How much does it cost for a housekeeper or maid in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?
Santiago Hernandez - Chapala Med
Usually, you can get a housekeeper for US $10 per day in Chapala and Ajijic for an 8-hours day, but I pay a little bit more. I have a housekeeper who cleans my two and a half bedroom apartment in Guadalajara who I pay US $11.25 for 4 hours of work. I pay as much as I do because she travels a long distance. It takes her an hour to get to my residence by bus and an hour to get back. When you find somebody who is honest thus far and you want to keep them...
Usually, you can get a housekeeper for US $10 per day in Chapala and Ajijic for an 8-hours day, but I pay a little bit more. I have a housekeeper who cleans my two and a half bedroom apartment in Guadalajara who I pay US $11.25 for 4 hours of work. I pay as much as I do because she travels a long distance. It takes her an hour to get to my residence by bus and an hour to get back. When you find somebody who is honest thus far and you want to keep them moral and honest, you pay them a little bit more.
The local pay rate in Guadalajara is around $2.25 for 8 hours of work; it’s probably even less in the Chapala area.
(Flowers climbing around a window in Guadalajara, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted January 15, 2016
Luzma Grande - Ajijic Concierge Services
For a maid, you would usually pay 50 pesos per hour (about US $3) and they work for 4 hours a day. They could come and work for 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon if that is what you prefer. They could also come once or twice a week or whenever you need them. This is a special price for Ajijic. The gringo community has created special prices here that are usually higher than in other places in Mexico. My mother would pay 1,000 pesos per week (US $55) for a girl who...For a maid, you would usually pay 50 pesos per hour (about US $3) and they work for 4 hours a day. They could come and work for 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon if that is what you prefer. They could also come once or twice a week or whenever you need them. This is a special price for Ajijic. The gringo community has created special prices here that are usually higher than in other places in Mexico. My mother would pay 1,000 pesos per week (US $55) for a girl who stays with her the whole day and works for 6 days. (Living room with a brick boveda, a vaulted ceiling, Ajijic, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted June 11, 2016
Rosa Elia Cepeda - Charter Club Tours
We used to stay in a house that was owned by a foreigner who had a housekeeper come to the house to clean, and this foreigner set the price that was paid. We paid her US $20 per day for 4 hours of work, which is the amount usually paid by gringos here in Chapala and Ajijic for their housekeepers. Mexicans won’t pay that much for a housekeeper. I personally do not have a maid because our house is small so we do everything. However, the average...
We used to stay in a house that was owned by a foreigner who had a housekeeper come to the house to clean, and this foreigner set the price that was paid. We paid her US $20 per day for 4 hours of work, which is the amount usually paid by gringos here in Chapala and Ajijic for their housekeepers. Mexicans won’t pay that much for a housekeeper. I personally do not have a maid because our house is small so we do everything. However, the average going rate paid by Mexicans for housekeepers is 50 to 60 pesos ($2.50 to $3) per hour. There is a wide range of prices as it depends on the size of your house and what you want the housekeeper to do but the highest that I know anyone to pay was that $20 per day, which was the amount that we were paying at the gringo house we used to stay in.
People usually recommend their housekeepers to their friends and they have arranged prices. Sometimes the maid is almost considered a part of the family because they help the family for many years. Because of the amount that the tourists pay their maids, in some cases it has become too expensive for the average Mexicans to be able to afford a maid. In the past, we were able to afford maids at a lower cost, before there were a lot of tourists in Chapala and Ajijic. The same is true in other parts of Mexico where there are not as many tourists.
(Casa Sofisticado, Ajijic, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted August 4, 2016
Mirna Segura - Ajijic Rentals
Housekeepers in Chapala and Ajijic charge between 45 to 55 pesos an hour ($2.50 to $3 an hour). How long they stay in your house depends on you but in general, housekeepers spend about 4 hours to clean a medium-sized house, and they do a good job. There are times when the homeowners need to go on vacation, for example, and they want the housekeeper to stay in their house while they are gone. Usually if you want a housekeeper to look after your house,...
Housekeepers in Chapala and Ajijic charge between 45 to 55 pesos an hour ($2.50 to $3 an hour). How long they stay in your house depends on you but in general, housekeepers spend about 4 hours to clean a medium-sized house, and they do a good job. There are times when the homeowners need to go on vacation, for example, and they want the housekeeper to stay in their house while they are gone. Usually if you want a housekeeper to look after your house, people pay around 200 pesos or 300 pesos per day ($11 to $17 per day) if the housekeeper needs to feed the dog or the cat. For staying in the house while they are gone, some people would pay more or on top of what they pay their housekeepers for cleaning and some wouldn’t.
