Do you want to move to Mexico? This blog post outlines the pros and cons to help you decide if moving to Mexico is the best choice for you. The road forks blog indicates that experts, online nomads, and retirees chose Mexico as a preferred destination.
You’ll enjoy affordable living standards, amazing scenery, close-to-perfect weather, tempting food, and a good quality of life.
That being said, living in Mexico isn’t a walk in the park. There are definitely challenges along with benefits and challenges you’ll experience while living in Mexico.
So let’s dig in and find an answer to the question, “should you retire in Mexico?”
Moving to Mexico Checklist
Healthy Affordable Food
In Mexico, you’ll find food on almost all street corners. You can try almost everything whether it be tacos, corn, chili, and lime-coated fresh fruits, among many more choices.
The food industry in Mexico is booming, ranging from low-end to high-end restaurants. Mexicans have embraced their rich food history, especially the pre-Hispanic foods.
I love tamales and never fail to have some wherever I go in Mexico. There are regional tamales so you always get something different.
Everyone loves food, and if you are a mexico foodie then this might give you an answer to the question of “what are the best places to retire in Mexico?“
Best Places to Retire in Mexico: Know Your City
Before moving to a new town or city in Mexico, it’s important to understand the reputation of each one of them individually.
What are the Safest towns in Mexico to retire in?
Merida, parts of Mexico City, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Sayulita, and Huatulco, are ranked as some of the safest.
What are the most Dangerous towns in Mexico to retire in?
Fresnillo, Tijuana, Ciudad Obregon, Celaya, Ciudad Juarez, and Uruapan Del Progresso are ranked by Mexican Daily Post as the most dangerous.
As a foreigner or visitor, always apply common sense and always try to stay safe when venturing out.
Learn Spanish
Many Mexican cities’ institutions offer Spanish classes from basic to advanced levels. If you desire to retire in Mexico, take these classes.
You could consider taking the informal option, where you practice Spanish with those around you and helping them learn your language.
Don’t panic if you aren’t fluent in the language though, Mexicans are patient, and they’ll take time to understand your situation as they teach you their culture and language.
Walk around to find the best place to live in Mexico
Getting a place to settle is sometimes time-consuming and challenging, especially when working with a fixed budget. But Mexico has many options.
So, don’t be lazy. Move away from internet searches and get to the streets of the city you want to settle. Best bargains never find their way online.
Just do a physical search. Always check the rules provided by the landlord, whether you’ll be required to get a guarantor in order to rent a home.
Visa Options
As a traveler, you have different options if you want to retire in Mexico.
A tourist visa is the best option. You’ll enjoy six month’s stay in Mexico. However, remember when the time expires, cross the border, and apply for another indefinite stay. That being said, however, there is no guarantee of a six month stay at the time of this writing as immigration officials have cracked down a bit.
A temporary resident visa offers a maximum of four years stay in Mexico, but you will need to have bank statement proof of savings or income. This should show that you can support yourself financially in the country.
Lastly, the permanent resident visa comes with a work permit. You can work in the country upon meeting the provided income qualifications. Your best bet is to contact your local mexican consulate to find out the individual options because they can vary quite a bit.
Convert Money from US Dollars to Peso
Doing this will help you enjoy great real estate deals. Affordable apartments could cost as low as $400 US monthly, even cheaper when paying in pesos.
You can purchase a house using a mexico fideicomiso, especially if you prefer living along the coast.
The Pros and Cons of retiring in Mexico
| PROS | CONS |
| Low cost of living | Security |
| Amazing fresh food and cuisines | Language barrier |
| Above average healthcare | Noise pollution |
| Easy traveling conditions | Culture shock |
| Great country for vacationing | Poor infrastructure |
| Fantastic weather | Drugs Menace |
The Pros and Cons of Retiring in Mexico: Thinking of Expatriating?
An expat is a person who lives in one country but also has citizenship in another. Expatriation, or the act of expatriating, involves you making a permanent move to live outside your native country.
What are the Pros of Retiring in Mexico?
