Comprehensive and detailed guide to living and cultivating a lifestyle in Mexico, continually revised and updated. Free—no payment or subscription needed.

Complete and detailed guide to Living & Lifestyles in Mexico that’s continually updated

Our extensive guides and articles offer insights to anyone exploring prospects for living, working, retirement and cultivating your lifestyle in Mexico.

They provide practical insights, incisive local knowledge, and meaningful guidance that helps you to discover opportunities, consider your choices, and make informed decisions.

Discover what lifestyles Mexico offers, identify opportunities of interest to you, weight up the compromises, consider your options, and plot a course based on the things that are important to you.

Guides to lifestyles in Mexico, for all life stages

Our continually-updated guides help you to begin weaving together the key components which create a workable and realistic lifestyle plan in Mexico, whatever planning stage and life stage you are in presently:

• To those considering a move to Mexico, whether you are single, with your partner, or a family with young children, Mexperience helps you to discover the country and evaluate living and lifestyle choices available here.  Our guides also offer thoughtful guidance about setting out your intentions and reshaping your situations.
• To those planning their retirement or seeking a place to retire, Mexperience guides provide specific guidance about matters related to retirement planning and retirement lifestyles, as well as the practicalities of retiring in Mexico.
• When you’re already living in Mexico, our guides and articles provide practical insights that help you to settle-in, adapt, and cultivate your new lifestyle here day-to-day.
• Regardless of your life stage, the information we publish provides meaningful insights about the essential day-to-day practical matters of living in Mexico, adapting to the country, the climates and culture, and more—with extensive cross references and links to further information and helpful contacts who can help you to realize your Mexico plans.

Planning or redefining your lifestyle in Mexico

Obtain practical insights, get incisive local knowledge and meaningful guidance that helps you to consider opportunities, weigh up your choices, and make informed decisions about planning or redefining your lifestyle in Mexico.

Mexico as a place for your retirement

We publish comprehensive information to help you plan a retirement here, whether you’re planning ahead or already retired and considering Mexico as a potential retirement haven.

Exploring locations and finding a place to live in Mexico

Our extensive articles help you to consider key aspects as you explore your options and make choices about your lifestyle and potential location types in Mexico.

Getting your residency permit for Mexico

Mexico’s immigration laws are reasonable and allow non-Mexicans with the financial means or family roots, and/or skills, to live here legally. We publish extensive knowledge to help you, including:

Moving and settling-in to life in Mexico

When you’ve decided to move to Mexico and made key decisions about where and how you’ll live, there’s the move a period of adapting and settling-in.  We publish extensive guides and articles to help you settle.

Learn how to keep in touch when you’re in Mexico

Our guides include detailed information about how to keep in touch when you’re in Mexico: by phone, by internet, as well as using postal and courier services here.  Our local knowledge helps you to choose a mobile phone plan, explore choices for high speed internet in Mexico (even if you live in a remote area) and our cost of living guide includes a section about the cost of communications services.

Detailed insights into the practicalities of living in Mexico day-to-day

Our articles and guides also include comprehensive insights about day to day living in Mexico that help you to plan your lifestyle, settle-in, and make the most of your life and activities in Mexico.

Mexico’s living costs and managing your finances

Financial considerations are an important aspect of any move.  Mexperience helps you to calculate your cost of living in Mexico and offers practical tips for managing your money and finances here.

Mexico as a place for working-age professionals

Working-age professionals, especially those plying a trade in the knowledge economy, are also considering Mexico as a base to live and work.

And more… resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free
• Regularly-updated articles about lifestyle planning  in Mexico
• Insights about day to day living with Mexico Home Life

Place is personal, subjective, and important—and as you consider places to live in Mexico, Mexperience helps you to consider your choices and shortlist locations that may suit your lifestyle needs.

Discover locations to live, work or retire in Mexico

To help you discover and explore potential places to live here, Mexperience publishes a curated list of locations to consider for living, working or retirement in Mexico—organized by popularity and notoriety and classified by the location type.

