Living Conditions in Mexico

General considerations

To learn more about living and working in Mexico, applicants are encouraged to connect with a recruiter to discuss any specific considerations that could affect their service. In addition, please visit the U.S. Department of State's Mexico travel information pages for the latest on travel advisories, local laws, and special circumstances.

Applicants who undergo an interview will have additional opportunities to raise questions or concerns. If, upon learning more information, an applicant would like to be considered for a different assignment from the one they have been assigned to serve in, the Peace Corps can often find an alternate option that may be a better fit.

Communications

Mail

Letters and postcards can be received at the Peace Corps office through the Mexican postal system. Mail from the U.S. to Mexico takes about 30 days and from Mexico to the U.S. could take about twice as long.

The shipping and receiving of packages to/from the United States can be complicated and often involves unexpected costs and payment needed upon delivery. These costs can be excessive. If you or your family/friends plan to ship a package, be prepared for this outcome as Peace Corps Mexico will be unable to support costs for personal items shipped from the U.S.

Mailing address for Peace Corps Mexico:  

(Your name)
Peace Corps Mexico
Av. Universidad Oriente 202
Colonia San Javier 76020
Querétaro, Querétaro Mexico. 

Telephones

It is common for high quality (4g/5g) cell phone service to be available throughout Mexico, especially in and around larger cities and towns. Some Volunteer sites in smaller communities or rural areas may have poor or no signal in parts of their community. Peace Corps staff will provide Volunteers with a physical SIM card for cell phone service when they arrive. If you prefer to use your personal smartphone, the phone will need to be unlocked and have a physical SIM card slot (which is becoming less common for newer phones, especially newer iPhone models). If you do not have a smartphone, you will be provided with a small stipend to buy one locally. The cell phone service will include international calling and texting to the U.S. and data.

U.S. phone plans with international coverage do function in Mexico and some Volunteers choose to keep their U.S. phone and phone number. All Volunteers are required to have a Mexican phone number for communication with Peace Corps staff and counterparts. If you choose to keep your U.S. phone and phone number, it may require you to carry two phones to comply with this policy.

Internet

High-speed internet access is widely available in Mexico. It is common for host families to have access to Wi-Fi in their homes, although this is not guaranteed. There are several internet service providers (ISPs) throughout Mexico who provide cheap and reliable internet access that can be accessed in both urban and rural sites. A Volunteer may be placed in a site where there is not regular access to internet, but does have good cell phone service, or vice versa.

Housing and site location

During pre-service training (PST), all Trainees live with host families within 50 minutes walking distance from the Peace Corps office. Living with a host family is a fundamental part of PST that helps Trainees with language learning and cultural immersion. Many of our amazing host families have been with Peace Corps for years and have hosted Trainees and Volunteers in the past. Some Trainees will live with new host families who are verified and provided with resources and training by Peace Corps prior to your arrival. Trainees can expect to live comfortably but modestly with host families.

Once you move to your permanent community, you are again required to live with a host family for at least three months. After three months, Volunteers can look for independent housing. The availability and affordability of independent housing will depend greatly on site location and is not guaranteed. If a Volunteer wishes to move to independent housing, they are required to find the housing on their own and the housing must meet security and budgetary guidelines established by Peace Corps Mexico. The Peace Corps will provide Trainees with a settling-in allowance to buy basic furniture and household items.

Volunteers are placed at sites that range from very large modern cities with populations over 300,000 people to small rural towns or “pueblitos” with 1000 or fewer people living in them. Site location and access varies greatly based on sector and state you are assigned. We currently assign two-year Volunteers to the following states of Mexico: Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosi, and Tlaxcala.

Living allowance and money management

Staff will help Volunteers open a local bank account and obtain a debit card during the first few weeks in Mexico. This bank account will be used to receive a monthly allowance that is sufficient to live at the level of the people in your community. The allowance covers food, housing, household supplies, clothing, transportation to and from work, utilities, recreation and entertainment, and incidental expenses. Peace Corps Volunteers are expected to live at a level that is comparable with that of their host country counterparts.

The Peace Corps discourages Volunteers from supplementing their living allowance with funds from home. For personal travel and vacations, it can be useful to have a personal credit card or debit card, both can be used throughout Mexico. A U.S. debit card can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs throughout Mexico for a small fee.

