Job Discussion Forums

[Gosta]

hi guys,

i'm currently considering applying for 2 posts in mexico, one in monterrey and one in mexico city. could anyone make any recommendations as to which would be a better place to live? i enjoy living in big cities, preferably with mountains, a waterfront and good weather!

many thanks,

gosta

[notamiss]

Mexico City has more mountains and better weather (and beaches in the summer. )

[corporatehuman]

Mexico City has good public transport, great weather (although earthquakes), and is a fairly walkable city. Not 'pedestrian-friendly' exactly but the center is compact which I like a lot.

[Milenka]

Add to the previous comments the fact that Monterrey is perhaps the most conservative, yuppie-like and pretentious society in the country... unless that is your cup of tea, of course.

[Phil_K]

[Gosta]

hey guys,

thanks for your help. i was veering towards monterrey, basically because i find mexico city's reputation a little scary, but i'm rethinking my decision now. is it not as dangerous as they say?

[notamiss]

As for public transport, I can't speak for Monterrey, but my vote for Mexico City is "good". Compared to my former home of Ottawa, it's a public transport paradise!

Compare:
Ottawa: Hike many blocks to nearest bus route. Wait 45 minutes at -40�C windchill or +40�C humidex for bus to arrive. Pay $3 CDN (31 pesos at the time of writing). No food. No pets. No music. Board and descend only at official stops.

Mexico City: Nearest bus route is half a block away or less. Weather never too cold or too hot. Next bus invariably within sight. Pay 1/6 of Canadian fare or less. Eat anything you want. Buy snacks and newspapers from ambulantes who board the bus for your convenience. Bring any animal you want*. Listen to anything you want (well, okay I grant you may have to listen to the driver's choice of music, unless a live musician boards, then the driver will turn down the volume of his radio). Board and descend anywhere you want; middle of the block, middle of the street, no need for bus to come to a complete stop.

What's not to love?

------*
(1) What's the most exotic bus animal you've seen?
My answer: Hawk.

(2) How many times have you brought a pet onto the bus?
My answer: Twice. Puppydogs both times.

[Guy Courchesne]

[Guy Courchesne]

[corporatehuman]

Hey I felt and thought the same thing about Mexico City...about all the danger and stuff. It's natural. But if you live in the center you'd be surprised at how safe it is. In fact I feel a lot safer here than in Philadelphia...of course you have to be careful but really it isn't bad.

[thelmadatter]

I think both cities have their pros and cons. I live in DF now and I like it a lot ... a lot like the NY metro area (just fewer languages to hear on the street )

Cant speak for Monterrey culturally, but its weather is much like Tucson's. Hot but dry dry dry in summer and warm/cold in winter. The dryness makes the heat more bearable (just have to learn to drink LOTS of water) Lived in southern Arizona and learned to like the weather there. Its closeness to the US border has its pros and cons too.

[guatetaliana]

A year in Monterrey and I'll say this:
*Public transportation = HORRIBLE! I don't know much about DF's system but a simple glance at the metro system maps of the two cities will tell you alot. In Monterrey, the main form of transport is the bus or taxi, and traffic on the roads is a MESS. If you're forced to rely on buses, you're looking at long travel times in often hot and uncomfortable buses. My husband and I are fortunate to have a vehicle, and yet every day the traffic commute times grow worse.
* Climate = NOT FUN. I grew up in Chicago, so I suppose my heat tolerance is low, but wow. 40 degree temps reign supreme through a large portion of the year.
* Culture = Intolerable. I know enough Mexicans (my husband included) to say that this is not how everyone acts in the entire republic, and the values here are not traditional Mexican values. Lots of rudeness, and no concern for fellow human beings. The guys are obsessed with money, cars, and possessions in general. The girls/women are too busy trying to imitate a shallow and singular ideal of beauty and most wear the same hairstyle and clothes. I'm from the US, and I've never seen anything like it! In general, attitudes are conservative, narrow-minded, and amazingly ignorant in comparison to the level of education.
* Work (i.e. earning big money) is the key value here. You would think that's a good thing, but it really means that leisure activities suffer.
* Entertainment options get old and boring after awhile. It's too much of the same thing.

Positives:
* Good steak
* Cheap beer
* Mountains are beautiful
* Work is quite plentiful, but I don't think that's unique to Monterrey

If Mexico remains in our future long-term, we definitely will be relocating, possibly to DF. We're only here because my husband's family has recently re-established itself here after 15 years in other parts of the republic and the US, but none is happy and within a year, we'll all be out of here.

Sorry to any regios for the negative review, but this city has not been kind to us.

[Gosta]

wow, well that's certainly given me a lot to think about thanks for all your information.

i have another question. how much would i need to earn to live comfortably in mexico city, or other parts of mexico? they're offering between 9000MXV - 10000MXV for mexico city

thanks again

[Milenka]

[Gosta]

well in my last job i earned enough to pay rent, bills, eat, buy clothes when necessary, go out a couple of times a week, and have a weekend away once a month. that's my idea of comfortable.

would this salary be enough to facilitate that kind of lifestyle?