We receive a steady flow of inquiries about relocation to Mexico from people seeking options and opportunities for living. lifestyles and retirement in Mexico.
We regularly talk with foreign residents who have made their home here and, while all gardens can never be rosy all of the time, we’ve gathered together the key reasons cited by people who have settled here and say they are staying for the long-term.
“We’re enjoying a better quality of life.”
It’s no secret that the cost of living is rising across most of the world—that is, homestead, food and utilities are costing more, taxes are rising, and incomes are falling when compared to real inflation.
Retirees on fixed incomes are particularly affected by this. People are moving to places like Mexico where their fixed incomes stretch further because they’re not paying as much for the basic necessities and their incomes are not being hit by rising costs that they cannot avoid, especially property taxes.
“We’re eating better food and paying less for it.”
There is an abundance of fresh, wholesome, food available in Mexico at affordable prices. Fresh foods are available in many countries that don’t have the climates to grow them all year long, but at a premium price in comparison to highly processed and non-fresh foods. In Mexico, you don’t have to spend the whole paycheck eating wholesomely. Learn more about enjoying food in Mexico, as well as markets and shopping.
“Our home living costs are lower in Mexico.”
The fees and taxes home-owners have to pay in places like the US, Canada, and Western Europe have climbed steadily over the last decade—to the point where these are now a significant line-item on personal budgets.
Rises in house and community taxes have out-stripped inflation, and maintenance costs are steep: in summary, home ownership is becoming an expensive pastime and putting a lot of pressure on people with fixed incomes, or with wages that are failing to keep up with price rises.
In Mexico, home owners enjoy low property taxes as well as lower maintenance costs due to lower material prices and labor fees for house maintenance services.
A complete and detailed guide to Living & Lifestyles in Mexico
Our free and continually-updated guide helps anyone exploring prospects for living and retirement in Mexico. It provides practical insights, incisive local knowledge, and meaningful guidance that helps you to discover opportunities, consider your choices, and make informed decisions.
“We enjoy an extraordinary climate.”
In terms of climate, Mexico is a land of three lands.
If you enjoy a year-round temperate climate, the central highland areas are ideal; if you need to be where it’s warmer/hot beside the ocean, there’s plenty of choice and, unlike the US, coastal property is still affordable in many places across Mexico. If you prefer cooler temperatures year-round, Mexico’s highland mountain towns could suit you.
Some foreign residents come for the winter, some stay longer or stay all year. Our guide to finding a climate to suit your lifestyle will help you to consider the choices. As a bonus, the light here is extraordinary all year.
“We can afford healthcare in Mexico.”
Routine medical care, specialist services, and medications cost less in Mexico, and you don’t have to compromise on the quality of healthcare you receive.
As the costs and limitations of the US and other medical care systems reveal themselves, people are looking abroad for the treatments and care they need—and Mexico’s geographical closeness is as attractive as the affordability.
You can learn about options for medical health care insurance in Mexico and find lots of additional insights about healthcare and well-being here on Mexperience.
“We feel safe in Mexico.”
In a related article about finding your niche in Mexico, we wrote: “If what you’re seeing about Mexico on your TV screen scares and keeps you away now, your perceptions have been hijacked before you allowed yourself an opportunity to better understand these lands, and see what others here see: a country in transition, a country which is, by and large, less violent than those places where stones are so readily thrown from glass houses.”
Despite the anti-Mexico news flow, foreign residents living here report that they feel safe and settled in Mexico. The drug cartels are not targeting foreign residents or tourists. People who are not involved in the drug trade or other criminal activities have a very small chance of being affected by violent crime.
A complete and detailed guide to Living & Lifestyles in Mexico
Our free and continually-updated guide helps anyone exploring prospects for living and retirement in Mexico. It provides practical insights, incisive local knowledge, and meaningful guidance that helps you to discover opportunities, consider your choices, and make informed decisions.
Resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico
Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico. Our resources include:
- Insightful articles about living and lifestyle in Mexico
- An extensive selection of free guides to living and lifestyles in Mexico
- A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free
Practical help with residency applications in Mexico
Read our free guide about Mexico Immigration for detailed information about applying for and obtaining legal residency in Mexico.
Get practical help with your residency application using our Mexico Immigration Assistance service.
Mexico in your inbox
Our free newsletter about Mexico brings you a monthly round-up of recently published stories and opportunities, as well as gems from our archives.
