what is considered to be the best areas in cancun to settle?

[Du Cooke]

I've only really seen cancun from a tourist point of view over the past 5 years since I've been visiting, so far I've gathered alot of useful information for this site, thanx guys. I am interested to know what areas of cancun are best to settle in (low crime area, rental rates in different areas etc) any information is honoured thanx

[Gringation]

Du Cooke - what is your budget?

[Du Cooke]

At present I'm unsure of what the prices of rental properties are in cancun so I've not set myself a budget yet, I'm coming from the UK so am thinking of looking on par with what I pay in UK rents (£600 around $1000) plus with the understanding that cancun is a tourist location & more expensive so I'm thinking between $1000 - $1500 monthly but as it stands I am still in the dark about properties in the area

[Gringation]

You can rent something pretty nice in Cancun for those amounts! Rent here is more expensive than the rest of Mexico, but still cheaper than the US and I'd assume GB as well.

Cancun is divided into many neighborhoods known as "supermanzanas" or "SM", and each has a number.

Off the top of my head, I'd recommend SM 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19. This is one of the city's most upscale residential areas. I used to live there and I know several expats who live there as well. It's very close to Plaza Las Americas, the city's most popular mall.

SM 4 is another area with a great location (right by the entrance to the Hotel Zone), as well as SM 44, 45, 46 and 47 (a little further into downtown, but with nice parks and within walking distance of several malls and supermarkets).

Here's a map showing the different neighborhoods, where you can search by SM (thanks Kelly!) Mapa de Cancun : Centro y Zona Hotelera Cancún | Cancun Foros.com

My rental budget is considerably lower so I'm probably not the best person to answer, so wait and see what others with a more "healthy" rental budget have to say :P

[matkirk]

You can rent a 2 bed house in SM18 for 8000 pesos a month, gated with security and a pool.

[T.J.]

Good info from Gringation. If you make a single zoom click in the middle of the map you can better see the downtown SMs. I would totally agree with the ones she suggests as being the nicer areas of downtown. There are other nice areas but not so convenient as these. I would definitely suggest somewhere in the SM 1-50 range. There is a not so easy to find map book, like in a binder, called Punto Mapa. It has a pull out overall map and then each SM has a separate page. They cost $85 Mxn, about $7 US. I can usually find them as I know where their office is but they are hit or miss in the stores where maps are sold. A good SM map is an invaluable tool for locating places.

Our addresses (direcciones) are very different here. Areas of town are called Supermanzanas (SM) or Regions (Reg). Within the SMs are Manzanas (Mz), which are like city blocks. Then each Mz has Calles & Lotes, or streets & lots, and it is a miracle if the buildings are numbered or numbered correctly. That is the basic deal. You just don't go to 15 Downing Street or wherever. Here certain street names appear all over town and one has nothing to do with the others. Bacalar comes to mind as one example.

[Gringation]

I'll agree with matkirk... even on the lower end of your budget, you could easily find something in a nice gated community with a pool

[Du Cooke]

Thanx guys really helpful I shall look in to getting a maps on the SMs but I defo will be taking a first hand look down them ways when I visit in November, thanx Gringation & T.J, great info, ill be happy to find a place under the amount I've said I just like to safe guard my self and not end up in lumper but thank you very much any other directions are most welcome

[gabesz]

Originally Posted by Du Cooke

At present I'm unsure of what the prices of rental properties are in cancun so I've not set myself a budget yet, I'm coming from the UK so am thinking of looking on par with what I pay in UK rents (£600 around $1000) plus with the understanding that cancun is a tourist location & more expensive so I'm thinking between $1000 - $1500 monthly but as it stands I am still in the dark about properties in the area

For the budget quoted above you can rent something in the form of a studio in the hotel zone. Some of these may be ocean front some may not. But you will be steps from the beach if that is what you are looking for. Downtown you can find something much cheaper and larger then a studio.

[Du Cooke]

I think it would be great to have a place in the hotel zone but I think I'd like to get in to the local areas in downtown cancun, been checking out the map links Gringation said with all the "SM" on and finding properties rounds "SM 1-50" and am really impressed with what is on rental & sale am not after top of the range condos/apartment just a nice little place in a good little area oh & hopefully a place that pets are allowed but thanx again guys the info

[ToriB]

Most people I know who are under the age of 30 and don't work Sports & Entertainment, live downtown. Living in the HZ gets old really fast and the electricity bill could get as high as your rent. The friends you meet will all live downtown, cheaper food and services are all downtown. My apt is a very large 3 dr/2 bath for $6000 pesos and three blocks from the bus into to HZ.

[TraceyUk]

I have lived in th HZ zone for 5 years and it hasnt become old yet ! Though I am not under 30 my kids loved being so close to the party centre, beach etc and when we did look downtown for a house similar it was way more expensive (I am not kidding!)

I think its such a personal thing - housing etc and deciding what is the best area for you may take some time.
Good Luck

[Du Cooke]

Sweetage, I wouldn't opt out of living in the hotel zone or downtown and I guess ill be my own best critic but keep the posts coming, SM4 is looking really nice for properties but ill be visiting cancun late November so Ill head down and have a gander. I like my space in a place something big enough to swing a cat in... lol but being close to that beach would be a bonus but like check all possible options out plus one being a dancer ill defo have to check out the local dance scene. whats the average monthly rates on property in the hotel zone?

[V]

I vote for SM4, with buses running straight in to the HZ from there, and Plaza de las Americas next door. SM15 would be my second choice, also good, if just a tad less convenient.
_______________________

Another good reason to choose SM4! The YOO+3P, at 690 pesos per month, with cable TV and telephone included.

[Kathleen-MD]

I have a house on the water for rent. Right now the penthouse is for rent and the end of the month the 2 bedroom is for rent. The house is located in Punta Sam which is very quiet. You look outside you patio and see Isla Mujeres. You can contact me if you like or my property manager Edundo Tejeda edmundotejeda@hotmail.com

[kgunn]

We decided on Malecon Americas after looking at a number of different options. Extremely convenient for us. We have a 3-bedroom place, with pool, spa and gym. Having a private key for entrance into Plaza Las Americas is very nice. We can take the grocery cart from Chedraui through the mall right to our front door. Want to catch a movie at Cinepolis, no problem--just go downstairs! Rent is within your price range.

[CancunNurse]

I can also offer you an apartment on the beach in the Hotel Zone for within your budget. It's 2 bedrooms with a pool, security, a/c, cable, all included. Contact me at nancymyersmx@yahoo.com I'm sure it'll take quite a long time for it to become old...it's been 13 years for me and I'm still enjoying it!

[Du Cooke]

thanx guys, please send me some web links if there's any pictures to be seen thank you all the reply's