You might probably be one of the many who are planning on moving to Mexico from US. The thought of the beautiful landscapes, beaches, warm weather, accommodating people, cultural festivals, and low cost of living is more than enough to convince you of relocating.
With about 1.5 million American expats in Mexico, you will undoubtedly feel at home while savoring the delicious tacos and tequila.
Also, the proximity of Mexico to the United States will give you the privilege of visiting your family back in the US quickly. So, what is not to like about Mexico?!
Despite how close the United States is to Mexico, you will still need to get some paperwork ready before moving.
This is to ensure that you achieve your goals of moving to Mexico from US without any delay. So, here are the things required to land yourself in Mexico safely.
When moving to Mexico, applying for a visa is usually the first thing required to actualize your plans of moving to Mexico from US. The process of applying for a visa are as follows:
In Mexico, there are two types of residents: temporary and permanent residents. The temporary residents are simply those who come to moving to Mexico for work or study purposes and intend to stay for more than 180 days but less than four years.
Conversely, the permanent residents are those who are not citizens but legally have the right to live in Mexico permanently.
Those who are Temporary Residents are eligible to apply for Permanent Residency if they meet the requirements.
Having shifted towards a completely universal healthcare system, Mexico offers free treatments to Mexicans without health insurance. This transition started in 2020 with the introduction of Instituto Nacional de Salud para el Bienestar (INSABI), which replaced the Seguro Popular scheme of 2004.
The fact that the treatment is free and the doctors are adequately trained and fluent in English makes it relatively easy for expats to receive medical care. However, the Mexican healthcare system ranked 61st globally, which is far below the healthcare system of the US, which ranked 37th globally.
Regardless of the rankings, Mexican healthcare is good because healthcare services are free to citizens. Also, with so many competent doctors who often visit to check on the patients’ health, Mexican healthcare just got even more admirable.
While the healthcare system in Mexico is sound, it cannot be proven whether it is better than that of the US. But to fully understand the two healthcare systems, here is something for you.
While moving to Mexico, the job market in Mexico is progressive as there are several ways to find jobs easily and many industries to make a living from. However, most Mexican jobs require that you have a basic understanding of the official language, Spanish.
This, in a significant way, makes finding jobs in Mexico difficult for some ex-pats. To alleviate this problem, try to find jobs online by utilizing one of these websites, OpcionEmpleo, Indeed, and Bumeran.
Every country has its list of popular jobs that are highly demanded. To fully equip yourself for your eventual move to Mexico from US, you must understand what the highly demanded jobs in Mexico are and how high their pay or salary is.
This will make you an extranjero (foreigner) with class and knowledge of the Mexican job market. Here is a table showing the high-demanded jobs in Mexico and their average salaries.
| Jobs or Positions | Salary in USD | Salary in MXN |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing manager | 74,948 | 1,515,000 |
| Teacher | 25,216 | 510,000 |
| Software Engineer | 24,722 | 500,000 |
| Accountant | 20,771 | 420,000 |
| Product manager | 40,070 | 810,000 |
| Nurse | 24,477 | 495,000 |
With the unemployment rate sitting at 3.65% in 2020, Mexico sure holds the key to a plethora of job opportunities for you.
As an American, moving to Mexico will also allow you to earn from teaching English to Mexican students as a second language. You can find jobs for that here.
Banking in Mexico is straightforward, save for the excessive bureaucracy. Expats who want moving to Mexico from US have several banking options; they can choose between national and international banks.
They also have a wide range of good national banks with online services available to them. And coupled with the recently reduced interest rate, expats are more than happy moving to Mexico from US.
Although Mexico recently reduced her interest rate from 4.50% to 4.25%, the United States’ interest rate that sits at 0.25% is more appealing. While it may not be as the US’s interest rate, it certainly means that you can borrow and pay back quickly.
But why is the interest rate of Mexico so high? That might be the question you are asking right now. Here is a concise answer for you. The interest rate in Mexico is high because the federal government aims to preserve the currency, increase the banks’ profit margin, and by all means, prevent inflation.
The concept of taxation to US expats in Mexico means that they pay tax depending on their circumstance. If they are employed in Mexico or own a property that was rented out, they’d have to pay income tax, which is usually between 1.92% and 35% for residents.
Conversely, those on work permits (nonresidents) get to pay between 15% and 30%. It is also important to remember that US expats still pay taxes to the US on their worldwide income.
But even if you don’t fall into the income tax category, you will be pinned down by the sales tax, also called the Value Added Tax or VAT, where you’d have to pay at a 16% rate the sales and imports of goods and services.
It would be wrong to assume that you aren’t the least worried about how education in Mexico would be for you or your kids. It is understandable, and with Mexico ranking 36th globally for the best education, it doesn’t help matters. This does not connote a flawed educational system, but it only shows how you must be regarding your education in Mexico.
The educational system in Mexico offers public or free compulsory education from primary school (primaria), junior high school (secundaria), and high school (preparatoria).
Students have the option of schooling in public, private, and international schools. However, most expats prefer private and international schools for their kids because the public education system is not adequately funded, and thus, lacks enough resources. Also, the university education in Mexico is partially free as little payments are made from time to time.
There are several differences between the educational system in Mexico and that of the US. If you are still keen on moving to Mexico from US, you will be pretty much interested in the differences. Here is a table that shows the differences.
| Mexico Schools | United States’ Schools |
|---|---|
| The Mexican education system is divided into preschool, elementary school, junior high, and universities. | The US school system is grouped into elementary school, middle school, high school, junior college, vocational, and universities. |
| Mexico uses the number system to grade students’ performance. | Schools in the US use the letter system in grading performance. |
| There are three types of schools: public schools and private schools. | There are five types of schools: public, private, charter, and homeschool. |
With these differences, the educational system in Mexico has been relatively good while teaching eight subjects to secondary school students (high school students).