Good afternoon,
I just read an article today (April 11, 2024) about a couple from San Diego, CA that retired in Rosarito Beach, Mexico because they could not afford to stay in San Diego in their own home after retiring. There were three couples in the article talking about there move to Mexico.
So, I looked up the requirements to retire in Mexico for a US citizen, and you either have to have nearly $300,000 in your banking account over either 6 months or a year, I forgot exactly, OR if you have a monthly income of $7,300 a month.
How are there so many people retiring in Mexico with these requirements? The main couple in the story moved there because they could not afford to retire in San Diego. If they could not afford to retire in their own home, there is no way they have $300,000 in the bank or an income of $7,300 a month.
Hello Marc,
The figures you quoted above are to qualify for Permanent Residency right away in 2024.
You can apply for Temporary Residency first, and after four consecutive years of holding Temporary, you can exchange that for Permanent. The amounts of income or savings/investment required to qualify for Temporary are lower.
You can learn about the current income or savings needed on this article:
https://www.mexperience.com/financial-criteria-for-residency-in-mexico/
And you can learn about the difference between Temporary and Permanent on this article:
https://www.mexperience.com/difference-between-temporary-and-permanent-residency-mexico/
Thank you for clarifying the requirements. This is still quite a bit higher than many other countries we have been researching residencies for.
That many people are meeting these requirements? Or is there another way so many expats are living in Mexico?
All these people moving to Mexico are displacing the local people from their hometowns and cities and are doing to Mexicans what they complain about in their home countries. Namely, the newcomers make it impossible for locals to afford living in their own towns and cities as the latter are unable to compete on price for the finite resources. Take San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta, Ajijic, Cabo San Lucas, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, etcetera, where Americans and Canadians own most of the businesses and homes because the locals simply cannot compete financially for the limited resources and are therefore forced to move elsewhere.
Soon, these places will become unaffordable even to a large number of foreigners as the continuous influx of expats creates a vicious cycle of rising costs for housing, services and goods; it’s the law of supply and demand, I guess.
Hi Eric,
My wife and I have been researching several places to retire in outside of the US. Unfortunately, pretty much any location you choose for the weather, affordable health insurance, and overall lower cost of living than in the US is going to have these effects.
We live on the West Coast and have no plans of retiring here. Too many people, too expensive, and just too plain ‘ol crazy to be living here. But this is really the same thing happening everywhere else. People keep moving here, rent and housing costs keep climbing, and people either born here, or that work for local governments / schools, can’t afford to stay.
You’re obviously just making up stuff as you go along because no one is being displaced. There is room for everyone and believe me, there isn’t a single local in the Mexican town where I live who was dying to pay $1,855 USD per month to live in my little condo. There are places across the street for less than half of what I pay. Get a grip on reality before you start inventing facts and accusing people of harming others while lying about them.
I like your blog. Its one of the best blogs online
I am looking for information on living in Puerto penasco Sonora what is the cost of living rent food but most importantly medical services
It’s costing the homeless in California probably $25 or $30 to live on the street. You can live in a apartment in Mexico, eat good and take it easy.. I lived in central America for 6 years on less than a $1000 visited Mex many times. And 6 other countries.. my family begged me back, prices in the first store I walked into let me know why I left.. Pepsi $2 cigarettes $7, where I lived cigarettes 2 or 3$ Pepsi .50¢ . Nice hotel in Mexico $25 or $30 . 8 hour bus ride $20.. I’m going to Mexico in November because I’m rich there. I’m poor in USA.. Never lost any blood in 6 years of travel… Go to Atlanta Georgia, Mami.. see if it’s dangerous.. I’m a Tennessee hillbilly.. I love the Spanish countries.. and the ladies are very beautiful.. SEE you in Mexico..
Smart man
As a Canadian, I am not thrilled with the prices of health care in Mexico – our BC health care is $37.50 a month and covers all pre-existing conditions with no deductible. So paying $18,000 USD ($25,000) a year for good private insurance that doesn’t cover pre-existing and has a deductible – goes a long way to equalizing the costs between living in Canada or Mexico. The weather is better though.
Don’t know where you get your prices from. We pay 65.00 u.s. per month for the two of us and covers most prestigious existing conditions. I think you are looking at pesos. Mind you have to have permanent residence status to qualify.
That’s what I have heard from my friends. Are your deductibles high?
