If you’re looking for an easy transition into expat life, look to Mexico.
For those who aren’t ready to launch themselves into a truly foreign culture, who want some familiar comforts, reliable services, and to be able to get by in English… Mexico is the ticket.
It’s estimated that more than 1 million Americans and 500,000 Canadians live in Mexico, part- or full-time… and with good reason.
The highly Americanized culture is only one of the attractions. Mexico’s proximity to the U.S. and Canada is another big plus for the many retirees living there who want to make trips back home to see grandkids every now and then.
Plus, the excellent infrastructure makes living easy, residency is straightforward, the county’s got many great lifestyle and climate choices, and property is affordable, as is the cost of living.
Expat havens across the country are well-appointed. The roads are wide, well paved and maintained, properly painted, lit, and signed. What’s more, drivers are polite and respectful. If you have car trouble while on the road, you’ll be glad to know that Mexico has a helpful, free, government program called Ángeles Verdes, trucks that police the highways looking for drivers in trouble. Such government initiatives illustrate how well organized the country is.
If you’re looking for a taste of home, throughout the country you’ll find plenty of familiar places to shop and eat: Chili’s, 7-Eleven, Jimmy John’s Sandwiches, Starbucks, Sears, Walmart, Home Depot, Costco, Sam’s Club, and nearly every fast-food joint you could think of…
Already an affordable place to live, Mexico is even more so thanks to the favorable exchange rate between the peso and the U.S. dollar. Medical care in particular is significantly less costly than north of the border, as is the overall cost of living. In most expat havens you could live comfortably on a monthly budget of around $2,000. In pricier neighborhoods or areas with more in-demand rentals, such as San Miguel de Allende, push that to $3,000 to cover all your bases.
English is so widely spoken in Mexico it could be an official language. On my last trip, I don’t think I met a single Mexican who didn’t speak at least some English—even when I started the conversation in Spanish. Outside the major cities and tourist regions you’d want to know a little Spanish, but you really can get by in English in this country for the most part.
Safety is a concern for many when they think of Mexico, but this is a huge country (about three times the size of Texas) and the drug cartels are active only in parts. And keep in mind that drug cartels are active in parts of the United States, too. No country is 100% crime-free.
If you exercise common sense—don’t leave purses open, watches on the beach, doors unlocked, or wave your camera about—you should be fine.
Only a couple hours’ flight from the United States or just a drive across the border, Mexico is an easy choice for Americans.
Happy trails,
