Why do you live in Cancun?

[V]

Home Depot, done!

V.

[V]

It's not my intention to post every time I discover a new way to use the INAPAM card, but since I just got to use it for the first time, I'll post.

ADO gives a 50% discount to INAPAM card holders! I'm going to Chichen Itza for the first time, and we're going there by bus. So, instead of 172, my ticket cost 86 pesos.

Yet to be tested- I expect to get into Chichen Itza for free.... When I've had a little broader experience with the use of this card, I'll post again, to let you know what I've found.

[For those unsure of what an INAPAM card is, see the previous page, this thread, for more details, including how to get one!]

[V]

For those who don't live here, and might like to know, I suppose I would be remiss not to mention one extremely nice thing about living in Cancun- the taxi service. For reasons I don't understand, they've decided to go with a "meterless" system. Sound risky? In practice, it's not, and it's extremely cheap! I go all over the city, daily, by taxi, and find it's cheaper than owning a car would be.

Short to medium trips in town cost 20 pesos, and longer trips 22-25 pesos, typically: the drivers are friendly and courteous, though few speak English well. I've been told by the drivers that there are 7,000 taxis in service, 24 hours/day, so getting a taxi is not normally difficult: I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 3-4 minutes.

Cabs are often shared, here, with the driver, already having a passenger, stopping to offer you a ride, as well: I've never found this to be a safety issue, it being the norm.

[V]

Although I don't consider Mexico to be a truly cheap place to live- as compared to SE Asia, for example- in Cancun, at least, there is one area in which many people will find their costs to be significantly reduced: it's clothing. First of all, owing to the climate, you can forget about needing to replace coats, gloves, and other warm things if your bring them with you. They'll get little use. But clothing, in general, will necessarily be lighter in weight, use less wool, etc., and therefore cheaper. Finally, in Cancun, dress style is at most "business casual". Wearing a jacket and tie often seems the norm in business, in other parts of Mexico. But not here! and, in this warm climate, that's a blessing, as well as a savings- on suits that never have to be replaced, for example. (I put a tie on yesterday, but it was just to make a photo!)

[RiverGirl]

Yes, you do need less clothing here than somewhere colder.

But clothing here costs more for lower quality than what I can buy in the US. A microfiber sport shirt will cost me $10 USD on sale in the US, here it will be over $300 MXP and may never go on sale. A tshirt from Target in the US that costs me $10 USD will last years. A comparable tshirt from Walmart in Cancun may cost the same but will fall apart quickly. A pair of shoes that I pay $400 MXP for here will not last anywhere near as long as a cheapo pair of $30 USD shoes I buy in the US. I think good quality clothing here is expensive. But yes, you do need less of it.

[V]

Good point, Rivergirl. I buy all my clothing in the U.S., too. I've not lived or been anywhere that can beat it for quality to price ratio, on clothes. Electronics, too, for that matter. You can't even do as well in China, where I lived for three years, and where much of the low cost clothing comes from: the clothes produced for the local market, designed by Chinese fashion designers, are different in color and style, and frequently pricier than the clothes designed with U.S. tastes, and U.S. markets, in mind.

Not everyone would feel comfortable in it, but my wife recently bought a Mexican peasant dress (I suppose that's what to call it: it's a kind of shift) that is intricately embroidered on a blue background. There are many designs, but the main one is of a peacock. It's just amazing the amount of detail that has been put into it, and the degree to which the entire garment has been decorated. Cost, just 150 pesos. She only wears it indoors, but locals who've seen it have praised it, highly, and I like it, a lot, too.

[RiverGirl]

Are these the dresses you refer to?
Flickr: Vestidos Mexicanos Bordados' Photostream
They are made all over Mexico, I think, with regional variations.

I bought a nice one for my ma-in-law from a Oaxaqueño dude who roams the streets here selling all kinds of products from Oaxaca. I think I paid about $200 MXN.

[V]

I don't know if this qualifies for "why do you live in Cancun" but one nice thing about being here is that movies come to town, fast! We see most of them right along with those who live in the U.S., for example.

Wednesday is discount day on movie tickets: we get in to see new releases for just 38 pesos each, and take advantage of this to break the week with a nice treat. Recently we saw "Avatar" and "Invictus", both rewarding, in their own, very different ways.

Going to the movies here is much like going anywhere else, with lots of popcorn and other things on offer- none of it very good for you, but tasty!

[V]

Don't know if you're a football fan, but we're sitting here, watching Superbowl 2010, live, on our local cable TV. Provided by Cablemas, it costs just 499 pesos per month for cable TV, internet service and telephone, combined.

My wife was saying the other day that living here is like living in the U.S. in terms of convenience, but has the sea, the warm weather year round, and the interest added by Mexican culture, as a bonus.

[Life_N_Cancun]

Originally Posted by V

Don't know if you're a football fan, but we're sitting here, watching Superbowl 2010, live, on our local cable TV. Provided by Cablemas, it costs just 499 pesos per month for cable TV, internet service and telephone, combined.

My wife was saying the other day that living here is like living in the U.S. in terms of convenience, .

