Job Discussion Forums

[jfurgers]

Does anyone here living and teaching ESL in DF own a car? Is it financially possible on an ESL salary? Can you get credit in DF?

Thanks, John

[ls650]

[MELEE]

I second LS
first I don't think I'd like to live in DF. I do like visiting though, but I'd never attempt to visit with a car. The metro is great!

[Samantha]

I have to agree with that advice too. I would never remember which days of the week I was permitted to drive, if you can call working your way through that traffic nightmare, driving.

[thelmadatter]

Ditto

[ls650]

I work in a small town with a low amount of traffic. My school is about a 40 minute walk outside of the town center. Out of 18 foreign teachers, six own used cars, three own small scooters, and the rest take the bus.

The local bus service is cheap (about 2 pesos) but I found it to be somewhat undependable; it seemed as though whenever I needed to get to the school in a hurry, the bus was late or early. I bought a small scooter in almost new condition for about 10 thousand pesos - about one month's salary.

The going price around here for a used car in decent condition is about 30,000 pesos, but in a larger city you could find a better price I'm sure.

[Guy Courchesne]

You would probbly need a bit of history with a bank to get credit for a car purchase, and the market has really opened up this last year...possible even for EFL teachers now! But, like above, you don't want a car in DF. Parking is a big expense and traffic is bad if you get into the same flow as everyone else. Metro, metrobus, taxis, peseros, walking, all are faster than a car.

Renting a car for trips out is not too bad...