as I like to travel, and take several trips per year. Of course, this does not happen overnight, just like anywhere you have to make contacts, and work your way up. As for what people "say", I know quite a few of these people personally, and I know they are not inflating their earnings. As much as some people would have you believe that there are only low paying jobs available, that pretty much applies to people with few qualifications, not the rest of us. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