(Rental that allows dogs, Ajijic, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted August 27, 2016
Percy Pinklebutt - Percy Pinklebutt Enteprises
You can find a good housekeeper in Chapala and Ajijic and pay a normal rate from 200 up to 350 pesos (US $11 to $19) a week which would give you a day or two of help. Getting referrals from a person living locally is often considered the best way to do this. There are many well-experienced housekeepers in the lake area who are very capable of taking great care of you house and also your pets when you are on vacation or out of town. There are also a few...
You can find a good housekeeper in Chapala and Ajijic and pay a normal rate from 200 up to 350 pesos (US $11 to $19) a week which would give you a day or two of help. Getting referrals from a person living locally is often considered the best way to do this. There are many well-experienced housekeepers in the lake area who are very capable of taking great care of you house and also your pets when you are on vacation or out of town. There are also a few home management companies. If you are going to be gone for 6 months it is possible that your housekeeper can pay accounts, arrange minor repairs to be done, live in or visit daily to take care of pets or put lights on and off.
Our family housekeeper has worked with us for years. She sometimes enjoys a beer at the end of the day if I am home having lunch we sometimes sit together and have some time to chat. She is a great lady and her help makes a big difference to me. You should have a legal contract for your housekeeper so she can make use of the government benefits. A local lawyer can easily and inexpensively make a contract for you. Many people at the lake do however have house staff and do not have contracts. They pay every week in cash. Social Security is normally 30% on top of the salary you pay, which includes IMSS (health), Infonavit, etc.
Posted September 9, 2016
Magy Carmona - Magy Carmona at Lake Chapala Realty
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To get a housekeeper in Chapala and Ajijic, it costs 250 pesos (US $12), which a reasonable payment for a housekeeper to clean your place for 4-6 hours. That’s standard. They usually charge Americans 50 pesos (US $2.41) an hour. The rates for a gardener in Chapala and Ajijic depend on the time of the day, because they work in different houses, so sometimes they don’t have a very tight schedule. Gardeners get paid weekly depending on the...
To get a housekeeper in Chapala and Ajijic, it costs 250 pesos (US $12), which a reasonable payment for a housekeeper to clean your place for 4-6 hours. That’s standard. They usually charge Americans 50 pesos (US $2.41) an hour. The rates for a gardener in Chapala and Ajijic depend on the time of the day, because they work in different houses, so sometimes they don’t have a very tight schedule. Gardeners get paid weekly depending on the size of the garden. Their rates go from 500 pesos to 1,000 pesos (US $24 – $48).
I have a gardener, and for the 4,000 meters that I have (about an acre total), I pay him 1,500 pesos (US $72) per week. For that he comes every day and takes care of a lot of things. In the street where I live, I own two houses, and each house has 2,000 square meters, and he takes care of both houses. He’s like a handyman in the houses, and he also comes to the bazaar to help.
(Garden in Ajijic, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted December 21, 2016
Flip Nicholson - Fenix Real estate
In two weeks, for 6 days a week, my gardener makes 750 pesos (US $35). The maid works for 4 - 5 hours every day, 5 days a week, and makes 700 pesos ($33) a week. When I first moved to the Lake Chapala area, I remember it took me several minutes to get used to someone else mowing the lawn. I could sit on the terraza or terrace, watch my gardener Memo go back and forth with the lawnmower, and even point out a spot he missed.
In two weeks, for 6 days a week, my gardener makes 750 pesos (US $35). The maid works for 4 - 5 hours every day, 5 days a week, and makes 700 pesos ($33) a week. When I first moved to the Lake Chapala area, I remember it took me several minutes to get used to someone else mowing the lawn. I could sit on the terraza or terrace, watch my gardener Memo go back and forth with the lawnmower, and even point out a spot he missed.
If I were to cut corners, it wouldn’t be the gardener and the housekeeper, because 1) we need to employ them; and, 2.) they’re very devoted. We’ve had our gardener with us for over 18 years, and we’ve had our maid for 15 years. Why would you want to get rid of that? I love having them.
People in the US will say, “I don’t want to have a pool, it requires too much maintenance.” I haven’t done anything to the our pool, and it’s perfect every day. My gardener takes care of the garden and of the pool, and all I have to do is jump in the pool, and I enjoy it all.
Our Golden Retriever uses our pool more than anyone else. I taught her as a pup how to climb out using the ladder, which is hilarious to watch. She’ll jump in to do a few laps, get back up climbing up the ladder, and shake off.
