Living and working in Cancun

Wondering if living and working in Cancun is a good idea?

Let me tell you a little about Cancun, Quintana Roo, from the perspective of a citizen who, although I was not born here, I have spent most of my life so close to the sea. The beautiful climate, abundant adventure activities, and affordable cost of living in Cancun, make it an ideal place for expats in the United States for example. With beautiful turquoise beaches and mild weather year-round, Cancun is a great place to visit. However, did you know it is also a great place to work and live? Many people are unaware that there is a large expat community in and around Cancun. Living in Cancun can be an affordable and fun way to live near the beach and experience a new culture. As we love to say, are you ready to start a new adventure? Here are some reasons why Cancun is a great place to live and especially to work!

TO LIVE;

1. Let’s talk about Culture:

Don't be afraid of change, getting out of our comfort zone is always difficult but being away from home is also good for the soul. Exploring new ways of living and doing things can broaden your horizons and make you a more well-rounded person. Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula have a rich cultural history that includes modern Mexican and ancient Mayan influences. These cultures can be seen in fine dining and street food. Cancun is close to Mayan ruins, including the Chichen Itza Pyramid, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. If you want to immerse yourself in a new culture, there's no place more beautiful than the jungles and beaches of Cancun.

2. Tropical climate:

With warm temperatures year-round, many people retreat to places like Florida or Southern California. These places can be crowded and expensive. Cancun offers an attractive option with a climate similar to South Florida. High temperatures average throughout the year in the high 80s to low 90s, with lows rarely dropping below the 60s. Due to its tropical climate, Cancun has only two seasons: the rainy season from May to October and the dry season from November to April. Cancun combines beautiful natural landscapes with a mild climate, so you can enjoy it year-round.

3. The best beaches you have ever seen:

Imagine sitting on a white sand beach at sunset, sipping a drink and listening to the sound of the waves. You may see some tourists nearby enjoying the moment. You'll know the difference between them and you is that even though they have to go home in two days, you can have this experience over and over again because you live there. Cancun's beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. They are a warm, sparkling blue and are home to tropical marine life, including one of the largest living coral reefs in the world. If you enjoy surfing, snorkeling, diving or just relaxing outdoors, you'll never be bored in Cancun. Leisure options are endless.

4. Expat community:

More Americans live in Mexico than any other country, and thousands flock to the Yucatan Peninsula. Cancun and nearby Playa del Carmen are very foreign-friendly neighborhoods. Due to the size of the tourist economy, many local Mexicans speak some English, making visiting these cities easy for English speakers. Healthcare is also available and affordable for expats, and there are many reputable shops and products - although you may prefer to immerse yourself in the local culture and take advantage of Mexican alternatives. Expats often come together to build community and friendship. Plus, a busy international airport means you can get back to the United States in just two hours.

5. Cost of Living in Cancun:

The cost of living in Cancun and Mexico in general is very affordable. Cancun offers an affordable lifestyle that gives you value for money. Of course, the exact cost depends on where you end up living - an ocean-view condo with beach access is a bit more expensive, but still affordable, especially compared to real estate in the United States. For example, monthly rent for a 900-square-foot apartment in Cancun might be $530 per month, compared to about $1,370 in more expensive oceanfront areas. You might be able to buy a 1,200-square-foot home for $125,000, and if you want something on the beach, the price goes up 30 to 50 percent. A couple's living expenses in Cancun, including lodging and groceries, can range from $1,975 to $2,040. The low cost of living makes Cancun an ideal home for remote workers or retirees.

TO WORK;

1. Apply for a job in Cancun:

As for elsewhere in Mexico, it is much easier to get hired in person than by email. Searching for jobs online is an excellent way to find job opportunities in Cancun, but since you cannot have a face-to-face interaction, you may have to go through a series of processes for a virtual meeting in order to get to know each other a little better. However, it is very important that you have prepared a CV so that the interviewer can evaluate your profile. Below is a list of recommendations regarding the information that should be included in this document.

What information should your CV include:

• Your full name

• Former work experience

• All your degrees and educational history

• What software programs do you have knowledge of

• Any extra info you think makes you stand out

2. How many hours are worked?

Working in Cancun can be an excellent opportunity to gain experience and make contacts since it is a strategic point to approach other locations. If your intention is to save money working in large companies, this is definitely a great place for you.

The hours worked per week can vary from 45 to 50 hours per week, depending on where they work. In the tourism industry, it is very common to work around 50 hours a week or more, it all depends on the position you have.

For example, if you work as a waiter in a hotel in Playa del Carmen, you will probably work an average of 45 hours per week, but on weekends you will probably be asked to work more hours, according to the demand. In this particular position, in addition to the salary, you will also receive tips.

We can think that working as a sales representative inside a vacation club is one of the best options for foreigners without experience in any specific trade. But also, the amount of money you can make working as a sales representative does not compare to any other position you may have.

In addition, as a U.S. native, communicating information during sales presentations will be much easier for you and above all, you will build trust with customers.

3. When is the best time to look for a job?

Although we know that many people look for a job when they arrive at their destination, it is ideal that at the moment you travel to Mexico you already have a job offer or contract. In this way, you will already be traveling with the visa that enables you to work in Mexico.