25k a year? Dollars? Where are u? We pay 500 a year
Bev, we are also Canadians and go to Mexico up to 3 visits a year. We find health care costs are so low against Canada’s. We do not buy private coverage for our visits there, we pay in cash for each visit we have had to make for one reason or another, our highest cost was 1000,00peso’s about $60.can.
Hey Bev,
Are you counting the cost of waiting for procedures? I recently had a friend with a torn ACL and it took him over a year to get surgery in Canada while he was scheduled for surgery in Merida in a couple of days.
I get healthcare for about $130USD a month in Puerto Vallarta, and it’s also possible to get state insurance if you’re a permanent resident of Mexico which is only about $35USD a month. I have no idea how you’re spending $25,000 a year. You must have the most premium insurance offered anywhere and be over 70 years old to pay that.
I have rheaumatoid and would like to move where the weather is always nice not cold. Where do you suggest.
Puerto Vallarta area
Yucatán for sure!
Just curious – where in the Yucatán will you be moving to?
We spend winters in loreto, baja. Weather usually perfect except for a month or so in January when it will drop to mid 60s. Apparently gets pretty warm in July august. 90 plus.
Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Manzanillo Mex.
Hi, I’m from Mexico(cdmx):
1) If just weather is the condition, then I would say Baja California Sur – any cabos city. The weather would be similar to Phoenix, Arizona. Almost no rain and very hot in summer around 40C degrees. The cons of Baja SUR it’s expensive, because people from California(USA) settle there and also most tourism comes from there. So the prices are really expensive in RENT, and POWER (air conditioner). Even rent prices are in us dollars and not in pesos. I’m talking about ads from rental websites. Also, the population of Los cabos is very low, around 300,000. When there is a low population the main problem is MEDICAL. No many hospitals, not many dentists, and doctors. I’m talking about surgery and more complicated illness, disease, sickness. Also, food, grocery stores, are a little more expensive etc. It’s a weird place due to location. Small cities where it’s kind of isolated, so has to be by ship, to bring supplies.
2. Right now 2020 I think the best places to live in Mexico are Merida and Querétaro. Why?
Pros → they are cities so there is going to have better medical services, private and public hospitals. The rent is very low a new small house of 120sqM-170sqM could be around $350-$500 the typical US apartment 75sqM 1BEDROOM 1bath around 250 dollars per month plus utilities. Again the electricity can be more expensive because the air conditioner between 100-250 every 2 months. (50-125 per month). No traffic or very little, MALLS, more restaurants, places to go and also to explore around that area. 30 minutes Caribbean beach and this is a pro, because the city it’s not in front of the ocean. The hurricane doesn’t affect that much as it would be in Cancun, Tulum, Campeche.
merida:
Cons → weather is very humid, Florida style. It’s hot all year but also rains a lot, and you could have very hot weather and high humidity but with a very cloudy sky, like Seattle but hot and humid. Every city that’s not Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara it’s going to suffer the lack of services at some point. It’s becoming less like this, but still. Examples. If you buy a terrain in Cancun you need to go to Mexico City to certify the purchase(it used to be, don’t know now), things like this, because the country it’s very central is not like the USA or Canada. My point being that maybe you need to go to the mayo city to do some bureaucratic stuff. But the main problem right now is the APPS usually companies(apps) only start in these cities or just stay there. Like shipping companies shipping the same day(99minutos) may only provide service in those cities. Also, I use Amazon all the time for buying everything and usual it’s 1-day shipping in high season can be up to 3 days and I have noticed that if you are in another city it just takes longer or some products are not even there for sale, and takes from 3 to 5 days to arrive, this what I mean about the lack of services if you don’t live in the big cities.
By the way Mexico City sucks:
It has the best medical services, and all the service from any major cities. But the weather is bad. There’s 5 to 6 months of rainy seasons so the city is flooded. Meaning there’s special police that have boats to get people out of the cars because it is flooded.
Traffic is HORRIBLE → 30 km easy 2 hours or more. And usually that’s the travel time from job to house and reverse so between 4 and 5 hours per day(crazy).
Rent it’s expensive and becoming more California → between 800 and 1200 dollars for a 1-bedroom apartment. They aren’t even NEW, it’s just the location. You can find cheaper but almost all bad neighborhoods (poor, violence, not safe, poor facilities) and almost on the outside, the surrounding of the city.
