What is ‘Total Cost of Ownership’?

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is a moniker that describes a financial estimate used to express the total direct and indirect costs of owning something over time.  This article highlights the principal costs which make up the ‘TCO’ of residential property in Mexico, including some of the less apparent and sometimes overlooked costs associated with buying and owning property here.

Up-front property purchase costs

Before the exchange of a property can take place, buyers will have some up-front costs to budget for; for example:

Discovery visits

If you don’t live in Mexico yet, or if you live here and plan to move to a different region in Mexico, you will need to budget for transportation and accommodation costs to visit the place(s) you are exploring for property purchase.  We strongly recommend that you never purchase property in Mexico “sight-unseen;” it’s wise to always visit the location and locale, and the properties (or building site) that you are interested in buying, in-person.

Buyer surveys

While these are not common in Mexico, some buyers may choose to hire a professional building surveyor to inspect the property before they make an offer to ascertain the state of the current build and costs that might be required to ‘make-good’ any dilapidation, and to ensure that there are no severe structural faults (for example, that might have been caused by earthquakes or natural land subsidence) that could be expensive to deal with, or perhaps even impossible to rectify without reconstruction.  Surveys are more commonly undertaken on older properties, but any buyer can hire a surveyor to check any building if they wish to do so and if the seller objects to a surveyor’s visit, then that might be a warning sign to the buyer.

Property valuation reports

Some sellers will hire a professional property assessor to undertake a study of the property and its neighborhood and produce a property valuation report.  In Spanish, these are called an Avaluo and they cost between US$200-$300 to get commissioned by an experienced professional.  Buyers are advised to do their own research and not take these reports as Gospel. (They are commissioned by the seller, after all.)  Some buyers might commission their own valuation report; this is not a common practice, but not impossible if the seller is willing to allow an independent assessor to visit the property.

Property purchase closing costs

‘Closing costs’ is a term that describes the fees and charges that buyers need to pay when they complete a legal property transfer.  Once a buyer has made an offer and had that offer accepted, a contract will be drawn up to begin the property exchange procedure, and the assignment of closing costs will usually be documented in the contract to avoid misunderstanding between the parties.  These usually include how and who will pay costs such as Notary Public fees, sales taxes and any other charges that may be required to secure the property’s legal transfer.  Closing costs vary; as a rule of thumb they may range between 5% and 10% of the property’s sales value.  This should be priced in to your TCO as they’re part of the overall investment.

Ongoing property costs in Mexico

When you have taken possession of your Mexican property, there are a range of costs which may not be immediately apparent, but that ought to be taken into account when you calculate your budget.  These include:

Property taxes

In Mexico, the annual property tax is known as the Predial.  It’s pay-able by property owners once a year at your local Municipality.  Some regions send a bill, others don’t but all run local ad campaigns reminding property owners to pay.  Rates vary depending on the state, the area, and the size of your home. Typically, your property tax bill in Mexico will equate to a small few hundred dollars per year and could be less than US$100 a year if your home is small and in a rural area.  You can learn more about property taxes in our Mexico Cost of Living Guide

Property service fees

If you purchase a condominium, apartment, penthouse, or a property which is part of a gated community, you will need to contribute the ongoing maintenance and service fees which pay for the amenities and and services provided at the property.  These services may include a swimming pool, gym, club house, golf course, gardens and other common areas, sports facilities (e.g. tennis courts) as well as services like watering the lawns, lighting the common areas and paying for gate security/access if this exists on-site.

If you buy the property from new, the annual services may start out quite low, because everything is new and very little maintenance is required.   In due course, buildings will need maintenance and repairs done to them, and sometimes the owners may be asked for a lump sum to pay for a major project—for example, the swimming pool may need major repair or maintenance.

Co-operative ownership of spaces and services is a great way to enjoy facilities; for example, the cost of running a swimming pool between twenty owners is far less than maintaining your own, and it’s also more environmentally friendly as the resources are shared across a defined community.   However, when you buy into a shared community, be sure you understand what the maintenance and service fees are, and be realistic about their (highly) likely need to increase over time, especially if you buy into the project when the building is brand-new.

Land trust fees

If you are not a Mexican citizen and plan to buy property within 50km (~30 miles) of the Mexican coast or 100km (~60 miles) of one of Mexico’s land borders, the law requires that the land be held in a Trust, known as a Fideicomiso.  (This is due to Mexico’s constitution prohibiting foreigner’s direct ownership of land near borders and the sea.)

The Trust that is set up when you purchase property through it ensures that the asset becomes yours in all but name. Trusts are usually set up through a local bank, and all banks in Mexico have a department dedicated to servicing Trusts for foreign property owners.  Trusts carry an initial set-up fee, plus an ongoing yearly fee to maintain.

The exact fees vary depending on the value of the property transaction, but set-up costs are around US$1,000 and ongoing Trust fees can range from between US$500 and US$2,000 per year.  Even at the lower range of the fee scale, this is a recurring cost that you need to take into account when you purchase land or property near the sea or a land border in Mexico.

If you purchase land or property inland of these distance limits, there is no obligation to set-up a trust and you may own the property in your own name. (Some owners choose to place the property into a Trust anyway, for estate planning purposes.)

Electricity supply to your home

To the surprise of many foreigners, electricity costs can be high in Mexico relative to local earnings, although if you keep your consumption in check, electricity can conversely be quite inexpensive here.

To keep your electricity bill low in Mexico you must remain within a subsidized ‘allowance’ of energy consumption every sixty days (the billing cycle).  The allowances vary by state and region, and local climate is taken into consideration; for example, if your home is situated in a hot climate zone, there is a higher subsidy (allowance) during the hot months, to help you cool your home.

If you exceed your subsidized allowance, two things happen: first, your unit cost increases for the entire amount consumed, not just the amount above the excess; second, the generous government subsidy is withdrawn —shown as a specific credit subtracted from your bill— leaving you to settle the entire so-termed “true” cost of the electricity.

The use of a modern ceiling fan consumes a low amount of energy; however, air conditioning units consume a lot of electric and these will usually cause a property to exceed its ‘subsidized’ kilowatts usage limit if used liberally, and you’ll need to budget for this during the hotter months of the year. You can learn more about electricity prices in our Mexico Cost of Living Guide.

Drinking water supply

If you live somewhere like the US or Canada, you’ll be accustomed to having potable water piped directly to your home, ready for human consumption straight from the tap.

Good quality hotels and resorts in Mexico purify their water systems so that guests may enjoy the same arrangement.  When you take possession of your home in Mexico, the water supply might or might not be fit to drink straight from the tap.  It’s a moot point: some people say it’s perfectly drinkable, others say no.

The truth is that it probably depends upon where your home is situated.  Many factors affect this issue: the supply itself, but more often the pipes which transport it to your tap.  In any event, most foreigners (and many Mexicans) buy bottled water.

A vessel containing twenty liters of drinking water will cost you between $15 and $40 pesos (US$1.60-$2.60), depending upon where you are situated in Mexico, and whether you pick it up yourself or have it delivered.  This can add around US$300-$400 a year to a household budget for two people. You can learn more about water systems in Mexico here on Mexperience.

Property management fees

If you won’t be staying full-time at your home in Mexico, you’ll need to hire someone to manage the property for you while you’re away.   Vacant properties are a favorite target for burglars and, in any event, it makes good sense to have someone looking after the property in your absence not only to mitigate burglaries, but to ensure the property is kept clean and checked after heavy storms, hurricanes, or earthquakes.

The precise fees will depend upon how much work the property manager needs to do.  If the property will be left vacant, and simply needs the post, bills, a bit of cleaning undertaken and routine checks made after storms, etc., the cost could be limited, perhaps US$75-$100 a month.  If you plan to rent out your property then property management fees will increase to reflect the extra services the property manager undertakes such as reception of your guests and providing a local point of contact should they need anything or something goes awry during their stay.

You’ll also have to pay agency commissions if a renter is found on your behalf.  Sometimes the property manager and the realty agent are the same person and sometimes they are not.  In any event, there are two separate fees to account for: the management fees and the rental fee commission.

Home insurance coverage

Sometimes overlooked, but vitally important to protect what is likely your most valuable physical asset in Mexico, is home owner’s insurance.

If your home is on or near the coast, storms, winds and flooding are key risks; elsewhere, risks from earthquakes and volcanic activity as well as flooding from any nearby rivers and lakes need to be mitigated with an adequate home insurance policy to ensure that you are not left with huge bills (or substantial loss of your investment) should unforeseen events take a toll on your property.

