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How do utilities work in Playa del Carmen apartments?

Housing 2 days ago 1 answer 39 views Claudia
Just signed a lease and the landlord said utilities aren't included. How do I set up electricity (CFE), water, and internet? Are there any gotchas with billing I should know about?

1 Answer

Carlos Eduardo Martinez 2 days ago
Welcome! Here's the breakdown: Electricity (CFE) — This is the big one. Mexico uses a tiered system called DAC. If you use AC heavily, your bill can jump from $500 MXN to $3000+ MXN in a single billing period. The billing cycle is every 2 months. Keep your usage under the DAC threshold (varies by region, ~850 kWh/bimester here). Ask your landlord if the meter is in your name or theirs. Water (CAPA) — Usually very cheap, $100-300 MXN per bimester. Some buildings include it in maintenance fees. Don't drink the tap water — get a garrafón (20L jug) delivered for ~$35-50 MXN. Internet — Telmex (Infinitum) is the most common. Plans start at $399 MXN/month for 20 Mbps. TotalPlay is faster but less available. Setup takes 1-2 weeks. Many expats use a Starlink as backup. Gas — Most buildings use stationary tanks refilled periodically. Cost varies but budget $200-400 MXN/month for cooking + hot water. Pro tip: Take photos of all meters on move-in day to avoid disputes over previous tenant's bills.

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