Want to Retire in Mexico? Important Things to Consider in 2024

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[@dreamretirementinmexico]

Where do you hope to retire in Mexico?

[@vicenteBeraud]

What part of LEAVE dont foreigners understand ????? Mexico is fed up of you border hoopers !!!!!!!

[@zakspop]

I am hoping to move to San Luis Potosi SLP. It is my wife's home town an I love it there. Her extended family are great. We have a house already lines up. I'd go today if only I could.

[@vicenteBeraud]

WE Mexicans are tired of you gringos/foreigners and the patience is gone. This is the first warning for you to GET THE F OUT OF MEXICO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.......

[@VicenteHernandez-kn5pn]

WHEN DO YOU HOPE TO GET THE F OUT OF MEXICO FOREIGNER ??????

[@wisikahn]

Baja California...

[@jbw53191]

I've been living in Mexico for 3 years now and absolutely love it. Sure, the cost of living is lower but what I love most is the friendliness of the people. I would never want to live without that again

[@stevefritz5182]

There are so many points made here. I feel compelled to add 2 cents on some. As a member of several Facebook expat groups, it amazes me how many people join and say how they are moving to (name your city) but they have never been there and are looking for expats to layout a plan for them. You really need to spend some time in several different cities. Mexico is VERY diverse in geography; all well covered in this video. Don't say to yourself, "I like Puerto Vallarta, so I will like Merida". A lot of expats leave after three to six years. It just wears on you. It requires a certain mindset or rare personality type. Don't put all your eggs in a Mexican basket believing you will be there the rest of your life. Leave yourself and out. I'd skip the whole visa thing for at least a year. You don't need it for day to day. I'm not encouraging breaking the law. You get six months with a tourist visa. Go back to the USA for a day and cross the border again. Mexico is extremely lienent on immigration. If you qualify for a visa, they are anxious to give you one, but it cost money that you don't need to spend, just to travel around for even a couple of years while you decide if this is for you. Until you get a license or buy a house, you don't need a Temp or Perm visa. Also, they are in themselves different. Temp gives you very little benefit. If you qualify for Perm, get Perm. Cost: Mexico has just went through a time of high inflation and strengthen Peso (2021-2024). It negates the "significant" difference between the US and other countries even with US inflation counted. A nice home can cost the same as in the USA. Rents too, if you plan to live in a popular expat community. Food too, tamales are now twice what they were, pre-2021. A dinner plate is 200 Pesos ($12), when it used to be 110 ($5-$6). Rents that were $400USD are now $1000USD. Climate: the only area with consistent climate is central Mexico; Mexico City and Guadalajara. Southern beaches and Yucatan are unbearibly humid in the summer. Baja is not humid but said to be unbearably hot in the summer. People who otherwise consider themselves to "live" there leave during the summer. Bureaucary: What is said is Mexico is consistently inconsistent. People will even tell you to go to a certain Mexican consulate, in the US, to get better qualification standings. Be prepared to be patient. Accesibility: Consider that there are FEW consistent sidewalks. People generally own the sidewalk in front of their house. This is through all countries south of the US border. There can be a beautiful Portuguese tiles followed by no sidewalk or a sidewalk with a motorcycle ramp built across it. To say "Mexico isn't for everyone" is a huge understatement. Mexico is for but a few with pioneer stock in them. Consider that seriously. Your expat community will be primarily people with a certain mindset. Do you fit in with people who love the water and boats? Do you fit in with cowboys? Do you prefer a Hippie lifestyle? Expats are an eclectic group. You may find you don't fit in, just as you may not fit in if suddenly relocated to the Deep South, or North Dakota. For those few who do fit, Mexico is a great place. Be prepared to shift your mindset. There may be some PTSD the first year or two. It isn't all about sitting on the beach. That gets old, real fast.

[@sellwithmichel6487]

Appreciate your honest,well-intended (and written) 2 cents. Gracias y saluuuuuuud!