Horrible AIR QUALITY -→ if you think Los Angeles is bad, there is an index Los Angeles is around max 40 in CDMX that’s good air usually around 60 and can be up to 100, these days it’s not recommended doing any external activity and cars by law stop, nobody can use cars.
Violence → assaults with guns while you are in traffic.
Earthquake → this could be worse, because usually you have 20 second PRE alert because the earthquake came from the coast. But still you have strong earthquakes.
Corruption → in everything.
Lake Chapala… we’ve been here for almost 9 years… wonderful and getting better every day!
We’ve lived by Lake Chapala 11 years. Chapala is our favorite of the pueblos here. I can’t complain, except I find it difficult to make friends w ex-pats & I’ve never been able to become fluent. I became handicapped here, which sucks. Yes, I like it very much, but it wasn’t my choice to move from my home state: close to retirement, we got burned in the 2008 Great Recession & had to find a way to survive. Central Mexico is cheaper w utilities a fraction of what we paid. We’ve lived in rentals between $330 USD to $650 USD, nice rentals, which I don’t think is possible in the States. Food, clothing, medicine less. Thank God for Mexico.
Puerto Vallarta. It’s amazingly beautiful, warm all year, cheap to live, and has a big community of ex-pats. You can live there without even learning Spanish, although I would definitely recommend learning a basic amount of the language. One thing I’ll tell you is it’s very important to make friends around your age that can help you and give advice. Best case scenario you make friends with a native person who’s bilingual that can help you out with finding a place at a good price. I moved there with 4 other family members and they had already vacationed there many times and had friends that made the transition far easier than it would’ve been if I went alone.
I am thinking of moving to Mexico. The climates would be a lot better for my health. I don’t know where to move to. Would like rural areas better than large cities. I have read that there are beautiful lakes inland. Is living around such areas expensive? I would like somewhere where I would be able ride horses, would that be possible? And wonder where in Mexico to live? What would a
two bedroom 2 bath housing cost? Would appreciate any information about Mexico. What part of country to live e, etc. Jolene
Hi Jolene,
You can find a wealth of information about living and lifestyle in Mexico on our guides, starting here:
https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/
You can get some ideas about places here:
https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/living-places/
For information about Mexico’s different climates, start here:
https://www.mexperience.com/land-of-three-lands/
For information about cost of living, you might consider downloading the 2016 Mexico Cost of Living Guide:
https://www.mexperience.com/ebook/guide-to-the-cost-of-living-in-mexico/
And you can find details about resident permits here:
https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/living-in-mexico/visas-and-immigration/
Wishing you well with your plans
Daniel, a friend linked me to this site, which is very good. My husband and I have lived in Mexico for 27 years now. We first lived for 10 years in Cabo San Lucas, (yes, expensive) where we opened many businesses and flourished. After a visit to Ajijic on Lake Chapala during the hot summer months in Cabo, we were sold on the lifestyle of central Mexico. The weather here is amazing, a very interesting mix of sophisticated Guadalajarans, and foreigners both from the US and Canada with a sprinkling from Europe and South America.
Although we still have our Medicare in the US, we never use it. Health care here is fantastic; I think better than the US, with amazing care from doctors, and state of the art hospitals in Guadalajara. The cost is MUCH lower, so we just “self insure”. Cost of living is a bit higher here in Ajijic than in other towns on the lake, but to us it is worth it. For a comparable home, and 2 gardeners and a housekeeper it would cost us at least double in the US. But we love the laid back lifestyle here. And surprise! Those of us who live here full time love our quiet, rainy season during the summer months. No heat for us; just lovely cool weather. We have not given up our friends in the US, who often come to visit, but we have fantastic friends here, both Mexican and foreign. With the airport so close, travel is easy, and we do travel the world as much as we can. We love it here and will probably never return to the US to live; we have been here now almost 30 years. I promise, you will live longer here. part of the reason is the great weather, healthy food, and active lifestyle. I play tennis 3-4 times a week, as do hundreds of others around here, we work in our gardens year round, personal trainers are very inexpensive, and you see people walking on the malecon by the lake in droves. It’s just a much healthier lifestyle. Come visit!
Beautifully written, Mary!
We are already in the process of moving there from here in Ecuador but your post is like the icing on the cake. You have validated all that we believe.
We have lived as expats for many, many years but the Yucatán will be our final place to call home.
As you said, you can easily access the world from there.
