Mexico Newsletter —
December 2024

Your monthly Mexico newsletter is filled with inspiration, meaningful knowledge, helpful connections, and tips for better living, lifestyle, and leisure in Mexico.

Lifestyle & Living insights for December

Insights and tips for better living, lifestyle, and leisure in Mexico.

December festivities — December festivities begin on on December 12th, Día de Guadalupe, and end on January 6th, Dia de Los Reyes Magos—that concludes the festive period colloquially referred to as Guadalupe-Reyes which encapsulates the winter holiday season in Mexico.

Christmas processions — Posadas Navideñas are the heart of Mexico’s Christmas traditions, which include the breaking of a colorful Piñata.  Christmas dinner is traditionally taken on the evening of December 24th. The 25th tends to be a quiet day of rest and repair, and is also a public holiday.

Christmas holiday planning: As you prepare for Christmas in Mexico, note that airports, bus stations, roads, interstate highways, and popular resorts become very busy during the Christmas holiday period, starting from around mid-December.  Build-in additional time (and patience) for your road journeys, airport transfers, and bus trips.

Immigration offices and consulates. Immigration offices in Mexico had not published their Christmas holiday schedules at the time of this writing, although the offices are likely to close from around December 17th and reopen again on January 3rd or 6th.  Mexican Consulates abroad will be closed December 25th and January 1st and might also be closed on other days depending on their location—check locally for details.

Winter arriving in Mexico: Winter in Mexico is characterized by mostly dry and bright days with agreeable daytime temperatures. It’s typically warm and comfortable along the coasts and coastal plains.  Comfortably warm and sun-filled daytimes are typical in locations situated inland at higher elevations although occasional cold fronts from the north, early mornings and the hours after sundown can feel sharp or cold in the highlands.  See also: Keeping your home warm.

Winter solstice: December 21st is the ‘shortest’ day of the year, although as our article about Mexico’s long daylight hours describes, you’ll enjoy plenty of daylight throughout the winter (early risers benefit especially) and the quality of the light here is extraordinary.  The agreeable climate is one of they key reasons many people choose to overwinter in Mexico.

New Year indexes: The Mexican government typically announces the increase in the Daily Minimum Wage in December.  Market commentary suggests that the increase will be around 12% and take effect from January 1. Official data for inflation and rises to UMAs are typically published by INEGI in early January.

Residency qualification in 2025: Financial qualification criteria for residency in Mexico are likely to increase in line with the increased in Daily Minimum Wage. We expect to have the numbers by mid-January.

Other 2025 updates: We are reviewing articles and guides related to salaries, inflation, the Mexican peso, UMAs, the cost of living, and residency qualification in December and January to update them as data become available. Our extensive guides to living and lifestyle in Mexico are continuously updated throughout the year.

Applying for residency in Mexico — When you’re intending to apply for a residency permit, our guide to first time applications for residency in Mexico offers a detailed overview of the process.  Our associates offer facilitation through their first-time application support service.

Mexico’s peso under pressure: After touching a peak around $16.30 to the dollar in the spring of 2024, Mexico’s peso is entering the final month of the year under pressure trading at over 20 pesos to the US dollar.  Our article about the history and fortunes of the country’s currency shares further insights.

Express yourself in Spanish: Discover why Spanish is important, connect to Spanish language courses online, and in Mexico.  Our PinPoint Spanish series shares insights and nuances into everyday Spanish usage in Mexico.

Getting back on track: After decades of decline in railway investment, Mexico is reigniting its efforts to get passengers back into railcars for long-distance travel.

Property Matters: House rentals in Mexico — Our article about finding accommodations to suit your lifestyle provides a framework for informed decision-making when you’re seeking a place to live in Mexico.  When you want to find a home to rent, learn about the practicalities of finding a rental, and its sister article about managing a rented house.

Autumn Leisure Tours in Mexico

Plan your fall/winter visit to the butterfly sanctuaries:  The Monarch Butterflies return to the Oyamel fir tree forests situated in the mountains west of Mexico City, and if you’ve been intending to witness this extraordinary natural phenomenon (or return to see it again!) our travel associate can help you plan your visit.

Mexico Living & Lifestyle Essentials

Guides and updates for everyday living & lifestyle in Mexico.

Roadcraft — Browse our extensive insights about driving & road trips in Mexico. Learn about being properly insured for the journey.

Immigration & Residency — Mexperience publishes detailed and regularly updated information about residency in Mexico.  Learn about how to apply, and how to manage your residency card and status. Obtain tele-assistance or accompanied assistance to help with the procedures and filing.

House & Home — Our guide to Mexico real estate is the most comprehensive you’ll find. When you buy or rent a home here, learn about how to keep it well cared for with our articles about Home Stewardship.  Also learn how to keep your dwelling spaces adequately secured and properly insured.

Health & Wellbeing — Read tips & insights for health and wellness in Mexico.  Learn about health insurance options.  Get a quote for private health insurance.

Money & Banking — Our complete and regularly updated guide to money and banking in Mexico helps you to learn about Mexico’s peso, open and manage a local bank account, make money transfers, use bank cards, and deal with everyday financial matters in Mexico.

Discover More of Mexico

Mexperience accompanies you throughout your journey.

When you’re looking for a new lifestyle in Mexico, Mexperience is with you at every step—from those first key decisions about moving, to settling-in and cultivating a fruitful lifestyle everyday.  And when you need time away for leisure and recreation, we help you to discover & arrange meaningful leisure experiences.

Topic	Mexperience Sections
Mexico Lifestyles	Living & Lifestyles Guide | Lifestyle Planning Living in Mexico | Retirement in Mexico Cost of Living | Money & Finances Health & Wellbeing
Residency	Routes to Residency | How to Apply Managing Your Card & Status Get Assistance
House & Home	Mexico Real Estate Guide—Buying, Renting, Owning, Selling Home Stewardship | Home Life Home Maintenance & Security | Home Insurance
Transport & Communications	Driving | Auto Insurance Flying | Buses | Taxis | Getting Around Wifi & Internet | Telephones
Leisure & Recreation	Travel Inspiration | Travel Destinations Custom Tours Driving & Road Trips | Car Rental
Learning Spanish	Why Spanish? | Spanish in Mexico PinPoint Spanish Series Language Courses
Assistance	Connect to Helpful Assistance Services
Lexica	Explore Mexico A-to-Z