Job Discussion Forums

carolynne · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 80 Location: Spain

Costa Rica or Mexico?

Has anyone done both and got some advice for me? I am a relatively new teacher with only 6 months experience. However I am CELTA/BA etc qualified. I am British-South African (can sneakily switch accents) - will this be problematic??
How quickly will I be able to find work in CR or Mexico? Need spanish? Will I be able to live off the salary I earn in the respective countries? Can I pick up privates if I'm starving, etc...

Many thanks, Carol
PS hello Guy

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

Hi Caroylnne,

You'd probably make more money in Mexico, and enjoy better food here, but Costa Rica has some spectacular vistas, and is so small it looks like you could walk to either ocean.

Don't worry about accent/nationality.

It's easier to locate employment in Mexico, simply for the size difference beween the two countries. you do not need Spanish to teach in most cases, but it can be helpful. And you can live off, but not make a fantastic fortune, in both countries.

doreenp · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 147

I love Costa Rica. It does have beautiful vistas and you may not be able to walk across the country but a short bus ride, in good weather, will get you to either coast in easy time. (4 hours from SJ to Limon and 2 hours from SJ to Jaco)

The food in Mexico may include some extra seasonings and spices but you have to be so careful in the handling and consuming of it. The food in CR may be bland and Gallo Pinto is definitely a favourite here but I cook my own food and have everything you can imagine available for this.
I don�t have to disinfect the fruits and veggies and i eat them right from the street vendors.

I also drink the water from the taps !!!! Very Happy

In the beach and outer areas I do buy bottled water but in San Jose and the suburbs, the tap water is no problem. Sometimes it does have a slight taste of chlorine but i fill my water bottles at night and put them in the fridge and by next day they�re fine.

As for cost of living, I don�t know what it is in Mexico compared to salaries. I can only pass on a few tid bits from CR.

1 mil colones = about 2.00 u.s.

I make 4 mil colones per hour and work 32 hours a week

I pay 75,000 colones per month for room and 3 meals a day with laundry done and cleaning, once a week. (150.00 u.s.)

I know some people that pay about 100,000 colones per month to rent and apt. furnished, and then have food and bills on top of this. (200.00 + u.s.)

I find the food cheap, except for fast food which i never buy anyway.
for example at the grocery store a head of lettuce is .25 cents, a whole chicken 3.00, lg tub of yogurt 1.50 and of course the beer of CR, Imperial, is about 60 cents a can. Corona is 1.00

of course fruits and veggies from the market or street vendors are much cheaper and it depends too on where you live too.

Bus fare to Limon or the Caribbean coast is about 5.00 and to Jaco is about 3.00. Taxi�s used to be cheap but with the cost of gas , like anywhere, their fares are going up, but they�re still a good deal. Buses to get around SJ and areas are anywhere from 25 cents to 60. cents

I know that the universities are always looking for qualified native speakers and as I�ve said in other posts, you have to be here to get the jobs. It may seem scary to some but it�s not that hard, really!

I would be interested in knowing how the costs compare to Mexico,,,,,Guy??

cheers and good luck to all
cee

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

I started a cost-of-iving thread in the General Lat Am forum, so we could all compare.

Here's a recent one for Mexico http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=29202

And one older for Latin America. http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=19474

Pease update that last one...nice to have a running tally.

kruegs4 · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 29 Location: Heredia, Costa Rica

I have lived in CR for two months now and it has been very easy to find work. I have actually had more work than I wanted. I am currently working as a kindergarden teacher at a private bilingual k-12 and a private language school in Heredia. I can walk everywhere I just got a new apartment which I will move into on Wednesday, I make quite a bit of money for Costa Rican standards. Life is pretty easy down here. It is difficult to have contact with locals, or this is what I have found. I am not an incredibly outgoing person and I came down here with my girlfriend so that doesnt help. If you want steady set hours I would recommend applying to a k-12 where you can work from say 7am to 12pm. Life is good and I would say relatively easy. Good luck, if you have any questions. Personal message me.

tesolitis · Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 37 Location: canada

what is a k-12 ? can u hlp, pls

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

Kindergarten to Grade 12. Pretty standard US class of teacher certification.

carolynne · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 80 Location: Spain

Just one or two more questions: what are the best dates to get work in CR? I'll be arriving in Latin America early next year...

Bus fare to Limon or the Caribbean coast is about 5.00 and to Jaco is about 3.00. ----- Where is this from? SJ? And I'm presuming that's US$?

It sounds amazing, Cee, have you lived in Mexico as well?

That's all for now, thanks everyone

doreenp · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 147

Yes those bus rides originate in San Jose or SJ and are in u.s. funds.

All schools are closed from mid December to mid January. I start back Jan. 15th ,this is ��summer holidays�� .... As far as language schools, i�m not sure of the dates but you�d have to check with individual businesses. The universities that i�ve worked at have run on an 8 week bimester system. Meaning the next bimester would begin some time around mid March.

I�ve never worked in Mexico but have traveled a fair bit. Love the country and the people. Right now CR is working for me...who knows where i�ll end up in the future?
cheers
d