Muchísimas gracias,
Colette and Philip
Hi Mary, I stumbled upon your experience living in Mexico and found it inspiring. My wife (a teacher), children 3 and 6 and my self a home builder are looking for a lifestyle change focusing more on working to live opposed to living to work.
Would the idealistic home town of yours be one of which a young family could put down roots and build a life? Any advice you could share would be wholeheartedly appreciated.
David
What is the process for becoming a citizen of Mexico (dual by a US citizen) with no Mex connections (by marriage or family history) and is retiring in Mexico with a permanent resident card? I have heard that it requires 5 total years residence in Mexico, a test of basic Spanish, and maybe a health test. Age exempts older retirees from the culture/history exam.
Is it possible to get a Mexican credit card? Can such a person become a member of a “credit union.” I know that getting a bank account is very easy, but how about earning interest on that account?
Thanks, in advance, for any advice that can be offered.
Hi Cal,
You can find information about become a naturalized Mexican here:
https://www.mexperience.com/becoming-a-naturalized-mexican/
It will take some years if you don’t have a a Mexican spouse. Persons over the age of 65 may be exempt from the citizenship test.
You don’t need to be a citizen to get a credit card but banks do ask for a residency card before opening a bank account. You can find out more about Mexican banks and banking services here on Mexperience:
https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/living-in-mexico/banks-in-mexico/
Cal, why would you become a citizen? Get Permanent Resident card instead. It’s an age, financial requirement process. I hired a guy here in Playa and for $200.00US he handled everything. You can do it yourself but this guy knew everybody (no waiting in line)….the biggest upside is not having to go back every 180 days.’I just asked my banker about a credit card but will let you know. As far as interest on a checking account…..how much are you getting in the US?….I have $104,000.00 in my BOA checking and get about .88 a month in interest. Hope this helps…..(P.S. I love Playa,,)
Hello Donald,
Moving to Playa soon…can you give me contact information for the guy who helped you with the residency card?
Thank you
My husband and I have talked for years about moving to Mexico, and we could be just a few years away from being able to do it. But where is my place?? We love the Yucatan (in the winter), but I think it might kill me in the summer. Heat & humidity are not my specialty. My husband is disabled and doesn’t do well in hilly terrain, though he can walk for awhile if it’s flat. If there’s lakes and streams, I can probably live without the ocean. My husband needs access to good medical care. Any ideas?? Limited time to travel now, but we should be able to go explore soon. I appreciate any tips or thoughts. Thanks!!
The only place that I can think that it’s a city around 1 million population, so better medical services is Querétaro City and to be exactly Juriquilla suburb. It’s having a boom in retail market and so growing. It’s the mix between city and province. No so small so no services and no so big that pollution, traffic, safety, and prices becomes bad. AND in case of wonderful hospitals Mexico City is close by car around 2:30 hours and by air 55 minutes flight. The appeal to me, it’s a newer city so cleaner and new facilities, road, cleaner. But still one of the oldest cities the DOWNTOWN but the suburbs is all new, like Merida. The weather is similar to Mexico City all year around 15 to 25 Celsius degrees. And there is almost not rainy days, July with 11 days. But very few around all year. If you have trouble with Celsius is easier to remind this → 20 is always template (mild).
a) 0 to 10 → cold
b) 10 to 20 → warmer
c) 20 to 30 → warm, hot
d) beyond 30 → always hot and going to hell(40) Arizona
and you can think them as years 0 – 30 years.
We were visit Mexico Chapala Lake three years ago and we like everything here .We went back to Canada sell everything move here and like it. We both small house and like people of Mexico, colorful houses, food and blue sky. Even rainy season is very beautiful .Other reason was weather in Canada, too cold and to humid and I have fibromyalgia so that was hard for me .Here in Mexico I feel much healthy and I can enjoy the paradise ,and old age with inexpensive life style, which small retirement money in Canada will be not possible. We still visit kids and grandkids ,but here is our home. Originally we emigrate 1981 from Czech republic to Canada and I am sorry we did not find out this Chapala Lake earlier. Slowly learning language and everyday is worth of wake up. Meet lot of friends enjoy life.
I am fully committed to permanently moving to Mexico, probable to the interior (Lake Chapala) area. Recently retired, in great health, however, while my wife initially was on board she has decided she could not move there as she knows nobody and would feel too lonely.
