Playa del Carmen, our charming, full-of-life village is located in the Riviera Maya in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
On the same day, you can explore the vast Riviera Maya jungle by driving ATVs, diving into one of its many mystical cenotes, and delight yourself with Mexican vegetarian food or take an afternoon yoga class. By night, 5th Avenue has so many bars and restaurants to offer, you’ll have to stay longer to visit each one of them.
Making the decision to move to another Country might be overwhelming. Settling down comes with a lot of research and mishaps. Thankfully, nice local people or blogs like this can make this transition easier.
Are you itching to make Playa del Carmen your new home?
Ready to switch sweatpants for bathing suits?
Immerse into the beach-vibe kind of life we get to experience as Playenses (this is what locals are called) I bet you have tons of questions on how to adapt to the city.
Keep reading to become an experienced Playense in a blink of an eye.
NEIGHBORHOODS
Credit:orangesmile.com
Playa offers an amazing variety of neighborhoods that suit every lifestyle. Expect to find modern and fancy condos closer to the beach, while in the further streets, you can discover beach-style houses with large patios, where larger Playense families live.
Without a doubt, the best location will always be El Centro (Downtown), you can walk through it in a couple of hours at most. Every time you go out for a walk, you can find new options for eating, laundries, digital nomad hubs, etc.
At the South end, you can find Playacar, a large residential subdivision that has many areas for short or long-term housing, with prices starting around 13,000 pesos per month. Most of the accommodation around here comes with amenities such as a pool, air conditioning, parking spaces, and certain luxuries that you won’t find anywhere else for this price.
Towards the North, we have Constituyentes Avenue, CTM Avenue, Colonia Hollywood, Zazil-Ha, and Tohoku. These neighborhoods are known for being quiet areas with some very large and peculiar trees planted in the middle of the streets. You can find Ceibas, Ficus, Alamos, Framboyan (the fire tree), Almond trees and so much more. Modern, bohemian, beach vibe buildings, estudios (studios), and houses. With a price range between 5,000 up to 25,000 pesos.
Colosio is further north from the beach, with great condos and houses at good prices, but not as safe as other neighborhoods in the area.
If you don’t mind walking a few more blocks to the south, and crossing the highway, you might want to look to El Ejido o Ejidal. Visit La Ceiba, a public park where you can walk your dog, shop at the local market on weekends and if you have children, you’ll find tons of activities for them. There is a school one block away, so you get the idea of what type of neighborhood it is. Just like any city in Mexico, you’ll find old or abandoned houses, next to luxury buildings.
Crossing the 307 highway, towards the north and 20 min drive, you can find private residential developments like Real Ibiza, Los Olivos, Las Palmas, SelvaNova, Bosque Real, and so many others. Rents range from 2,000 to 15,000 pesos for properties for larger families, more rooms, and parking space. Despite being far from downtown, all kinds of services, supermarkets, and restaurants can be found.
Anyone living in Playa for a while tends to visit all neighborhoods, either to visit friends for a pool party, a new local bar, or to live there. Try some of them out and choose your favorite!
HOW TO LOOK FOR THE PERFECT HOME
AIRBNB
Airbnb vacation rentals offer a very close experience of everyday life, in any corner of the world. Playa del Carmen is no exception.
Before you decide to rent long-term or even buying a property, booking an Airbnb for a couple of weeks might be very helpful. You can explore the area, learn your whereabouts on the streets and avenues are ordered, practice your Spanish, and slowly begin your transition into becoming a Playense.
HOW TO FIND LOW, MIDRANGE, OR HIGH-END RENTALS
While walking through Playa del Carmen neighborhoods, you can find a lot of rental advertisements. These usually hang on storefronts, windows, or anywhere visible around town. You can either take pictures, write down the addresses and keep looking or call right away. Sometimes, landlords or owners will only speak Spanish, and/or very little English. Communication might be compromised and there can be future misunderstandings, so make sure both parties agree and understand each other completely.
FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE
This will be your new favorite Facebook tool, you can find anything you need and more; short and long-term rentals, pets for adoption, used bicycles, custom furniture, etc. Although it’s very useful, you should navigate with caution. If interested in a place, ask for a guided visit to the property, with the owner, broker or landlord.
Rental contracts in Playa del Carmen, sometimes, are not exactly official. Some rental companies do offer a real contract, or you can get one for an additional fee.
Establish good communication with your landlord from the beginning.
Rentas y Roomies Playa del Carmen
Real Estate for Expats in Playa del Carmen
Expats & Locals Marketplace Playa del Carmen
REAL ESTATE
Credit:eliteplayarealty.com
When looking for a new property, taking your time in studying the different neighborhoods and getting professional help from an agent, might save you some cash.
Real Estate agencies offer high-end modern big houses or condos, with 3 or more bedrooms, parking places, private security, shared or private pools amongst other amenities. For new properties, the price rate starts at around $50,000 USD.
Looking for your dream home and willing to spend your money wisely?
