Job Discussion Forums

[grace71]

Hi, everyone! I hope you're all well. I have a quick question. I was wondering if anyone would know how much one can save monthly on a 13,500 pesos a month salary in Queretaro city? Thanks much!!

[Samantha]

Grace, if this is a serious question, then it is hard to answer without knowing the following:

1. How rent will you pay?
2. Will you use electrical appliances and air conditioning?
3. How much will you eat and drink? Will you cook in or eat out?
4. How much will you travel around Mexico? Fly or bus?
5. Will you be paying a monthly medical insurance policy?
6. Will you walk to school or will you be driving, using taxi, or bus?
7. Will you need haircuts, manicures, pedicures?
8. Will you give to one of the many charities on a regular basis?
9. Newspapers, aquarium, zoo or movies?
10.Internet connection, or cyber cafe?
11.Drycleaning or laundry drop-off?
12.Exterminator from time to time?
13.Phone line ? calls home?
14.Taxes
15.Airline ticket home?
16.Cable for English TV?
17.Do you have outstanding debts?

I am sure I've missed something but this will give you an idea. Add these things up and you will have your answer. It really depends on your expenses.

[ls650]

That's a very good salary pretty much anywhere in Mexico, and I don't believe Queretaro is a particularly expensive city. You should be able to live in modest comfort and save a decent percentage of your salary. Like Samantha wrote, a lot depends on how much you spend for daily expenses. Are you going to want things that many teachers would consider luxuries: lots of entertainment, vehicle, satellite TV, etc?

[grace71]

The school will be paying for my airline ticket, medical insurance and I'll be sharing an apartment with a Mexican female roommate. The rent is about 2000 - 2500 pesos per month including utilities. I'm going to live a really frugal life. I want to save about 7500 - 8000 pesos a month which should be about $750 - 800 Canadian a month. My intention is to hopefully save about between $ 7000 - 8000 for the school year. Do you think this is feasible?

[Samantha]

If you can do it, wonderful! It is hard for most teachers to save in Mexico but you are making a larger salary than many, as ls650 pointed out. If your job pans out as you are expecting, and you have a contract then you should be fine to project some savings. Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

[ls650]

Is that salary gross or net? You should assume you're going to lose 10 to 15% right off the top for deductions, so your take home will be more like 12,000 pesos. Minus 2500 for rent and utilities, that will leave you with about 9500 pesos per month for food, clothing, transportation, travel, and miscellaneous other expenses. I think it will be difficult to keep your expenses under 2000 to reach your savings goal.

[grace71]

The salary is after taxes. The school will also provide teachers with grocery coupons of around 1300 pesos monthly.

[Samantha]

I'd get that in writing. Will you be signing a contract containing all that information? If this is the case, especially after reading this forum, you shouldn't be worried about it if this is the case for you.

[grace71]

Yes, of course I have everything in writing. I always protect myself, before signing any contract and accepting any teaching position.

[M@tt]

that's a good salary, good benefits, and QRO is a good city. if you have any interest in living in Mexico, there aren't many deals that are better than the one you describe. my humble opinion, of course.

[Polly0607]

I have to play devil�s advocate a bit here. I have never heard salaries being stated in Mexico in terms of net. I work for the Tec de Monterrey and we get �vales de despensa�or grocery coupons like you will. If your offer is coming from the Tec in Queretero, I can tell you what your deductions will be.

Also, for the first six months, you won�t be charged income tax, but after that you will. They may be referring to that when they are saying 13,000 net.