I have shown her the videos of the Lake Chapala area and how many Americans and Canadians live there but nothing seems to change her mind. I have really had it with the Canadian winters and feel the best option at this stage of our lives is to make the big move.
Our kids are on board as like they say, they will probably visit more often and they all love Mexico. Is there any particular website where I could find fellow Canadians that have made the move and we could possibly connect with to talk to them about their experiences.
My wife and I have wintered in Mexico the past 20 years. Visited just about every region from Baja California to Yucatan and loved all. Certainly there are problems. There is no perfect place anywhere.
Traffic in most towns and cities can be nasty. Polution in larger towns is bad. But the pros are much greater than the cons.
Great people. Easy to make friends (Learn Spanish. It will enhance your experience)
Much better quality of life at a lower cost. Medical services that are affordable and with a personal touch and just as good as in US.
It is sad to see that only bad news are reported about Mexico.
My wife & I traveled extensively through out Mexico during our working years so we were already very comfortable with the culture & the people. We retired full time to Rosarito Beach in Nov. 2014 & have enjoyed every minute of everyday! The cost of living is about 70% less than living in California. Our annual property taxes are only $96.00! To see a a doctor costs us 50 pesos, less than $ 3.00. The meat & produce are much fresher & better for us. We have made many new like minded dual pats. We are always having a great time. Like any big city in the states if you are looking for trouble you can find it. As long as you are not involved in the drug scene, you will have no problems at all. We are close enough to thec USA to see our Moms, children, & grandchildren whenever we want. If you crave a more relaxing slower pace of life please consider Mexico!
Hi – I am finally retiring and am planning on spending February through April in San Miguel de Allende. My plan is to learn Spanish through an immersion program there and use San Miguel as a base to travel throughout the country. In addition to wanting to connect with expats there, I also would like to know more about public transportation to get around both locally and across the country. How is public transportation in Mexico and are there opportunities for expats to travel together to different spots in Mexico. I am so excited for this time in my life!
My wife and I have done a number of 30 day across-Mexico trips on public bus, staying in cheap hotels along the way. Never a hitch. One good one was from Mexico City west, flying home from Puerto Vallarta, and another good one was Mexico City east, south, around the Yucatan and flying home from Cancun. We do our best to avoid the tourist places. Mexico’s first class buses are FAR better than those of my native Canada and far cheaper. We usually take the next to first class and they are similar to what we have at home. We often find it hard to get out of Mexico City right away, as there is a lot to see and do, but we always try and save some for our next trip. Last winter we rented a house in a village a couple of hours south of Mexico City and have decided to retire there. The locals are very friendly, like in any small town anywhere, and they kindly put up with my bad Spanish.
You will love traveling in Mexico. There are wonderful cross-country buses that are much more comfortable than the equivalent in the US or Canada. The cost is cheap. From San Miguel there are quite a few opportunities to travel with a group such as the Lions’ Club, which arranges trips outside of San Miguel. There is even a forum devoted entirely to traveling outside of San Miguel:
Enhancing the San Miguel Experience !
Group Description
This group is for posting information about all trips, events, locations in Mexico that are outside of San Miguel de Allende but which generally originate in San Miguel. You may post trips offered, ask for information and generally discuss places and things outside of San Miguel.
Another feature of Mexican life that is missing from this list is affordable household help. Even people on a fixed retirement income can typically afford a maid every week. And being a maid is considered decent, honorable work.
We are looking forward to moving to Ensenada where we can enjoy the beach, the fresh seafood and the wonderful people who live there. Our plans are to move there next year.
HI..I AM PRESENTLY RETIRED IN BRAZIL, IT IS BECOMING EXPENSIVE..BUT AFTER READING THESE WONDERFUL COMMENTS ABOUT MEXICO I AM THINKING SERIOUSLY MOVING OVER THERE..I WILL START SEARCHING FOR A NICE AFFORDABLE CIUDAD..YOU SEE MY MONTHLY RETIREMENT INCOME IS ABOUT $1500..WHAT DO YOU THINK? THANKS
Joe, With what you get for retirement you can have a good life here in Mexico. Do you want a beach, small city, large city? If I can help I will.
Hi John,
I love Cancun and have been there many times, been to other places in Mexico too. What I don’t like about Cancun is the tourists and that it’s very expensive. I am a single woman and am looking to retire in a small beach town that is clean and safe and not by the border. Also easy access to medical care. Any ideas? Thank you!