These eight subjects include Spanish, Math, Science (including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology), Foreign Language (specifically English Language), Geography and History, Technology, Arts, and Physical Education.
As an American, living in Mexico would be so much different from your life in the US. This is so because you would be astounded by how great the cultural shock is. Thinking of ceremonies like Dia de los Muertos and Dia de los Reyes Magos, living in Mexico is undoubtedly going to be a whole new and fun experience for you.
If you can cope with noise, bureaucracy, warm weather that mostly makes you sweaty, and all the so many different Mexican slang, Mexican could be a good place for you to live in.
Overall, the country is filled with the kindest people who find it difficult to say no, and a lot more adventure for you, so this sort of makes it an even better place to live.
When moving to Mexico, as an American, you are permitted to stay in Mexico for 180 days as long as your passport is valid. But this doesn’t give you enough time to explore Mexico.
Mexico is addictive and can leave you desiring to stay a little longer. So, permanent residency is the way to go! To obtain permanent residence, you must have stayed in Mexico for four consecutive years as a Temporary Resident, among other requirements.
But if you even fall more in love with Mexico to the point that you’d love to be a citizen, you will be more than eligible so far as you have gotten your permanent residence. But bear in mind that some paperwork will be required, when moving to Mexico.
If you are looking for something that adds more flavor to your life in Mexico, here is something for you; Moving to Mexico equates a significantly low living cost. But how low could it be? Here is a table that explicitly shows the cost of living in Mexico vs. the US.
This table shows that the United States is a lot more expensive than Mexico. Check out Expatistan’s comparative analysis of the two countries’ living expenses.
While deciding to moving to Mexico from US, it is only wise that you investigate the best cities to live in to ensure that your safety is guaranteed. Here is a list of three places to avoid in Mexico. It should be noted that these places should be avoided because of the high crime rate in the areas.
Getting a house in Mexico is not entirely complicated. The only thing that sometimes scares extranjeros is the bureaucracy because foreigners have to get a Mexican citizen to sign as a fiador (guarantor).
But overall, the essence of the procedures is to rent your apartment and leave the landlord with an assurance that the tenant is of good behavior and that if the tenant runs away, there would be someone accountable for the rent.
In Mexico, the average cost of an apartment could be as low as $618, but this depends on the city. The price could be higher if you live in some city centers and it could be much lower if you prefer to stay in rural areas of Mexico.
It is also dependent on your choice of houses. If you decided to buy a beach house, that would go for an average of $500,000. But buying houses in Mexico is a very profitable investment.
You can get a steady cash flow and ROI because properties do not depreciate and Mexico’s proximity to the US makes it even more lucrative for you. There are 1.5 US expats in Mexico; they need good places to stay, so your investment won’t be in vain.
Mexico City, Mexico's capital, is a vibrant metropolis known for its rich history, cultural diversity, and dynamic blend of ancient and modern influences.
Tijuana, a bustling border city in Mexico, is known for its vibrant cultural scene, dynamic nightlife, and as a gateway between the U.S. and Mexico.
León, a thriving city in central Mexico, is known for its strong leather industry, vibrant cultural scene, and rich colonial history.
Puebla, a historic city in central Mexico, is renowned for its well-preserved colonial architecture, vibrant culture, and rich culinary traditions.
Ecatepec, a densely populated city in the State of Mexico, is known for its urban sprawl, industrial activity, and proximity to Mexico City.
Juárez, a major border city in northern Mexico, is known for its industrial growth, vibrant cross-border culture, and strategic location next to El Paso, Texas.
Zapopan, a thriving city in the Mexican state of Jalisco, is known for its modern developments, rich cultural heritage, and as a key part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, is a vibrant city known for its rich cultural heritage, mariachi music, and as the birthplace of tequila. As Mexico's second-largest city.
Yes, a US citizen moving to Mexico, but they must obtain the appropriate visa depending on the length of their stay. For stays longer than 180 days, a temporary or permanent resident visa is required. The temporary resident visa is valid for up to four years and can be renewed or converted into a permanent resident visa. Many US citizens move to Mexico using the temporary resident visa and then apply for permanent residency if they plan to stay long-term.
Many Americans find it worthwhile to moving to Mexico due to the lower cost of living, vibrant culture, and warm climate. Mexico offers a diverse range of environments, from bustling cities to quiet beach towns, and has a large expatriate community. Additionally, healthcare is affordable and widely available, and the proximity to the US makes it easy to visit family or return home when needed. However, it’s important to consider factors such as language barriers, safety, and adjusting to a different lifestyle when deciding if moving to Mexico is right for you.
The amount of money needed to moving to Mexico varies depending on your lifestyle and location. Initial moving costs, including visa fees, travel expenses, and setting up your home, can range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more. Monthly living expenses are generally much lower than in the US, with a budget of around $1,500 to $3,000 per month being sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle, including rent, utilities, groceries, and entertainment. Major cities and popular expat destinations may have higher costs, so it’s essential to plan your budget accordingly.
Most Americans living in Mexico are concentrated in popular expatriate communities, including:
While safety can vary across Mexico, some of the safest places to live include:
When choosing a place to live, it’s important to research and visit the area to ensure it meets your safety and lifestyle needs for your moving to Mexico. For more information on safest place in Mexico, please refer our blog.
Ven y disfruta de las bellezas de México (Come and enjoy the beauty of Mexico). A lot awaits you!
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