Relocating to Playa del Carmen from the U.S. (condo, hotel, find a job)

[PlayaDreamer]

Hello all:
I'm a 30 year old New York girl who just returned from a fantastic trip to Playa del Carmen in Mexico. I am thinking of relocating there. I'm a certified English teacher with a Masters degree. I also have years of experience as a paralegal. My understanding is that teaching English does not pay well, barely enough for one to survive. What are other jobs available in the area that a foreigner would likely be hired to do? What is the approximate cost of renting an apartment per month in Playa? Other living expenses...to live comfortably? Thanks!

[Luis19]

I believe playa would be a very expensive place to live.
I would try finding a job with an american company with operatiosn down there.

[angela828]

aren't you lucky i would love to live there.. i was considering moving there too but then i changed my mind..

check this out
Living in Mexico

[antgar]

I think the best thing in your case it that you save money and put a business like a clothing store, restaurant or school to learn spanish/english.


For a teacher is difficult to find a job, since the university is in Cancun not in Playa, or you can work in one hotel, just make a try...

[NorthernCalifornia]

teaching english typically does not pay well but it depends on where/for who. business leaders may hire personal tutors, for example, at higher rates than a smaller shop. any city with large influxes of americans will have high demand for native english speakers to teach. it's a way to live somewhere different, not a way to get rich!

Look at what is the make-up of the economy in Playa outside of immediate tourism. Where is the legal work for companies doing business there being done?

Another top option is to find contract work in the US and do it from Mexico. That might be a good route as I know a good deal of paralegal can be outsourced. If someone doesn't mind you working in the next town over they shouldn't have any problem with you being in mexico. telecom issues might be stronger but you can get an internet phone with any area code you want (vonage for example) and email, etc will allow you to send documents back and forth.

cost of living in mexico is far below New York. $500/month income should treat you right unless you're trying to buy a condo on the water.

[starbucks]

Ah! Playacar as is called by Mexicans, one of my favorites. Would not live there though. Small economy, hurricane path, everything is tourism related. A better choice is one hour north in cancun, you cannot escape the hurricanes down there no matter what.

[dentistnick]

dont turn your head, 30 year old new yorker, Im from colorado, im going to live there in one week, im in a different field, dentistry and have a buddy there, dentista arturo, so i get free dental care, and can teach in the schools, and there's a story to that, and work on my skills and dental career, anyway I lived there in 2007 for months, it is a awesome place, i get 800 from family more or less, a month, and work there, a little work on my dental thing, in playa del carmen, weather is warm, i know plenty of people at senor frogs, dentists there, etc. dont let your attention be stered by others, playa is good for health and food is great, entertainment, there are some jobs, need to spend some time there, apartments and various needs for living can be met, the others here, turned down playa im not going to if i was dont, anyway enjoy your afternoon, nicholas colorado to playa del carmen i go, think about a winter with no cold weather, can go outside run play whatever isnt that a nice warm happy place yes, think about that

[coda25]

hi man
you still down there in playa
moving there so a need a dentist
can you give me your friends number
and whats fun stuff to do
or places to hang out
thanks
anthony

[jknight8907]

Originally Posted by NorthernCalifornia

cost of living in mexico is far below New York. $500/month income should treat you right unless you're trying to buy a condo on the water.

You can't honestly believe you can live in PDC for $500/month, can you? That's absurd. I live in Cozumel, and it takes $1000 to live frugally. And many things are actually cheaper on the island than on the mainland.

[PAUL250268]

Hi

I'm from the U.K. and I left Playa about 6 weeks ago. I was there for 2 1/2 years.

It can be expensive to live there. If you want a 2 bedroom apartment in the center of town, mine was on 10th and 10th, it'll cost you around $800/month for the rent. If you are prepared to have a studio 5 blocks from 5th around $300.


The best paid work for a non-Mexican is selling timeshare. Don't knock it until you've tried it. It was great fun, start work at 8.00 and finish at 1.00.

Any questions, fire away.

One last thing, living there is very different from being on vacation.

Paul