Our detailed guide to insuring your home in Mexico explains what you need to know and key considerations you should take into account when choosing an insurance policy.

Property sales fees

One day, you or your heirs will probably want to sell your Mexican property.  We mentioned the cost of commissioning a sales valuation report earlier, and there are a range of other costs and fees that sellers need to take into account when they decide to sell their residential property, including the agency costs if a realty agent is retained to market the property.  Our article about the costs and taxes of selling property in Mexico explains these in detail.

Learn more about property in Mexico

Mexperience offers detailed insights about property in Mexico for buyers, owners, renters, and sellers.

• Latest articles and insights about real estate in Mexico
• Working with a realty agent in Mexico
• Insuring your Mexican home
• Enjoying your home and home life in Mexico

In this article, we describe how sewerage and waste water is typically managed at residential homes in Mexico, either via a mains sewer or a natural sewer (septic tank) system.

Two principal ways to deal with waste water

Typically. homes situated in well established neighborhoods in urban areas will have access to a municipally-run mains sewerage system, whereby the property’s waste water is connected to the town or city’s sewer for treatment and recycling.

Homes which are situated in rural areas, or districts of a town or city where the mains sewerage system does not reach —or cannot reach due to local topography or subsoil issues— need to use a septic tank system.  Having your own septic tank might sound daunting, but lots of homes in Mexico have them, and they operate mostly trouble-free when properly cared for.

Mains sewerage systems in Mexico

Like the mains-fed water system, Mexico’s sewerage systems vary by city and neighborhood but, on the whole, Mexico’s sewerage systems are good enough, due in part to extensive government investment in recent decades to ensure that sewerage leaks are kept to a minimum and problems are dealt with swiftly due to the public health consequences of doing otherwise.

Accessing the mains sewerage system

If you rent or buy a built home in Mexico that has a mains-fed water supply, chances are the area will also have a mains sewerage system, and the property’s water waste pipe will already be connected to it.

If you are building your own home on a plot of land that is near to the town or city’s sewer main, you can pay to get the property connected to it.  This work must be done by the local water authority; it cannot be done by your plumber or builders.

Paying for mains sewerage

Homes connected to a mains sewerage system are billed by the same local water authority that manages the mains water supply.  Mains water bills are usually dispatched every two months, and  the sewerage element is either a fixed charge or related to the volume of fresh water consumed.

See also: The cost of utilities in Mexico

Septic tank sewerage systems in Mexico

If the property you rent or buy (or intend to build) is not near a mains sewerage system, the property will have a septic tank (natural sewer) instead.

Septic tanks are most common on properties situated in rural or remote areas, although even some neighborhoods in cities may use one if the property is too far away from the nearest mains sewerage duct.

How septic tank systems work on a property

In essence, a septic tank is quite simple, and properly cared for (see below) will be mostly self-managing.

• Waste water from the property is piped into a septic tank buried underground at least a couple of meters away from the buildings.
• From there, waste passes through a ‘drainfield’—a series of underground pipes and concrete boxes filled with gravel.
• Afterward, the waste water passes into the surrounding soil, where it becomes a type of natural fertilizer.
• This article and video share an excellent overview about septic tank systems, types, and how they work.

Maintaining a healthy septic tank system

A septic waste water system on your property will usually look after itself provided you take care of it and are mindful about what you allow to be put down the toilet and the drains. It might need to be pumped out periodically, and especially if a problem develops.

Here are some tips to help maintain your septic tank system.

Get familiar with the system

If you have never rented or purchased a house with a septic tank system ask the owner (or previous owner) about it.  Make sure you know where it’s situated on the property and how to get access to it.

Only flush toilet paper

Other than bodily waste, nothing other than toilet paper should ever be flushed down. Toilet paper is designed to break down and is ‘septic tank safe,’ but paper tissues are not, so those and diapers, dental floss, hygienic pads, etc. should all be discarded in a waste bin, never down the toilet. Anything containing plastic or rubber can wreck your septic system and require you to have it pumped out.

Avoid putting undue stress on the system

Too much water all at once is not good for a septic tank system. For example, it’s better to do laundry over several days instead of doing it all in one day.  Similar with dish washers. Keep showers short, and if you use a bath, try not to drain it at the same time you are doing laundry.

Be careful with your kitchen sink

It’s possible (but not ideal) to use ‘food disposal grinders’ with a septic tank, but only if the food you are grinding down is easily biodegradable, i.e., natural foods, not processed—and never in excess quantities.

It’s best to wipe out food scraps into a separate waste bin and compost those separately, so that the amount of food waste going down your drain and entering your septic tank is minimized.

Oil, grease, and other fats from cooking should not be washed down your sink.  Some systems have a ‘grease trap’ that collects fat before it reaches the septic tank and this will need cleaning out occasionally.  In any event, it’s best practice to remove as much food/oil/fat from your dishes using an absorbent paper towel before washing them.

Beware of cleaners and chemicals

Septic tanks depend on good bacteria to break down all the waste. Harsh cleaners and chemicals can kill these bacteria and make your tank less efficient, or cause it to malfunction.

Some sites that publish information about septic tanks claim that small amounts of bleach won’t damage the tank; it’s probably best to avoid using bleach as a whitener in your laundry, for example.

Never use drain de-blocking chemicals if you have a septic tank. Drano and similar products contain highly corrosive acids that will kill the bacteria in your tank’s system.  If you need to de-clog a drain use a rubber plunger or a drain snake coil, instead.

Using natural cleaners like white vinegar, salt, citrus, baking soda, boric acid (borax), as alternatives to commercial cleaning products can help to protect the integrity of your septic tank.

Regular maintenance, and tank replacement

You might occasionally need to get your septic tank pumped out—check locally for service providers who do this, or ask a plumber for a referral.

If the septic tank is very old or becomes damaged, it will begin to leak and you’ll know by the stench and waste water that will rise from the ground near where the tank is buried. Contact a plumber if you need to replace it, or the property owner if you’re renting. Septic tank replacement is quite a big job as it requires considerable digging and other labor in addition to the new parts.

Learn more about water supplies in Mexico

Mexperience publishes articles and guides to help you understand water supplies and the efficient use of water at your home in Mexico, including:

• Water delivered to residential homes in Mexico
• Understanding water pressure systems
• Clarity about drinking the water
• Latest articles related to use of water in Mexico
• Latest articles about Mexico’s rainy season and dry season

• buying land to build a residential home; or
• considering a home that is situated in a semi-rural or rural area; and/or
• looking at a property that has been recently constructed.

There are many properties in Mexico that are not connected to a mains or community-managed water network, especially (but not solely) in rural areas, and properties without a mains water feed need to be served by one of two alternative means: rainwater, or water truck deliveries (or a combination of these two).

The effect of the dry season on water supplies

Most of Mexico experiences a ‘dry season’ lasting about six months, between November/December and May/June, although water scarcity doesn’t typically become noticeable until around mid-to-late February.

The dry season brings challenges to the landscape as well to home owners, as water can become quite scarce in some areas or regions—even at properties served by water main systems as supplies to homes are throttled by water authorities to conserve supplies until the rains return and local underground wells get replenished.

How will your property get its water?

When you’re buying property in Mexico, whether it’s a built home, and especially when investing in land upon which you intend to build your home, it’s vital to know exactly what the water supply arrangements are, because it may not be as straightforward as you might expect.

Land (or property) without a reliable water source will require you to depend on water deliveries by truck (if available locally) and/or you will need to collect rainwater in season (between May/June and October/November)—and keep this water stored in underground cisterns on the property.

In Mexico’s established towns and cities, water is most usually piped directly to homes in residential neighborhoods using a water mains network, with each home’s supply routed through a water meter by which you pay according to your consumption. Water bills are sent out bi-monthly. Mains water is usually fine for washing, bathing, and cooking, but it might not be suitable for drinking without being filtered.

If the property you’re planning to buy is not served by a mains water system, then its wise to establish what water supply arrangements are currently in place —or can be put into place— to supply the property with a reliable supply of water before you sign a contract to buy.

Water supply in Mexico

Properties in Mexico usually obtain their water supply from one of four principal sources:

• a mains water system, which is usually metered; or
• a local community water system fed from a licensed water well; or
• a combination of rainwater collection (in season); and
• water-truck deliveries.

You can learn more about water supply services here.