Our articles introduce you to key places where many foreign residents live now, emerging locations that are becoming increasingly popular with foreign residents, as well as those places that are less well known, or situated off-the-beaten path. We also publish a selection of detailed guides of places to live in Mexico:

Detailed living guides

For detailed guides to selected places to live and work or retire, connect to our section with Guides to Living Places in Mexico

Medical insurance for short visits to Mexico

If you’re visiting Mexico for a short period —on a vacation or short business trip, for example— travel insurance policies which cover you for a limited time while you’re away from home should suffice.  These might be provided by your current healthcare provider—but double-check as many policies exclude or significantly limit out of country coverage.  Learn more about getting short-term emergency and medical expenses insurance coverage for your visit to Mexico.

Medical insurance for Extended Stays in Mexico

If you plan to be in Mexico for an extended stay —for longer than 90 days and less than 180 days— for example, you might take a sabbatical, a volunteer job, or plan to stay in Mexico part-time, then a short-term travel insurance policy won’t cover you as they are limited to 90-day stays in Mexico.  You can however obtain emergency & medical insurance for extended Stays in Mexico on a policy that will last for visits up to 180 calendar days, about six months.

Health insurance for foreign residents in Mexico

If you intend to apply for, or have, legal residency in Mexico, a travel insurance policy won’t be valid as these are designed for people who come to Mexico for a defined period and return to their country of residence, or travel back and forth between Mexico and another country.

Therefore, if you plan to reside in Mexico, you should consider health insurance coverages that will be valid and provide adequate care for your needs.  Here are the options:

Mexico’s IMSS medical coverage

Foreign residents (temporary or permanent) can apply for the Mexican public healthcare insurance system known an IMSS on a voluntary basis which provides access to certain doctors, clinics and hospitals in Mexico.  Some medications are also covered under this plan.

Coverage costs depend on your age; restrictions and limitations apply and, like all publicly-funded healthcare systems, patient demand is usually higher than the supply of services, so you may have to wait for care. (Note also that people who are enrolled in IMSS through an employer get priority over those who enroll voluntarily.)  This article explains the IMSS medical insurance system in Mexico.

Private medical insurance in Mexico

Most foreign residents who can afford to do so will take out a private medical insurance plan that covers their personal needs and gives them direct access to private doctors, clinics and hospitals in Mexico.

Policies are crafted to the individual situation of the person, couple, or family, and premiums depend on things like your age, term of coverage, coverages included, and the deductible you are willing to pay in the event of a claim.  Learn more about private health insurance providers in Mexico.

Medical evacuation from Mexico

If you are resident in Mexico and continue to have health coverage in your home country then you might consider a medical evacuation plan to enable you to get home for treatment and to convalesce close to your own doctors and family in the event that you experience a serious accident or health event (e.g. heart attack) while you are here.  Note that medical evacuation insurance coverages only cover evacuation costs in serious cases and so you’ll need to get routine or non-critical health matters attended to in Mexico.  Learn more about medical evacuation plans.

The program has historically been open to Mexican nationals (and naturalized foreigners) as well as foreign residents holding temporary or permanent residency cards.

Recent patterns suggests a quiet change in policy

Readers living in Mexico have been writing in to tell us about a change in pattern they are experiencing when they attend INAPAM offices to apply for the card, describing how it’s becoming increasingly restrictive and difficult to obtain.

Reports about availability of cards for foreign residents vary by INAPAM office by state, but this is the pattern that has been emerging in recent times:

• Where previously temporary and permanent legal foreign residents were offered the INAPAM card, some offices began to restrict the card to permanent residents only.
• Some offices offered cards to temporary residents only if they could prove they owned a house in Mexico.
• In recent times, applications filed by foreign residents have not received a response or been processed, with staff at the offices citing administrative technicalities—such as special forms or cards being unavailable.
• We have recently learned that INAPAM offices in at least two states have declared that foreign residents need to show their naturalization certificates to obtain the cards—effectively closing the program altogether to legal foreign residents.

