Moving to Mexico

"I would suggest renting in the 5 Diciembre neighborhood. It has excellent food market, Leys, and a short hike to fresh meat and seafood. If you want to try it out, I suggest you first spend a week or more in the exceptionally well run Grand Paramar small hotel on the beach," said one expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

"Expats should research the city they plan to move to in order to get an idea of the cost of living, local customs, and the employment opportunities in the area. It is important to make sure all necessary paperwork is in order before moving. Expats may need visas, residence permits and insurance to stay in Mexico. It is wise to research the healthcare system as well, and learn about any necessary inoculations. Learning some Spanish can make for an easier transition as English is not widely spoken outside of highly touristy areas. Additionally, understanding the climate of the area can be helpful in deciding what to bring in terms of clothing and other possessions," explained one expat living in Mexico.

"Tijuana has 1,400,000 inhabitants, has few attractions and is a dirty, ugly border town. There are few job opportunities and most jobs pay about $20 (US)/day!!! If you are an American citizen, you can cross the border (fast crossing with Sentry or Global Entry cards) and work in the U.S. We HAD to move here, (long story) or I never would have left Puerto Vallarta. This should not be a destination for families with children. It's a last resort for those down and out, trying to save a bit of money, while working in the U.S," said one in Tijuana.

"I suggest you begin by renting in the Versalles neighborhood--it is still affordable, well laid-out, and pleasant, and is central enough to give you good access to a variety of amenities and other neighborhoods. The deciding factor in choosing where to live will be whether or not you plan on owning a car. There are some gorgeous areas with spectacular views that you would probably not choose to live in without either your own transportation, a very nearby bus stop, or a willingness to use Ubers/taxis pretty much every time you go anywhere," explained one expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

"I would add only that those readers from the US need to realize that in Mexico what are very loosely called "realtors" are completely unlicensed and unregulated. It seems that everyone and their uncle is a realtor. Thus it is important to remain skeptical of anything a Mexican "realtor" alleges. As a result be sure to engage a real Mexican attorney (who are licensed and who will have a "Cedula"). Ask for a copy of their cedula number, as all true professionals in Mexico are indeed licensed. Not "realtors"," explained one expat living in Mexico.

"Cost of living here is far less than the USA as are excellent restaurants, bars, clubs, etc," said one expat in Rosarito.

"Merida is made up of the Centro area (downtown) and then many different neighborhoods which are called colonies and Fracc's. We were told by a realtor that many expats move to the North Merida area, which is nice and very safe with many stores and restaurants. He said anything above Calle 59 is good. We ended up finding a place in a small neighborhood called San Pedro Uxmal. I don't think there are many expats there, but the home had everything we wanted and the price was good. We are very happy there," said one expat who made the move to Merida.

"When we started looking at the money we would have to live on after retirement, I realized that I would never be able to quit work and live comfortably. We started looking at places we could live. We wanted to be close enough to hop up to the states to see family but be able to afford to retire. Mexico was the obvious answer. After much internet research, I stumbled on Lake Chapala. My husband and I knew nothing about Mexico. His vision was from the old westerns. There is a group that provides a week long seminar that will answer all of your questions and also show you the fun side of the area. We booked a trip 3 months away. I used the time to look at real estate offerings. I had limited funds. This is a cash economy so it had to be a house I could afford. They have an MLS listings here so I could check out everything. I contacted a realtor and he helped weed out houses that had issues or less than savory neighborhoods. I wanted city water, a pressurized/filtration water system and city sewer. Many houses are on septic so I knew that I might have to make a compromise there. We had 14 houses on the final list. We bought the second one we had looked at and we paid cash. And it is on city sewer," explained one expat living in Lake Chapala, Mexico.

"Use spanish in your seaches. Casa y depas en PV, departamentos para rentar, etc. It is still better if you rent an airbnb and walk around the area that you are interested in just looking for places that are available. The ones that are real cheap tend not to be listed on the web. NEVER send money as a deposit. Don't hand over any money until you are actually inside of the apartment with the owner or an agent that you are 100% sure is authorized to be acting for the owner," said one in Merida.

"My favorite area is 5 Diciembre with a more local atmosphere and more Mexican nationals full time occupants, than some of the others," explained one expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

"Expat homes and apartments in Mexico are typically spacious, with large outdoor patios or terraces. Many expat homes are located in gated communities, offering amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts and security guards. Most apartments in Mexico come unfurnished, but they do usually have basic appliances like gas stoves, ovens, and fridges. Many apartments also feature balconies with views of the surrounding neighborhood or city. Mexico also offers plenty of options for expats who prefer luxury living, including beachfront condos, high-end apartment complexes and private villas," explained one expat living in Mexico.