Real Estate Agent Allan Zarazúa at Elite Playa Realty will guide you through this process to make your finding easy and stressless.
GETTING AROUND PLAYA DEL CARMEN
You will be able to find pretty much the same options you can find back home: taxi cabs, public transportation such as buses, vans known as colectivos, and bicycles. If you have plans to wander around town like a local, try walking first so you can get your bearings around the neighborhood or take a quick read of this post on “How to get around Playa del Carmen like a local” our editorial team at Eating With Carmen Food Tours put together for you.
SHOPPING FOR GROCERIES AND MORE
Credit: sabervivirtv.com
Most of the big supermarkets like Walmart are all located at 30th Avenue, so it’s pretty much one shopping experience after another. Convenience stores are located everywhere in Playa.
There are 2 big shopping malls with a large variety of stores. Centro Maya and Plaza Las Americas.
5TH Avenue is packed with familiar shopping stores, like Hurley, Victoria’s Secret, Old Navy, amongst others, with great sales and prices on clothing and sneakers.
Looking for healthier stores or where to get your produce? I spilled the tips on our “Where to go grocery shopping in Playa del Carmen” Guide.
LEARNING SPANISH
As a Mexican, living in a touristic town speaking English has become key, and some locals speak it. However, if you decide to settle down in Playa del Carmen or anywhere in Mexico, I highly recommend learning some Spanish. Fluent communication may be helpful when closing deals like with a property purchase or rental contract or even just getting around. Most people that work downtown speak more than 2 languages, but many locals don’t.
Professional and non-professional teachers can be found at Facebook Marketplace.
TURNING INTO A LOCAL. LEVEL 2
SERVICES PAYMENT
Once you are settled in your new home-sweet-home-away-from-home, it is time to focus on the extra services and amenities you are choosing to have.
Some rental contracts include electricity, wifi, or the water bill, but if they don’t, you will have to pay for those services separately in specific places, online, or at some convenience stores.
ELECTRICITY BILL
Credit: cferecibos.com.mx
CFE, (Federal Commission of Electricity) is the company that supplies electricity to all the country. You will get the bill every 2 months. Getting physical mail on time or on your doorstep does not always happen in Playa. Many houses or buildings don’t have a house number or even a doorbell so reaching for people can get complicated, and the bills might get lost.
CFE offices are at 40th Avenue and 22nd Street. To make it easier, you can pay at convenience stores like Oxxo, 7 Eleven, or at supermarkets like Walmart, or even better online.
Ask your renter for previous bills, so you can ask for an online bill and check the average amount you’ll be paying. The total amount due will depend on your location and of course consumption, so it’s to be expected that A/C is what takes up most of your bill.
TAP & DRINKING WATER
In Mexico, the water that comes out of the tap is not drinkable, it’s not poison either, it’s just heavy on minerals. The water used for the products that we consume such as ice, drinks, or ice cream, is filtered and purified. People usually get it in large water jugs of approximately 20 liters known as Garrafones, which you can buy in convenience stores, supermarkets or you can even order them delivered to your home. You can also find drinking water in plastic bottles of 1L, 500 ml, and even 5-liter, but these options come with a big carbon footprint that follows. The large 20-liter jugs are made of PET or PVC, so you would be helping the environment by acquiring one or two jugs, and maybe recycling a used plastic bottle or using water bottles to keep your drink at a better temperature.
Tap water can be used for bathing and brushing your teeth, and nothing will happen if you swallow some, just like swallowing some seawater won’t kill you either. Aguakan, the water company, will issue the bill every month. Make sure to pay on time, online, at convenience stores or at Aguakan offices.
‘EL GAAAAASS!’
No, my keyboard is working perfectly. Don’t be surprised, if at around 7 a.m. you hear someone yell “EL GAAAAAS” this means that the delivery gas service is available in your neighborhood. These peeps take your gas tank, refill it, and if you are lucky, you get it back that same day or the day after. Gas service can take a while, they are not very consistent and sometimes they do not answer the phone. Once you acquire the service, be friendly with the delivery guys! Ask for their personal number and remember to tip them, this can speed up your service.
Zeta Gas, Tomza and Sonigas, provide service to all Playa del Carmen, and they all have catchy jingles instead of a guy screaming from his lungs.
Editor’s note: I personally prefer filling my tank myself. If you’re able you can take it to the filling station closest to you and then you’ll have gas that same day.
WIFI AND CABLE TV
Nowadays, good speed Wi-Fi service is essential. If you do not want to spend so much time in coworking places or in coffee shops, you have the option of hiring WIFI service for your entire house, TELMEX and IZZI are the main companies that offer this service, they offer cable TV, telephone, and internet packages, WIFI speed and number of channels may vary with each combo. However their service is less than efficient, some areas in Centro can get access from other smaller companies that, because they have less clients, can offer a way better service.