-Lynn
Try around Progreso, chixulub, chelem area. Very safe, inexpensive beachfront.
Check Mahahual on the Yucatan.
I am also a single lady. I have children in school though so I am waiting for them to finish schooling in a few years. I am on SSDI and get around 1900 a month. I will be close to 2000 by that time ( in my early 50’s). I did visit Puerto Vallarta about 20 years ago and did not care for it to live there ( was not disabled at the time but a friend lived there on disability). I saw your comment and wanted to reply so I can see how it works out and if it’s possible. I am tired of the USA and I hate living on such a budget.
Just found this great forum. I’m thinking to retire early and thinking about Mexico but I have CLL chronic lukemia which mean I would be getting my treatments in mexico. Does anybody know if Mexico has good cancer oncologists same standards as USA and how much a private insurance would cost roughly for a 49 yr old.
John, why does it say the Mexican government wants you to have over a 4k/mo income for a temporary visa and 7k/mo for a permanent visa to emigrate to Mexico from the U.S.? How do so many there say they are living on much less a month? I don’t get it. Thanks.
Hi Carol, The amount of monthly income that Mexican consulates request for residency qualification is higher than most people living in Mexico spend on living costs. The two figures are not correlated.
This article shares some additional insight: https://www.mexperience.com/qualifying-for-legal-residency-in-mexico-in-2024/
Hi Joe
My husband an I live near Lake Chapala, the best climate in Mexico, at the West End of the lake. We live on $1,000 US for the two of us. We live in Jocotepec, it is near Ajijic, a popular retirement town for Expats. It is MUCH more expensive to live there, though. We love Joco because it is a Mexican town, very friendly, low food and rent prices, and we live in the country. I can get all I need here, and Guadalajara is only 50 mins away, where you can buy all you can imagine. The airport is about an hour away. If you would like more information, e mail me on rosfreed @ yahoo.com
Rosalind, my relatives and I are checking out living in Mexico but became discouraged when we saw the government wants you to receive $4k/mo for a temporary visa visa and $7k/mo for a permanent visa. This is contradictory to people like yourself living on much less. If we had that much income we wouldn’t be moving! Thanks
Hi Carol, The amount of monthly income that Mexican consulates request for residency qualification is higher than most people living in Mexico spend on living costs. The two figures are not correlated.
This article shares some additional insight: https://www.mexperience.com/qualifying-for-legal-residency-in-mexico-in-2024/
I wound up in Puerto Aventuras, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum….Very happy in my studio apartment ($600/mo incl a/c electric) for me and my Steinway upright, with great pool. I joined the OMNI Resort down the block, so I have too a beach club; I just have to buy $167/month in rum, guacamole….a bargain!
Steve,
Is there a website or contact for info on rentals in Puerto Adventeras?
I love the Yucatan and am working hard to stop working and MOVE TO MEXICO?
We moved to Huatulco Mexico and are now going into our 5th year living here. Yes there can be some hurdles to overcome but there are many people willing to help you with these obstacles. We love it for all of the reasons listed above and after travelling Mexico for 15 years we could not recommend our favorite, the hidden gem of Huatulco (Wa-Tool-Co) more. We highly recommend you come for a visit.
Hi Brent, my husband and I have recently become curious about Huatulco and are planning a trip this coming winter. What in particular would you recommend for us to do, see, etc.? We were thinking of starting to look at property. Can you give us some pointers?
Thanks, Janice and Warren Underhill
My husband and I own a house just north of Todos Santos in Las Tunas, 45 minutes north of Cabo on the Pacific side, and cannot wait to be there full time. We love the traditional community, the gringo support of the local population, the fresh food from the local farms, the weather and especially the wonderful friends we have made there. Safety has never been an issue
Terry, that seems like an excellent location. Is the cost of living reasonable?
scott soper @ Yahoo . com
Terry Hawes ! Do you rent your place by the week, month. When not there? Do you handle it or do you have an agent.
Thank you so much for this information on PV. I am a single mom, 61, and coming to PV for a long-term stay to see how I like it. My concerns are less about the health care, food, bills, weather (as these are all wonderful). My concern is more about creating a balance of expat friendships alongside getting to know the local people. It’s a bit scarey doing it alone – but I’m sure all will fall into place in it’s time. I am outgoing, love the water, hiking and wanting to horseback ride and perfect the Spanish language! Any communication will be warmly welcomed!