[@As_You_Love_Yourself]

Great analysis. I’ve watched costs/values rise rapidly in Mexico over the past few years. What appeals to me is the Catholic faith, family-centered people, beauty & architecture, low & slow, celebratory lifestyle, the fresh food and the low-key simple freedoms. What does not appeal is the food poisoning, almost universal poverty (or lack of Building standards? - both a blessing and a curse!), the loudness and trashiness in the culture (but they can be so loving and kind to make you love & forgive it all!) It’s different - that’s certain. It’s what makes México wonderful and hard - all at once. Such a country of paradoxes.

[@anitamendez116]

“Proximity to North America”, Mexico is in North America. The correct term is, Mexico’s Proximity to other North American Countries. Great video and information of how to navigate and live comfortably in Mexico.

[@ushad.4628]

Yes. Why doesn't she know that Mexico is in N.America? And she needs to proofread her slides--"laguage"?

[@gilgarza2903]

Fun fact: One of my cousin's got her Mexican drivers license BEFORE she even knew how to drive. Our other uncle told her, "you should of gotten your pilots license too." 😂

[@knerduno5942]

Don't need to even know how to drive in most states to even get one

[@bajaboy29]

Move to Mexico because you love Mexico not because it's more affordable. I love living here with my family. But too many people are coming here and complaining it's not like home.

[@stevefritz5182]

Too funny. It is a constant whining of "where do I find...". Learn to live without poppyseed dressing, for crying out loud.

[@missmayflower]

Yes! This!

[@missmayflower]

@@stevefritz5182yes! Surely you can survive without your certain brand of whatever. Why move to another country if you’re not the least bit adaptable to a new way of life?

[@knerduno5942]

@@stevefritz5182 There are packaged salads you can buy which come with Poppyseed dressing

[@NicholasJonesCPA]

Omg Gabrielle Smith is helping me with my temporary residency. It’s such a small world!!

[@rocambole93]

consider the noise especially at night

[@rosalindhb]

Good info. I hear Merida is going up in cost dramatically and people advise looking outside the city. The residency requirements are going up in January and some consulates are already upped the amount to reflect it.

[@dreamretirementinmexico]

yes always check with your closest consulate...though I have heard that it really depends on the consulate and some are more lenient than others...

[@vicenteBeraud]

What part of LEAVE dont foreigners understand ????? Mexico is fed up of you border hoopers !!!!!!!

[@DestinationRetirement]

I bought in merida. There are still some affordable neighborhoods that aren’t in historic centro.

[@happyinparadise7812]

The whole world is experiencing inflation. Especially California

[@JamesG1126]

Biggest issue is healthcare. You need insurance. Paying cash isn't feasible for major issues.

[@vicenteBeraud]

What part of LEAVE dont foreigners understand ????? Mexico is fed up of you border hoopers !!!!!!!

[@meridatradicional567]

Overall an excellent website, very clear and concise. Security was very briefly mentioned, but if I had foreseen the growth of organized crime and growing impunity before I moved to Mexico 27 years ago, I think I would have chosen Uruguay or Portugal instead of Mexico. Twenty to thirty percent of the national territory is estimated to now be under the direct control or substantial control of cartels and organized crime, according to reputable sources like Forbes. Unfortunately they are growing in power, the possibility to counter cartels might have been 15 years ago. If you are retiring you might want to consider the almost inevitable continued growth of crime and the infiltration of crime into government and civil society. Otherwise the future is behind the walls of gated communities, don’t go out at night, and don’t ever become old and frail. There are many destinations in the U.S. that now compare favorably with the cost of living in Mexico, with security, better infrastructure, and less impunity. And yes, numbers of people who have been here for 20 years or longer are sadly leaving this country and the people they have come to love. Times change.

[@thebeautyoverfifty4342]

Good things to consider!!! Thank you!

[@dreamretirementinmexico]

absolutely. glad you found it helpful!

