Hello all! I'm new here-as you probably guessed by my post count! I am planning on coming to Cancun in January, to find work hopefully. The little research I have done tells me my best options would probably be Telesales/Telemarketing or Timeshare work or TEFL (which I have some experience-but just worried about being able to work enough hours to live on-I've heard it can be hard finding enough hours per week, ideally I'd need 15-20 on MXN80 per hour) I don't have a ton of cash but have enough to be able to survive for a few months. However during the first few weeks of handing out CV's e.t.c I think it'd be best to live as frugal and as cheaply as possible until I am earning enough to cover me (I'm o.k with this, I can budget awesomely!) and with accomodation being the most critical thing in terms of my budget, I had some questions: 1.) Is it possible to find a reasonably safe no frills house/flat/apartment with running water for MXN3000 or less per month? Would it be realistic to expect a cooker in a rented place for this much? 2.) Where is the best place to look for cheap places to rent? In local papers? Are there any papers or other sources that anyone could recommend? 3.) Given my financial situation I obviously couldn't commit to a long term rent or a big deposit and would be most comfortable renting on something like a monthly basis. Given these things, how easy would it be for me to rent a cheap place fresh off the plane? Sorry if these are stupid questions!...I'm very grateful to anyone for giving their time in answering them ldn84
About 70% of the City of Cancun is made up of places that would rent very cheaply, including the area nearest my university, where students pay as little as 1,500 pesos per month for small apts/rooms with running water. As you might expect, these parts of town are not very attractive, but they are where most of the people live: you could too, if you never carry a cell phone or more than 50 pesos with you. Sharing an apt with another, or renting an efficiency could get you accommodations in much, but not all, of the other 30%. Very low cost places like you have in mind are not advertised in the newspapers: it costs too much. Pick a neighborhood you like and walk the streets, making note of the for rent signs. This is the fastest and best way to find a place here. There's lots to choose from. You will need a Spanish speaker to help you, unless your Spanish is already pretty good.
Hey, The thing is that renting an inexpensive place becomes more difficult if you're not signing a contract. But you could definitely find a room in an apartment for that price, and most likely there'd be no contract involved. What you will find is typical of most other cities: for the same price, you can either find a crappy place in a nicer area or a nicer place in a less desirable area. Or it might not even be less desirable, just very, very far from downtown. Though not always...last place I rented was in 2006 and I had a small house with an enormous walled patio in a very, very convenient area for 3000 pesos. There are also plenty of small houses that can be rented extremely cheaply (ie in Villas Cancun, Villas Quintana Roo, etc) and these are safe, working class family areas, but you will be looking at a loooonnnnng commute compared to living downtown within walking distance from lots of places.
@ldn84: There are cheap and decent places even Downtown. Obviously harder to find, but they exist. A friend is renting an appt. just off Yaxhcilan(one of the most centric streets in Cancun), but he pays 3400 mxp/month. Its a nice place though, with everything you need, such as stove/hot plates(gas), fridge(freezer included), A/C, ceiling fans etc. (For us locals: Its located where Aquakan has their office.) Like others have written: Best way is to stroll around areas that you like, call the numbers and ask how much the rent is, straight out. Best of luck!
I was thinking of there as well Rawkus. There are some little studio places in that building on the corner - not sure if that is the place you mean and not sure of the rent, but they look fine. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=cancun&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=21.163969,-86.828601&spn=0.001713,0.00284&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.080837,93.076172&t=h&hnear=Canc%C3%BAn,+Quintana+Roo,+Mexico&z=19&layer=c&cbll=21.163969,-86.828601&panoid=-nrVibWPl8LVO7pUySwtDQ&cbp=12,161.56,,0,0.76
To V, gbchayctca, rawkus, matkirk: Thanks so much for the ideas you have given guys. I'm grateful that you all took time out of your own day to help me Its definitely encouraging to know that it is do-able cheaply even for a non-resident. I knew I could stay at 'Hostel Kancun' (which is the cheapest I found) in a dorm for around 65 pesos per night which would be 2000 pesos per month, but that wouldn't be ideal long term (if even allowed) so I am encouraged that even a decent place of my own-or even a private room/efficiency could be had for only a little more or even less. To be honest I feared the worst about accommodation prices at first because I started by looking into the possibility of staying in a tent to keep costs down thinking that would be the cheapest option of the lot and the only safe option I found was a place in Puerto Morelos. It looked a nice place to camp, but it costs US$15 per night! Again, thanks all for your help and time
You could probably rent a decent sized place for 3000 or under in Lombardo Toledano off of Lopez Portillo on the way to the ferry port in puerto juarez, I used to live there and never had any trouble. Not the most desirable place to live but much better than the places near the University that V was speaking of, although they are probably some of the cheapest accomodations you will find, i wouldn't step too far off the main road going through Corales at night time. Saying that we go to the market there every Tuesday, never had any trouble. If your budget can stretch a bit more or you find someone to share with, I would recommend one of the privadas right near that University, we live in one, it's 4800 including maintenance for a 3 bedroom house, lovely pool and garden area for relaxing, shared with 50 houses (a good percentage don't pay maintenance so can't use the facilities), it is kept clean and their is 24 hour security and gated entrance. I reckon you could get one for slightly less as there are some that have been unoccuppied for a while, fair sized houses and built fairly well, plus it is extremely quiet and peaceful in the day time. We looked all over Cancun and this was by far the best value for money available, we found people that wanted 8000 a month for scummy small homes in over priced areas with no security or pool. I mean if your trying to rent a place, at least clean it! Good luck on your search.
Also there is a campsite called El Mecoloco which is on the puerto Juarez road to Punta Sam, if you go to the ruins El Meco, it's just behind there, i bet you could come to some good agreement on a long term rental rate, they have cabins with showers etc.