Getting a reliable water supply for your property

If you discover that a property you’re interested in is not served by a water main system, don’t take anyone’s word, or hear-say, about other sources. Undertake due diligence and find out how the property is being served by water (or whether you’ll need to make alternative arrangements) and ascertain that any existing supply agreements that are in place are binding in the event of a property transfer.

In the absence of a water main system, your property may be supplied with water in these ways:

Local mains or community water systems

If a local mains water supply or community water system exists locally, you ought be able to get your property connected to it—but double check this as local rules and regulations about connections can be quirky.

The procedure to get connected can be time-consuming and will involve negotiation with local water authorities or community leaders, as well as connection fees in addition to the consumption or annual supply costs.

Consult with the local water authority (or community leaders in rural areas) as well as a local architect and/or plumber about the options and costs involved to get a property connected to the local mains system.

Local water wells

If the water source is a licensed local water well, this should be stipulated on the deeds or related contract or covenant and the property’s right to access to the well and the system that delivers water from it should be checked and verified by you and/or the Notary Public dealing with your property transaction.

Rain collection

Properties that are not near, or which cannot connect to, mains or community water systems will often have underground cisterns on-site that store rainwater, collected in season using roof capture systems.

Modern rainwater collection methods make optimal use of the roof space to collect and channel rainwater into underground water cisterns.  Read more about this in the next section about water collection and storage.

Water delivery by truck

Most towns and villages, and especially those in (semi)rural areas, have a company or two operating a fleet of local water delivery trucks.  Most of the vehicles are usually kept parked and idle between June and October, but when the dry season starts, they ply a brisk trade by transporting water to local residences that are not supplied by a water main system, and whose rainwater collection arrangements are either non-existent or whose water cisterns have run low and require a refill.

The smaller trucks have tanks carrying 5,000 liters (1,300 US gallons) of water; the large ones carry 10,000 liters (2,600 US gallons) of water.

Water truck deliveries are essential during the dry season for many properties that don’t have a mains water supply; and properties that have large gardens and/or swimming pools tend to require refills of their water cisterns during the dry season if they don’t have rainwater collection and/or substantial underground cistern space.

You can never be sure about the precise amount of water being dispensed by the delivery truck: you buy ‘a tank’ at at an agreed price and whatever amount of water is in the truck gets pumped out of it and into your property’s cistern —there is no metering system— although if you know the full capacity of your cistern, you can estimate the amount of water that was dispensed after it’s been filled based on how full the cistern was before and after the delivery.

Buying water from delivery trucks is the second-most expensive to way to buy water; only purified water in bottles costs more. Prices for a tank fluctuate locally depending on factors such as current diesel fuel costs and how far away your property is situated from the licensed water wells that refill these trucks. If your home is near the water truck station, you’ll be offered a lower price than if it’s situated many miles away from it; and prices can escalate if your home is more remote, e.g., on a mountain ridge requiring the heavy water-laden truck to climb steep roads and negotiate dusty country lanes to arrive.

Water collection, storage, filtering, recycling—and gardening

Rainwater collection is a viable way to enjoy a beautiful countryside property that is not near a mains water feed, or which is too far away from the nearest community run water system to connect at a reasonable cost.

There are five key considerations to take into account when your property needs to collect rainwater as part of its water supply:

Efficient rainwater collection

The tremendous thunderstorms that arrive in the late spring and summer drench the landscape and each storm releases colossal amounts of water that can be collected for use in your home.

One square meter of roof space can potentially collect one liter of water for each one millimeter of rain that falls; thus the ratio is 1:1:1.

• If you’re building your own home, talk to your architect about how to design the roof space to optimize rainwater collection.
• If you’re buying an older home, talk to an architect or water management consultant about how you can use the existing roof space for collection, and/or make adjustments to the existing roof to optimize the amount of rainwater you can collect on your property.

Water storage at your home in Mexico

As we remarked on our article about water pressure in Mexico, most properties, even those supplied by a mains water system, have an underground cistern to store water for use on the property.

If your home is not near a water mains feed system, and/or remotely or rurally situated, having ample water storage is essential to keep you sufficiently supplied with water through the dry months of the year when rain is scarce or non-existent, and to minimize your dependency on water truck deliveries.

Water for your garden during Mexico’s dry season

The dry season brings two key challenges to home owners who have gardens in homes without a mains water supply: the absence of rain requires you to use substantial quantities of water to keep your garden flora alive, and your water cisterns are not being replenished for daily water use around the home.

Don’t underestimate the volume of water that you’ll need to maintain your home’s garden during the dry season.

There are many techniques to optimize the use of water in your garden during the dry season, and this article provides an excellent primer on the subject.

Water filtering for drinking

As we remarked in our article about drinking water in Mexico, most people buy bottled water, or filter water supplied to the property before they use it for drinking—whether it’s supplied by a mains feed system, water delivery trucks, or is collected from rainfall.

Water recycling on the property

The latest techniques used for water collection at residential homes also feature systems to recycle water within the property—channeling water that cannot be reused in the home into the garden to feed the flora, and channeling water than can be filtered and reused back into the property’s water cistern for reuse in the home itself.

The methods recycle a helpful percentage of every liter used, which reduces the amount of water cistern storage space required (cisterns can be expensive to build) and make efficient use of the rainwater that’s been collected.

Contact a water consultant in your local area, or talk to a local architect or plumber about options available for water recycling on your property.

Learn more about water supplies in Mexico

Mexperience publishes articles and guides to help you understand water supplies and the efficient use of water at your home in Mexico, including:

• How water is delivered to homes in Mexico
• Understanding water pressure systems
• Clarity about drinking the water
• Latest articles related to use of water in Mexico
• Latest articles about Mexico’s rainy season and dry season
• Free eBook: Home Maintenance and Security in Mexico

How water is delivered in Mexico

Water in Mexico is usually delivered to homes in one of four ways:

• via mains-feed system; or
• via a communal feed sourced from official local water springs and wells; or
• via a private well situated on the property or in the local neighborhood (although this is rare); or
• via a combination of rain collection (in season) and local water delivery by truck.

None of these methods provide provide the constant pressure needed to move the water effectively around your property’s pipework.  Good pressure is needed especially for use in showers and taps situated on the second or third story of a property, and to water your garden with a hose or pressure-driven sprinkler.

The importance of your home’s cistern

Almost all properties in Mexico have a cistern to collect and store water—regardless of whether you get water from a mains-fed system, a communal feed, rain water collection, or a combination of these.

The low pressure water feed from the mains-fed and communal water distribution systems is sufficient to fill these underground water storage areas, usually via a pipe that runs just below the surface of the street level. (Mains-fed systems in some places might have sufficient pressure to fill a tank on a low roof, but you ought not to count on this.)

If you have water deliveries made by truck and/or collect rainwater during the rainy season, that water will be channeled into your property’s cistern.

Cisterns sizes are expressed in liters and cubic meters: one cubic meter of cistern will store 1,000 liters (264 US gallons) of water.  They’re usually made of concrete and vary in size. Some homeowners dig a big hole, line it with concrete, and place a plastic tank in that space —a large tank for domestic use will store around 11,000 liters of water— leaving a service lid for access and maintenance to the tank inside; however, most cisterns are built using concrete that stores the water directly.

Cisterns (and tanks) need cleaning occasionally to clear sediment that inevitably builds-up on the cistern’s base, and algae that may begin to propagate around the top edges of the high waterline.

Smaller homes will usually store around 3000-4000 liters of water inside a small concrete cistern; mid sized homes may have cisterns of about 10,000 liters, larger homes, condos and apartment buildings, and properties with extensive gardens may have two or more cisterns with a capacity to store 50,000 or more liters of water on the property.

Water storage is especially prevalent during the dry season, when there’s no rainwater to collect, and mains-feed systems, which are usually intermittent and deliver water once every few days, often reduce delivery schedules during acute dry spells between November and May to conserve water in the area they serve.

Cisterns filled from mains-fed water or communal water networks have a float valve installed that shuts-off the incoming water when the cistern is filled.  Cisterns that are filled using rain water have overflow systems that prevent additional rainwater from accumulating when they’re full.

Creating water pressure for your property in Mexico

There are two principal ways of creating pressure within your home, building, or property.  The first, which is a gravity-led pressure system is almost universal even if you use the second method, which is to install a hydro-pump within your home’s water system—and there are two principal types of those.

El Tinaco—The water reservoir on your roof

If you’re familiar with Mexico you will have seen water tanks everywhere, situated atop roofs on homes and buildings across the country.  The very old ones are made of cement; modern versions are made using a special type of plastic. Some of these tanks are mounted on a tower or base to give them additional height above the property’s rooftop.  The additional height creates additional pressure below, that is especially useful in shower rooms on upper floors.