[@vicenteBeraud]

What part of LEAVE dont foreigners understand ????? Mexico is fed up of you border hoopers !!!!!!!

[@j.whisper2379]

Beaches are too hot! Prices in Patzcuaro, where I live, are very low. Very safe. Best climate! Have been here 10 years, will never move back!

[@stevefritz5182]

I love how videos are only taken after trash has been removed. Culturally, this is a difficult thing for some Americans (i.e. US Americans). Having grown up in "Make America Beautiful" 1960s and 70s, it is difficult to comprehend a nation of people who think nothing of throwing down anything and everything they don't want to carry ten feet to a garbage can. There are few exceptions but be prepared for a cultural shift. Believing you can pick up the trash and make a difference is false. It is like it spawns from the earth.

[@lvncsr6166]

Excellent video. Thank you so much for specifically speaking to .those of us who are at retirement age and need to know as much as possible how to navigate such a move, hoping to move to the coast, Mazatlan or any of the nice, Quiet coastal towns:) ALSO, will my Medicare insurance be sufficient? Thanks for your response.

[@stevefritz5182]

Medicare does nothing for you in Mexico. No US insurance as far as I know. People pay cash or buy Mexican insurance. Costs are going up in Mexico but are still cheaper than US. If you have any significant health issue, plan on traveling to the USA once or twice a year. Some people do the opposite. They travel to Mexico to regular treatments - especially dental.

[@rondunn4336]

Can you get an AC fixed that is blowing warm. How efficient and when?

[@lisaarias-bess8720]

great video thanks

[@dreamretirementinmexico]

happy that you found it helpful :)

[@vicenteBeraud]

What part of LEAVE dont foreigners understand ????? Mexico is fed up of you border hoopers !!!!!!!

[@retro9173]

What tax to file with the IRS if you’re already a senior elder work-free and retired? 🤔

[@sr9253]

What part of Mexico do you live in?

[@BrokeMillionaire1]

I’m watching this video in a little bit. I’ve heard that Merida is a nice spot to retire.

[@dreamretirementinmexico]

yes I've been to Merida a few times - great city though it does get very hot in the summer. you can check out this video I did with Cartess Ross about him and his family moving to Merida. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKG7Y4ybmLqdaNUsi=G1zC906SoS0iRtNL

[@BrokeMillionaire1]

@@dreamretirementinmexico thanks so much! I need to check this video out. Ultimately, I want to move to a place with mild temperatures, kind of like you can get in San Diego.

[@vicenteBeraud]

What part of LEAVE dont foreigners understand ????? Mexico is fed up of you border hoopers !!!!!!!

[@happyinparadise7812]

We live in Yucatan. May is hotter than hades. Mosquitoes bite. But we love our Conservative and family values way of living! God is in our minds and hearts. A pool us a must have to survive. De nada

[@stevefritz5182]

Not sure why she referred to it as a town. It is the largest city in Yucatan. Maybe because you can localize yourself to a neighborhood (colony). It is an hour away from the water. I don't understand the attraction myself. Maybe, as I said in other comments I made, people find they "fit in" there better than other cities. It takes a certain mindset.

[@duanethompson2360]

I’m 74, retired with about $2000 a month in SSI and pension. We have a house in Carambuche Baja Sur, so no rent or expenses except food. My passport was just renewed in December 2023. I plan on being at the house by January 2024. I understand a temporary residence visa requirement is your passport must be valid for 6 months before you apply. Since my last visit to Mexico was in 2010 I don’t qualify for the program of a passport stamp in 2011 until present. I don’t meet the $3200 monthly income requirement for temporary visa. I’m guessing I’ll have to get tourist visas and leave and return every 180 days. Any thoughts? Thanks Duane

[@dreamretirementinmexico]

note that a tourist visa is not a guaranteed 180 days anymore...best to consult a Mexican visa expert because the rules change all the time....

[@JamesG1126]

You need a temporary or permanent visa. If you don't qualify, you'll only be able to stay as long as your tourist visa allows. Making a border run every 6 months isn't possible anymore. You could be in a situation where you can't live in the house you own.

