Advice on Pachuca?

[CHerr]

My wife and I have been offered teaching positions in Pachuca that we're very excited about, but we have a few questions that we haven't been able to answer ourselves. Any help would be appreciated.

1. Our salary package is 13,000 pesos/month, pre-tax, each (so 26,000 pre-tax total). This doesn't include travel reimbursements and holiday bonuses, and housing and health insurance are provided for us. We'll mostly cook at home, but we would like to go out to eat once or twice a week and do some local traveling during breaks. We won't really be bringing any expenses along with us, either, although it would of course be nice to put some money away. It's been hard to find good cost-of-living information for Pachuca. Put simply - can we do these things on the salary we've been offered?

2. How easy is it to get to El Chico National Park? That's a big draw for me, and if there's a daily bus route or something, I'll be even more excited.

3. Will we need a car? If so, would we be able to afford one? I understand that taxis are very cheap and they've been plentiful in other Latin American areas that I've visited.

4. I take medication for a heart condition. Are most prescriptions readily available and affordable in Pachuca? Our insurance likely won't cover it since it's pre-existing, but I understand that many medications that require a prescription in the U.S. can be bought cheaply over-the-counter elsewhere.

Thanks so much. This is our first true expat experience, and we're looking forward to contributing to this excellent resource.

[Isla Verde]

Originally Posted by CHerr

My wife and I have been offered teaching positions in Pachuca that we're very excited about, but we have a few questions that we haven't been able to answer ourselves. Any help would be appreciated.

1. Our salary package is 13,000 pesos/month, pre-tax, each (so 26,000 pre-tax total). This doesn't include travel reimbursements and holiday bonuses, and housing and health insurance are provided for us.

I've never been to Pachuca, so I can't answer most of your questions. However, I can assure you that you could live very nicely in Mexico City on your combined salaries, especially with housing included. I imagine that the cost-of-living is lower in Pachuca than in Mexico City.

Good luck with your first expat experience!

[TundraGreen]

Originally Posted by CHerr

2. How easy is it to get to El Chico National Park? That's a big draw for me, and if there's a daily bus route or something, I'll be even more excited.

3. Will we need a car? If so, would we be able to afford one? I understand that taxis are very cheap and they've been plentiful in other Latin American areas that I've visited.

I visited Pachuca for the wedding of friend of mine once. It is a nice small town. If you choose to live near the center of town, you can get along fine without a car. I can't remember where the or a mercado is in Pachuca. Most all cities of that size have a mercado where there are merchants selling all the things you need for everyday life, food, cleaning supplies, hardware, household items. If you live within a short walk from the mercado, a car is unnecessary.

According to the web, there are buses several times a day from Pachuca to Parque Nacional El Chico. I didn't go out to the park when I was there, so I can't comment on what the hiking is like from the bus stop.

My friend lived there on less than $10,000 pesos/month including paying his rent, so I second the comment that $26,000 + housing is certainly enough to live very well.

[Ken Wood]

My Mexican daughter (step-daughter to be perfectly legal) lived in Pachuca for a while, and I have been there while visiting her. I found it a typical Mexican city with several added assets. Typical because it has a nice market, dependable public transportation, lots of history, and endless small street taquerias, etc. Among the assets are the facts that it is close enough to Mexico City to allow effortless visits to that unbelievable city, and also the fact that Pachuca, and its surrounding area, are situated at a very high elevation, providing snow, mild temperatures, and four seasons.

My own way forward, were I you, would be to make the move initially relying on public transportation, then determine later if the move to a private vehicle was justified. The fundage you mention will provide you a lifestyle in the upper middle class of the area, so, all that will be left to you will be to decide that you are adaptable to life in a small Mexican city.

[CHerr]

Thanks so much for your help, everyone. Like I said, we were having a hard time finding solid information. I understand that Pachuca doesn't have a particularly large expat community, which likely explains that. We're even more excited after your responses. We had another job lined up and the rug was sort of pulled out from under us, so we were glad to find something so close to the start of the school year. This seems like it will be a better fit anyway, so we're glad for it in the end.

[Isla Verde]

Originally Posted by CHerr

Thanks so much for your help, everyone. Like I said, we were having a hard time finding solid information. I understand that Pachuca doesn't have a particularly large expat community, which likely explains that. We're even more excited after your responses. We had another job lined up and the rug was sort of pulled out from under us, so we were glad to find something so close to the start of the school year. This seems like it will be a better fit anyway, so we're glad for it in the end.

Once you've arrived in Pachuca and settled into your new life there, ipso facto, you'll be our experts on Pachuca!

[Isla Verde]

Originally Posted by CHerr

Thanks so much for your help, everyone. Like I said, we were having a hard time finding solid information. I understand that Pachuca doesn't have a particularly large expat community, which likely explains that. We're even more excited after your responses. We had another job lined up and the rug was sort of pulled out from under us, so we were glad to find something so close to the start of the school year. This seems like it will be a better fit anyway, so we're glad for it in the end.

Have you tried asking the school where you'll be working to put you in touch with other expats on their teaching staff? That would be a good way to find out more about the school and the town.

[CHerr]

Originally Posted by Isla Verde

Have you tried asking the school where you'll be working to put you in touch with other expats on their teaching staff? That would be a good way to find out more about the school and the town.

We just thought it probably wouldn't be appropriate until we've formally accepted their offer. We definitely will as soon as we do, though.

[Isla Verde]

Originally Posted by CHerr

We just thought it probably wouldn't be appropriate until we've formally accepted their offer. We definitely will as soon as we do, though.

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with asking to talk to current teachers while you're still deciding whether or not to take the job. If the school appears unwilling to allow you to do this, then I'd be leery about accepting the position.

[RPBHaas]

Originally Posted by CHerr

Thanks so much for your help, everyone. Like I said, we This seems like it will be a better fit anyway, so we're glad for it in the end.

Bienvenidos. I shared a part time office in Pachuca for a time from 2007-2009. I was only there a week at a time and traveled out of the city on a regular basis so I stayed at a hotel and never rented a house or apartment.
Pachuca tends to be the "service" base for Mexico City. It's history is mining but as of 2008 there was virtually no operational mines in the immediate area. The state of Hidalgo has one the largest manganese deposit in the Americas but is a few hours away from Pachuca. There are some beautiful areas to the north east of the city, within 2 hours, including the antique mines and a canyon on the scale of the Grand Canyon.
I had a vehicle some of the occasions and relied on taxis for the remainder of my in-city transportation. You can get from one side of the city to the other for 50-60 pesos tops. If you live close to the school it will probably be less.
There are a couple nice parts of Pachuca that should provide very nice housing for less than 6000 pesos (mxn) per month. A/C will most likely not be needed as you will probably need a space heater for more of the year. It can get a little chilly just about any time of the year.