Tips to make your expat dream a reality
By Janet Blaser
Every year, InterNations—the largest global expat organization—conducts an “expatsatisfaction” survey of thousands of its members living all over the world.
Mexico took the spotlight in 2023, as its foreign residents voted it the #1 place worldwide to live. Citing factors like quality of life, feeling welcomed, cost of living, ease of settling in, affordable housing and a beautiful culture, almost 12,000 expats gave Mexico a big thumbs up. And, 90% of expats in Mexico also said they were “happy with their lives,” as opposed to 72% of expats in other countries.
All of this has made many people think more seriously about actually moving to Mexico. But how to actually do it? After living in Mexico for almost 20 years, I’ve learned that there’s no one way to make your expat dream a reality. With more than 1.5 million Americans living in Mexico, you can bet everybody did it differently, with their own style, timetable and priorities.
Here are some tips to make your transition easier and help you relax and enjoy the sometimes-bumpy (but always amusing) ride you’ve just begun.
Do Your Due Diligence
Research everywhere you can think of. Check and double-check information. Don’t rely on hearsay; look at Facebook pages, blogs and YouTube—and then do your due diligence and investigate some more. Remember: if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn’t. Visit the place(s) you’re interested in and see how it actually feels once you’re on the ground. While you’re there, talk to anyone you can; most folks are friendly and answer the millions of questions you’ve probably come up with.
Check Out Housing & Location Options
Your new life is going to look very different than the one you’re leaving, and you may not know exactly what that means. You’ll find houses, condos and apartments at every price point with wildly differing amenities. Consider renting for a year or more while you figure out what you want.
As you ponder the future, think about where you see yourself: busy, cosmopolitan city, peaceful, rural paradise or something in-between, bearing in mind those look different in Mexico than what you’re used to. Think long and hard about what your priorities are, but if they’re unclear at this point, that’s OK too. This is a good time to establish a relationship with a realtor; Riviera Maya Sotheby’s International Realty has expert local realtors who are more than happy to offer assistance and guidance as you plan your new life.
Explore Medical Options & Facilities
If you’re retiring and of senior age, you’ve probably given this lots of thought. You’ll be looking for expert medical care by English-speaking professionals, something that’s not available everywhere in Mexico. As you research, dig deep into the details in ways you might not in your home country. Check out the local hospitals, clinics and medical centers—what resources and technology do they have? Can they give you a tour of the facilities? Cities with big expat populations (like Puerto Vallarta) have excellent medical resources that will be able to take care of all your health needs in a manner you’re accustomed to.
You may have heard about Mexican IMSS health insurance— look beyond the click-bait headlines and do your due diligence! It’s not free; costs depend on age and physical condition.
You’ll also want to visit the local General Hospital before signing up. While Medicare doesn’t cover costs out of the country, some insurances and Advantage Plans do; again, do your research.
Business Basics
Where will you keep your money—in a bank in your home country, a Mexican bank, or both? Be sure to check if your current bank charges a fee for international withdrawals; if it does, consider switching to another bank that doesn’t.
How about a phone plan? Mexico’s Telcel offers amazing cellphone plans but maybe you want to keep your U.S. number; will it work where you’re moving? If you want access to U.S. TV and streaming channels, how will you manage that? Update and make copies of personal papers and documents (physically and in the Cloud) and consider designating someone in your home country to get your mail and keep copies of your important papers, “just in case.”
Cost of Living
Be very skeptical of articles or videos pedaling a one-size-fits-all monthly budget for “living in Mexico.” Your cost of living will—or can—be much less than in the U.S. or Canada, but it also depends on your lifestyle and how you want to live.
Utilities usually cost much less in Mexico, and rents, property taxes and home prices can be much less than the U.S. or Canada. On the other hand, if you prefer to live in a new condo with lots of amenities, costs will be more—maybe much more. Question carefully what your costs will be specific to where you’re going and with your preferred lifestyle in mind.
