The best-kept secret of Midwesterners in the medical field is that a lot of them like to vacation in Mexico.
So do Southerners and Californians, as well as Pacific Northwesterners, and, well, a lot of Americans, including Canadians, who live amongst the locals of Ajijic.
If you, too, want to go to Mexico to live, take a look at the pros and cons of living in MX, south of the US border.
Use this information to guide your decision so you make the most informed moving plans.
Contents
Pros of Living in Mexico
1. Highest Number of Retirees
The expat communities in Mexico include Ajijic, Puerto Vallarta, Merida, Lake Chapala, and San Miguel de Allende.
Here are villages and towns where a large portion of expatriates, which are mainly US or Canadian residents move to live temporarily but longer than for a vacation.
Expats can also be individuals who relinquish their citizenship in a home country for another one, such as Mexico, and choose to live abroad permanently.
As a result, ex-pat communities have more English-speaking professional services and businesses.
They are also set up to connect with people abroad, such as through international banking.
If you move to Mexico and become an ex-pat, you have plenty of places already established for you to live more easily.
2. Cheap Cerveza
Beer is cheap in Mexico for a number of reasons.
First and foremost, the water quality in Mexico is rotten for US digestion.
Therefore, you have to drink bottled water, and generally, bottled beer is cheaper than water.
And alcohol also kills any bacteria, in the case your water bottles are tampered with or filled in a fraudulent way.
Secondly, the cost of a domestic Cerveza or Mexican beer is 7 pesos at the grocery store, which is 34 cents in USD.
Yes, that is correct, you pay 34 cents for a Sol, Corona, Pacifico, or any of your other favorite Mexican brews!
3. Mariachi Music
The mariachi bands are those that include several men standing in a semi-circle holding acoustic guitars.
They will sing a song upon request and do not demand money or payment in tips.
However, I am sure they would love you to pay them with a margarita!
These singing troupes are all throughout Mexico, and if you go into a city square or town plaza, you will find them roaming and entertaining.
If you love music, especially live music, you will fall in love with this part of Mexico.
4. Mexican Cuisine
Mexican food is one of the most enjoyed cuisine types on the planet.
Everyone seems to enjoy Mexican food from every country.
If you love fajitas and grilled vegetables and are a huge fan of corn on the cob, you will be delighted to live in Mexico.
The food vendors and street stalls are all the rage in Mexico City, and the smaller towns have plenty of street food sellers as well.
Starbucks and McDonald’s and even Dairy Queen have store locations in Mexico, too, in case you get homesick because you miss US food.
5. Tropical Climate and Coast Cities
Mexico is a long strip of a country located in the southwest part of the United States.
You can get there by driving from the US and Canada without needing to take a ferry boat.
Yet once you arrive in Mexico, the landscape is very much like Florida in that you have ocean waters on both sides of a peninsula-like landscape.
You are never too far from the beach, and the nation takes full advantage of these tropical paradises for tourism purposes.
6. Pre-Columbian Artwork and Culture
Artists, interior designers, and those who are culturally relevant works of art will find a whole treasure trove in Mexico.
Here you have pre-Columbian artwork, as well as Mayan and Aztec culture.
Whether you are interested in seeing these aspects of Mexican heritage, or you are an artist wanting to get your hands dirty with pottery lessons, there is plenty to do in Mexico in the arts and crafts industry.
7. Visiting Larger Pyramids Than in Egypt
This brings up the pyramids in Mexico, of which there are several you can visit and even climb up!
Teotihuacan has the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, as well as an entire city unearthed and open to the public to explore.
These pyramids are in the same style as the Egyptian pyramids and even taller than some of those.
You can also visit Chichen Itza and those more famous Mexican pyramids while living in this country.
8. Low Cost of Living
It is a lot cheaper for Americans to live in Mexico compared to the US.
Mainly, there is a monetary exchange that gives US dollar holders a huge advantage.
The US dollar is always more valuable than the Mexican peso.
Right now, for example, the exchange rate is so that for 20 USD, the exchange value is 409 pesos.
That means you can spend 39 pesos on a domestic beer in a restaurant in Mexico, and get it for $1.31 US.
That is a huge cost saving compared to the price of a beer in US restaurants, where you can expect to pay at least $5, if not $10.
Cons of Living in Mexico
1. The Water Quality is Terrible
If you are from the US and you drink the water in Mexico, prepare to die.
That is not a joke.
You can develop–I know from experience–several different severe stomach parasites from drinking the water there.
This will send you straight to a stomach specialist in Mexico City, of which there is at least one good one.
I know, because I was treated there for E Coli bacteria, and two other waterborne infectious diseases.
