Experience in Monterrey, Mexico by Ana

What is it like to live in Monterrey? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I would recommend to live in Monterrey if you come as a very motivated and ambitious student or young professional. Here you are able to grasp valuable opportunities for your career.

Living in Monterrey has its pros and cons, for example it has great entertainment and leisure options with sightseeing points, museums and occasional social and cultural events for the general public. However, there is a lot of traffic at almost all times and the cost of living in this city is on average on the expensive side.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Monterrey?

Living as a student in Monterrey, I find that I rely a lot on my friends when it comes to entertainment: it can either be some big plan, like a concert or festival, to going clubbing or bar hopping, or simply doing something more simple like going to La Huasteca for the afternoon/night or even a simple get-together in a house with good friends.

When it comes to budget, I find that unless you have a good amount of income, the best option is to have a job.

In my experience I haven't really found any "student discounts" or other special prices for students like in other countries.

As of life in campus, universities often offer great opportunities, projects and activities in order for you to grow as a person, paving your career path, and start making a network for yourself.

How much does it cost to live in Monterrey?

As I have mentioned, living in Monterrey can be expensive, you can often see that reflected in housing, food, entertainment, education, etc. But the locals often find ways to save and find less expensive alternatives that are just as good as spending more. Also, locals are always willing to tell you their tips on doing this.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Monterrey? Is there any advice you can give?

Universities in Monterrey don´t usually have dorms, but I do know that many offer housing outside the campus.

My advice would be that you find an accomodation that is affordable and close to your campus (because of the traffic). Also, I would advice to live with roommates, that is usually effective at making your accomodation/utility expenses so much cheaper and to discover the city.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

There is a little bit of everything when it comes to food. You can find some very nice and tasty food almost everywhere. Some popular restaurants you can find in this city are the ones that offer tacos and they are very easy to find. Foreign food style restaurants are also popular: Chinese, Japanese and Italian are the most popular along with some others. There are also many famous chain restaurants.

What places would you recommend visiting in Monterrey?

I would recommend Parque Fundidora, where many social and cultural events are held, and you can as well just go for some leisure time, such as exercising, skating, taking a walk, etc.

I would also recommend Parque Ecológico Chipinque, which is a beautiful forest perfect for hiking, biking, or just relaxing and have a nice time.

There is also Parque Ecológico La Huasteca, which is more like a cannon valley, perfect for rock-climbing, biking or just going with some friends.

Another place I would recommend is the city center, where you can buy many handcrafted things, eat in restaurants and cafes, go to museums, go clubbing or bar-hopping at night and as a plus, it is usually a very affordable place to spend a day/night out.

The last place I can think of is not actually in Monterrey, but it's a nearby town called Santiago and it is what we call a "pueblo mágico" or "magical town" where you can find similar attractions as in the center of Monterrey plus some nature.

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Is it good to eat out in Monterrey? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Eating out in Monterrey is usually expensive but you won't regret as it is kind of hard to find a restaurant where you don't like the food. Some of my favorite spots are Nikkori (a sushi place), Oriental Grill, Las Alitas (a chicken wing place) and Cervecería Chapultepec (which is a very inexpensive and delicious seafood place). There are also many other options to choose from.

Is the nightlife good in Monterrey? Where is good to go?

Nightlife in Monterrey is very good. The most popular place to go is Centrito Valle, which is located in the district of San Pedro. In Centrito you can find many nightclubs and bars and even some places that are a a mix of both of them.

Another popular place to go is Barrio Antiguo in the city center, where you can find some nightclubs as well as bars that have a very different atmosphere and theme from the ones in Centrito.

What advice would you give future students heading to Monterrey?

I would advice future Monterrey students to make the most out of your time in this city, because there are no excuses not do so, as there is so much to do and to see. Always look for all the opportunities you can take career and education-wise. And last but not least, make good friends during your stay here.

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