Job Discussion Forums

nothing180 · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 55

Hey

I'm hoping to teach in Cuernavaca in September or January. I've never taught before, but I have lived in Mexico before. I'm wondering though, from all the veterens in the teaching industry in Mexico, if you could help me out. I want to know what is good enough to get paid? I'd especially like to hear from anyone that has worked in Cuernavaca, as I know that cost of living changes from state to state and town to town. I really have no idea what is good, and what can be lived off of and what cannot. I want to live comfortably. I would like my own place, or to stay with a Mexican family would be ok too. I would like to have enough for food, living expenses, and a little bit of travel on the weekends... like to acapulco or something like that.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Cuernavaca is not a cheap place to live. You will need around 9,000 pesos net to live the way you have indicated.

nothing180 · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 55

wow! that seems like a lot. From what I've been hearing on here it is not easy to find jobs that pay that well in Mexico... hmm... that sucks

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Cuernavaca has always had a very large gringo population. You will find that the cost of living is much less if you go to non-gringolandia spots.

nothing180 · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 55

Can you suggest any areas? I'm going to Mexico City in a few weeks and will be travelling to Cuernavaca to check it out, as well as Taxco. Any other areas that are fairly close to Mexico City I should look at while I'm there?

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Taxco is a town which survives from tourism. It is also expensive.

Towns such as Cuautla--close to where I live--in eastern Morelos-- are not infested with tourists (except Mexican tourists who come for the balnearios). There are several language schools, as well as "bilingual" private secondary schools that hire foreign teachers from time to time.

If you go north of Mexico City costs go down--places like Pachuca and Tlaxcala--but they are cold places.

nothing180 · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 55

Thanks for your input! I'll look into those towns. Smile

How long have you been teaching in Mexico for?

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

About 12 years.

nothing180 · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 55

wow! And you still love it? You must be makin some pretty good money now to stay there that long. I guess the more experience you have the more you get paid?

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I had a lot of experience before I came here.

If I had been interested in money, I would have stayed in Santa Fe, NM, billing 75 bucks an hour--well, now it would be more like 125, I guess.

nothing180 · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 55

Good point... so you're there because you love Mexico then... which is exactly why I'm leaving my job in Toronto in advertising to go down there and make less than half of what I make here hahaha... I just want to make sure I make enough to live and not have to worry about eating, know what I mean.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I guess I know what you mean.

Don't come here without a few thousands dollars--in case it doesn't work out for you.

nothing180 · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 55

I've already started saving for that hahaha... I've got it alllll planned out. Need to have some money back here in case I need to come home. Don't want to come home to nothing. Also, leaving some money in an account for emergency airplane ticket, cuz I know I won't make enough for that either. I'm hoping I love it so much that I just stay there forever!!!!

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Good luck!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City