If you are living in the United States and are considering retiring in Mexico, there are many benefits to enjoy. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
1. Lower Cost of Living
One of the biggest benefits of retiring in Mexico is the lower cost of living. While the average American spends around $61,000 per year on expenses, the average Mexican only spends around $13,000 per year. This means you can save a lot more money by living in Mexico. Most things costs less. Food, rent, entertainment, and transportation are affordable compared to the same lifestyle in the USA and Canada. Of course, it all depends on where you choose to settle as prices can vary greatly from city to town.
2. Health Care
Another benefit of retiring in Mexico is the country’s health care system. The government in Mexico offers all citizens access to free or low-cost health care.
This means you don’t have to plan how you will pay for your healthcare when you retire. You can focus on enjoying your retirement.
Vittana explains that the healthcare quality index in Mexico increased by about 21 points from 45.5 to 66.3 within a span of 16 years from 1990-2016.
The world’s median value is 63, indicating that healthcare in Mexico is above average. Mexico has recorded massive drops in cardiac conditions, stroke cases, and infant mortality rates.
While the USA still enjoys above 88 care ratings, you could take advantage and stay at the border. This makes it easier for you to cross and get specialist care, especially if you are an expatriate from the US.
3. The Travelling Procedures are Less Hectic
When you plan, traveling to Mexico is an easy process. Flying within Mexico and from Mexico can be more economical. It is half the cost you pay in the US for a similar experience, such as traveling to Europe. You can fly to Ecuador and Peru for around $200 (depending on times of year and airlines). So, moving to Mexico is a wise decision if you are a travel enthusiast, especially during your retirement.
You could even use a bus to your destination, which is even more affordable than a flight.
Driving in Mexico is not such a hard task either. You’ll just have to prepare yourself for the unexpected traffic issues that may occur in some of the cities in Mexico.
4. The Weather is Fantastic
If you live in a country with extremely cold conditions, retiring in Mexico is like paradise. Even during winter in Mexico, the weather is a bit warm, with some amazing sun.
Mexico’s coastlines have an average weather of 70s°F yearly. The worst you can experience are hot summer days in the central part of the country.
5. Vacation and Travel
Retiring in Mexico is also great for people who want to travel. Since Mexico is next to the United States, you can travel to many different places without flying very far.
You can also travel to other countries such as Belize and places in Central America.
Mexico has perfect beaches and coastlines. Just imagine living in a country where the majority dream of traveling for vacation?
Mexico has world-class beaches on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. The good news is these beaches are found among the safest cities, such as Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Sayulita, and Playa del Carmen.
If you love sports activities such as surfing, sailing, sportfishing, diving, snorkeling, and relaxation, Mexico is the country to retire in.
You can surf in Oaxaca and Nayarit states, with amazing surf spots along the Pacific Ocean. Or go sailing in the calm waters of the Cortez Sea.
You can visit Zihuatanejo coast with your friends and family. Imagine capturing a big sailfish and giving it to a street vendor to prepare into a meal to feast on. Incredible, right? It can be one of the most beautiful memories you’ll cherish forever.
6. No Worrying about Consuming GMO products
Mexico has some of the best cuisines in the world. Every street has a vendor preparing something amazing. Imagine eating fresh well-prepared seafood, tacos, and sauces in almost all the cities.
Mexico enjoys diversity, with every state adopting different foods. I enjoy eating Tacos.There is so much diversity in tacos alone, you could have a different type almost every day of the month.
I can’t ignore delicious Tamales when I visit Mexico. Tamales are corn-filled dough covered in meat, fruits, or veggies.
They are wrapped in corn husks and then steamed. They represent the traditional culture of Mexicans from the pre-historic period. What a way to learn about a country’s culture.
Other foods to enjoy in Mexico include Elote. Mexicans love corn, and Elote is a unique Mexican corn on the cob steamed and topped with salt, lime, mayonnaise, butter, or sour cream.
Enchiladas are another corn food. It is a corn tortilla with meat, beans or cheese, and chili sauce.
What about Tortas, the most amazing Mexican-style sandwich for lunch? Try it out when you visit Mexico.
It is impossible to visit Mexico and not eat Guacamole. Different cities use different recipes – try them out, and enjoy this exotic food culture in this wonderful country.