[@youknowkbbaby]

​@JamesG1126 so does the Mexican government confiscate your home if you can no longer legally live in it?

[@Uncommon-pixels]

Mexican customs scan passports upon entry and exit - they will have in their computer a complete record of your movements When it becomes clear that you are abusing tourism visas to reside in Mexico they will start giving you 7 or 10 days only

[@mikecrowley7486]

I've read of people with your problem before. You need to find a consulate with lower financial requirements. Over the years have experienced the consulates in Tucson and Nogales Arizona. I was treated well in both consulates but my experiences in Nogales were more pleasant.

[@DM-fp1eh]

Mexican Immigration dosen't require applicants to have heath insurance to qualify for a residents visa.

[@RobertIsaacson-hi9sz]

Bring lots of money. Lots. It's not cheap anymore.

[@judithgrace9850]

❤ You still must be alert Evil demons are worldwide

[@Kristoferwitha_k]

Mmmmmm significantly lower off? No. Not anymore. The peso is rising in value every day and the dollar is dropping so I imagine in the next year you're buying power is going to be severely limited to the point where it will cost the same as America or more in some cases

[@auntielu4394]

This may turn out to be true, but I would still stay because of the quality of life. Time slows down, you can think more clearly, and there is no more hustling and grinding unless you want to. I’ve only been here 2 weeks and I already feel better and lost a little weight. You can find a part time online gig to supplement your income if you need to. Everyone has to do their numbers and make space for the fluctuations in currency so that they know where they stand financially. 🌸

[@vicenteBeraud]

What part of LEAVE dont foreigners understand ????? Mexico is fed up of you border hoopers !!!!!!!

[@davidsebastianelli1326]

I live like a Rey for under $1200us per month and even if drops down to 15.00 an extra hundred or so won't break my bank. I believe the peso will level off at close to 18 to a dollar and that's also what the Mexican banks are saying. Have you even been here or visited? Avocados were on sale last week for around $0.24us each. I regularly have freshly caught fish tacos con todo for 25 pesos each or at todays exchange rate of 17.15 that's $1.45us! The same thing in the US would easily cost upwards of $5.00 to $7.00. Buena suerte!

[@happyinparadise7812]

When President Trump wins the presidency again. The dollar will strengthen! Weak leadership equals weak dollars!

[@davidsebastianelli1326]

At todays (6/2/2024) exchange rate for what you would have spent $1000us for three years ago now will cost you roughly $1145us. Buena suerte!

[@slappyortega2449]

Take a shot every time she says "diverse".

[@kellyk5946]

If you want to know the standard of living throughout the world, compare your Mc Donald’s too the location your seeking.

[@stevefritz5182]

Fast food in Mexico is the opposite of the USA. People pay more for the novelty of it. Where, in the USA, it used to be you'd go because it was cheap.

[@giljusino]

I was born in Mexico, to American parents. I applied for a Mexican passport & was turned down because my parents dropped the second last name on my US ID when I was 3-years old. I’ll spend my retirement dollars in Panama ☹️ BTW, I’m 70 now and have a comfortable retirement income.

[@Xtri0s]

You can have your birth certificate amended

[@giljusino]

I didn't know amending my Mexican birth certificate was an option. THANKS@@Xtri0s

[@missmayflower]

So just get permanent residency or temporale.

[@giljusino]

@@missmayflower I spent last month in Mexico and I met someone with the same problem. He was granted a passport, so the rule of law is not applied equally. I believe the official at the NC Mexican consulate didn’t view me as being MEXICAN ENOUGH.