However, we know that many people choose to arrive in Mexico and look for job offers personally by visiting the tourist cities, but this is not recommended because they will not have a work visa. And in any place where your contract is serious and legal, you will need this permit, it is an indispensable requirement if you are not naturalized or are a temporary or permanent resident.

4. Local Buses:

The bus system in Cancun is extensive and can get you to most parts of the city. This is definitely the most affordable method of transportation. The bus costs ten pesos ($.50 USD).

There are two types of buses – large, more traditional-looking buses (often blue), and small white vans. They go to the same places and cost the same. There are actual bus stops, but don’t worry about that. Flag down any bus anywhere and it will stop for you.

The buses have signs in their front windows telling you where they go. Once you get on, tell the driver where you want to get off. Sometimes they remember and stop but not always. If you are unsure of the area, follow along on Google maps. You’ll see when you get close to your destination.

Some of the larger buses have a cord you can pull to request the next stop. Usually, you just have to tell the driver. A polite “alto, por favor” will get the job done.

It was very difficult for me to figure out which bus goes where. I got a lot of help from an app called Moovit. It doesn’t cover all cities, but it has a lot of information about Cancun’s bus routes. It’s not super accurate, but it’s the best tool I’ve found so far.

I love bus transportation. It is fast, cheap, easy, and better for the environment. Don’t be afraid to try it out. Ask questions and locals will be happy to help you. The bus drivers are very accommodating and will help ensure you get off at the right stop. Living in Cancun is “almost” a first world experience. With the large network of buses and taxis, one can easily live in the city without owning a car. Power outtages are rare and internet is fast, stable, and inexpensive, the roads are paved and crime is generally low.

5. Special employee rates:

When you work in the tourism sector, which is the main sector in Cancun, you get food facilities, such as food included in your salary or special rates on food from the organization where you work at.

Working and living in Cancun is truly a privilege for many, from all states of the country, Cancun is a multicultural place, due to the job offer many people have migrated to Cancun, not only from all parts of the country, but also from all over the world, which makes living here an enriching experience, as you can meet and live with a number of cultures very different from each other.

We citizens are used to this kind of context, so most of us respect this multicultural richness. This also makes Cancun an excellent place for acceptance and adaptation, for growth, but above all it makes it a state where the different is not rare.

Cancun is today one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide. It has approximately 200 hotels, with more than 36 thousand rooms, being the main tourist destination in the Caribbean and all Latin America, surpassing Brazil, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and Buenos Aires.

Knowing now this data, it is difficult to think that its history used to be uninteresting. Sure: the passage of the Mayan communities left a very important legacy, but what today is specifically known as Cancun was nothing outstanding; there were some constructions by the sea to watch over.

Cancun was a success and grew smoothly until the 80's, but in 1988 the city was hit by Hurricane Gilberto and having no recorded history of any tropical cyclone, the destination could not adequately prepare for it. The category 5 hurricane with winds of more than 320 km/h, caused tourist activities to stop 100% for a week, while the process of recovery and cleanup, reestablishment of electric power and drinking water began. This hurricane also destroyed one million hectares of tropical forest and mangroves.

Cancun was able to recover quickly from this adversity and to this day has demonstrated resilience and safety. Quintana Roo, currently has three important tourist projects that run through its territory: Cancun, the Riviera Maya, and the so-called Grand Costa Maya to the south. Its mestizo population immersed in the multiculturalism of a tourist state, makes it an attraction for those seeking simple ways of life and genuine cultural expressions. It still preserves parts of its jungle and especially hospitable inhabitants whose cultural heritage is reflected in the food, in the traditional festivities and in the kindness of their treatment.

The new Secretariat has so far carried out various actions including focusing on the work and campaigns that fall under the educational sector, making agreements, forums, campaigns around the main levels and following up on those already existing in previous administrations.

Quintana Roo is a state rich in culture, tradition, uses and customs; being a recently created state in which people from different parts of our country converge and even inhabitants of other nations who have decided to plant their roots in the different municipalities of Quintana Roo; this makes the state a multicultural place where traditions and customs are mixed, turning new generations into authentic cultural hybrids.

This multiculturalism must be appreciated, well represented as well as promoted in its different forms.

Culture is a term used to refer to the uses and customs of a people; however, it has another aspect which is called high culture and refers to the fine arts, all these expressions have a very important boom in some states of northern and central Mexico with a history and creation time greater than that of Quintana Roo.

Being a young and tourist state, most of the resources are destined to this sector, leaving aside the inhabitants of our state and taking away the opportunity to spread the native culture within Quintana Roo, as well as the diversity it has, but above all, working little in the creation of new audiences capable of appreciating other artistic expressions, here is an evaluation:

The cultural and artistic public policies of Quintana Roo consider the impact of globalization in the local environment, the advance of science and technology and the political, economic and social transformation of Mexico in its democratizing process in the context of a multicultural society and in the specific case of the entity due to its economy based on tourism prevails the importance of strengthening the identity and promote programs aimed at preserving, encouraging, promoting and disseminating the valuable historical, artistic and cultural tangible and intangible heritage that is expressed daily in the 10 municipalities of the state.