Experience in Monterrey, Mexico by Sergio

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

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It's the third most important city in Mexico after Mexico City and Guadalajara.

Monterrey is an industrial city with a focus on entrepreneurship, with a growing interest in cultural expression. It's a city that is interested in representing diversity, and so the options for food, jobs, entertainment and education are abundant.

Traffic is always insane in peak hours, and lately at any time of the day. Public transportation is pretty informal: the buses are not properly branded, they do not follow any schedule and most of them will overload during specific hours. Taking a cab is the best way to go (you can Uber in the city) but it can be expensive if you travel long distances. Best of options is to rent or find a friend with a car, for its the only way to move around this city built for drivers and not pedestrians.

Natives often prefer to skip driving after work and spend time having coffee or dinner in one of the many cafés, restaurants, clubs and social events that plague the night life from Thursday through Sunday. Monterrey is a city with a very predictable social scheme, the good parties are well spotted and often are in Monterrey or San Pedro.

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Weather is pretty much unpredictable at any time of the year, but mostly really hot or really rainy. Chances are that the day starts with rain and ends with a 35 C, with a heat wave that lasts through the night. Fortunately, most flats and housing have fans or A/C, it is as necessary as wi-fi.

The city has it all: great landscaping and places to hike and camp, as well as modern museums and parks that can be enjoyed for free. Social life happens in the many malls around the city. Its convention center hosts interesting and varied conferences and expos, and the Monterrey's Arena has made the city a great spot for sold out events from around the globe.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Monterrey?

Three important universities (TEC, UDEM and UANL) offer technical as well as humanitarian degrees. They are far apart from each other, and so the housing options are narrowed to the surrounding neighborhoods. They all have an international committee that takes charge of the alumni, so you won't have to worry about meeting others.

The city offers special price for students in museums, libraries, and cultural centers, but other than those there is not much use for a student card.

There is no specific bar or place where the erasmus hang out. This is just impossible due to the extension of the city. However, it is likely that the local and foreign Mexican students host parties in their flats where you can meet other Erasmus.

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There's little possibility of getting a job as a foreign student. Most posts will need a full time availability and will be bad paid. Companies do their internships with months in advance, so it kind of needs to be done before hand.

Monterrey is a city of engineers, architects, economists, and administrators. However, graphic design is having its golden age due to various design workshops and agencies producing branding around the world, from local graduates.

Cinema is another growing industry in Monterrey. With a heavy influence from the United States, universities now offer degrees and diplomas on film and digital production. The city has its own film festival, nests various production houses and has its cinematheque with constant international programming.

How much does it cost to live in Monterrey?

Living in Monterrey can be expensive at the beginning, but after you get the flow of the city, you can find ways to save a little.

The bus is around $10 and $15 pesos.

The metro costs $4. 50, Sunday is free. There are only two lines that are not great for students at UDEM or TEC.

Taxis can be easily hailed in the street or you can use Uber, which is pricey.

Apartments are abundant and for a wide range of prices. If you play it right, you can find very good deals.

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

Try to live close by your university, otherwise the transportation costs will ruin you out and your social life will have boundaries.

Lots of houses rent single rooms, shared with a family or an entire house for a very economic price. Most neighborhoods won't tolerate loud music and noise after 1 am.

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

Monterrey is a paradise for the carnivores. Meat is always the main dish, it's great quality and it's prepared in very vast ways. From stew to barbecue, tacos or a stake. It's a grill city.

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Monterrey's cuisine has also adopted an international identity, having fancier restaurants serving very humble plates at high prices. You can also get them at a student-friendly price if you know what to look for.

Locals enjoy homemade meals, so there are a lot of options where you can find "comidas corridas", that include servings of different main dishes and sides, including beverage, for a very low price.

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Fast food is also available, with most American brands all over town. Taco parlors (not Taco Bell) co-exist with McDonalds and Subway. There's room for everybody.

Following this trend, food trucks have invaded the city with super rich, healthy and homemade options in a fast food format for the bold. You can find them parked in the main streets of the city. Some of them even bring it to your home.

The vegan trend is expand in the city. There are not many places that offer quality vegan or vegetarian food, the ones that are worth the while are expensive, making it impossible to eat out every day. However, many markets around the city. The best option is to cook your own veggies at home.

What places would you recommend visiting in Monterrey?

For a stroll, jogging or having a pic-nic:

Fundidora: the biggest park in the city. It's connected to the Santa Lucía River which is also a riverside walk. You can spend a whole day there, but bring your own food and water.

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Museo Marco: just across the Macroplaza, Latin America's longest plaza. It houses interesting contemporary expositions and it's free on Wednesday.

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Barrio Antiguo: it's an area around Macroplaza, a nice neighbourhood with old fashioned houses and many slow food and organic cafes and restaurants.

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Calzada del Valle: a safe pathway that runs along Calzada San Pedro, about 2km long used for jogging. It's well preserved, illuminated and with a nice view of the richest neighborhoods in the city. The are many options for having coffee or dinner around it.

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Chipinque: a natural park that you can either walk or drive to the top. The mountain peak has a great view of the city and the weather is forest-like.

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La Huasteca: a natural park where you can rock climb and abseiling, also friendly for pic-nics and late evenings. Alcohol is prohibited.

El Obispado: a castle in the mountain where Monterrey held its only battle. Its a museum with low interesting stuff. However, there is a drive to the top of the mountain where you can get an amazing 360 view of the city.

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

What you need to try:

• When invited to a barbecue (because you will, more than once a month), pick a marinated Arrachera. You can buy it at any supermarket. Other good cuts are rib-eyes, aguja norteña and chops.

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• Make your own guacamole. HEB or any supermarket sell extra fine avocados, not those little ones found elsewhere. All you need to do is mash them.
• Have Tacos al Pastor. Its a taco version of the kebab, in tiny tortillas. Always use lemon, onion, coriander and salsa. You can have them beef or pork. Never, ever ask for chicken or veggie in these place. If you are curious, have frijoles charros (charro beans).
• You can find taco places in ANY corner. Most of them taste the same, the signature is in the salsa. Yes, you will have to get hot and down with trying different salsas, add some onions and coriander to the tacos. It's the best you'll ever have.

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• Also when in a Taco joint, try: papa asada, campechanas and gringas. Some of them have a condiment bar. Make the most of it.
• There are special restaurants that serve fish tacos, and they are also great. The price is not the same as meat tacos, but they are worth every peso.
• If you want to get fancy, try one of the many fusion cuisine restaurants in the city. My favorites are La Nacional (fanciest in the city), Comuna, Chino Latino, Xbox Cafe (no longer an Xbox cafe), Neuquen, Santa Barbara (XXL dishes), El gran invernadero, La Adorada del Tío, La Embajada, Vasto, and La Romanita, among many others.

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

There are events and hosted parties around San Pedro. Most of them you can find out about in Facebook. The other good parties are often organized by either students or gays. There are very limited options to go out and dance, as well as bars. This plays right when you want to meet people. You will see them again, in the same place next week.

What advice would you give to future students heading to Monterrey?

Think about food and transportation fees.

Bring winter clothing.

Learn some Spanish.

Be open to try spicy food.

Make local friends.

Don't wander alone at night in the city center or unfriendly neighborhoods.

Never rent a flat in La Independencia, La 25 de Noviembre. Dangerous places.

When its rainy season, the city gets flooded. Think ahead your ways of transportation.

There are low price apartments near Fundadora, Colonia Roma, near Valle de la Paz cemetery and Colonia Contry.

Enjoy!