An electric pump moves water from the cistern to the tinaco. The pump is usually automated: it switches on when a floating switch in the tinaco falls below a certain level, and stops when it’s full, preventing the tinaco (water reservoir) on the roof from overflowing.

Rooftop reservoirs in private homes usually store between 1,000 and 2,000 liters of water. In condos and other buildings that serve multiple units, these tanks may be larger, although the water is usually stored (and thus the weight distributed) across multiple smaller tanks.

When the water from the cistern has been pumped-up to your roof, gravity takes over.  The higher the tank is situated above the property, the more pressure you’ll have below.  A tank on on a small tower above the roof of a two-story home provides plenty of pressure for upstairs and downstairs showers, and to power 100-foot long hosepipes connected to downstairs taps. Note that showers on two-story homes will require the reservoir tank to rest on a tower above the roofline to create sufficient pressure and water volume for a good head of water to flow upstairs.

Installing a hydro-pump for water pressure

Some people choose to install a hydro-pump on their property that keeps the water pipes pressurized throughout the home.

A pump-driven pressurized system is helpful if the design of the property doesn’t lend itself to having a roof-top tank (practically and/or aesthetically), or in cases where a water tank cannot be placed sufficiently high enough above the property to create a decent amount of water pressure throughout the home.

There are two main types of water pressure system for homes:

• A hydro-pneumatic pressure tank/pump combination; and
• A water pressurizing pump.

A hydro-pneumatic pressure tank/pump —Bomba Hidronuemática— pressurizes water in a tank that is then channeled into the property’s water pipe system.  When you switch on a tap, the pressurized water in this tank is released to give pressure at the tap-head. The pump ignites when the tank’s water pressure falls below a preset level—thus, pressure with this type of pump can fluctuate as the pressure in the tank drops gradually until the pump reignites to restore the pressure level. Tanks come in various sizes, and larger properties require bigger tanks to operate effectively and prevent significant fluctuations in water pressure.
See also: Types of hydro-pneumatic pressure tanks/pumps (Amazon Mexico).

A water pressure pump —Presurizador de Agua— is a pump that is plumbed directly into the property’s water pipe system without the need for a pressurized tank. When you switch on a tap, the pump ignites and is controlled to provide a constant pressure level while the water is running.  These types of pumps are ideal when you want a consistent water pressure and/or don’t have much space to store a pressurized tank.
See also: Types of water pressure pumps (Amazon Mexico).

Choosing a water pressure pump for your home in Mexico

Each type of pressure pump has its advantages and disadvantages.

They depend on an electric pump to operate, so power cuts may affect your water pressure—whereas a gravity-fed system will not be affected by power cuts while there is sufficient water in the rooftop reservoir tank.

Some homes have a tank on the roof in addition to a pressure pump to keep a modicum of pressure in the system even if the power fails or the pump breaks down.

The pumps come in different sizes. Capacity is usually expressed in ‘flow’ of cubic meters of water per hour, (1m³ = 1,000 liters), and/or ‘horsepower’—that describes the raw power of the pump.

More expensive pumps tend to have copper-wound motors; the more common and less expensive models have aluminum-wound motors.  Whether copper or aluminum is better is a matter for debate.

If you have large property and will be pumping a lot of water with need of a heavy duty pump, you might consider a more expensive copper-wound motor; for most homes a less expensive aluminum-wound motor is likely to be adequate.

Talk to a plumber about how to choose and buy the right type and size of water pressure pump for your home’s needs.

Learn more about water supplies in Mexico

Mexperience publishes articles and guides to help you understand water supplies and the efficient use of water at your home in Mexico, including:

• Water supplies for residential homes in Mexico
• Clarity about drinking the water
• Sewerage and septic tank systems for your home in Mexico
• Latest articles related to use of water in Mexico
• Latest articles about Mexico’s rainy season and dry season
• Home Maintenance and Security in Mexico

The water source matters

Water delivered to homes in Mexico is suitable for showering and washing-up the dishes, but most people don’t use unfiltered tap water for personal consumption.

Whether the water dispensed from your home’s tap in Mexico is fit for healthy consumption or not depends more about where, precisely, the tap is situated. Some cities and towns have excellent public water systems and local people especially are quite content drinking water from their tap; but not every place can be depended upon to have a reliable source of potable water. And therein lies the rub. Unless you know for sure that the water is potable, you do well to take bottled or filtered water instead.

Water delivery in Mexico

Water in Mexico is usually delivered to homes in one of four ways:

• via mains-feed system; or
• via a communal feed sourced from official local water springs and wells; or
• via a private well situated on the property or in the local neighborhood (although this is rare); or
• via a combination of rain collection (in season) and local water delivery by truck.

Properties situated in most urban towns and cities have their water provided by a mains-feed, whereas at properties situated in rural areas water is supplied from a communally-run system that obtains water from local wells, or else owners collect rain water (in season) and top this up with deliveries from trucks which dispense water into large underground cisterns situated at the property.

Water filtration systems

Some homeowners in Mexico use their own filtration systems to avoid the need to buy bottled water for personal consumption at home.  Water delivered by truck and/or collected from rainwater (in season) can be filtered and used in your home.

Plumbed-in water filters

Filtration systems that are plumbed-in to your home’s water pipes vary from single-stage active carbon filters, to multiple-stage filtration systems that include several different filter types and might also include passing the water through ultraviolet light. (The UV light stage must be situated near the dispensing tap for this to be effective.)  With this method, the system for drinking water runs in parallel to water used for showers, kitchen use, and toilets, and provides a separate tap(s) that dispenses filtered drinking water fed from the property’s main water supply and/or cistern.

Stand-alone water filter systems

There exists an entire industry of stand-alone water filtration systems; check online for details. They all rely on replacement filters of one type or another.  These systems work by pouring your local tap water into a jug or bowl that then filters the water, purifying it, and thus making it fit for personal consumption.  The more expensive versions of these filters offer multiple filtration layers and filter the water more quickly than less expensive versions.  Reviews online suggest that the efficacy of these systems in terms of their purification quality varies widely.

Buying bottled water in Mexico

Bottled water is widely available in Mexico, and can be purchased in sizes ranging from small hand-sized bottles to 20-liter containers. It’s sold by street traders, local convenience stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, and even specialist water delivery companies; the latter deal in the 20-liter bottles and deliver these to homes, offices and factories.

Buying bottled water for use in your home

The most common way that people purchase purified water for use in their homes is by means of the 20-liter (5.3 US gallons) bottles, known in Mexico as ‘garrafones.’

These water bottles usually have their contents emptied into a dispenser, or are turned upside-down to rest atop the dispenser, that comprises a tank holding some  water for immediate use.

Low-cost dispensers made of plastic can do the job well enough, but if you want something a little more elegant in your home, you can buy a colorfully painted dispenser made in Talavera—the strong, durable ceramic most often associated with the city of Puebla in south-central Mexico.

The dispenser taps are available inexpensively from all local hardware stores, and are made of plastic or aluminum so can be easily replaced when they (inevitably) wear out.  It’s a good idea to wash these out regularly (including the tap unit) between fills to avoid any bacteria or fungal build-up.

Big brand bottles: The big water companies sell these and offer home-delivery services.  Their brands are: Ciel (Coca-cola), Bonafont (Danone), EPura (Pepsi), and Santa María (Nestlé). You can also buy these at local tienditas and supermarkets, and carry them home yourself. (A full bottle weights about 20kg (44 pounds.)

Local purifiers: An alternative to the big brand bottlers is to use a local purifying company that has a license to use local (usually mains) water for purification and bottling. They use the 20 liter garrafón bottles and charge a reasonable deposit fee for these, but once you have the bottles, the price per refill is about one-third of the price that the big brand bottlers charge.  Check locally to ask for service details; most small towns and every city has at least one water purifying company selling water this way.  They too offer home delivery services, be sure to tip the people who carry-in your refilled bottles and take away the empties each time.

Buying water when you eat out: Restaurants offer bottled water at a premium; but you can ask for a complementary glass of water which might emanate from a bottle, or from a filtration system.