Please know, that you will have to use bottled water for drinking and washing purposes for the entire time you live in Mexico if you are not born there.
2. You Might Get Cursed
In Mexico, there are Mayan and Aztec, and pre-Columbian traditions among the communities.
If you are Christian, well, all the prayers in the world might do you some good.
However, you might get cursed, or at least given the evil eye, if you offend someone in these Mexican communities.
Avoid taking pictures of passing strangers, for starters, but also, be aware that they have their own pre-Columbian spiritual codex that we do not understand.
3. They Have Pyramids and Mummies
This brings up the mummies, which go right along with the pyramids we’ve already covered.
In Mexico, there are mummies, actual mummies, which is actually a preservation practice used in Peru and South American countries for centuries–right as the Egyptians also did this.
You can visit the museum Museum of the Mummies of Guanajuato and see actual preserved screaming people who are now mummies.
4. Violence Against Americans
According to Forbes, in 2018, a report stated “Advisories released last month by the U.S. State Department tell Americans not to set foot in five Mexican states — Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Tamaulipas — because of violent crime.
Traveling to those states is as dangerous, according to the State Department’s safety ratings, as traveling to Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq.”
Hearing about this level of violence in Mexico is not new and should not be taken lightly.
Your life could be at risk as a foreigner living in Mexico.
5. Drug Cartels
Sinaloa Cartel, Los Viagras, La Familia Michoacana…these are a few of the names of the Mexican drug cartels.
These are also reasons why not to live in Mexico.
Drug cartels are infamously known for random street and gang violence.
You may end up with a drug cartel member for a landlord, or end up dead due to these violent entities.
Clearly, this is a reason to avoid moving to Mexico from the US.
6. Tropical Climate
The tropical climate of Mexico means 100-degree days with 95 percent humidity.
It is enough to make your hair curl and you want to avoid going out into the streets.
If you are not a fan of moisture in the hair, forget about moving to Mexico.
The closer you get to the equator in the southern Mexican states, you have even more sunshine to blister your skin.
7. Hurricanes and Severe Storms
The hot and humid tropical weather brings out the most severe storms, including hurricanes.
Just like Florida, Mexico gets beaten by tropical storms every season.
Prepare for flooding and mud-washed streets at least once a year.
You will also discover there are few road crews to handle such catastrophes, and the locals do most of the street cleaning.
8. Constant Singing and Mariachi Bands
While the mariachi bands are great for parties and to create a lively atmosphere, there are times when you want to walk in silence.
The constant music playing on the speakers and singing from live mariachis are simply too much to take in.
This is where you find out the difference between northern and southern cultures.
Those people who live in the south where it is hot end up out on the streets trying to keep their cool in the breeze.
In the northern territories, it’s often too cold and frozen to do this, which is why northerners are more closed in.
This is sociologically speaking, but it also explains the way that Mexico is more open-door compared to the US and Canada.
As a result, moving to this southern country where everyone is more open and loud can be grinding on the nerves to put it lightly.
Pros and Cons of Living in Mexico – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Mexico | Cons of Living in Mexico |
|---|---|
| 1. Highest Number of Retirees | 1. The Water Quality is Terrible |
| 2. Cheap Cerveza | 2. You Might Get Cursed |
| 3. Mariachi Music | 3. They Have Pyramids and Mummies |
| 4. Mexican Cuisine | 4. Violence Against Americans |
| 5. Tropical Climate and Coast Cities | 5. Drug Cartels |
| 6. Pre-Columbian Artwork and Culture | 6. Tropical Climate |
| 7. Visiting Larger Pyramids Than in Egypt | 7. Hurricanes and Severe Storms |
| 8. Low Cost of Living | 8. Constant Singing and Mariachi Bands |
Mexico Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Mexico Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest city in Mexico?
The largest city in Mexico is Durango, which is in the state also named Durango.
This is not to be confused with the movie about the lizard named Rango, by the way.
What is the biggest religion in Mexico?
Christian Catholicism is the most popular religion in Mexico with 83 percent of the population.
What language do they speak in Mexico?
The most common language you hear spoken in Mexico is Mexican Spanish.
This differs slightly from Spain’s version of Spanish, which tends to be more formal.
Do they really eat insects in Mexico?
Yes, you can eat a variety of insects in Mexican cuisine.
This includes scorpions and worms, including the so-called worm in the mezcal tequila, which is actually a beetle larva or moth larva.
Can I really buy Cuban cigars in Mexico?
Yes, even though Cuban cigars are banned products for import in the US, you can buy and smoke Cuban cigars in Mexico.
It is the perfect place to try a cigar you would otherwise never get your mitts on.
