Job Discussion Forums

patriciaon1 · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 8 Location: New Jersey, USA

Delacosta, I still don't have a job. A couple of schools have contacted me (TEC, La SAlle, Colegio Peterson), but nothing has been lined up yet. I'm just asking out of curiosity, I don't know how much I'll be making.[/quote]

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

Here are some figures, you can do the maths!

Street taco, $5, three to four tacos for your main meal.
Comida corrida, cheap but filling $16 (includes something non-alcoholic to drink)
Comida corrida, in Zona Rosa, $35 food no better than above but restaurant is cleaner.
Instant noodles, $4 from the supermarket, you need something to boil water.
Plugin water boiler, $15 from a street vendor
600ml bottle of soda $6
For home use buy Big Cola, 2.6 liters for $10 drink it warm or make friends with a neighbor who has a fridge.
Public toilets, use the ones at Sanborns (free, but you should leave a $2 tip for the guy who hands you the paper towels.)
Transport Metro ticket $2, bus $2.50-about $8 if you want to travel to the end of the line in EdoMex (you don't want to)
Entertainment. Free, get out, walk around, talk to people.
In case your friends kick you out, you could probably find a bed for about $1200 a month near the Centro Historico, Guerrero area.

Laundry, wash by hand, 1 kg bag of soap powder $14 depending on what brand, laundromat about $30 pesos for a couple of kilos of clothes washed and dried. If you're looking for work you'll need an iron, around $150 from a street vendor.

Newspaper to look for accomodation/jobs El Universal, sorry, can't remember how much that is.

Err, don't know what else you could possibly need, but feel free to ask.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

ClaudeRains · Joined: 30 Jun 2003 Posts: 54

Ben Round de Bloc

I've followed your posts with interest for some time. Your advice always seems solid. I travelled in the Chiapas, Yucatan, Quintana Roo area for several months about ten years ago. I always loved Merida. I could also get to like Chetumal, since it's a hop and a skip to Xcalak and the Chinchorro Bank. I've read your posts about teaching in Merida--but could you give me an estimate of the cost of living there? Or Chetumal? Is it similar to, say, Vera Cruz? I haven't been to Mexico since 1994, so any advice is appreciated.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Claude,

I sent you a PM regarding your post. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any more questions that I might be able answer.

Santiago · Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Posts: 4

Hello,
I wanted to share my experience. I am working for a language school in Mexico City full time and making 7,000 pesos a month. I am legal and have all my papers (which I had to pay for) and am renting an apartment. I had to pay 3,500 pesos just to buy a fiador to rent an apartment but my life is so much better. I have a two bedroom apartment that is completely furnished for 4,500 a month and share with a friend. So I pay roughly 2,500 pesos a month on rent and utilities and the rest on capoiera and percussion lessons and the rest on food, beer, entertainment, etc. It is a simple life but a good one. Anyone need advice on Mexico City? Feel free to email me. I have been here more than half a year now and it feels like home.
suerte,
james
[email protected]