"We live in a house on the beach. Many ex-pats live in houses and condos on or close to the beach," said one expat in Manzanillo.

"We live in a house on the beach. Ex-pats live in condos, houses, on the beach, in the hills, we are spread out depending on our tastes," said one expat who made the move to Manzanillo.

"I live in a 300 year old historical neighborhood that is very exclusive. There are many expats from Germany, France and other countries in the city that mostly live in very modern, new houses. My home is rare to obtain even by the locals," explained one expat living in Puebla, Mexico.

"I don't believe there is a "typical" home or apartment in Manzanillo. Choices are varied. Houses in the hills offer spectacular views, cool breezes and a variety of architectural plans. The tradeoff with the nice views is the multiple floors (steps). Flat areas close to or on the beaches offer one-level living, but you give up views and sometimes there's flooding in the rainy seasons, depending on location. Condominiums on or near beaches are varied, from "tired" to well maintained. HOA fees are not reasonable (i.e. Vida del Mar for a 2 bedroom averages $400+ per month). Living in a home on the beaches although beautiful, one should consider privacy and security - all beaches are open to the public. Areas around the resorts and hotels are noisy during holidays and weekends (loud music until wee hours of the morning). The variety of choices makes Manzanillo unique - there's something for everyone, just need to explore for a right fit," said one in Manzanillo.

"Much lower. We pay our property taxes and water yearly. Our taxes are $699 MX and water is $1000 MX per year. Electricity is expensive in Mexico but still less than the US and is paid every other month. We have our propane tank filled on the off month and runs about $1600 MX for 2 months. Phone and internet is $600 MX per month and that is with unlimited long distanse. We have satelite which comes out of Canada. They have grocery stores that carry US products but it is imported and therefore expensive. Produce, eggs, meat, chicken and fish is amazing and reasonable. You can pay as much as you want or as little as you have for a house and find something to fit your needs," remarked one expat in Lake Chapala, Mexico.

"I purchased a pre construction condo right on the beach built by the best developer on the Baja. It has tons of amenities and beautiful ocean views. I paid $350,000 before I upgraded it. I wanted to be close to my Son and 6 month old grandson and could not afford or want to afford anything in the San Diego area. Where else on the West coast could I have done this? The Condo just South of downtown Rosarito is 1 hour away from my son's house coming back into Mexico and maybe an hour and 45 minutes going there on a good day. Much better than my 5-6 hour drive from Las Vegas. I already have equity in the condo since prices have climbed. I love Mexico, the people and the food! If you are contemplating this go rent there for a while and check it out but come with an open mind. It is Mexico not the US so don't expect much to be the same but be open to new adventures. You only live once," said one expat in Rosarito.

"The average 3 bedroom condo on the beach is under 200,000.00 USD at this time. There are houses in gated communities from 140,000.00 USD to 2.5 million, depending on your taste," remarked one expat who made the move to Manzanillo.

"Right now a condo on the beach with 2-3 bedrooms can be purchsed for as low as about 150,000.00 US dollars. This is a buying opportunity. We also have a beautiful house on the beach with 4 bedrooms for 869,000.00 US dollars. It is the perfect time to take advantage of our low prices," explained one expat living in Manzanillo, Mexico.

"My husband found a two bedroom one bath house in Pensiones neighborhood in Merida Yucatan for about $35,000 USD. It needs another $10k in upgrades or remodeling but it is a cute home and would be great. The rents here are all over the place. But a huge home with a lot of amenities unfurnished in my neighborhood (4 bedrooms or 5 with three bathrooms and so on? Goes for $14,000 Mexican pesos a month. About $675 or $700 USD give or take," said one expat in Mexico.

"Buying a home in Mexico can be a great opportunity to acquire a property in a country where you will undoubtedly find a vibrant culture and beautiful scenery. However, as with any purchase, it is essential to consider a variety of factors before committing to a home. Renting a home in Mexico is also a good option because you can try out an area before making a large investment. Additionally, you may be able to benefit from cost savings associated with renting a home, as the maintenance costs and property taxes are the responsibility of the homeowner. Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preference, budget, and lifestyle," said one expat in Mexico.

"We purchased a home... Buying is easy but selling is a challenge so they say... Ours went well and we have moved over 20 times in our marriage so buying and selling homes is not new to us... One serious recommendation is to get an attorney to look over the papers and assist in closing. Realtors here run from great to not so and having a knowledgeable third set of eyes makes the process painless," said one expat who made the move to Ajijic.

"I wish I had brought modern a/c units with dehumidifiers built in, but electricity is outrageously priced and on a tier system," explained one expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"When you meet someone for the first time, you usually say the formal address of you, which is "usted". Once you know them, saying "usted" is almost an insult! I've done that a few times. Now I call everyone "tu", which is the informal "you", and everyone welcomes it," said one expat in Mexico City.

