Uncategorized – Teacher Sara Tyler

Mexico: How Far Does $523 USD in Rent Go?

Mexico is a big country, so trying to figure out where to live is not easy. There is literally something for everyone. It often comes down to budget and what is your must have amenity (for me – it´s the beach!). To search there are a number of Spanish language websites which advertise rentals. They are generally cheaper than English language websites like Craigslist, but not as cheap as walking around by foot. However, since I can´t visit every city that I am interested in, I need to use the online tools that I have to help me narrow it down.

For the purpose of this experiment, I choose a 10,000 Mexican peso price point ($523 USD according to today´s exchange rate) for rentals near a beach to see what exactly I could get.

#1 – A 3-bedroom house for rent in Cancun, Quintana Roo. See the original Spanish language listing on Segundamano. It has modern amenities, includes a swimming pool and gym, as well as 24-hour security.

My heart sunk when I saw the location and how far is was to anything Carribean.

The neighborhood is located on the very outskirts of the city, 14 kilometers from the nearest public beach by car. Since I don´t have a car, I tried to click on public transportation but it´s not available.

#2 – A 3-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom house for rent in Puerta Vallerta, Jalisco. See the original Spanish language listing on Segundamano. It is completely furnished with AC in the bedrooms and has no neighbors (very important when holidays come around if you like to sleep, because Mexico is LOUD!).

The listing says the rental is 1 block from Walmart , the movie theater and a major bank which sounds convenient.

I´d have to research futher into why it rerouted me to Playa El Salado and not to one that was closer, but either way, it is 1/2 the distance to the beach as the first option.

#3 – A older, 3-bedroom, 3 bathroom condo for rent in Progreso, Yucatan. See the original Spanish language listing on Segundamano. It comes furnished as well, including a jacuzzi, and there is a view of the ocean from the house, so I know it is close.

The listing doesn´t have an exact location, since Progreso is a small town, so I wasn´t able to find out exactly where is it beyond this point.

Overall, am I going to choose any of these places? Absolutely not. I would never rent a place sight unseen. But I do have a better idea of what prices are like in certain areas than when I started.

Based on what I found out from this search, I would cross Cancun off my list and research more about PV and Progreso before deciding. Joining a few local expat groups I would ask about schools, the job market and safety as my top priorities.

Spoiler alert: I already lived in Cancun and Progreso so I know what is wrong with them for my lifestyle. (In case you are curious: Cancun is overpriced and filled with foreigners, it´s hot and crowded and you never actually get near the beaches when you live there. Progreso is 45 minutes into Merida for anything and everything by car, no schools which means no earning potential for me and nowhere to put my daughter while I do the earning.)

I didn´t include Oaxacan beaches or Southern Quinatana Roo because being so far from an international airport is a major inconvenience for me. As for the Gulf Coast, well, I already live here so I am biased.

Which option would you choose? Share in the comments below.

Cooling Down in Orizaba

We finally got to visit Orizaba, one of Veracruz´ ¨pueblos magicos¨ (magical towns) and it did not disappoint. We live in the hot and humid Port of Veracruz, so it was a nice escape to an interior town with much cooler weather. The temperature ranged from 60 degrees overnight to high 70s during the day.

Getting there

I arrived on ADO bus line from Veracruz city. The ride was about 2 hours and 30 minutes with a stop in Cordoba (a neighboring city to Orizaba). I bought the tickets in advance so they cost 219 pesos round trip instead of the normal price of 412 pesos.

43206407_10214496682184057_3159655346285314048_n — As you step out of the bus terminal, you can already see the beautiful architecture of Orizaba.

Accommodations

Upon arrival, I found a couple of hotel options but ultimately went with Hotel Posada del Viajero because of the location. It was 350 pesos for 2 adults in a room with a double bed. (just make sure to have cash, they did not have a POS system). The hotel was located in front of the market and on a pedestrian street downtown filled with shops. It was within walking distance to the bus terminal and all of the attractions.

43030786_10214491062523569_8423074249261973504_n — Basic double bed hotel room, with TV and hot water. No AC (but it isn´t needed).

Another budget option was Hotel Plaza Palacio, located near the Palacio del Hierro (Iron Palace) but it was already booked for the night.

Attractions

I went with my neighbor and 2-year-old daughter. We didn´t get to see everything that we wanted to – so I am sure we will be back, but we were able to visit/see:

Teleferico – The cable cars that bring you up the mountain to a park which has amazing views of the city, a small museum, chapel and many places to take pictures. It cost 30 pesos because we went on a weekday, and each ticket included admission to 2 local museums as well. The weekend price is 50 pesos and children under 3 are free.

43201663_10214491252328314_3805875769159188480_n — All around the city, you can scan codes on your smartphone to hear tours or history in English and Spanish.

Alameda Park – We saw this park on our way down on the cable cars and had to visit. It was filled with playground equipment for kids, statues from famous children´s songs, food vendors and paid activities for children like trampolines, bouncy houses and electric cars. Along the park, the street was lined with restaurants.

43042927_10214491384731624_2098670236579397632_n — We saw this park on our way down on the cable cars. It caught our attention.

Dinosaur Park – This is the only time we had to take a taxi while we were there. It was 25 pesos from downtown to this park. The entrance was free. The dinosaur park is based off of the Juarassic Park movies and below is a picnic area with food vendors.

43195842_10214492809087232_6814379473857675264_n — The dinosaur park is filled with huge statues of the creatures from the Jurassic Park movies.