Buying water on your travels through Mexico

Since Aztec times, Mexicans have been avid traders, and their skill to spot a market and serve it on an impromptu basis is alive and well to-day.  Enterprising ambulant traders offer water and sodas at remote locations where there are no stores: for example, at archaeology parks, and areas of natural beauty where tourists are known to gather. You may also see these vendors offering bottled water at traffic lights on hot days, on local buses, as well the long lines of traffic which inevitably build up on the approach to major toll booths on highways at holiday weekends. So you’ll never be too far away from drink-able water in Mexico.

Most of the larger hotels in Mexico —and some of the up-scale smaller hotels— have water purification systems installed at their properties, so all water on-site is guaranteed as potable. All hotels tend to offer guests at least one bottle of purified water in the room, replenished by the maid each day at no extra charge, regardless of whether the water from the taps in the hotel’s room is drink-able.

Learn more about water supplies in Mexico

Mexperience publishes articles and guides to help you understand water supplies and the efficient use of water at your home in Mexico, including:

• Water supplies for residential homes in Mexico
• Understanding water pressure systems
• Latest articles related to use of water in Mexico
• Latest articles about Mexico’s rainy season and dry season

Planning and maintenance is key

The convenience and intimacy of a private pool are often sought after by home-buyers and extolled by vendors, but unless you have a plan to regularly service your pool, you’ll struggle to keep it in good working order.

Fortunately, property maintenance costs in Mexico are lower than the U.S., and with some foresight and planning, you can ensure your investment gives you and your family years of refreshing enjoyment.

This article shares a summary of the main things you need to consider when you have (or buy) a house with a pool to maintain:

Monthly pool maintenance

Your pool will need cleaning regularly, perhaps daily during some seasons, especially if it’s surrounded by trees with leaves. Checking the levels of vital chemicals to ensure your pool remains free of unwanted bacteria is essential, and purchasing the various chemistry sets to balance the alkaline levels are all part of the ongoing expense of pool ownership.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to do this yourself, you’ll have to pay someone else to do it for you; budget for around $1,000 pesos per month for someone to maintain your pool regularly, including chemicals. (Rates vary by region, check locally.)

Pool safety

If your house has a pool without a safety fence surround and you have young children (or young children visiting who will be regularly exposed to the pool area) you might consider installing a fence with a locked gate for access to the pool area.  The cost of doing this will vary depending on what type of fence and materials you choose. Inquire locally and get some quotes.

The pool’s pump and its filter system

Electricity rates per kilowatt hour in Mexico escalate when you go over a certain monthly usage.  Your pool’s pump and filter system operated several hours daily will probably push you through the usage barrier that will bump your electricity bill into the more expensive charging band; although you might operate the pump and filter on a timer for limited periods and mitigate this cost. You also need to maintain the filters, which usually means replacing the sand in the filter unit every few years, or sooner depending on local conditions and the pool’s usage.

Heating your swimming pool water

Some places in Mexico, especially towns and cities situated at elevation, get cool or even cold in the autumn and winter months (read also: Land of Three Lands).  Gas-fueled heating systems are available for pools, but if you use these, be prepared to pay considerably for the fuel they’ll consume heating large volumes of pool water.

If you want to regulate the temperature of your pool year-round, a good (and popular) solution is to install a solar-panel heating system; the initial costs are high, but they will save you money in fuel charges over the long term and make your property more attractive to renters and buyers interested in houses with swimming pools, as most people prefer temperate water in a pool instead of cold water.

Water supply for your pool

Pools, especially older pools that tend be larger and deeper, require a huge amount of water, and in areas where water is scarce (especially in the dry season between October and April) this can cause some challenges.

If you buy a house with a large and deep pool, you can save a lot of water (and money) by reducing the pool’s depth.  This can be done relatively inexpensively, by having a portion of the existing pool filled-in. Turning an old deep pool into a plunge pool, perhaps with only one lane or a selected area deeper, can reduce your water requirement by 50% or more; this will cost you less to fill and less to maintain as you’ll use less chemicals, and your pump and filters will do less work, costing proportionally less, too. With less water, the pool’s temperature will regulate faster, heating up more quickly via solar panels.  You can learn more about water in Mexico here on Mexperience.

Retiling and repainting your pool

Every so often, you will have to repaint and/or retile your pool. If you have bought an older house, where the pool has been there many years, this might be a job that needs doing sooner rather than later. Repainting is the least expensive option; tiling a pool can be expensive, but tiles will last far longer than coats of standard pool paint.  A ‘modern’ option is to use a special paint-like coating that offers the economies of paint with the duress of tiles. Check with your local pool merchant for options and prices.

The attractions of having a swimming pool

Swimming pools are picturesque and romantic, and in very hot climates can also be very practical and even essential during the summer months when a refreshing swim can serve as a substitute to expensive air-conditioning during the day.  The cost and efforts involved with pool ownership can be managed with some forethought and planning that will repay you with years of enjoyment.

Older homes and their pools

If you’re buying an older house in Mexico, the pool is likely to be old too, and may require some serious maintenance or even reconstruction, so check this as part of your due diligence and perhaps negotiate a discount on the price to cover any probable costs needed to get the pool in working order.

Pools in gated communities

When you purchase a condo with a communal pool, your home owner’s association will have to deal with the same issues private pool owners do.  Even if the building is new, and the pool is modern, there will come a day when wear-and-tear will call-in its dues, and the owner’s association will be faced with paying the bills. The advantage in these situations is that the costs (both on-going and maintenance or repair) are shared between all the residents who have access to the pool.

Deciding to remove and fill-in your pool

A final note about swimming pools: on some occasions, you might consider throwing-in the towel —and the soil— and turning your pool into a patio, garden or wildlife pond. You may consider this if you don’t have the cash to make repairs on a badly dilapidated pool, or if you want more garden/patio space in an otherwise small garden area.

Another option in some areas is to convert the hole into an underground water cistern, which is useful for gathering rain water that can be used in the dry season for watering the garden during or perhaps even to drink if the right filtering system is installed.

Learn more about water supplies in Mexico

Mexperience publishes articles and guides to help you understand water supplies and the efficient use of water at your home in Mexico, including:

• Water supplies for residential homes in Mexico
• Understanding water pressure systems
• Clarity about drinking the water
• Latest articles related to use of water in Mexico
• Free eBook: Home Maintenance and Security in Mexico

Mains-fed water systems

At properties situated in most of Mexico’s urban towns and cities, water is provided by a mains-feed system with the property also connected to a mains-sewerage system.

The pressure of these systems varies and you may need to use a pump or hydraulic system on-site to increase the pressure for use around the home. Mains-fed water is usually metered at a rate per cubic meter charged to the property.  (One cubic meter of water is equal to 1,000 liters of water.)

Rates vary by state and by even neighborhood in towns and cities—check locally for details.  Prices are affordable, and the rate includes the mains sewerage fees.

Communal water feed systems

Where properties are situated outside of main cities and towns, and especially in semi-rural and rural areas, a water mains-feed is probably not available and in these situations, the property might be supplied by water from a communally-run local water feed system.

Where a communal water feed system is available, its water is usually sourced from local springs or water wells connected to a local pipe network.  A master tap is opened for several hours once or twice a week, which feeds water from the local system into underground cisterns on the properties which are served by the pipe network.  These systems are not ‘metered’ per house, but an annual fee is payable to the local municipality, and rates vary.

Rainwater and water wells

In absence of a mains-fed or local communal water system, water supply to the home will depend on a licensed private well on-site (or near the property with permission to draw water from it) or, more usually, collecting rain water in season and topping this up with deliveries from water trucks, especially during the dry season.

Water delivery by truck

Water delivery trucks source their water from licensed local springs or water wells and typically dispense up to 10 cubic meters of water (10,000 liters) into an underground cistern on the property.  Prices per cubic meter vary by region.  There are 3.78 liters in 1 US gallon; therefore 10,000 liters is equivalent to approximately 2,645 US gallons.  Learn more about water delivered by truck.

Sewerage systems

Properties in urban areas with mains-fed water can usually connect to a mains sewerage system.  Where a connection to the mains sewer is not possible (or there is no mains sewer in the area) the property will need a septic tank system on-site to deal with its sewerage.

Learn more about sewerage and septic tanks systems for your house in Mexico

Learn more about water supplies in Mexico

Mexperience publishes articles and guides to help you understand water supplies and the efficient use of water at your home in Mexico, including:

• Water supplies for residential homes in Mexico
• Understanding water pressure systems
• Clarity about drinking the water
• Sewerage and septic tank systems in Mexico
• Latest articles related to use of water in Mexico
• Latest articles about Mexico’s rainy season and dry season

Given its age and daily use, it isn’t entirely unreasonable for the heater to need some attention: and this week, attention called in the form of a faulty pilot light.  Late on a Saturday afternoon, from our list of local maestros, we look up Victor: the local plumber introduced to us by a neighbor.