How to approach the situation

If you’re legally resident in Mexico and intend to apply for the INAPAM card, it’s worth keeping in mind that this change of pattern is taking place and you might not be able to get the discount card at this time.

• If you want to apply, we suggest that you visit your local INAPAM office and talk to the staff there about applying as a foreign resident.
• Some offices accept applications, but we know that in several places foreign residents have been waiting many months for their cards and have no indication when or if their cards will be issued to them.
• The office you attend might tell you that you need to show your naturalization certificate to apply. If this is the case, the program is closed to foreign residents at that office.
• Reports vary by state and INAPAM office. It might be that the state or municipality you apply at accepts your application and issues a card.  The only way to know is to attend your local INAPAM office and ask.

Existing INAPAM card holders

The INAPAM card never expires so for those foreign residents who already have cards, they continue to work as normal.  Absent an official announcement about any of this we do not know if in future foreign residents’ INAPAM cards will remain valid.  If you lose or damage your existing card, it might be difficult or impossible to obtain a replacement at this time.

Future updates and readers’ experience

We will keep this article updated as new information becomes available.

If you have recently applied for an INAPAM card and would like to share your experience, please use the comments form below.

Resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• Articles to help you plan your lifestyle in Mexico
• Articles and practical tips for settling-in and living well in Mexico
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

How does it work?

The program is open to persons who are 60 years of age or older, and the card issued by the institution enables holders to enjoy worthwhile discounts on a wide range of goods and services including food, medicines, transport, clothing, as well as recreation and leisure activities.

Many firms and businesses actively advertise the fact that they offer discounts to INAPAM card holders, and even those who don’t advertise it might give a discount on goods and services you buy if you present your card to them.

Many organizations in Mexico are pleased to give seniors a discount, and this card is the means by which prove your legal residency and age qualification.

Using the card for discounts

Once enrolled you receive a plastic card that you can present at thousands of stores, businesses, and government service agencies across Mexico to claim discounts  typically between 10% and 50% on goods and services you buy.  Some local municipalities are also offering discounts on property taxes and water bills to senior citizens with this card.

Discounted services discounted using your INAPAM card

A wide range of stores and services offer discounts to seniors in Mexico who present their INAPAM card at the time of the purchase.  Some advertise the discounts, although its always worth asking at the sales counter or checkout what discounts might be available.

Here are some examples of the most common services seniors can get discounts with using the card:

Healthcare services and medications

Most pharmacies give discounts on medications (medicines are already much less expensive in Mexico than the US, and these discounts are in addition to the lower prices Americans enjoy here), and some dentists and doctors and other medical specialists will also give seniors a discount when they present the card.

Public transportation

Bus companies, airlines, and some local taxi firms offer discounts on fares—although in recent times they have restricted the number of seats per bus/flight they will discount to INAPAM card holders, and/or restrict discounted INAPAM fares on buses and flights that travel at “off peak” times, for example those that travel overnight or depart very early in the morning.

Food and groceries

Local food stores, convenience stores, and specialist food emporiums offer discounts on your grocery shopping, saving you money on your basic living costs.

Leisure and travel services

Many hotels and travel agencies in Mexico offer discounts to senior citizens who present the card.  If you plan a party or celebration, many of the festivity halls (salon de fiestas) offer a discount on rentals to seniors booking the facilities.

Eating out and take-away

Many cafés and diners, including the big-name national diner chains, offer discounts to INAPAM card holders whether you eat-in or take-away.

Cultural centers

Many museums, archaeology parks, art galleries, and bookstores offer discounts to card holders.

Miscellaneous goods and services

A wide range of businesses offer seniors a discount when they present their card, for example: legal firms, art & craft stores, car service and repair centers, computer sales and repair stores, clothing and apparel stores, accountants, construction firms, hardware stores, florists, printers, locksmiths, jewelry stores, beauty salons, home DIY centers, stationers, plumbers, electricians, dry cleaners, veterinary services, etc.

