Job Discussion Forums

Mideatoo · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:40 am Post subject: Salaries...

Average salary here in China is 8000RMB, approximately 986U$ or 800Euros. (Apartment included)

You can only survive in Spain with 800Euro, unless you live in a pueblo lost en la Mancha....

So how do you guys do it in Mexico?

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

To survive on wages in Mexico you should be of a thrifty nature. You can still get the main meal of the day for about $3.00 US and a beer for $1.00 if you know where to go off the beaten track.

Mideatoo · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:05 am Post subject:

Mexico, the capital then, but what are the salaries.
Do you know by any chance the requirements for teaching at a university?
Thank you!

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

What are your qualifications for teaching at a university?

Mideatoo · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:47 am Post subject:

Here I teach with a MA and a BA, as well as with the basic TEFL.
I am 43 years old.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Salaries: they vary greatly, depending on location and school. For an entry-level position at a language school, you might expect to make something like 5000 pesos per month. At a private school, maybe 7500, and at a university roughly 10,000. (These are very rough 'ballpark' figures, and can change a lot, obviously.)

Rental rate for a small apartment might be something like 25% of your pay. Add in utilities, entertainment, and occasional travel costs, and pretty soon you're spending the bulk of your pay. Don't be surprised if you don't save a lot of money in Mexico.

Qualifications for a uni: many require an MA, but some only require a BA and a TEFL certification of some kind. Experience is a big plus.

travelinhobo · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 35 Location: U.S.

800 minimum in Spain??? I lived in Zaragoza for over a year and made a third of that and was able to pay all my bills. Let's not dissuade those who don't want to live in cities other than Madrid. The truth is, if you don't live in the most expensive city of the country, you don't need as much to live on.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

You should be able to get meals for less than $3.00. I was buying two tortas for 3.5 pesos per in a small sit down restaurant in Merida. At the mercado, tortas at the sit down counter were 6 pesos and soda pop was 6 pesos.
If you buy your own food and prepare it, it is substantially less. You should be able to feed yourself on $5.00 US per diem. I did as a traveller and I am a hearty eater.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I was offered two part time jobs, one at a state career university, the other at a private language school in the Yucatan. I have a BA, MFA, no toefl certificate and about 7 years university teaching experience. I was offered 65 pesos per hour.
I did not take either job.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I agree. Even tortas--which this poster does not consider to be food--have not been available for 3.50 pesos for probably 10 years now.

Mideatoo · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:32 am Post subject:

Thank you all for your consideration!

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

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

My original post referred to the main meal of the day, where I was thinking something a little healthier than a torta. We can buy hot dogs too if we want to talk low priced eating. I was realistically suggesting that you can do okay in Mexico if you are thrifty. This is what I said about the meal

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I agree with you, Samantha. Tortas and other junk food are not meals. A decent meal out should include fresh fruit water, soup, pasta or rice or salad (or 2 of those), a main dish with side vegetables, hot handmade tortillas from a comal, flan or gelatina or rice pudding and coffee.

At most of the places that I have frequented--cocinas economicas anyway, that costs between 27 and 45 pesos.