The next day—on a Sunday—a man well into his fifties appears at the door in a straw hat. We explained to Victor what happened as he wanders over to the corner of the patio where the water heater rests on a shelf-frame beneath a lean-to roof of corrugated metal, which keeps the monsoon rains off during the summer months.

Within a few minutes, Victor has dislodged the pilot fitting. “It might be blocked”, he declares, and spends the next while trying to fix it. Alas, his efforts bear no fruit and he tells us he’ll need to buy a replacement part, “…but I’ll keep the pipework that leads to it because that’s fine, no need to replace that”.

On Monday morning the doorbell rings and Victor is back, having been to the hardware store earlier to buy the replacement part we needed.  Fifteen minutes more and it’s installed, the heater is back in operation. The bill, including the replacement part and Victor’s time: $190 pesos (US$11).

One of the things we love about living in Mexico is the culture of prolonged usage in respect of appliances, and how the economics here makes it worthwhile to repair things over and again until you take them to the limits of their usable life. It’s impossible to say how much longer our old water heater will continue working—the tank could spring a leak or the rust will eventually outmaneuver us—but we won’t replace it until it’s beyond repair.

Newer boilers are more energy efficient; the latest models heat water on-demand (they’re known as calentadores de paso), in contrast to our old heater which stores water in a tank above a gas-fired heating system: the temperature is managed by an automatic thermostat and when the water cools down, the heater fires up and reheats the water in the tank.

When our water boiler finally gives up the ghost, we’ll replace it with one of the new de paso variety; the old one will get taken away at which point the plumber will rescue every usable part that can be re-used: for example, the new pilot fitting we just had installed and a relatively new thermostat that was added shortly before we took residence—and the remainder will be sold for metal recycling.

Business Hours and Public Holidays in Mexico

Business Hours

Shops: Shopping hours in big towns and cities start at around 10 or 11 a.m., and continue through to between 8 and 10 p.m. Shops in cities and big towns are open seven days a week; smaller places may close on Sundays, except tourist spots at high season. Christmas and Easter public holidays are observed; on other public holidays you’ll find most places open in cities and bigger towns and tourist spots. Smaller towns will have more limited opening hours, and in hotter, non-tourist regions, stores may close between 2 and 4 p.m.; check locally.

Banks: Bank branches in Mexico are now generally open from 9 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. in many cities and big towns, and some even open Saturday mornings. HSBC, for example, now opens from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days a week in large towns and cities. For more information about managing your money in Mexico, connect to the Money in Mexico section here on Mexperience.

Office Hours: Commercial Office hours tend to run in line with those of the US: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lunch breaks usually last an hour, but business lunches can go on much longer. Connect to the Business Section here on Mexperience for full details about business practices in Mexico.

Churches: Some churches remain open all the time; others are locked if there is no service going on, especially those hosting valuable art or artifacts. If you visit a church, be mindful of those inside who may be taking part in a church service.

Museums: Museums tend to have specific opening hours, and those outside of the major tourist areas usually close for a day in the week (often, but not always, on Mondays), so it’s best to check opening times beforehand if you plan to visit a specific museum.  A quick look online will reveal opening times.

Archaeology Parks: Archaeology parks are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and all except those in the most frequented tourist areas (e.g. Chichen Itza in Yucatan) are closed on Mondays.

Public Holidays in Mexico

Mexico celebrates a number of public holidays throughout the year. You can learn more about the dates, holidays and events surrounding them on our guide to Public Holidays in Mexico.

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Video and Photography in Mexico

Printing Digital Photos in Mexico

If you would like to print your digital photos while in Mexico, you can visit the photo department inside major supermarkets (e.g. Wal-Mart). There are also independent photography shops—especially common in small towns where there are no major shops—where you can edit/print your digital photos, purchase additional memory chips for your digital camera, buy batteries and accessories and purchase a new camera or video equipment (note that photographic equipment is more expensive in Mexico than it is in the USA).  Film and videotape for non digital cameras are becoming obsolescent, but may still be available in some specialist photographic stores in larger towns and cities.

Video and Photography Etiquette in Mexico

Museums: Some museums and all major archaeology parks will make a small charge if want to take a handheld video recorder into the museum or site with you; some make a charge for cameras, although this is rare. Some will not allow flash photography, especially on ancient stonework and murals as it affects the longevity of the work. You’ll see notices written in Spanish and English that will advise you at each location.

Tripods: The use of tripods at all archaeological sites and some museums requires a permit. If you want to use a tripod you will need to apply for special permission from INAH (the government department that manages archaeological sites and some museums) and there will be a significant fee and plenty of paperwork involved. If you are outside Mexico, contact your local Mexican Consulate for information and details. Sites and museums which don’t allow tripods offer a “package hold” facility for people carrying tripods, where they can be left until you leave the site or museum. Use of tripods elsewhere (public spaces, beaches, towns, etc.) is permitted.

Etiquette: Be mindful of people you photograph and, if possible, ask their permission first – especially in small provincial communities and in the State of Chiapas, and particularly in and around San Cristobal de las Casas. A small few places (mostly small rural towns and villages) have restrictions on photography, and signs will be posted to advise you in such cases.

Military and Navy Installations: It’s best not to photograph the army or any military installations to avoid any misunderstandings.

Churches: Taking pictures inside a church when there is a service going on is considered disrespectful, so you should refrain from doing it. Taking pictures inside a church at other times is acceptable in Mexico.

Filming Professionally in Mexico

If you are planning to travel to Mexico to film or take photographs professionally (including research, cultural, artistic and educational programs), you will need to apply for a temporary filming permit. Contact your local Mexican Consulate for details.

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Drinking Alcohol in Mexico

Legal Drinking Age in Mexico

The legal minimum drinking age in Mexico is 18 years; three years before the USA’s legal drinking age, which is why a lot of older American teenagers ‘fly south’ to Mexico for a weekend or longer.

Although it has been rare in the past, requests for proof of age or identification when asking for an alcoholic beverage in Mexico are on the rise. Local authorities are also beginning to make spot-checks on establishments which sell alcohol, with officers approaching drinkers at the bars who look under age and asking for identification. However, Mexico is nowhere near as strict as the USA, where anyone who looks underage is immediately asked for identification before being served.

The Effect of Altitude

Many places in the interior of Mexico are situated at altitude (for example, Mexico City, Guadalajara and most colonial cities) and at high altitudes, alcohol will have more effect on you than if you were drinking at, or close to, sea level. See Blog: Breathing Easy at High Altitudes

Alcohol Licensing Laws in Mexico

Most Mexican states allow stores, restaurants, and bars to sell alcohol 24 hours a day. However, some state restrictions do apply; for example in the northern state of Sonora, that borders the U.S. state of Arizona, establishments cannot sell alcohol between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Mon-Sat, and on Sundays, they cannot sell alcohol from 3 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following Monday.

Drinking on the Street in Mexico

Technically, it is illegal to drink on the street in Mexico, but some people do, especially in tourist areas. If you want to drink a cold beer while walking down a street on a hot day, go ahead; but don’t be stupid and get drunk on the street: it will call attention to yourself, and you may end up having to deal with the police who, in such a circumstance may apply the letter of the law to your behavior.

Drinking and Driving in Mexico

Drinking and driving is a serious crime in Mexico. If you drink, take a cab: taxis are very affordable in Mexico, there is absolutely no need to take your car if you are drinking.

Drinking and driving is still more common in Mexico than it is in places like the USA and Canada and so, if you’re driving at night, or if you are a pedestrian near a tourist area with lots of bars, be extra vigilant of cars and traffic, especially in the early hours of the morning, when drunk drivers may be about.

Mexico has been stepping up its campaign against drunk-drivers in recent years, with structured programs where rolling road-blocks are set-up in areas where there are many bars and restaurants and on occasions when people are known to drink more (e.g. public holidays and Christmas).  New laws have enacted stiff penalties (including the prospect of prison sentences) for offenders. In Mexico City, for example, the police are now regularly setting up roadside breath tests on routes leading to and from popular night spots across the capital.

See Blog: Getting Consular Assistance in Mexico

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Newspapers and Magazines in Mexico

English Language Media

The only English daily print newspaper in Mexico is “The News”, which was re-launched in 2007 after an absence of several years, the result of its parent Mexican paper Novedades being closed. “The News” is widely available in Mexico City and is also distributed to tourist destinations and other cities across the country; especially cities with significant expat populations, e.g. San Miguel de Allende, Chapala/Ajijic.