(Home with pool by the guest quarters, Lake Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted January 21, 2017
Karen Herrtwich - S&S Auto
The cost of getting a housekeeper or a maid is typically a little higher in Chapala and Ajijic compared to most areas in Mexico because of the influx of Americans and Canadians. Housekeepers in this area will generally charge 40-50 pesos (US $2 – US $2.50) an hour. Although it is very economical, I find this price range on the high side, because if you go to small or rural towns in Mexico, the housekeepers will most likely charge less. Some housekeepers in the Ajijic area will...The cost of getting a housekeeper or a maid is typically a little higher in Chapala and Ajijic compared to most areas in Mexico because of the influx of Americans and Canadians. Housekeepers in this area will generally charge 40-50 pesos (US $2 – US $2.50) an hour. Although it is very economical, I find this price range on the high side, because if you go to small or rural towns in Mexico, the housekeepers will most likely charge less. Some housekeepers in the Ajijic area will even ask for more, like 60 pesos (US $3) an hour. If you have a housekeeper who works full time, then you will be able to get a better hourly rate, similar to having a gardener whom you pay $60 pesos or more (US $3.00 or more) an hour. If you have this gardener working full time or 40 hours a week, you’ll pay less.
We have a big yard in Chapala. My gardener comes in Mondays through Saturdays and works from 9 AM – 3 PM, 36 hours a week. Typically, like many gardener & maids, he can still go to other people's homes to some work in the afternoon and improve his income.
(House and garden in Chapala, Lake Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted February 15, 2017
Bruce Fraser
The cost of a housekeeper or maid in Chapala and Ajijic is 300 pesos (US $16) a day for cleaning done once a week. That's about 50 pesos ($2.60) an hour for about six hours. We've had her for about two years. Our maid does a good job. She is a woman with a broken family; three children from three different men. The oldest child has cancer. My wife found out about our maid’s trials and tribulations so she gave her the job mostly just to help her...
The cost of a housekeeper or maid in Chapala and Ajijic is 300 pesos (US $16) a day for cleaning done once a week. That's about 50 pesos ($2.60) an hour for about six hours. We've had her for about two years. Our maid does a good job. She is a woman with a broken family; three children from three different men. The oldest child has cancer. My wife found out about our maid’s trials and tribulations so she gave her the job mostly just to help her out. She’s a middle-aged woman, strong, who obviously wants to do something to help her family and pay her bills.
When trying to find a good housekeeper, it's a good idea to ask around. Quite often, people will have a maid who has two or three days of work a week and is looking for something more. You can find housekeepers that way. You can find out as you ask if she does a good job. You should also ask if she’s honest. That's the main criterion because a lot of people had trouble with maids leaving with some of their goods each day, particularly if you're not there.
I, personally, like to get out of the house when the maid is there because I don't want to be under foot. My wife likes to be there to make sure everything is done properly.
For those who want to be out of the house, then you have to be concerned about what's leaving when the housekeeper leaves if you're not there to see her out the door. That's a big issue to take care of. Back in Canada, I had a maid steal from me, but not here in Mexico.
(Lake Chapala, Mexico home, pictured.)
Posted April 29, 2017
Chuck Bolotin - Best Mexico Movers
Generally speaking, a housekeeper or a maid in the Ajijic / Lake Chapala area will cost around 50 pesos an hour. At the current exchange rate, that's about $2.50 per hour. In addition to that, they may ask for bus fare (maybe a dollar or so, or less), you may want to feed them (we do), and, for long term arrangements, you should pay a bonus just before Christmas of one month's salary for a year's work. For example, if you have a housekeeper...
Generally speaking, a housekeeper or a maid in the Ajijic / Lake Chapala area will cost around 50 pesos an hour. At the current exchange rate, that's about $2.50 per hour. In addition to that, they may ask for bus fare (maybe a dollar or so, or less), you may want to feed them (we do), and, for long term arrangements, you should pay a bonus just before Christmas of one month's salary for a year's work. For example, if you have a housekeeper for one day a week for four hours and you had her work for you the entire year, you would give a bonus of around 860 pesos (200 pesos per week x 4.3 weeks in a month), or, around $43. If they had worked for you for six months, you would pay around 430 pesos.
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You can certainly pay more per hour or give a larger bonus, but what I'm quoting is the going rate.
If you need a mover to move your household goods to Mexico, be sure to check out Best Mexico Movers.
Posted July 14, 2018