Ciudad de las Sonrisas (City of Smiles) – Further below the dinosaur park is a huge children´s park made from recycled materials. It includes a castle, school bus, helicopter, police and fire station, etc. all made from recycled wood and turned into playground equipment. It is another free attraction.

43120211_10214492835647896_1192080009934667776_n — The coolest park I have ever seen, made mostly from recycled materials.

Local Market – In front of the hotel was the municipal market which sells everything from food, fruits and vegetables, clothes to trinkets and souvenirs. I ate breakfast on the day I left. A large quesadilla and a bottle of coke cost just 30 pesos. For lunch, there are plenty of comida corrida options (typical food in which you receive a soup, an entree and drink for one price) starting at 40 pesos. I noticed that most of the market was not open until 10 AM. At 9 AM, only food stands were open.

Overall

I was very pleased with our visit to Orizaba. There is a lot of cultural activities that we didn´t get to see. For example, there is a Riverwalk with art and animals and many museums, as well as theatrical productions. The prices were so low there that I ended up shopping more than I usually do – buying 20 peso t-shirts for my daughter and bathing suit sets on sale for 60 pesos. There were many American clothing stores in the downtown area and also several large bookstores with decent prices.

Unfortunately, it was cloudy while we were there so we did not get any pictures of the Pico de Orizaba.

The only thing I didn´t like about the city were the amount of beggars on the street at night and in the bus station, soliciting for money, more so than in other cities that I have visited. And the reason we did not get to do the river walk was that is was not stroller friendly with many steps, and the animals along it were very spread out.

Teach Online without a Degree

A lot of people are able to obtain residency in Mexico, or other foreign countries, using online income. Working remotely also pays much better than local wages. I was asked for the third time this week how to get into online teaching without a degree, so I decided to compile some information into a blog post.

To begin, Mexico has great internet. In most areas, 20 MB download speeds are standard. Unless you live somewhere very rural, you will likely have 2 – 3 internet companies to choose from, averaging $25 USD per month for the service.

Below is a list of a few online companies that do not require a degree. Many will provide training and lesson plans as well. They won´t pay as much as companies that demand a 4-year degree, but you will still make more than you would locally.

Tutoring (Korea) $10 – $13 USD per hour (referral link)
Cambly (worldwide) $10.20 USD per hour (referral link)
Qkids (China) $14 – 22 USD per hour
HelloKid (China) $15 USD per hour
Hujiang (China) $12 – $16 USD per hour *requires a TEFL/TESOL certificate
Magic Ears (China) $18 USD plus bonus per hour *requires teaching experience and a TEFL/TESOL certificate

If you are interested in any of these companies, I recommend joining Hired Online ESL Teachers with Job Reviews. There are a number of recruiters and hired teachers in the group who will walk you through the interview process and answer any questions you may have.

Another excellent resource is the full list of all online companies at Good Air Language. The list is massive and companies are only separated by region, not by qualifications. It is being updated constantly as new companies emerge.

*Qualifications and pay are self-reported by hired teachers at each company. They are subject to change at any time.

Do you work for another company that doesn´t require a degree? If so, comment below.

How to Find Cheap Rentals in Mexico (or anywhere abroad!)

Forget real estate agents! I have lived in 8 cities in the past 8 years and I have never used a realtor. I have rented places from $80 USD a month, a room in Mexico City, to $425, a 4 bedroom, furnished house in Progreso, Yucatan. Instead of overpaying by going through a realtor, use these tips to get the best rental price for your budget.

Do the work yourself. Realtors that speak English often specialize in high-end rentals. The more they can rent a place for, the more money they make. Also, steer clear of any rentals listed in USD. You can end up paying more as the exchange rate changes.
Hit the ground walking. When you get to your desired city or neighborhood, take the time to walk around. Write down numbers when you see a for rent sign. You will be dealing directly with the owner in most cases and will receive a better deal.
Speak the language, or find someone who does. If you aren’t fluent in the local language, ask a friend or hire someone to make the phone calls for you. It is not uncommon for foreigners to receive a higher rental price when the owner hears your accent. If you don’t have anyone to call for you, try downloading Whatsapp. It is an application frequently used in Mexico and abroad. Use Google translate to send a message to the owner (just make sure not to keep your profile picture blank) directly.
Negotiate. A nice American couple who I met in Progreso lent me their very comprehensive research into rentals in the area. In most cases, they were able to negotiate better rental prices, sometimes up to 50% by offering to rent for 6 months to a year. Your best chances to negotiate will be during the low season or in a city with few expats.
Check all of your options. If you are new to a city or unsure of making a long commitment, consider staying in an Airbnb or a posada (a hotel that rents rooms by the month). Many Airbnbs give weekly and monthly discounts so you can take as long as you need to make a decision – and won´t end up pressured into an overpriced contract. I have stayed in Airbnbs for less than $300 USD a month with all expenses paid.
Furnished or Unfurnished? If you are planning to spend less than a year in a given area, it will probably be worth it to spend more for a furnished rental. Apartments and homes in Mexico do not come with appliances like in the United States. You will be expected to buy a refrigerator and stove, in addition to other furniture. But if you plan to be in one location for a year or more, it is usually better to rent unfurnished and buy what you need secondhand. There are a number of Facebook sales groups in any given city and homemade, local furniture is available for low prices in Mexico.

Do you have any more tips on how to find cheap rentals for expats? If so, leave a comment below.