Yeah except in the States your cable will be in full HD, your Internet will be at least 10mb, you'll have unlimited national calling, and most importantly it will be reliable! In the US you can get phone, HDTV cable, and FAST internet for around $70 with brighthouse....you cant even get cable here with as many channels for the same price or internet faster than 4mb (which by itself is over $100) .. and I'm pretty sure that the phone service doesnt offer unlimited nation calls to all of Mexico including DF. You also cant get a new TiVo boxes or PROFESSIONAL installation here from the cable company.... not that the prices are terrible here but they dont match the "bang for the buck" of services that you can get in the US.

[RiverGirl]

and I'm pretty sure that the phone service doesnt offer unlimited nation calls to all of Mexico including DF

We have unlimited national long distance on our Telmex landline here, and it includes DF, I'm certain. Not sure if CableMenos has that service or not.

I agree with your other points, the quality of services here is low even if the price isn't that high.

And then there's lack of public safety here. And the impossible amount of corruption.

I do like the weather here. And the availability of lots of big jets headed north. Those are nice.

And I love how easy it is to get involved in satisfying charity work here (because there's so much wrong here that needs fixing).

[mixz1]

Originally Posted by Life_N_Cancun

.. and I'm pretty sure that the phone service doesnt offer unlimited nation calls to all of Mexico including DF. You also cant get a new TiVo boxes or PROFESSIONAL installation here from the cable company....

We have unlimited calls within Mexico including the DF. We also have 200 minutes to the US each month included, 1.19 pesos a minute after that and 2.39 pesos a minute for the rest of the world. We have a 4MB internet connection which is sufficient for streaming movies, Skype video, etc.

If you want United States television (we watched the Super Bowl on NBC 4 New York), contact Hodamayo on this board. He can hook you up with whatever package and recorder combo you want, including HD if you have room for the antenna. The installation is very "PROFESSIONAL". He knows his stuff.

Things here aren't as bleak as they used to be, and continue to improve each year. It's still more expensive than stateside, but if you were looking for bargains, why'd you move here of all places? There are far more economical locations to live in Mexico than Cancun, but you'll pay for the ancillaries no matter where you live.

[V]

Mixz1 wrote:

There are far more economical locations to live in Mexico than Cancun, but you'll pay for the ancillaries no matter where you live.

Interesting you should say that. Just a few days ago I read an article that said it was more expensive to live here than in Mexico City.

[rawkus]

Heard that Cancun was ranked the 3rd most expensive city in all of Mexico.

I couldn't catch the top 2, but Im certain that the Baja California-area would be up there...

[RiverGirl]

Seems like DF has higher property values than Cancun, from what I've seen. But lots of other things there seem cheaper, like tamales.

[coby]

Originally Posted by rawkus

Heard that Cancun was ranked the 3rd most expensive city in all of Mexico.

I couldn't catch the top 2, but Im certain that the Baja California-area would be up there...

I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that La Paz or Los Cabos is more expensive than Cancun. I was surprised by prices there.

[Life_N_Cancun]

I'm not sure how they arrive at the "most expensive" results.. but I know Cancun has been right up near the top ever since I've been here. Were it not for the %5 tax break that Q.Roo has, it could very well lead the rankings.

As we all know the cost of living is relative. If you can do without "American Luxury" its very affordable to live here. If you want to have everything just like you had it "back home" expect it to cost more.

Rent is generally cheaper here than in the States, but what you get is of a lower quality.
Electricity is cheaper here if you use next to no power, if you want A/C and other power hungry comforts, it's higher.
Restaurants, are comparable so long as you avoid the high dollar tourist places.
General food prices can go either way depending on what you want, imported goods are high, local products are cheaper.
Insurance doesn't exist... or at least not as a mandatory thing, so that cost can be deffered if you dont mind being un-or-under-insured.
General medical care is less here, specialized high level care is unavailable or insanely expensive, and hospitals will let you die in the lobby if you don't have cash, so thats a mixed bag.
Cable and Internet is about 10 years behind the US as far as services offered and speeds. Some prices were mentioned a few posts ago.
Telephone services both mobile and land line are some of the most expensive in the world, thanks to Mr. Slim, but seem like they are getting more reasonable at least for land lines, in country.
City water costs next to nothing, garbage collection is free, roads are terrible, the ocean is beautiful, the weather is nice, people lie and steal like there's no tomorrow, no one is responsible for anything, stray animals roam the streets, the police will rob you, beer is cheaper than water, cherry coke is impossible to find... and so on....

All things considered, I'd rather be here than in the States, and while I bitch and moan with the best of them about all the problems in Mexico its because I care, not because I wish I wasn't here. Even with all of the nonsense that you have to put up with to live here, I still think that people have less stress and are generally happier here day-to-day than in the States.

[elleboogs]

[QUOTE=mixz1;If you want United States television (we watched the Super Bowl on NBC 4 New York), contact Hodamayo on this board. He can hook you up with whatever package and recorder combo you want, including HD if you have room for the antenna. The installation is very "PROFESSIONAL". He knows his stuff.[/QUOTE]

Just sent Hodomayo a message - thanks for the info we've been looking for someone who could do this!!

