Job Discussion Forums

[sarahc]

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone can give me an idea of the cost of living in Mexico, more specifically Monterrey.

What are the approximate costs for things like food (eating in and out), utilities, mobile phone, internet, leisure activities such as gym or classes (ideally Taekwondo if available in Monterrey), travel, public transport, nights out, and anything else which you may think useful.

I will be moving to Monterrey in August and all I know about the cost of living is that it is higher than most places in Mexico.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[Endie]

Hi Sarah,

I've been living in Monterrey for almost 7 months now and I have been enjoying the experience immensely. I think you will love the city if you're an urbanite. However, the heat is another thing entirely.

Compared with other cities, Monterrey can be relatively expensive... but that depends on what areas you are living in. Right now, I'm living in the "valle" or San Pedro which is the "richer" area. So you have multimillion dollar mansions in some colonias and just down the block you have shabby homes made out of those industrial concrete bricks. Right now I'm paying 5500 pesos per month and that is on the lower scale for this particular area.

If you don't mind me asking, where abouts will you be working? That way I can give you a better idea of pricing for apartments. Because they can range anywhere from 2500 pesos per month for a house in the northern part of the city to $2000 dollars (~20000 pesos) per month for a furnished condo in the valle here. hehe.

As for eating out. Posh restaurants in San Pedro or the fancier ones in the Barrio Antiguo can go from 170 - 250 pesos per meal or more. Carl's Jr. or your typical hamburger joints are around 50-70 pesos for a combo meal. The traditional places with tacos and flautas and such go around 45 - 50 pesos. So it varies quite a bit. I don't know how the groceries compare to other states and cities in mexico but it's relatively cheap when compared to US and Canadian prices. I spend around $100 per month on groceries. Depends how much you eat too, i guess.

Utilities. They are often included in the rent so try to get that if you can. But looking at my landlord's bill it ranged around 600 pesos per month (for my neighbour who keeps his air conditioner on all day) to about $240 per month for my apartment. In the summer the costs skyrocket because of airconditioning. Some people live without an air conditioner..... but i don't know how they do.

mobile phone. I bought a sony ericsson for about 1800 pesos and use the telcel amigo calling card. So i spend about 1500 or 2000 pesos per month on recharging the card. You can go on a plan and 2 year contract and it'll cost less initially but around 2500 per month lowest, i believe. There are other companies out there and it could be slightly lower.... but it's generally like that.

Gyms and classes. I haven't enrolled in any private clubs (i use the one at my work) but from a colleague I heard she got into a private all-women gym for about 200-300 pesos a month. I think it depends largely with area and quality.

Travel. A big iffy. Monterrey is definitely a car city. The buses here are pretty unreliable although if you choose that option it can be around 15 pesos per ride. The buses aren't completely unreliable and they are mostly air conditioned but they aren't very efficient like what we're used to in the US, Canada, or Europe. Taxis exist in large quantities and you're charged essentially for distance and they can do some damage to your wallet over time. The city is pretty vast and if you're traveling a few klicks or a fair distance it can run you around 30 - 60 pesos or more. Bring or buy a car if you can. There is a metro line and I haven't dared to go on it but it only serves a fraction of the city so it's pretty much useless for getting from one end of the city to the next.

Nights out. The nightlife here is exceptional. Most of the clubs and bars are sequestered in the Barrio Antiguo in the downtown. You have a variety of clubs from your "Antros" that play reggaeton, dance music, hip hop, top 40 crap, to others that have live music catering to the local Norte�a or Grupos, and to that of bars playing alternative rock. So there�s a fair variety. There are also more posh euro-style lounges for the more �fresa�crowd. Cover can be anywhere from 50 - 100 pesos or more depending on venue. Alcohol is relatively cheap.

Overall, it�s a great vibrant city but the costs can be insanely expensive or reasonably modest. A lot depends on how much you want to spend. Some parts of the city are dirt poor while other parts live in complete wealth and luxury.

I hope I�ve given you some idea of the costs involved and if you have further questions please feel free to contact me at: [email protected]

cheers,
Endie

[cwc]

[Endie]

Not entirely sure. I know how much i pay for with the cards (~2000 pesos per month) depending on use. For the monthly I know alot of them are much higher.

[samizinha]

$2000 pesos a month for a cell phone? Yikes! I don�t have a landline, only a cell phone, so I switched to a plan and pay about $250 a month, and I thought that was enough... but I get lots of minutes within that time, more than the amigo system.

[Endie]

Well, it�s an approximation. Some months I�ve gone with just spending 100 pesos while others I�ve drained a 200 peso card in 1 week. What now with a gabby girlfriend.

So I�ve just tried to get an average out. I wasn�t sure on the monthly charges but there you go. Thanks, Samizinha

By the way. Hello everybody. I�ve been checking this forum every now and then and I thought it was fine time for me to chime in.

Is anyone else in or around up here en el Norte?

[MELEE]

I use amigo cards and I spend 200 every two months!!!
Mabye our friend Endie added an extra 0 ? or he's a real phone-aholic!
But then I don't use my phone much, I recieve long distance calls from my husband in Morelia and my parents in the US, but I only make local calls, usually less than 2 minutes long.

[J Sevigny]

I lived in Monterrey for three years and I visit friends there quite frequently. I worked in Apodaca, San Pedro, Cumbres and downtown. It�s a wonderful city and you can really spend as much or as little as you want to live there.

Just a couple of corrections. I�ve never in my life spent 15 pesos on a bus ride in Monterrey. I think it�s about six pesos one way.

Also, the only buses that are air conditioned are those that run between San Pedro -- probably the richest neighborhood in Mexico -- and downtown. They are very, very reliable, at least as reliable as they are in Guadalajara, Mexico City or anywhere else overflowing with traffic. Regarding the metro, have no fear. It�s clean, safe, and usually almost empty.

I rented a room in Barrio Antiguo for 1,600 a month. It was a shared kitchen-bathroom deal and it was far from luxurious but it was cheap, safe and clean. Closer to the bus station you can also find good prices on apartments but you have to be careful in that area.

Eating out can be expensive if you have to go to Appleby�s or Sanborns. But you can also get 30 peso taco plates. Again, it all depends on what you�re looking for.

2,000 pesos a month for a cell phone is just out of control. You can buy a landline from Telmex for like 1,600 pesos and its yours forever.
Telmex prices are the same in Monterrey as they are in Oaxaca, Guadalajara and everywhere else in the Republic.

[sarahc]

Wow this information is really useful, thank you guys!!! Apart from the mobile phone costs everything sounds pretty reasonable..... I'm quite a heavy phone user so I will have to revert to text messaging all the time!?!?!?! From what you have all said I think Monterrey is a city which I will enjoy!

[Endie]

Ahhh!

I meant 200 pesos per month!

uuuuups! haha.

My apologies for that mishap. Didn't mean to give heart attacks to you all.

[cwc]

[Endie]

I tripled proofread mine, actually. I just missed it entirely. My apologies again.