Some magazine kiosks at Mexican airports and a few specialized stores in the capital and some other larger cities sell U.S., British or European print newspapers, some of which can be a day or two old.

English-language ‘global’ news magazines such as Time, Newsweek, People, etc. are available in their U.S. editions in cities and large towns across Mexico. The British based magazine ‘Economist’ is now available at larger news stands in the big cities and at Mexican airports.

Newspapers and magazines can be bought on street corner stalls. Many supermarkets are now beginning to stock newspapers and magazines too; but not all of them.  Sanborns Stores stock a very generous selection of magazines, some of which are in English.

Spanish Language Newspapers and Magazines in Mexico

Mexico has a wide selection of Spanish language newspapers from all sides of the political spectrum.  Click on the names in green to view the online versions; all are currently subscription-free except Reforma.

El Universal – One of Mexico’s biggest daily papers, news online does not require subscription, in Spanish

Milenio – A popular daily newspaper with a strong online following.

El Economista – Financial/Business Press, in Spanish

El Financiero – Financial/Business Press, in Spanish

Reforma – Mexico’s biggest daily, in Spanish (subscription required)

Latin Trade – Online version in English of the popular magazine that is dedicated to trade in Latin America

Magazines in Mexico

Popular Spanish language magazines include:

Proceso – A weekly publication with informed commentary and opinion about Mexican and Latin American politics

Mexico Desconocido – A travel magazine with lots of photos, dedicated to highlighting travel and tourism in Mexico

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Traveling to Mexico with Children

Take your family to Mexico with confidence. Read the comprehensive guide about Traveling to Mexico with Children for detailed information about making the most of your family time in Mexico.

Lone Parents and Minors Traveling to Mexico

The rules for minors (people under the age of 18) and lone parents* traveling with their children to Mexico have changed. See the Link to the guide above for full details.

*Lone parents includes single parents, and parents who are traveling with their children and without their spouse or partner.

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Tipping and Bargaining in Mexico

See Blog: Mexico’s Tipping Culture

See Also: Social Etiquette in Mexico

Tipping in Mexico

Tipping is common in the United States: it is almost second-nature and practiced frequently at most service establishments. In many European countries, it is not so common or customary to tip people for services.

Most people working in Mexico’s tourism and service sectors rely on your tips to supplement their basic pay and they give good service to prove that it makes a significant difference to them.

When you are traveling in Mexico, always keep some loose change in your pocket because you never know when you’re going to need some of it for a tip.

Some hotels and tours indicate that “all tips are included in the price”; if this is the case, fair enough, and there is no need to tip further. You may still wish to leave a small tip for the maids at the rooms you stay in, or offer the tour guide a small tip at the end of the program.

Although tips are frequent in Mexico, the amounts are relatively small, and they really can make a difference to the person whom you are tipping.

If you did not get poor service, you should consider tipping in these situations:

Restaurants – 10% – 15% is normal, depending on the class of establishment and level of service you received. At diners and similar places 10% is sufficient; at higher-end restaurants and bistros, 15% is expected for good service.

Hotels – Bellboys should be paid around US$1 per bag; Concierge around US$2 equivalent if they do something for you (e.g. book a table at a local restaurant); more if they undertake some particular research (e.g. found you a local tour operator, car rental agency, or chauffeur). If you don’t speak Spanish, remember that they will also be acting as translators for you and you should take this into account with your tip.

Hotel Chamber Maids – The unsung heroines (they are invariably women) of the hotel industry: chamber maids.   They will often travel a considerable distance to reach your hotel and spend the day cleaning and keeping guest rooms in good order, so that when you get back to your room, it’s waiting for you clean, fresh, and tidy.  It’s appropriate to leave a small tip and leave it each day because work schedules change, and the maid who cleaned your room initially may not be on duty the day you check-out.  The amount of the tip should vary depending upon the category of hotel: a sum in Mexican pesos, left in cash on the side table (next to the maid’s greeting card if one is present), equivalent to between US$1 (for economy hotels) and US$5 (for luxury hotels) per day is suggested and will be sincerely appreciated.

All-Inclusive Hotels: A small few packages stipulate that ‘tips are included’ and in this case no further tipping is required.  However in most cases, guides, porters, the concierge, table staff, and the chamber maids (see above) will appreciate a tip—even if, for example, the price of your meals (or just breakfast) is included in the room rate. For local guides, a reasonable tip commensurate with the amount of time and knowledge they shared with you is appropriate.  One US dollar (equivalent in Mexican pesos) per bag for porters; a dollar or two left on the table after each meal or round of drinks at the bar; and a tip for the chamber maids (see above) will be very much valued.

Gasoline Service Stations – If you rent a car and buy fuel, 3-5% of the cost of the fuel is normal, with 5-10% of the cost of the fuel if the attendant provides additional services (water, oil, tire pressure, etc). It’s usual to leave a few pesos tip within a rounded amount; for example, if you are filling up with $200 pesos of fuel, then you may tell the attendant that you want $190 or $195 pesos of fuel; you hand over the $200 peso bill and the attendant keeps the change. Read related guide to Driving in Mexico. You’ll need to ask for the additional services if you want them.

Car Valets – If you drive to a bar or restaurant and have your car parked by the establishment’s valet service, you should tip the attendant around US$1 equivalent in pesos when you leave, unless the valet has a pre-advertised rate (probably higher than this) in which case, pay that rate and no more.

Porters – When you arrive at a bus station, airport or hotel there will usually be a group of porters nearby waiting to take your bags. US$1 per bag in pesos equivalent is sufficient; perhaps a little more if the bags are over-sized, particularly heavy or if the attendant offers some additional value, for example, some local advice or directions.

Home deliveries – When you have goods or services delivered to your home, it’s customary to tip the service providers.  Examples include: gas deliveries, water bottle deliveries, supermarket deliveries, postal and courier services (e.g. Amazon, Mercado Libre). $10-$20 pesos is sufficient.

Bus Station Baggage Handlers/Caddies: If you placed baggage in the hold on a long bus journey, you might consider tipping the baggage handler with a coin ($5-$10 pesos is sufficient) when he checks your reclaim voucher and hauls the bag from the baggage compartment.  Although most people have baggage with wheels these days, sometimes if you have several bags you might call upon the help of a caddie: most (but not all) stations have a team of caddies using wheeled dollies to carry baggage from the bus-stop platforms to the taxi cab ranks. There is no set fee, although around $1 US dollar per bag, equivalent in Mexican pesos, and a bit more if the bags are over-sized, is sufficient.

Bus Station Taxi Rank Attendants – If you carried your own bags to the official taxi booth at the bus station, you may find that there is an assistant waiting nearby there who will offer to carry your bags once you have purchased your taxi ticket. You don’t have to allow this person to help you, but if you do, you may find it more efficient getting the next taxi from the rank. See Traveling by Bus in Mexico for more details. $10 pesos is sufficient. See Traveling by Bus in Mexico.

Taxis – If you take a cab from the street, it’s appreciated if you round up the meter charge to nearest $5 or $10 pesos depending on the comfort and speed of your journey; however, taxis hired from taxi ranks at hotels or official taxi ranks should be paid the advertised rate (or the rate you agree in advance) and no more. Also read the guide about Traveling by Taxi in Mexico which includes a link to current taxi prices in Mexico.

Bars and Cantinas – Tables at these are often attended (you don’t need to go to the bar to order food or drink) – and a tip of 10% of the value of your spending that evening is normal.

Supermarket Bag Packers: Students and retired folks work at supermarkets across the country to pack bags at the supermarket checkout counters. For students, the money they earn contributes to the funding of their education; for retired folks, the money they earn supplements their pension.  These people are not salaried and work entirely on tips.

Car Park Attendants – Some car parks will have an “attendant”; a man or woman dressed up in a security-type uniform, who may direct you to a free spot, and see you reverse out when you return. These attendants are often older men who also keep an eye on things while you’re away. $3-$5 pesos is sufficient; a little more if they help you load your shopping bags into your car.

Spas – For personal services at Resort Spas, 10-15% of the value of the service (e.g. a Massage) is normal. If you’re staying at a Destination Spa, you can tip good service personally, 5-10% of the service’s ‘stand alone’ value is fine; or you can add a tip to your final bill, to cover everyone—even the ‘behind the scenes’ people: 10-15% of the bill is sufficient. For more information about Spas, read our guides to Spas in Mexico.