Remember, Mexicans prefer their products to be fresh and organic. The country has fresh fruits and vegetables.
When you visit, you’ll enjoy papaya, avocado, and pineapple produced yearly and sold at an affordable price.
The Cons of Retiring in Mexico
1. Culture Shock
Though there are many benefits to retiring in Mexico, it’s important to remember that you will experience a bit of culture shock.
If you are from a more conservative part of the United States, you may be surprised by the level of liberalism in Mexico.
2. Poor Healthcare Infrastructure
Though Mexico’s health care system is free for citizens and rates highly among other Central American countries, it can be at times not of the highest quality.
It can be extremely expensive if you decide to pay for private health care.
3. Safety Issues
Retiring in Mexico can also be dangerous. The drug war in Mexico has been ongoing for decades and is still a serious problem today. Though the southern part of the country is safer, the northern parts can be extremely dangerous.
4. Language Barrier
Another disadvantage of retiring in Mexico is the language barrier. While many people in Mexico speak English, it is not a requirement and is not mandated by the government.
5. Noise Pollution
I know some US retirees that don’t like noise in most busy towns in Mexico. Mexicans love to party and celebrate using music. It is not an issue with me, but some may not like the noise. It’s not unusual to have a party going on with a full mariachi band next door until 2 or 3 in the morning. I know because it’s happened to me a few times.
How much do you need to retire in Mexico?
The cost of living varies from one city to another. Staying in central Mexico is more affordable than living in the Yucatan Peninsula. Generally, large cities are more expensive than small ones and remote locations.
But Mexico is a more affordable location to relocate to than Canada and USA. Depending on your individual standard of living it may be possible to stay comfortably with $1000 monthly in second-tier cities and rural and small beach areas. For couples, $2000 is enough to live off monthly in the same regions.
Examples of such cities include Oaxaca, Guanajuato, Puerto Escondido, Durano, and Puebla. Central and southern Mexico is also more affordable.
With a budget of $2000, you should be able to comfortably live in Sayulita, Mexico City, Tijuana, Merida, and Guadalajara. You may be able to afford to live in some beach towns and great tourist attraction areas with proper budgeting.
With a $2500 budget, you can afford to live in Tulum, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Playa del Carmen. These areas are a bit more expensive than the rest. These are just generalizations however, since every persons idea of living comfortably differs.
The most expensive areas to live in are Baja Peninsula and Yucatan Peninsula.
Where do most Canadian retirees live in Mexico
Many Canadian retirees have chosen Chapala, Mexico, as their preferred destination. Chapala is one of the best destinations, because of the green environment, great weather, and Lake Chapala. Canadians love to interact, and maybe the presence of different communities on the shoreline is attractive to most.
Others have bought houses further along the northwestern shore at Ajijic.
Some Canadians are attracted to the lakeside valley, just 30 minutes from Guadalajara. However, there really isn’t one place where Canadians live. There are many areas that change and are becoming more popular.
Is retiring in Mexico a good Idea?
For some persons, retiring in Mexico is a good idea. The pros might just outshine the cons.
You have a lot of positives to consider if you wish to retire in Mexico. Imagine living in a country with sun and warmth and always eating fresh foods and amazing cuisines.
You have some challenges, with culture shock, language barrier, and security being major concerns.
Remember, the pros and cons of retiring in Mexico depend on your expectations, financial potential, and the place you wish to relocate to. If you decide to go ahead you would have to agree that the positives are more appealing than the negatives.
Mexico is a good option for retirement, but do your research before moving. Always analyze the cost of living in Mexico and the health care system.
Also consider if you’re willing to learn and fit in with the local culture of the place you’re moving to. Once you’re ready to move, you can retirement in a beautiful country.
But make sure to consider all the advantages and disadvantages before making this big decision.
Next: Mexico Cost of Living: How to Have a Better Quality Life
Hi I’m Shannon!
Hi, I’m Shannon and I’m a Canadian who fell in love with Mexico on my first trip to Puerto Vallarta when I was a young adult.
That started a 30 year love affair with this country which led to marrying my Mexican husband and building a home in Mexico. And now I have even a stronger connection to this gorgeous and complex country.