PESOS
One dollar is approximately $18-$20 pesos, it depends on the price of that day or what the establishment settles. Each place can take a different rate than the one you Google, so always ask your server or cashier. For certain things such as street food or tips, it is advisable to always bring change in pesos. The interaction can be easier, and you’ll learn a little about our currency. Bills and coins usually have wonderful engravings with places, historic references, flora, and fauna representative of our country, there’s even a tiny poem hidden in some old $100 pesos bills. You can even collect them as a souvenir.
MINGLE WITH LOCALS, TRAVELERS, AND EXPATS
As I mentioned before, Facebook is an essential tool in Playa del Carmen. You can find local businesses of all kinds, clothing, food delivery, catering, or babysitting services, and obviously, to meet people, there is a long number of social groups. These groups post on social and cultural events, recommend places to eat, or even offer jobs for locals and newcomers. Of course, use with caution!
Mexpats Club
Expats & Locals Marketplace Playa del Carmen
EXPATS IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN
WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
When we arrive in a new country, food is what tends to excite us the most. It is the best source to get wrapped up in the magic of each place and Playa is no exception. There are always new and exciting dishes and places to try.
Playa is a magical multicultural town that offers options for all tastes, Mexican, Mediterranean, vegetarian food, etc.
What are you craving?
You know we are all about Mexican food, we have food tours for all kinds of cravings, local delicacies, seafood, vegetarian and vegan. Taking a food tour on your first days of arrival will undoubtedly be the best option. Our guides are trained to fully inform you about where to satisfy your taste buds, accompanied by a little history and a personal tour of Playa. In a few hours, you can fulfill yourself with knowledge and the personal experience of our food tour guides. You will even get a scope of the neighborhoods! If you tell them you’re a newly arrived expat and want some more local intel, they will answer every question you throw at them.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT DRINKS?
Due to the year-long hot weather, it is essential to stay hydrated. A nice cold beer, fresh fruit waters, or some good cocktails.
You can find coconut cream water at some carts found all over town. It is deliciously refreshing and cheap. Or you can opt for just fresh coconut water, straight from the coconut which you could also eat later with some chilito and lime. In any form, Coconut is excellent for hydration and restoring electrolytes.
Now if you want to add a little magic to your refreshing water, then I recommend getting some margaritas, or maybe a mezcalita?
Officially it is not allowed to drink at the 5th avenue or at public spaces, so if you want to walk with your beer in hand, think twice, you could get in trouble with the cops and spend a few hours locked up.
PARTY TIME
Credit: facebook.com/beplayahotel
At 5th Avenue, 10th Street, 12th Street, and 38th Street you will always find options to have a good time, whether it is listening to local musicians with their guitars or cover bands in bars and restaurants. There is a wide variety of nightclubs to dance your worries away.
Rock, Mariachis, Reggaeton, Oldies, you name it, Playa has it.
How do you feel about getting the party started with mimosas for breakfast? Beach clubs usually open at 9 am so you can start your day with the best party attitude.
Similar to summer afternoons in Los Angeles, here in Playa you can find a good party at the Hotel and Hostels rooftops. For example, The Palm or Be Playa. You can also score some free salsa lessons in The Bodeguita del Medio and end up dancing the night away at one of the clubs on 12th street.
WORK WORK WORK WORK
With this new way of remote working, many people around the world had the opportunity to travel and work anywhere they roam. Some decide to stay for longer periods of time in one city or another. Playa del Carmen has many spaces for coworking such as Selina, Muza Surf Bar, or Ah Cacao, with good Wi-Fi signal and great food.
There are also a lot of opportunities for finding other jobs, with a resident visa or official permits to work.
BEST RATED SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN IN PLAYA
The school system in Mexico is also very different than in the US. Private schools are usually the most similar to public ones in the USA. Private schools offer better teachers and levels of education, other languages are taught, and have better facilities.
Thorough research on schools is essential so you can find what suits your child’s needs as the school system in Mexico is not very consistent.
These 4 private schools are the best rated by Parents in Playa:
Ak Lu’um International School Community
Colegio Inglés
Colegio Montessori
Comunidad Educativa “El Papalote”
MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE
Public Medical services in Mexico and in Playa are led by the IMSS (which is like Social Security) but you must be working for a tax paying company in order to have access to public healthcare. Tends to be a bit tedious to get an appointment or any type of treatment, due to the large population and scarce resources. This is why many locals and expats decide to pay for private medical insurance.
There are inexpensive pharmacies that usually offer medical attention for 50 pesos per consult, where medicines are usually cheap and easily found such as Farmacias Similares or Farmacias del Ahorro.
There are also hospitals such as Hospiten and CostaMed that offer all kinds of consultations and services for high and medium-range prices for all residents
RESIDENCY
As a tourist you have permission to stay 180 days in the country, but you can start the residency process, it is totally worth it because you have many benefits, and let’s be honest, there is nothing better than living in Mexico. It’s a complicated process that might call for the second part of this blog, but for now, I suggest you Google the steps, they’re not hard to find or follow.
We are very happy to guide you through this new adventure.
Our Playense community is excited to make you feel at home.
Welcome.
- Abbey,
A proud Playense.
