La Paz - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Household help here is affordable and there are a lot of great people, but don't expect to find someone who speaks English. In addition to a maid/nanny we also have a gardener and physical trainer. - Jan 2024
Fairly inexpensive. Of course the quality varies. So getting a good recommendation from a coworker is vital. - Aug 2022
Fairly inexpensive, about US $400-$500 per month for a full-time nanny or housekeeper. Expats usually employ one or the other or both. - Dec 2019
Americans typically pay upwards of 350 Bolivianos (abt 50$) per day for a housekeeper/cook/nanny. Often, they work in all three capacities at once. The locals pay about 70 Bs per day ($10) which might explain why it's so hard to find good help. Most of those in the American circuit have formed a sort of social circle and seem to be chatty and demanding. Hiring outside the embassy pool may be challenging but may yield better results. Most families here also hire a gardener/handyman as some of the properties have fairly extensive gardens. Our gardener built a raised garden bed for us to grow our own lettuce and herbs. - Feb 2019
Household help is readily available. Work pace, capacity, and ethic is not North American usually. Very cheap for the region. - Sep 2016
Affordable. - Jun 2015
Domestic help is easy to find. We pay about US$325 per month for full-time help (she works Mon-Fri from 9am-5pm). We also have a gardener 1 day per week who we pay about US$80 per month. - Apr 2015
Less than US$20 a day for a housekeeper, many also cook and watch the kids for not much more. - Nov 2014
Good domestic help is available and reasonable, usually less than US$250 a month for full-time help for a housekeeper/cook plus health insurance about US$50 every 2 months. There is an extra month salary bonus required at Christmas. Gardeners are about US$20 a day. English is not widely spoken though. - Jan 2014
Very affordable. Ours became a part of our family. She took care of the dogs, ran our errands, paid our bills, cooked and cleaned everything. We paid a bit more, but usually only about $250-$350 a month. - Jul 2013
It is easy to get great help. And cheap. Most people have full-time or live-in help for less than $350/month. - Jun 2013
Inexpensive. - Jul 2012
Maids about US$200 a month full-time. - Feb 2012
Best domestic help so far. - Aug 2011
My domestic employee also helps with the kids. She also babysits for us when the wife and I go out. - May 2011
120 dollars per month and they do everything. - May 2011
The embassy has a good program of finding domestic help. Cost is affordable, and most families seem to be happy with their employees. - Mar 2011
$210 USD a month for a full-time maid, 40 hours a week. Very helpful. - Aug 2010
Readily available, good and cheap (about 150 USD) for full time. - Jan 2010
Generally good quality, very available and inexpensive. - Aug 2009
