Working and the cost of living in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya; an insider’s view.

By Sara Moen

In the 6 plus years we have owned and operated Playa Maya News one of the most common e-mails we receive is; “How can I move to Paradise?” Are there jobs available for foreigners? What is the cost of living like? Is the educational system comparable to other parts of the world?  Although I would like to respond by saying it is easy, painless, and that I spend my days lounging on the beach with my cabana boy lathered up feeding me margaritas and freshly peeled shrimp, the reality is quite different. You still have to pay rent, bring your dogs to the vet, pay your electric bill, and work, work, work. I am not saying that I regret the decision to move 4,000 miles away from my home town, away from family, friends, and familiar places, BUT I would like to share my experience in moving to a foreign country.

Work
Many foreigners that live either part or full time in Playa del Carmen often are retired, or have an income that comes from their home country. This is an ideal situation. You can spend winter months here when the cold is permeating and frigid in the north, own a nice property that you can rent out when you are not here, and really enjoy the Caribbean lifestyle; beaches, cenotes, excellent food and drink, and a truly relaxing time. But for those of us that do not have this option we must actually find a job here; Yikes!! The primary jobs that are available to foreigners are sales, real estate, teaching English or opening up a private business. The restaurant and hotel industry are mainly staffed by Nationals unless you are one of those lucky few that speak 3 or more languages. So that leaves the above four. Oh, and let us not forget the challenges of working LEGALLY in a foreign country; immigration is the topic of many a conversation among locals….

Sales: The number one sales positions here are in time share. You work at one of the fractional ownership clubs and sell packages to visiting foreigners. Over the years that I have lived here I have had many friends do this. But it isn’t for everyone. It is highly competitive, stressful, and there is not much job security there. Don’t get me wrong; I have friends that have been doing it for years and are truly successful and love it, but it can be tough….especially if you have no sales background.

Real Estate: The Real Estate industry in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya was BOOMING up until about a year and a half ago. Sales slowed down, bad press scared people off, many real estate offices closed; even some of the big gun companies packed up and left. That being said, it kind of thinned the herd, which was sorely needed. The companies that did survive, and are still thriving, are companies that have been here for many years, have an excellent reputation, and deliver what they promise.

Teaching English: Teaching English in one of the local area private schools is actually a good option. Although more than likely you will need a second income (teachers make anywhere from $8,000.00-$12,000.00 Pesos per month) one of the benefits of working as a teacher is that you also receive either partial or full scholarships for your children. This would be a good option for a couple moving down together with children. For further information on area schools please read this article.

Private Businesses: The majority of my friends here, including me, have chosen to open up their own company and work for themselves. This takes an amazing amount of patience for foreign business law, hefty startup capital, and again it is a competitive market. If you have a lifelong dream of opening up a Caribbean beach bar remember that you are not alone. The one piece of advice I have here is do your homework! Take your time. Spend time here for at least 6 months without doing anything but market research. It would be a far better experience telling friends and family at home that you spent 6 months in the Caribbean rather than coming home broke and with a bad experience under your belt.

Immigration: Ahhh, yes the challenge of any immigrant living in a foreign country. Immigration is one of the most powerful government agencies in Mexico, and they can be easy or difficult depending on their mood. If you are being hired by a company it is often part of the package that they sponsor your FM3 to enable you to work legally here. If you are opening a private business you then hire a lawyer to handle your immigration requirements. You can certainly try to do it yourself, but I highly suggest hiring a professional. They know the laws, language, and lay of the land…..

Cost of Living

The cost of living here varies depending on what lifestyle you want to live. A sprawling beach front home or a nice apartment about 5 blocks from the beach can be very different in terms of cost. The below list is a general approximation based on my own experience.

Rent: For a 2 bedroom Condo in a nice neighborhood, shared pool, about 5 blocks from the beach: $10,000.00 pesos

Water and Garbage: Garbage pick-up is free of charge and they usually have daily pick-ups in every neighborhood, and water runs about $100.00 pesos per month for a 2 person household with washer, sink, shower etc.

Electric: Electric varies pretty dramatically depending on if you have air-conditioning or not. It can run from $400.00 pesos per month for basic fans, computer etc to $10,000.00 pesos per month with multiple AC units.

Gas: The majority of dryers, stoves, and water heaters here are run on gas. A tank at our house for a stove and a water heater costs about $200.00 pesos per month.

