Living in Mexico
23 Feb 2007
Besides all the obvious differences as culture, food and climate, the following issues on living in Mexico should be emphasized.
Costs of living
In general, living a student life in Mexico is cheaper than in the Netherlands. Expenses as food, transport and drinks and dinners in restaurants are cheaper. Costs for accommodation might be the same as in the Netherlands. However, everything depends on the area where you spend your money. This especially goes for Mexico City, where a night out in popular Polanco for example will be at least as expensive as in the Netherlands.
Safety
Living in Mexico means that you should take the same safety measures as you are used to in the Netherlands. Mexico City is not known as a safe city and here you should take some extra safety measures into account. For example you should not carry a lot of money or valuable items with you. You should not walk alone at night. You should take safe taxis from a base. Those taxis are called “taxis de sitio”.
Housing
The international office of your university in Mexico will almost always help you with finding a room. You can often choose to live with a family, on campus or in an apartment with other students. Keep in mind that living on campus means that you have to obey many more rules than you will be used to. In choosing the area where you will live, take the advice of Mexican students or the international office in Mexico into account. Especially in Mexico City where some areas are not too safe or too far away from your university.
Transport and traffic
Public transport in Mexico is quite good and -above all- cheap. Taxis are very cheap compared to the Netherlands. The traffic situation in Mexico City is extremely different from what you will be used to in the Netherlands. Traffic jams can be enormous.
Traveling
From beautiful beaches to interesting cultural and archeological ruins, the 31 states in Mexico offer a great diversity of places to visit. The combination of sunlight, sand, seaside, woods, meadowland, rivers, lakes and modern cities allow to do all kind of activities and sports.