Toilets / Restrooms – Some public toilets now make a small charge for entry, and you’ll find these are usually reasonably clean and tidy. If one of these is not available, go to a restaurant, bar (even if you’re not eating or drinking at it) or department store if there’s one nearby. You may well find an attendant there who is looking after the place, making sure it’s clean tidy; some may hand you a paper towel to dry your hands. Near the wash-basins, you may see a small wooden box, sometimes with a piece of cloth inside (and usually a coin or three on it). $5 pesos tip, double that if it’s an upscale establishment, is sufficient.

Stop-Light Entertainers – In Mexico City particularly (but not exclusively) you may find that one or more informal entertainers begin to perform a short skit. The ‘performance’ may include juggling, eating fire, miming, etc. After the performance is over, the people walk between the stationary cars in search of a small tip. Tipping is at your discretion.

Stop-Light Windscreen Wash – Some people will “wash” your vehicle’s windscreen, sometimes whether you want their service or not! Tipping is at your discretion.

Angeles Verdes – Meaning “Green Angels”, these are trucks that are painted green and travel along Mexico’s interstate highways helping people who have broken down. Their help is free, but they will charge you for parts and fuel if your car needs it. Be sure to tip the attendant; the amount is discretionary and should relate to how much help they were in a particular circumstance (e.g. more at night) and on how much work they have done for you. Read more about Traveling by Road in Mexico with Mexperience.

Bargaining in Mexico

People who visit Mexico rate shopping at the local markets as one of the most rewarding travel experiences they encounter.

Mexican traders enjoy bargaining, but beware: if they feel you are trying to devalue their goods too much, they will become upset and may even refuse to trade with you.

Bargaining is a common activity in Mexico, especially at markets and artifact stores and handicraft workshops.

As a rule, you should refuse the first price you’re offered, but be realistic with your subsequent offers, and don’t become too aggressive with your position.

Speaking Spanish – If you speak Spanish (even broken Spanish) you stand a much better chance of getting a better a deal on your purchases. This another good reason to Learn Spanish in preparation for your next visit to Mexico.

Markets and Street Traders – Mexican market traders are usually polite people who enjoy a good trade negotiation but, equally, they may become offended if you are too obstinate and will simply cease bargaining with you completely. Keep in mind that the people selling arts, crafts, and artifacts are generally humble artisans making a simple living and often supporting a family. Some may also be the creators of the wares they are offering for sale, so any deep devaluation of their work might be taken personally, too.

Department Stores, Malls – Department stores and shops in retail centers and shopping malls will not bargain with you.

Taxis – Some taxis are not metered (especially in small provincial towns) so negotiate your price before you get in. Also read the guide about Traveling by Taxi in Mexico which includes a link to current taxi prices in Mexico.

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LGBT in Mexico

Tolerance of sexual diversity is improving in Mexico’s three big cities and some cosmopolitan provincial towns, although Mexican society’s typically conservative social attitudes means that tolerance in Mexico of people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender remains measurably lower than in places like the USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia. In certain Mexican indigenous cultures — for example, the Zapotecs and Mayas — sexual diversity has been widely tolerated for some time.

The legal rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people in Mexico have been evolving in recent years, in line with international movements towards decriminalizing and respecting people’s sexual orientation. Same-sex relationships in Mexico were decriminalized in 1871, although individuals who were caught were prosecuted under lewd-behavior laws throughout much of the 20th Century.

In recent years, significant legal advances have been made in favor of sexual diversity. A significant amendment to the Federal Constitution in 2011 now prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and, in 2015, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled to change the legal definition of marriage to encompass same-sex couples. As a result, an increasing number of States and Municipalities will now perform same-sex marriages, including Mexico City, Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta), and Quintana Roo (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum) and Guerrero (Acapulco).

Places in Mexico known to be gay-friendly and with active/growing LGBT communities are: Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Mexico City, Acapulco, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana, and Puebla.

See Also: Getting Married in Mexico

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Drinking Water

When you’re traveling in Mexico, you must take extra care when drinking water, or fresh beverages that may have tap water added to them. Also check the ice—ask if it was made with tap water especially in more rustic establishments and rural areas. Salads can also be dangerous if they have been rinsed with tap water; so again, the rule is: if in doubt, ask first! All main hotels and good restaurants use purified water throughout.

All commercially produced beverages, including bottled and tinned water, fizzy drinks, wine, beer, spirits, etc will be perfectly safe for you to drink.

To make tap water safe, boil it for at least a few minutes; perhaps longer in locations situated at higher altitudes as the water boils at lower temperatures there. Water purification tablets and drops are available, but these generally have an adverse affect on the water’s taste. Another option is sterilizing pens that use ultra-violet light to purify, but don’t change the taste of the water.

See Blog: Drinking Water in Mexico

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Electricity

Mexico’s electricity system is the same as that of the USA: 120 V; 60 Hz. Any electrical equipment you carry with you that operates at the higher (240v) rate will need to be dual-voltage (e.g. hair driers). A lot of electrical equipment (like video cameras, digital cameras, laptops) that operate on low voltages via a product-specific adapter will happily cope with dual voltage—check the adapter and the device instructions to be sure.

Electricity Sockets in Mexico: You might need a socket adapter.  Plugs in Mexico are the same as in the US; two flat prongs; and some have a third, circular prong for earth, and small adapters can be sought locally for these too if the plug you want to connect into doesn’t have the third (earth) prong socket.  If you are coming to Mexico from a country that uses a different socket type, e.g. the UK or Europe, you will need to bring electricity socket adapters with you.  People visiting from the U.S.A. do not need to bring socket adapters as the plug fittings in Mexico are identical to those in the U.S.A.

Blog Article: When the lights go out

See Also: House Maintenance in Mexico

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Embassy and Consulate Information

What can your consulate in Mexico do for you?

Foreign consulates in Mexico can usually help with administrative tasks like replacing a lost or stolen passport, provide you with a list of lawyers if you get into legal trouble, (and let your family back home know you’re in trouble), liaise with Mexico’s foreign office to make sure that you are being properly treated if you’ve been arrested and, in exceptional circumstances, provide you with a publicly funded loan to pay for repatriation home if you become completely stuck (you will need to pay the loan back).

Foreign consulates and embassies cannot get you out of trouble. When you are in Mexico, you are bound by its laws and customs and subject to its legal penalties if you fall shy of the law, intentionally or otherwise.

See Blog: Obtaining Consular Assistance

Directory of Consulates & Embassies:

Directory of Foreign Consulates in Mexico

Directory of Mexican Consulates Abroad

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Time Zones in Mexico and Clock Changes

Time Zones in Mexico

Mexico had three time zones, until February 1, 2015, when the country created a fourth time zone in the state of Quintana Roo (home to the country’s most popular vacation resort towns).

From north-east to south-east the four time zones are:

Clock / Time Changes in Mexico

In 1996, Mexico decided to change its clocks in the fall and spring of each year. Before this time, clocks were never changed in Mexico.

Although Mexico’s Central Time zone moves its clocks, other time zones or States in Mexico don’t—or move them at different times.  Also, the dates on which Mexican clock-time changes may not be synchronized with those of the USA & Canada and Europe, so check this year’s clock-time change date schedules in the spring and the fall for precise date information about when clock-time will be altered.

See Blog: When Night Doesn’t Fall

Mexico’s State of Sonora does not observe DST Protocol

An exception to the clock change is Mexico’s northern state of Sonora, which borders the US State of Arizona, which is one of the few US states which do not move its clocks at any time of year to allow for DST; because of this, Sonora does not moves its clocks, either.

Mexico’s State of Quintana Roo not observing DST 2015-2019

The state of Quintana Roo, which includes popular cities including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal will not be observing DST between 2015-2019. As with the state of Sonora, it will not move its clocks in these years.

Baja California Peninsula Clock-time Changes

Note that the state of Baja California Sur usually makes clock-time changes on the same dates as the Mexican mainland; however the state of Baja California (northern peninsula) may synchronize its clock-time changes on the same date as California in the USA.

Jet Lag

Travelers arriving in Mexico from the east (e.g. from Europe) do not generally experience severe jet lag as they have gained time traveling west. Returning from Mexico and traveling east (e.g. to Europe) can be tiring, as time is lost traveling east.

Read this Related Article in the travel health guide here on Mexperience for tips and advice about how to minimize the impact of Jet Lag when you travel to and from Mexico.

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