Cable and internet: We choose to go through the local cable company versus the phone company and our basic cable and internet package (2MB) is $450.00 per month.

Telephones: The majority of people have cell phones that are pay as you go. You buy pre-paid phone cards and then plug the code into your phone and voila you are in business. For someone that uses their phone often it can run up to $500.00 pesos per month. If you choose to have a contract phone ( I-Phone of Blackberry) through your business the cost is roughly $1,000.00 pesos per month. You can also get a land line through the telephone company, but there are limited lines available and if your house or apartment does not come with one it can be spendy to set one up (sometimes upwards of $5,000.00 pesos).

Private schools: This is a hidden cost for many families that choose to move down to Playa del Carmen with small children as the majority of families in the US and Canada have access to quality public education. Unfortunately that is not the case here. Public schools here are poorly run largely due to the fact of overcrowding. There can be upwards of 35 plus children per class, and there is a high teacher turnover rate due to the stress. For that reason the majority of year round residents, whether foreign or National, choose to enroll their children in one of the areas private schools. Tuition can run between $3,500.00-$5,000.00 pesos per month per child and often there are enrollment, material, and uniform fees on top of that as well. That being said I strongly suggest doing your research on job opportunities, housing, and educational opportunities prior to bringing your brood south of the border.

This information is not meant to scare anyone off, or to discourage you in embarking on a life-long dream or adventure, but it is meant to give you a bit of insider’s information prior to making the plunge. We have had challenges, pitfalls, and bad business deals over the past 7 years of living here, but we have also had just as many successes. We own our house without a mortgage, live a mile from one of the most sought after beaches in the world, are exposed to an amazing culture and language, and we have made friends here that not only will last us a lifetime, but these friendships are like family.  So if you are up for the challenge we welcome you to the community.  Contact us when you arrive and we can chat over a happy hour margarita!

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written by robert karcsay, May 29, 2011

Thank you Sara, I love your insight and appreciate the information. I plan on living there a few months to see how it goes.

Cost of living in Playa with a family of 5
written by Patrick Jorio, March 24, 2011

Hi

I am interested in moving to playa and have a work offer for around 80KUS$ before taxes and another 1500US$ as house allowance, do you think is ok for living in Playa considering that my children will need to go to a private school? Which school do you recommend? I need primary and secondary schooling

Thank you for your help

On our way!!
written by Jessie, December 08, 2010

Hello!!
So, my family (2 kids + BF) are on our way down Summer of 2011! Our plan is to save our pennies until then, take the Summer to experience our new home, find work, adjust, and get enrolled in school..then dive into life in Playa! So far, I've done all the research on my own, and tried my best to convince my family that it's a good idea. Please email me any links that you may find useful for me, as I do want to make the most educated and responsible decision as possible. I have a lot to offer in any community that I am a part of
jessiem213(at) hotmail(dot) com

Any help is very much appreciated, anything from....how to rent a home (who to contact) and if you know of anyone I may contact as to how to get a job, and also...how am I supposed to prove that I can make up to $1500/month so that I can get my FM3?

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~Jessie (aka: can't wait)

i can help!
written by candice foster, September 08, 2010

hi there Mike,

If you need help coming down to playa,please let me know. I have been living here for 8 years now and i am sure i can assist you!

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written by Mike Kaminski, July 23, 2010

Thank you very much Sara for such an eye-opening article about the realities of moving to a foreign country. I am retired from the military and will be retiring from federal service at the end of this year. I am seriously considering moving to Mexico, specifically the Playa area. I currently own two timeshares - one in Cancun and one just outside of Playa with Royal Resorts. I've been coming to the area for the past 10 years and have grown to love it...the people, the area, the weather, everything. When I come down in September I plan to begin looking into real estate options. My ultimate dream is to move permanently to the area. Thank you again for a great article.

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written by Leo Nardo, July 16, 2010

thanks for the insight. i've been here for over 1year and a half and life can sometimes seem unfair. BUT life seems to fix itself and at the end it all seems worth it. btw, i obtained my fm3 through a lawyer. highly recommended with the least of hassles. now to find a job... )

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written by Suzanna, July 16, 2010

Thank you Sara, this is excellent and very straightforward information.
As another foreigner living in Mexico I say the same stuff.

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written by Martina Steen, July 16, 2010

Thank you, Sara, for writing an article that is based on reality.

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