"I was told by a good friend to just throw the words out there. They noticed that I had a tendency to be a lot quieter than usual during table discussions where everyone is engaged and fluent in Spanish. He said "Just like a baby babbles and throws a word incorrectly just do it anyway. We will correct you!". That was a relief! He knew that I was afraid of making mistakes so he told me to do the opposite of what my mind was telling to do. Don't stay silent, just jump in there and graciously accept the friendly help! They love it! And it breaks the ice! It makes sense. As a teacher that's exactly what I encourage.my students to do -- I tell them to just jump into the discussion and I'm there to help as needed," said one expat who made the move to Comitan, CHIAPAS.

"A fellow once told me that if a guy addresses a man's wife as "tú" rather than "usted," it could start a fight. He told me that no matter how long and how well you know a couple, the wife is "usted" to you," explained one expat living in Mexico.

"I ordered 1.1 lbs of american cheese, not understanding the difference between a kilo and a pound when we first arrived. We ate cheese for a month," said one in Guadalajara.

"Playa Del Carmen, is just about an 1 and half hour plane ride from Miami. The community is filled with expats and each year that passes, the assimilation process gets easier and easier. This is due to the high US investment in the area. We now have Home Depot, Starbucks, Old Navy, Forever 21, Sephora. So many of the products and services that expats are accustomed to using can now be found in town. This was not the case 11 years ago when we moved there. ," wrote one expat living in Playa Del Carmen.

"Be sure to have travel insurance... helps to speak Spanish to communicate more freely with the caregivers, however someone there will speak English," stated one expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

" It depends on finances and age. If you're a professional moving to Mexico for business reasons, then you'll no doubt be given a private insurance plan. For those still young, private insurance is cheaper than in the USA but still ultimately unaffordable. Those working for public or private sector employers should automatically be enlisted in the IMSS which is our national system free to the user. Roughy equivalent to the UK's NHS, if you need something major it is excellent. For minor problems you may care to go private. Besides the IMSS, if you're not working you can enroll in the govenment's Seguro Popular system which is probably a bit inferior to the IMSS but again will protect you against major events. Next, I recommend paying monthly to subscribe to a private ambulance/outpatient service such as EMME. The price is reasonable and they come quickly with a fully equipped ambulance and medical team. They also have an outpatient walk-in centre open until late. Most pharmacies have an attached doctor available during work hours (sometimes morning only) and you can get a quick consultation either free or at insignificant cost - very useful if you need an antibiotic because these need a prescription now. ," remarked one expat in Monterrey.

"Medical care is readily available in our area and we have a very nice private hospital called Hospitan. Another private hospital - not as well equipped - CostaMed. The doctors all speak English and as we have Global Health insurance, we have the option to choose any hospital or doctor we wish. Private hospitals are really the only way to go if you expect the type of facilities and services that you would receive in the United States. As Playa Del Carmen is a smaller community, many times you will need to go to Cancun for specific needs. They have several private hospitals - Galenia, a larger Hospitan. If you have a chronic medical condition you might want to check with either hospital to make sure that the resources you will need are available," wrote one expat living in Playa Del Carmen.

"Although I have met people having care for serious conditions, my experience has only been dental. People I know who had the same procedure done just across the border in San Diego had side effects I did not experience with my Mexican dentist," commented one expat who moved to Tijuana.

"Healthcare services in Mexico are provided by both public and private institutions. The public healthcare system is known as the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and is funded by the government. It provides basic medical services to Mexican citizens and permanent residents, including preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment. The quality of public healthcare in Mexico is generally considered to be good, although there are some areas where it is lacking. Foreign residents do not have access to the public healthcare system, but they can purchase private health insurance to cover medical expenses. Expats in Mexico typically use private healthcare services, although some may opt to use the public system if they are eligible," said one expat.

"I avoid cut-and-drug as much as possible and take responsibility for the key aspects of health: eating wisely and exercising. If I don't do those things, what can anyone do for me? What I do no t like about the government health program that I joined is that doctors have the same reliance on drugs as in the US. I have not had hospital care, but friends who have report excellent care. I would like to start a movement to ban Coca Cola and other diabetes-inducing "foods." And I would like to see more attention paid to use of traditional medicinal plants, which are widely available in Mexico," said one expat.

"Medical services in Mexico vary depending on the region. Generally, the country has a wide range of medical facilities, including public and private hospitals, clinics, and medical centers. Many of these facilities offer quality care and modern medical technology. In addition, Mexico has a number of specialized medical centers that provide specialized care for specific conditions. Mexico also has a number of medical tourism destinations, where people from other countries can receive medical care at a lower cost than in their home countries," said one expat living in Mexico.