Food and diet

Traditional Mexican food is rich, diverse, and deeply rooted in regional ingredients, techniques, and cultures—from fresh tortillas and tamales to complex moles and tangy or spicy salsas. It is a cuisine that is both comforting and full of bold, unforgettable flavors. During your Peace Corps service food will play an essential part in everyday life. Mexican families and friends gather frequently to share meals and spend time together. Volunteers who are vegetarians or vegans may find it a bit more challenging and expensive to stick to these diets consistently, especially in rural areas where meat and dairy are common staples. While living with a host family, flexibility is key, as you’ll generally eat what is prepared. Families are not informed of dietary preferences, and it will be the responsibility of the Trainee/Volunteer to have conversations with their host families regarding food preferences. Food allergies, on the other hand, are taken seriously and clearly communicated so they can be addressed appropriately and safely.

Transportation

During pre-service training, Trainees mainly prefer to walk from home to the Peace Corps office, although they can choose to use public transportation (usually small buses). Most Volunteers primarily use public transportation to commute to work and for weekend excursions in their sites. Volunteers living in downtown areas tend to prefer walking; it is often quicker to walk than to drive. In some cases, host agencies provide shuttle bus transportation to and from work for their employees. In other cases, Volunteers obtain rides with colleagues or friends. Several Volunteers have bicycles, but these are used mainly for recreation and running errands and not for commuting to and from work. (Note: Helmet use when biking is mandatory for all Peace Corps Volunteers.) Cheap taxis are common in all urban areas. Mexico has an excellent system of intercity first-class buses and second-class buses are used to travel to every secondary city in the country. Airline travel, although somewhat expensive, is a viable option for long-distance travel. Volunteers are not permitted to own cars or motorcycles. With prior authorization of the country director, the use of rental vehicles for vacation travel may be permitted.

Social activities

Mexico is full of vibrant social and cultural activities that Volunteers can enjoy as part of daily life and during community integration. Soccer (fútbol) is a favorite pastime, with casual pick-up games in plazas, schoolyards, or community fields happening regularly. Local fairs and town festivals, especially during holidays like Día de los Muertos, Independence Day, and Semana Santa, are full of color, music, parades, and traditional foods. Catholic traditions are deeply woven into the social fabric, and you’ll likely be invited to take part in religious events such as processions, masses, and celebration of patron saints, which often include fireworks, music, and large communal meals.

Family is central to life in Mexico, and Volunteers are often invited to birthday parties, fiesta de quince años/quinceañeras, religious celebrations, and Sunday comidas. Sunday comidas are big family meals that last for hours and often include extended relatives and friends.

Cities and some small communities have cultural centers known as the Casa de la Cultura or Casa Ejidal where workshops or classes are offered; these are ideal locations to ask about different activities in a community. All these activities offer a deeper connection to your host community, helping you build lasting relationships and better understand the values and rhythms of life in Mexico.

Professionalism, dress, and behavior

Professionalism in the Peace Corps requires an awareness of the host community workplace culture, community values, and your self-presentation. To maintain a positive, culturally appropriate professional standing within a host community or workplace, Volunteers may need to adjust their style of dress, hair style, facial hair, make-up, piercings, manner of greeting others, etc. to demonstrate respect for local culture and customs. How you present yourself, in both informal and professional settings, reflects you as an individual and as a representative of Peace Corps and the United States. In the U.S., dress (and other elements of personal appearance) may be seen as an expression of personal freedom and identity. In many host countries where Peace Corps Volunteers serve, the way you dress and present yourself may be interpreted as an expression of regard—or disregard—for those host community members around you.

Volunteers are encouraged to spend time in their communities, to develop their language skills, get to know the individual members of their community, and better understand local traditions, culture, and norms. As mutual trust is established over time, there may be opportunities for Volunteers to adjust their personal appearance and dress outside of the more rigid local standards. Volunteers are encouraged to discuss these potential adjustments with staff and other cultural mentors.

• Dress: Mexican culture places great emphasis on physical appearance. Regarding dress and appearance, Volunteers should observe and respect the local norms at their place of work and in their communities. During pre-service training (PST), Trainees are expected to dress in a professional manner that aligns with the norms of the Peace Corps Office where the training is held. Additional details and specifics on dress code for PST and for service can be found in the Packing List section of this website.
• Hygiene: In Mexico, personal hygiene is very important, especially when living with a host family. It is expected that Trainees and Volunteers will shower daily, keep their room tidy, use deodorant, and clean their clothes and sheets regularly.
• Hairstyles: Cornrows, dreadlocks, or natural hair may attract unwanted attention in the community (like people wanting to touch the Trainee/Volunteer’s hair).
• Facial hair: Groomed and well-maintained facial hair in various styles is common in Mexico.
• Tattoos: Visible tattoos are not uncommon in Mexico, but they may draw unwanted attention or change perceptions of the Trainee/Volunteer depending on the community.
• Piercings: Visible body and facial piercings may not be accepted in professional settings. Wearing some types of facial piercings may make it more difficult to integrate into your community.