[@Diasporaliving]

Start here. Forget about this video: "To retire in Mexico and stay indefinitely, you'll need to apply for a permanent resident visa and meet income requirements. The requirements depend on whether you're applying for a temporary or permanent visa: Temporary residency Applicants need to prove a monthly income of $2,400-$2,700 over the past six months, or a minimum savings or investment balance of $45,000 per month for the past year. Temporary visas allow residency for six months up to four years. Permanent residency Applicants need to prove a monthly income of $4,300-$4,500 over the past six months, or a minimum savings balance of $180,000 each month for the past year. Permanent residency doesn't expire and allows you to pursue citizenship and work in Mexico." So, poor Americans need not apply. Period! Here's a list of things the video did not address: DISCLAIMER: These are broad comments about Mexico in general. They are based on my personal experiences working in Mexico. Nothing is completely black or white. I have been to places in Mexico that rival downtown Manhattan. My Mexican friends are wonderful people whom I dearly love and fully trust. Cheap food in Mexico is cheap...because it is crappy. Good food is expensive in Mexico as well. Safety is a big concern. As a foreigner, you will stand out wherever you go. And, yes, in some places that puts a target on your back. The infrastructure, compared to ours in the U.S., is substandard or, at best, unreliable. Water is awful. You drink it, you will get sick. Expensive filtration systems are required. Still, when you go out, you have no clue how food is washed. You eat street food, you will get sick. Locals can eat street food. You cannot. Mexico is a very big country. Every region has a different climate, its own foods, dances and customs. A common trend in Mexican cuisine though is the use of chiles in pretty much everything they eat. Trust me, it will get your attention! Crooked cops can be a problem and so are corrupt government employees. Red tape is thick. Lots of petty theft. What's not nailed down will "walk away." Many homes are cages, bars all over. Mexico is a child-centered society. There are children everywhere, lots and lots of them. Why waste money on babysitters when you can take your numerous kids everywhere, all the time, at all hours of the day or night? If you don't have kids of your own, you'll have a bit of trouble fitting in that environment. Traffic signs and regulations seem to be "optional" in many places in Mexico. Drivers merge, swerve, converge and push their way in any way they can. Cross the road at your own peril! Noise pollution: You will need ear plugs when you go to bed. Music can be blaring into the wee hours, even week days. Cars honk their horns incessantly. Sidewalks are uneven and cracked in many streets. Dog shit is everywhere, as nobody picks up after their doggies. Many areas have foul smells, mostly from the sewers. It is very hard to schedule any trade (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc.) to work for you, if you have issues at home. People are chronically late and unreliable. Whether at the local market or buying a home or a car (as it happens in many places in Latin America), there is a two-tiered price system, one for Mexicans and another one for foreigners. You can never let your guard down! There are all kinds of scams in Mexico. That goes triple for you, if you are not really fluent in Spanish. Street beggars are relentless and so are peddlers. They will not leave alone. They are all over the place. The Napoleonic Law System rules in Mexico. Translation: You walk into a court and you are guilty until you (and your lawyer) prove--to the satisfaction of the judge--that you are innocent...at your expense, of course. You can forget about your rights and all that jazz you are used to in the U.S. I have helped several unfortunate Americans (and other foreigners) who have been arrested in Mexico. But, good news! Miracles do happen! You fork out enough cash and things change very quickly. Trust me, you don't want to go to a jail in Mexico! Even among courageous adventure seekers, of the 50 or 60 plus people I've known over the years (mostly Americans and Canadians) who moved to Mexico, the vast majority didn't go past 3 years; some bailed even sooner. Living in Mexico is neither good nor bad. Only you can determine that. It depends on who you are and what you are looking for. I can tell you this though: It is a completely different world, one in which ways of life, language, customs, food, music, social mores, work habits, personal relationships, etc. are vastly different from what we experience here in the U.S. This is getting too long. So, I'm going to cut it short. WARNING: Regardless of who you are, what you are, how rich you are, do NOT go to Mexico without doing your homework. The biggest mistake people make is trying to "fix" the inhabitants of the new country to where they have moved. You are NOT going to change anybody or anything anywhere you go. It is THEIR country, THEIR culture, THEIR language, THEIR traditions. You ARE the outsider. Adapt, evolve, grow or shut up and get the Hell out!