[SCMcons]

Originally Posted by elleboogs

Just sent Hodomayo a message - thanks for the info we've been looking for someone who could do this!!

We have used him as well. Very professional and are satisfied with everything.

[mixz1]

Originally Posted by V

Mixz1 wrote:
Interesting you should say that. Just a few days ago I read an article that said it was more expensive to live here than in Mexico City.

We have friends who live in Mexico City and have vacation homes here who have said that for as long as we know them. They also say that the quality of fruits, vegetables, breads and meat is far better in Mexico City than here in Cancun.

[CancunCanuck]

I have a couple of friends who tried to make the move to Cabo, couldn't afford it. Same company, same job and even a higher salary (it was a transfer) but in the end the rent and amenities forced them to leave and return to QRoo.

[mrbear]

regarding corruption,
It not to different here in the states right now, only here it’s what could be called legalized corruption. A DUI, right now runs about $ 5,000 dolls, a red light about $300 doll and there is a red light camera almost in every other corner. The governator just gave the ok, to install speed cameras in Los Angeles, which will generate millions of dollars in fines to Angelinos. Imagine paying a $65,000 pesos in fines for driving drunk down avenida KuKulcan. So why ask for a bribe when it is already build into the system, it’s like going to eat at a restaurant, in which the tip is already calculated into you bill.

[Life_N_Cancun]

Originally Posted by mrbear

Imagine paying a $65,000 pesos in fines for driving drunk down avenida KuKulcan.

Uhmm... or you could just not drink and drive to start with...

"legalized corruption"? Sounds like an oxymoron to me.

I hate traffic cameras as much as the next speeder, but unless they are setup to falsely accuse people I don't see the corruption, and even then it would be more of a scam than "corruption". As for $5,000 for a DUI if you're talking about lawyers and fines, I'd see that is the cost of breaking the rules and getting caught, unless you're suggesting making a payment to the judge, which obviously would be corruption.

I'm just having a hard time seeing you're comparison.

[rawkus]

I reckon $5,000 is cheap considering you are risking EVERYONE around you when driving drunk.

[V]

[Attitudes have hardened towards DUI in the U.S., which is undoubtedly good; but, as with many laws, we must be careful not to destroy lives, trying to save lives. Sometimes the criminal law becomes so harsh and unforgiving that it creates more harm than it was designed to limit. But, I want everybody to know, I didn't move to Cancun to escape harsh treatment of DUIs in the U.S.- even though I'm from Texas where, until 1987, it was legal to drink and drive (it was not, even then, legal to drive drunk, judged by the legal standard of the day, but you could sip a cold one while driving without violating the law, long after it was illegal in other states.)]

[RiverGirl]

I had a sociology prof in college who said that eventually any country puts in place enough laws that society becomes too restrictive...and you need a revolution to clear the slate again, so to speak. Some would consider his thinking dangerous, that was doubtless why he was jailed back in the 60's for being a Commie sympathizer. But he did have a point.

It's also worth looking at how much income states get from DUI offenders, I think it's quite a good revenue. They get to make money while "making things safer." So it looks like a win-win to the public.

[V]

it looks like a win-win to the public.

[Yes, indeed, well conceived laws, adequately enforced, should be good for the society, as that's their goal, after all. When it comes to the criminal law, though, punishments tend to fall more heavily on the poorer classes. Take a significant fine like we're talking about: $5,000.00 for some would be loose change; a disaster for others, less fortunate- yet the violation the same, with the same risk of harm to all concerned. It's tricky to balance all that, and the less well educated, and poorer people, tend to suffer disproportionately when the criminal law is applied to them, though their crime, no worse.]

[rawkus]

Originally Posted by V

[Take a significant fine like we're talking about: $5,000.00 for some would be loose change; a disaster for others, less fortunate- yet the violation the same, with the same risk of harm to all concerned. It's tricky to balance all that, and the less well educated, and poorer people, tend to suffer disproportionately when the criminal law is applied to them, though their crime, no worse.]

Even more reason not to drink and drive I would think

I have NO sympathy for drunk drivers, regardless ethnicity, age, economical status etc.

In Sweden we had (might still have..) a system regulated by your yearly income.

For a person that makes lets say 200 000 $US/year a DUI would be more expensive than for someone that makes only 100 000$US/year.

The fine would be decided depending on your income.

[V]

The fine would be decided depending on your income.

[Very humane, as I would expect of an enlightened country, like Sweden.]

For a person that makes lets say 200 000 $US/year a DUI would be more expensive than for someone that makes only 100 000$US/year.

[To us from the U.S., your salary comparison provokes a chuckle!]

[rawkus]

V: I think thats very "fair" in a way

@Salaries: The examples are really GOOD salaries, plus they are pre-tax, which when I last lived at home in Stockholm, were some 38%...

The further away from the biggest cities you live, the less you make.

But we dont really mind paying taxes since it goes to good things, usually, ha ha