Arlene, we have lived in La Peñita de Jaltemba which is a 1 hour drive north of the PV airport since 2006. The expat community here is warm, welcoming and active. My suggestion is to catch a Pacifico Bus from PV and visit our pueblito. Thursday mornings feature a great street market called Tianguis on the central plaza of LP. Checkout the Jaltemba Jalapeño a local online website for lots of info. Good luck…Ken Snyder
Arlene – If you’re not able to find expats in the area that you move to, I’ve found there are a lot of wonderful Mexican people who have worked in the USA and then returned to their home. Most of these folks speak English on a functional level and are happy to link up with gringos for friendship and to help. In return, your friendship helps them with their English. Be prepared to listen about their experiences in the USA (many have questions about things that they experienced) and to help them understand current events. In addition to the help you’ll receive, you’ll be immersed in their language as their friends tag along.
You’ve probably heard the old phrase “mi casa es tu casa”. This is still very strong in the Mexican culture (from what I’ve experienced). People are typically a mirror…if you treat with kindness, humbleness and love, you will experience the same.
Enjoy!
Jim
Best post Jim!
It is the people and sense of community here that are gracious, kind and gentle – that help me to be a better human. Visitors and expats can learn much. It is this quality over any differences in economic affordability that i value most. I would suggest anyone visiting or migrating brush up not only on language, but culture which the language will help reveal. I would say too, that expats might consider less of the “come on down” and more live and let live. Unfortunately expats tend to bring inflationary elements.
Arlene , one of my friends moved down there at age 70, been there 3 years, she has friends and is always doing something
Look to join the International Friendship Club for expats, you’ll meet everyone and pretty soon you’ll have your choice of activities to socialize, volunteer, etc. Many many expats there, you’ll love it!
Yes, your reasons are all part of the reason my wife and I bought a Villa on the South Shore of Banderus Bay (Puerto Vallarta) during 2014. We are moving there on a full-time basis in a few months after testing the water approximately 20 times during the past 8 years. The people are warm and gracious, the weather is sublime, and the costs are reasonable. We have visited several times during each season and we believe the weather in each season is better than each comparable time in SW Missouri.
For those doubters out there PV is cleaner, less stressful, safer, and offers better healthcare that is more cost effective and more timely than does the U.S.
We just spent our sixth Christmas here on the beach at Huatabampito in very southern Sonora. We own a home on a gorgeous 13-mile long beach that has less than two dozen full-time residents. We are surrounded by a farming community and have a nearby fishing village – so we enjoy a wide variety of wonderful, affordable and fresh food of all types. Great healthcare and the best neighbors that we’ve ever had. Paradise!
We started going to Mazatlan 10-12 yrs ago & finally 2 yrs ago made our dream come true by selling everything in the US & moving here. We love it! Much cheaper, tons of things to do, beautiful beaches, great rest’rnts, etc. The people of Mazatlan are some of the friendliest, most welcoming in the world. Not a single minute of regret! Life is wonderful here!
This article describes precisely why we live here! Los Barriles in Baja California Sur has become a desirable retirement destination for active Baby Boomers who enjoy biking, hiking, kiteboarding, windsurfing, fishing, SUP, kayaking and more. As a Realtor in Baja I’m living my dream and helping buyers and sellers realize their dreams!
I have lived in Campeche for four years. Prior, while working in Ciudad del Carmen. Avoid Carmen. Very, very expensive. It is the center of the MX offshore petroleum industry. But, (San Francisco de) Campeche, the state capitol is a well kept and very affordable city. Safety? I take my nightly walks between midnight and two in the morning. Cooler and less humidity. I walk every where and feel safe Better than in my state side home in Las Vegas. I do eat healthier here for a fraction of the cost in the US. Campeche is a UNESCO world heritage city. The forts are refurbished and the homes in “old town” are freshly painted by the city/state. An alternative city in the Yucatan is the city of Merida.
I’m in Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo and heard that in Campeche you can get real raw unfiltered HONEY! Last year I succeeded in getting 20 gallons from a bodega on the Tulum-Valladolid road. It was The Real Deal: even had parts of bees in the honey! That’s when Y’know! Look into it and let me know.
This article speaks clearly to me and my wife. We are now in our moving to Mexico countdown and the reasons you are citing for doing so are precisely the reasons we hold for uprooting ourselves at the ages of 78 and 75 respectively.