What is the average income of urban Mexicans and how do they spend their income?

Question

I am interested in knowing the average income of Mexicans living in Metro areas such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, and Toluca.

I would also like to know how much do mexicans spend on phone, utilities, education, entertainment, food, etc.

Thanks in advance,

Dicky

Answer 1

Although I believe the gap between the rich and poor is getting wider, the average Mexican still only earns approx. $4 US a day...tourist jobs are more due to the propinas they receive (tips).  Many will work 1 or 2 or 3 jobs, plus live in a huge household and pool their funds together.  Alot will do commission sales on the side.

Many of the men of the family will go to tourist areas to work in construction and earn more to send home.

Overall, it is almost impossible to determine exactly how much a household earns, but in the past 10-20 years, their lifestyles appear to be improving.

Food is still relatively cheap.  They buy in bulk things like rice and beans.  Electricity is very expensive, so many restrict it, or do not have ovens or items that use alot.  Almost every middle class mexican has a cell phone....the land lines in mexico are very unreliable and were very expensive to hook up...cell phones have completely altered the requirement.  Education is hard on many families that cannot afford the uniforms, gym uniforms, shoes, supplies.  Many do not make it to graduation (plus the family often require their income).

Answer 2

man  by the question you asked I infer you want to live in mexico, or you have to be relocated due to work ..

well  to keep your americanized way of living  in mexico  you'll need  

$20000  MXN  (mexican peso)  if you have one child ina private school

car not included

actually with 15 000 pesos  you can have a reasonable income to support you and your wife and yor child,  you have to add the cost of the private health insurance.

2400 USD dollars  should be ok.  (monthly)

Answer 3

It is hard to say what average income is when on the same block you can see the people who live in a cardboard shack begging from the people in the Hummers, BMWs, Mercedes,Ferraris etc and who live in multimillion dollar homes. perhaps the woman driving the Opel whose husband breaks his back to pay tuition and the 25 yr. mortgage at 12% gives one of the beggars a peso so SHE won't feel gulty about almost having a little something.

I live in Toluca, one of the most expensive areas for housing  Mexico and probably Monterrey have more expensive real estate. Also NYC, anywhere in Cali, southern Fla. or any other large metropolitan area in the USA will have more expensive housing, but in general while rents are lower than the avg. in the USA the price of a home here is much higher in comparison. when you consider what you get for your money.

Private kindergarten - jr high tuition  in US dollars runs  $250/month (not usually good schools at this price) to $500.

Highschool from $300 - $600. University from $500 to about $1,200. All USD price equivalents.

It's a $100 dollar nonrefundable deposit for a phone. Phone regular phone and cel service are higher than in the USA. After 100 calls or 100 minutes Telmex charges for local calls. If we make no long distance calls the phone bill is just between $70 and $80 USD. If you rent you don't usually pay water. If you own you have to pay water once a year usually $200 - $300. Electric bill every two months should be under $15, might be as little as half that depending. No electric stoves so you have to pay for LP or natural gas. You wouldn't want an electric stove or water heater because the power goes out frequently.

Gas is slightly higher than in the USA and the premium here is equal to mid grade there. Cars are more expensive and there is a yearly ownership tax that is pretty stiff.

Trip to the movies for two people: Prices vary depending on the theater and the day or time of day but on average $9 for tickets $8 - $10 for snacks... unless you go to the VIP Cinema with the leather recliners, and waiters serving you from the wet bar and bringing sushi and subs. Last weekend that cost my wife and me about $40.

Rock concerts probably cost about the same. Classical music concerts here are a great buy!

I have been told that groceries here in Toluca are more expensive than in most places in Mexico. Still eating at home might be cheaper than in some places in the USA. Eating out in a decent restaurant in Mexico is generally more expensive than in the USA, but less than many places in Europe.

I should point out that one of the reasons prices are high in Mexico is that most products and services include a value added tax of 15% in the price.

In this area a family of three needs at least $3000 a month after taxes in order to live with some comfort resembling a middle class lifestyle. If you are accustomed to luxury cars, yachts and such you will need much much more.

Oh, one more thing. The nicer places to live in this area are not in Toluca, rather in Metepec, south of Toluca. However, many of us are beginning to buy, build and live in Zinacantepec, due west of Toluca, which has not yet been over exploited the way Metepec has.

Hope this helps.