Housing is not owned or operated by ITAM but the International Office provides assistance by finding off-campus housing options. There are many fully furnished student residences within walking distance from ITAM. Options depend on price range and features desired by the student. The International Office works with each individual student to find the preferred accommodation but once selected, the student is directly responsible for the lease. It is important for you to know that in some cases, once the students have selected the residence where they want to live in, they will need to make a security deposit to the landlord which will be returned at the end of their stay in Mexico after checking that the place and balance are in order.
When travelling to an unknown country it is possible to encounter unexpected circumstances that would be much easier to solve if you have aid from a local resident. Thinking about this and because we want every student’s exchange experience to be unforgettable, the International Office has created the Buddy Program. The ITAM Buddy Program brings together student volunteers who help our international students become familiar with ITAM and the Mexican culture and to make the most of their stay in Mexico City. The Mexican student volunteers will help international students since they arrive to Mexico City and will provide basic information about life at Mexico City. It is important that you let us know if you want to be assigned a buddy so the International Office makes all the necessary arrangements.
The official currency is the Mexican peso. Since Mexico is so close to the U.S., many prices tend to stay the same in dollar terms but may fluctuate more if there is devaluation. The easiest way to keep funds in Mexico is with an international credit or debit card affiliated with an ATM network such as Cirrus or Plus.
Although relative prices fluctuate, in general, Mexico City is less expensive than large cities in Europe and North America. Transportation is relatively inexpensive. A taxi ride to ITAM from the airport is currently around US$15. A metro ticket, which can take you all over the city costs 5 pesos. Meals at ITAM can be obtained for US$4.50 at either campus and there are small restaurants in walking distance of both. Mexico City has a good variety of restaurants for most tastes and budgets. The main meal is at midday. Breakfast and suppers tend to be smaller and therefore less expensive.