Moving to Mexico: Step by Step Guide
Many travelers have told me that they didn’t enjoy Mexico City as much as the rest of the country. As a traveler, expat and digital nomad who lived in Mexico City for over two years and kept returning before moving onto Playa del Carmen, I can definitely see why a lot of people don’t view it as a must-see in Mexico.
As one of the biggest cities in the world, Mexico City cannot be explored in just a few days. If you live there, you also know that there are many areas that you simply don’t ever want to visit. Mexico City is a huge place and a lot of people feel lost in it. They get confused about where to go and how to get there. I’ve also heard that some visitors feel overwhelmed by the locals, as they’ll try to talk to you all the time, even if you don’t speak Spanish.
What to Consider Before Moving to Mexico
Mexico has amazing food, great communities, fantastic nightlife, parks, and lots of events. There are so many things to do in Mexico City, road trips to take along the country, things are cheaper and weather is great (minus the seasonal hurricanes on the coast)!
The downside is the traffic, corruption and pollution, but it’s really not as bad as it’s often portrayed by Americans who have never been out of the resorts. Statistically speaking, it’s much safer in Mexico than in the US for regular people.
The thing is… there are many things that you can do in Mexico (legally) as long as you have the money and contacts for it. It applies to literally everything, from not having the correct paperwork, simply feeling lazy and going somewhere to arrange something, to getting something you technically can’t get done. It takes getting used to and knowing how to navigate.
Moving to Mexico Checklist
I think the biggest mistake most people do is picking a place to live – whether long-term or temporary, based on the beauty shown on Instagram. I know so many people who moved to Tulum on a whim wanting to stay a few months. They hated it, it wasn’t for them. Truth to be told, once you spend a few days in Tulum you get a feeling of why it’s an insane idea to base yourself there for a few months.
Why you are relocating to Mexico?
Do you want to live in an expat town? Are you looking for retirement communities in Mexico? Are you looking more for a laid-back beach town? Do you want a place with local vibes that is very different from home? Do you want a bustling city?
Mexico has possibilities for everyone, but you need to come to Mexico and pick a place to live. My good friends are happy in Merida while I hate Merida. I loved Mexico City, but a friend of mine said it was too busy for him. Test it out before pulling a plug.
Cost of Living in Mexico
Don’t move to Mexico just because it’s cheap. It might not be, especially in top places.
The cost of living in Mexico can vary a lot. It depends on the standard, your necessities, and place. It varies from $500 to a few thousand a months.
I lived in Mexico on a mid-range local salary (minimum wage in Mexico is $5 a day) and I also lived in Mexico as self-employed.
Most rents usually come with a housekeeper once a week, but lots of fancier apartments have space for a live-in maid as well. In Mexico City I could find a studio for 800-1200 USD a month easily.