[@mjulianlee]

No discussion of African or Asian nations?

[@dreamretirementinmexico]

this youtube channel just focuses on Mexico though I hope to expand to other countries in the future!

[@elizabethsugarmartinez6362]

That's another video.

[@vicenteBeraud]

What part of LEAVE dont foreigners understand ????? Mexico is fed up of you border hoopers !!!!!!!

[@angelstar7656]

Consider The Gambia

[@OlsenTheWonderDog]

Perhaps, because the title of the video and channel indicate that the discussion is limited to Mexico. If someone says, I’m going to discuss retiring in Mexico, why would you expect them to discuss African and Asian countries?

[@wisikahn]

No steak culture in Mexico is the only drawback for me.

[@stevefritz5182]

What is a "steak culture"? You mean there isn't a lot of beef? True. There are some feed lots to the north but most cows eat junk on the ground and it makes the meat taste different than the corn fed we like in the USA. Pigs are easiest to raise, so lots of pork. Chicken, of course, is king all around the world. Not surprising, there are a lot of vegetarians.

[@Xtri0s]

Lots of asada in mexico, every corner has it

[@robertoperezaguirreeliasca7559]

Lo barato sale caro! Nothing is cheap anymore and anywhere in Mexico! Cheap compared to what? Retire in Mexico? But where Anywhere? Best place to retire is where you presently live! I love the English countryside in the outskirts of London, that's where I wound go if I had the chance! I'm a Mexican citizen from Ciudad Obregon, a retired airline pilot living in La Paz Baja California Sur , BCS MEXICO since 2012! I know my country! And I know 90 % of the rest of the world! The Mexican drug war (also known as the Mexican war on drugs an ongoingasymmetric armed conflict!!!! A Wave of Violence Terrorizes Mexico as Criminals Kill With Impunity The latest killings have left dozens of Mexicans dead and few held accountable despite insecurity being the public’s top priority by an overwhelmed mexican government! US tourists beware: Popular Mexico getaway plagued by drug cartel intimidation and violence Drug cartels in Mexico: How rampant violence is taking hold of the country Criminal organizations have splintered into more than 100 groups and are wreaking havoc on the population, with bodies dumped on streets, students kidnapped and schools forced to close due to shootings There is not a corner of Mexico where drug traffickers are not present. Gone are the years of the all-powerful drug cartels, which divided up large territories like pieces of cake and agreed to truces when mounting death tolls started to hurt business. More people are being killed than ever. And in some states, neither the presence of the Mexican army nor local authorities have been able to stop it. In Mexico, there are at least 150 organized crime gangs, according to the latest criminal map presented by a group of researchers from Mexico’s prestigious Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE). This is a huge rise from 2006, when the number of drug gangs could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

[@RomeoUrsu-fy9qo]

Not even worth it anymore…so many other countries far better in everything including cost. Funny thing is those convoys with people that want to come to US or Canada 😂😂😂😂😂….what for? Very soon it will be in MX

[@j.whisper2379]

Amazes me that so few Mexicans speak English! Tourism is important, so why not learn Englsih?

[@user-zt9ne3zc3s]

it amazes me that you have 10's of 1,000's of Mexican citizens trying to leave and come to the U.S for a better life, and the Mexican government wants a U.S citizen moving there to prove you have at least $54,000 in the bank minimum over the past 6-12 months ??? Lol's

[@Xtri0s]

Most people crossing the border are not Mexican anymore. They’re Haitians , Chinese, Pakistani etc

[@fekkyb]

Move to Mexico. WHAT’s WRONG WITH THE USA ? It also has many landscapes and weather. But if you HAVE LOTS OF MONEY AND JUST GOT SICK OF THE USA. Then knock yourself out. 😂

[@vicenteBeraud]

What part of LEAVE dont foreigners understand ????? Mexico is fed up of you border hoopers !!!!!!!

[@missmayflower]

The culture in the USA sucks.