Cost of Living
The basic cost of living in Mexico is lower than that of
the US, Canada and Europe, particularly for items such as fruits, vegetables,
meat, poultry, fish, baked goods, and other miscellaneous grocery items. Local
and national pubic transportation is generally lower in cost than the US or
Canada and continental Europe, and much lower than in the UK. Competition has
been introduced in the domestic airline market and low-cost airlines are beginning
to make a significant difference to domestic air-travel fares in Mexico. However,
some other items, like utilities, computers and cars are frequently more expensive
then in the neighboring USA. Mexico
City prices or Mexico
Experience Price Index provide an estimated idea of costs for basic items.
Rents in México City can be higher than in equivalent-sized US cities depending
on the quality and location of the accommodation. Mexico has a centralized economy,
which means that the country's economic activity revolves around México City
and makes the capital a relatively expensive place to live compared with most
of Mexico. On the other hand, wages and salaries in México City are higher than
those in more remote areas. on average, a 2-3 bedroom unfurnished apartment
or house located in a good area should cost around 14000 to 22000 pesos per
month (plus utility bills and maintenance). Solutionsabroad
gives an excellent break-down of prices for renters.
To get the area you want for a price you can live with a simple formula may
be employed. Divide your monthly income (after tax) income by three. Not much
more then a third of your income should go to rent to insure that you can pay
for the cost of living. If this figure doesn't net you the desired lifestyle
you still have options. Make more money, consider a different neighborhood,
or consider a different living arrangement by taking a roommate.
There are many different types of housing available and many different ways
to search and rent one. Here are a few different options:
BROKER: If you are arranging a rental from out-of-town or have more
money then time, using a real estate broker can be a pain-free way of getting
the job done. A broker is responsible for finding apartments that fit your criteria
and making appointments to fit your schedule. This convenience has a price,
usually one can expect to pay about a half month's rent as a fee, but this varies
and it is recommended to shop around before selecting a broker. Be sure to go
to several estate agents in the area, as they may all list the same property
- possibly at different rates. Estate agents will know the area and be able
to point you away from areas you wouldn't want to live in and especially useful
if your Spanish language skills are limited or you want a professionally managed
service. If you are visiting Mexico, an ideal way to find a good Estate Agent
locally is by word of mouth: ask at your hotel, in local restaurants or, if
you've hired a lawyer, ask him or her if he has a list of agents he/she has
worked with in the recent past and knows to be of good caliber. If you are employed
with a company, they may have a broker they work with and you may be able to
use them by contacting your human resources department. Friends in the area
are also an excellent resource. Some of the bigger agencies are:
- Century 21 Kasa Monterrey 387BIS 5264-5499
- Century 21 Lomax Monte Everest No. 635 5520-5282
- Century 21 Alameda Av. Juárez 38 5510-2982
- HIR Insurgents Sur 92 5525-3286
- ReMax Plus Tennyson 97 5281-3881
For a complete guide on agents and how to work with the system, go to Property
Agents.
ON-LINE LISTING: There are a variety of on-line forums and community
listings in which people will list their places or larger companies offer their
apartments. There is also the option to sublet on several sites. Some examples
are :
INTERNET CAFE BILLBOARDS: Many people frequent internet cafes and there
are often signs announcing properties and rooms for rent locally.
WORD OF MOUTH: Mexican people tend to be friendly and helpful and net-working
is very common. By asking around, you can probably find someone or somewhere
who can refer you to a person with a place for rent. You may also see signs
on some buildings or houses that read "Se Renta" (for rent) - with a phone number.
This may be the agent if the sign is very posh or labeled with a logo, or most
probably the landlord if it's handwritten.
Flatsharing
Flatsharing is an excellent way to cut costs and retain the qualities you require
in a housing situation. Remembering to have clear boundaries and an understanding
of what each roommate requires helps avoid awkward situations. To protect yourself
against potential economic problems, try to arrange it so that your roommates
co-sign the lease. This makes all the roommates responsible for whatever happens
to the property. If the worst was to happen, such as your roommate losing their
job and not being able to pay rent, they will be held jointly responsible for
rent- not just you.
FLATSHARING : A NEW WAY OF LIFE
Instead of living in a pokey attic room with huge rent, why not try
shared accommodation? Frequently associated with students, sharing is
spreading nowadays towards older established workers and covers people
from 18 to 49 years old. Without falling into a community style of life
such as in the 70's, you can choose to share an accommodation in Mexico City for a
bigger space, less expense.
Flatsharing is a way to meet more and more followers who choose to
break a lonely life, save money or just find an affordable acommodation
in a difficult market. This way of life has numerous advantages in term
of money, practicality or social life. EASYEXPAT
in partnership with EASYROOMMATE
number one for flatsharing, offers this service to its users to present
all the chances to find the ideal flatmate or to join an existing household.
If you've got a room to rent in Mexico City, you can put a free ad for house/flatsharing.
If you look for a room or a flatshare in Mexico, it's free to search into
the database with thousands of offers.
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Here are some other websites to find a roommate:
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