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Guanajuato, Mexico: All You Need To Know
Guanajuato is certainly unique. The city boasts an eclectic mix of museums, churches, old silver mines and an energetic student population.
Most importantly, there’s a thriving cultural scene with lots of arts festivals and exhibitions throughout the year.
With its 400-year history, Spanish-colonial architecture, a tunnel road system, silver mines, and even a large collection of mummies, the most surprising thing about Guanajuato is that it isn’t more discovered than it is. Many who visit compare Guanajuato favorably with the small, medieval towns of Tuscany and Provence.
Most importantly, Guanajuato is a special place to live, but it isn’t a suitable choice for everyone. The historic town center that runs along the valley of several canyons is relatively flat, but most of the houses are on steep pedestrian-only alleyways.
Few houses in the center have parking, and street parking is scarce. Guanajuato is a walking city. If you can’t imagine living without a car, you have a walking impediment, or your vision of retirement is living as a couch-potato, you’ll have a hard time adapting to life in Guanajuato.
Reviewed By Lief Simon
Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.
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Guanajuato’s expat community is small, estimated to be about 250 to 350 people—retired, semiretired, and second-home expats. Most expats choose to own their houses. You can find good rental deals as well.
The expats are split fairly evenly between two of the main locations. Around half live in the town center and half on the town periphery, or in the Marfil and Valenciana suburbs.
Some expats have side businesses, but most live from their back-home investments and pensions. This group of expats tends to be segregated by two location types: the center-city group that doesn’t use automobiles and the suburb group in Marfil.
Is Mexico safe for expats? We can tell you all the reasons why a destination fits the bill as an expat haven. But only you can decide if you want the mountains or a beach… to buy or to rent… year-round sunshine or four seasons… a walkable city or a remote bolt-hole that only the sturdiest of off-roaders will get you to…
Guanajuato is the crown jewel of Mexico’s colonial highland cities, an ideal and affordable retirement choice.
Overall, groceries, restaurants, and entertainment expenses run 20% to 30% cheaper than in the United States.
In short, a retired couple could live here very comfortably on a budget of about 17,240 Mexican pesos per month.
Long-term rental houses are scarce in Guanajuato’s historic center, as the student population consumes most of the housing.
Housing is cheaper as you move away from the center toward the Presa, Pastita, and San Javier barrios. You should be able to negotiate a discount if you lease for one year or longer.
| Expense | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | MXN 6,000 | |
| Gas | MXN 670 | Used for hot water and cooking. |
| Electricity | MXN 600 | |
| Water | N/A | Included with electricity. |
| Telephone | MXN 700 | Includes DSL Internet, and cost varies according to Internet speed and long-distance calling plans. |
| Internet | N/A | Included with telephone. |
| Cable TV | MXN 270 | |
| Groceries | MXN 6,000 | |
| Entertainment | MXN 3,000 | |
| Total | MXN 17,240 |
Guanajuato is easily accessible on a modern road system and from a nearby airport. Though it is well-connected to major highways to the west, south, and east, Guanajuato is fortunate to be located away from the major highways, substantially reducing the amount of traffic, with its associated noise and pollution.
The international airport is just 40 minutes away on the road between Silao and León. There are frequent daily flights to Houston and Dallas (2 hours, 15 minutes flying time), Los Angeles (3 hours, 30 minutes), and Mexico City (1 hour).
Guanajuato has good intercity first-class bus services to nearby cities: Mexico City (5 hours, 30 minutes), Guadalajara (4 hours), and the U.S. border (14 hours, overnight.) Most of these first-class buses are superior in comfort to first-class airline seating.
The historic town center that runs along the valley of several canyons is relatively flat, but most of the houses are on steep pedestrian-only alleyways.
Few houses in the center have parking, and street parking is scarce. Guanajuato is a walking city. If you can’t imagine living without a car, you have a walking impediment, or your vision of retirement is living as a couch-potato, you’ll have a hard time adapting to life in Guanajuato.
Guanajuato enjoys moderate weather throughout the year.
In other words, the combination of a southern latitude with a high altitude (2,008 meters, or 6,583 feet, above sea level) gives Guanajuato moderate weather throughout the year.
Guanajuato has two pronounced seasons. Mid-May through mid-October is the rainy season, with average monthly rainfall of 9.5 centimeters (3.75 inches).
The rains cool the temperatures throughout the summer, making June through September very pleasant. Mid-October through mid-May is the dry season, and May is the hottest month (about 87° F, on average).
Reviewed By Lief Simon
Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.
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Guanajuato is a safe place. But similar to any tourist area or large city, don’t walk alone at night, don’t visit bars or clubs alone, and don’t go down alleys or dark streets alone.
Guanajuato, Mexico, is known for colorful buildings, cobblestone alleyways and for being surrounded by mountains. Also, it has a thriving cultural scene with lots of arts festivals and exhibitions.
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