Piano Guidance
Photo by Jade Tellez Pexels Logo Photo: Jade Tellez

How much does the 1% in Mexico make?

Official figures state that around 10% of Mexican workers earn the minimum wage or less and around 60% of Mexican workers earn less than 2x the minimum salary. According to Forbes Mexico, anyone earning over MX$38,000 or US$1,900 per month belongs to the top 1% of earners in the country.

What should you not do on a guitar?
What should you not do on a guitar?

Things You Should Never Do to Your Guitar DON'T Expose It to Extreme Temperature and Humidity Change. ... DON'T Clean With Water. ... DON'T Use...

Read More »
Is B note higher than C?
Is B note higher than C?

In the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Netherlands, as described above, B usually refers to...

Read More »

I know that a lot of people who watch my YouTube channel are foreigners who want to visit Mexico or even live in Mexico. One of the main reasons that Mexico is becoming a very attractive destination for people all over the world is its low cost of living relative to other North American or European countries. People who retire in Mexico or who can work remotely from Mexico find that their money goes much further here than it does in their own country. But what is it like for Mexican people who live and work in Mexico and earn local salaries? What do Mexican people consider to be a good salary in order to live well? I went out onto the streets of Querétaro to ask people their opinions.

What people said is a good salary in Mexico

If you watch the video, you will see that I received a wide range of answers from different people. That's to be expected, right? Different people have different expectations for what a good salary means and what kind of lifestyle it can offer. As you might expect, younger people suggested lower amounts, generally between MX$10,000-MX$15,000/month. This is between US$500-$1000. When asked what kind of lifestyle that would allow someone, they answered that it was enough to pay for rent and food and a few luxuries on top. The highest figure that anyone suggested was MX$30,000/month or US$1,500. The people who suggested salaries in this range tended to be a little older and they mentioned that this salary would allow for some travel and some savings each month, too. It's worth mentioning that all of these interviews took place in the center of Querétaro on a Wednesday afternoon. It may be that if I asked these questions in a more affluent area or at a different time, I would have received different answers. From the comments on the video, I can see that in certain industries, and particularly in Mexico City, salaries appear to be higher than those stated by my participants. However, I think that high earners are more likely to comment and mention how much they make so this is hardly scientific.

The facts

It is worth mentioning that just over half of Mexican workers operate in the informal economy . As a result, they are not paying taxes and accurate figures for how much they earn are difficult to find. Likewise, some higher earners may be under-reporting how much they make. All of these figures are official but it is worth treating them with some skepticism.

The Mexican minimum wage

Does Irish Spring keep mice away?
Does Irish Spring keep mice away?

Irish Spring Soap has a strong fragrance that helps to repel mice. Their sharp sense of smell finds this fragrance to be too strong. Many testers...

Read More »
Can you practice piano too much?
Can you practice piano too much?

Results of too much practice can manifest in depression, burn out, and physical injury. In fact, overuse injuries are not only prevalent among...

Read More »

The minimum wage in Mexico is currently MX$141 per day , which is around US$7. Note that salaries in Mexico are generally per day and very rarely stated per hour. In the north of Mexico, in the states which border the US, workers enjoy a higher minimum wage of MX$213, which is just over US$10 per day. It's worth noting that if someone is paid monthly, their salary is the daily rate x 30. In other words, they are getting paid for their weekend as well as weekdays, even if they don't work on these days. Official figures state that around 10% of Mexican workers earn the minimum wage or less and around 60% of Mexican workers earn less than 2x the minimum salary . According to Forbes Mexico, anyone earning over MX$38,000 or US$1,900 per month belongs to the top 1% of earners in the country.

Final thoughts

Mexico is ranked as the 19th most unequal country in the world . As the world's 15th largest economy, a lot of money is being made in the country but as we can see from the data, this wealth is not reflected in the wages of the majority of people. If the official statistics are to be believed, many foreigners who work remotely or retire in Mexico are earning very high salaries compared to local workers. Even those US retirees with just the minimum social security income of around US$1,200 per month are able to enjoy a lifestyle that is out of reach for many here. The fact that the cost of living is lower in Mexico compared to other countries is directly related to the fact that those people providing the goods and services are earning much lower wages than the workers in other countries. It is worth remembering this fact when discussing how cheap things seem in Mexico. If you found this blog interesting, please feel check out the other blog entries below. Also, you can find a lot of interesting information about life in Mexico, cost of living, and culture on the YouTube channel La Karencita .

Is a 250cc dirt bike too small?
Is a 250cc dirt bike too small?

It is recommended that only teenagers from the age of 16-years upward consider riding a 250cc dirt bike. Even so, you should only consider this...

Read More »
What colour piano is best?
What colour piano is best?

As a general rule, black is the best colour for a piano since black is a versatile neutral colour that can fit in with different looks and styles...

Read More »
Can you learn piano on a cheap keyboard?
Can you learn piano on a cheap keyboard?

Yes, learning piano on a keyboard is possible. The layout of keys is identical on both instruments. The songs you learn to play on a piano will...

Read More »
Who is replacing Johnny Depp in Pirates?
Who is replacing Johnny Depp in Pirates?

Dwayne Johnson Will Replace Johnny Depp in 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Film, Reports Say - Inside... Jun 2, 2022

Read More »