Discount on property taxes and water bills

Some local municipalities are offering seniors a discount on their annual property taxes (Predial) and their water bills.  Discounts, where offered, vary by municipality—check locally for details in your area.

How to apply for the INAPAM discount card

The INAPAM card is available to all seniors who are 60 years or older who are Mexican or legal foreign residents of Mexico. It’s simple and free to apply for the card.

There are four requirements which need to be met:

• you will need to present some official identification that also proves your age, like a passport or driver’s license, or your birth certificate; and
• as a foreign resident, you will also need to present  Residente Temporal or Residente Permanente residency permit (or the former FM3/FM2 if you still have this version); and
• you will also be asked for a utility bill or some other official document that shows your current address in Mexico. Most people use their telephone or electricity bill; this must be recent—dated within the last 2-3 months; and
• you’ll need to take along two photographs of yourself taken in the last month in the same size and format as those required for a passport or immigration permit: “infantil” size, front-facing, no glasses, no hats, and printed on professional photographic paper (self-printed photos are not accepted).

You take these documents (as well as 2 photocopies of each) along with your photographs to your local government office dealing with INAPAM applications (check locally where you live) and, when the application is completed, you will be presented with a card that you can use to obtain the discounts.

Spanish: The forms must completed in Spanish and the interviews at the local INAPAM offices are conducted in Spanish only.

Legal residency in Mexico: If you need information about residency permits for retirees in Mexico, read our article about the principal routes to residency.

Making retirement plans? See our extensive articles and guides to retirement in Mexico.

Assistance with your INAPAM application

Helpline: The government also staffs a toll-free helpline that is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays to answer questions you may have. The call is free from inside Mexico, dial 800 007 3705. (Spanish only.)

Website: You can find additional information online about the program and the application process on the INAPAM web site. The web page is in Spanish, and you can use the Google page translation feature if you need to. (Or ask a friend to help.)

Cost of living in Mexico

With the INAPAM card, seniors retired in Mexico can enjoy additional discounts from defined product and service providers, and thus help to make their retirement incomes stretch further.

Calculate your living costs: To calculate how much it will cost you to live in Mexico, read our Mexico Cost of Living Guide.

Resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• Articles to help you plan your lifestyle in Mexico
• Articles and practical tips for settling-in and living well in Mexico
• An extensive library of free Mexico eBooks you can download
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

Some people who know Mexico and have been visiting here for many years may have a clear idea about where they want to live.  The place is known to them, they might already have an established network of acquaintances, friends, and contacts there; they are probably familiar with the location and the areas surrounding it, and they might even own a home there already which they have been using for extended visits without having moved to Mexico to live full-time.

Others may have some outline thoughts and ideas about the different regions, and some limited experience of having visited some places in Mexico. Some people will be approaching Mexico for the first time, with little or no prior knowledge of the country.

This article highlights and explores key factors and choices to contemplate as you consider short listing potential places to live or considering whether places you already know will be suitable for your lifestyle needs.

Key factors to consider when you’re researching places to live in Mexico

For many people, choosing a place to live in Mexico can be something of a blank canvass.  Our detailed article about matching your lifestyle needs with your location provides helpful foundational guidance that will help you to consider places beyond their notoriety or current popularity.

Key factors are summarized in the section below; and by connecting to our related articles and guides, you’ll be able to begin your search in earnest for potential places to live here.

Our series on places to live, work or retire in Mexico summarizes a list of specific locations to discover and consider.

Local climate and seasons

The climate and seasons are key factors you should consider when you’re exploring potential places to live in Mexico.  Places you visited on vacation might be fine for short periods, or during certain seasons; ideally, seek out locations that offer climates which will be agreeable to you and your intended lifestyle activities year-round.  Our article, land of three lands, describes Mexico’s three principal climate zones, and our article, hot coasts, cool colonial cities, describes the contrasts between living along the coastal plains and living in the highlands.

Consider the local topography

Also consider the topography—the terrain matters because it affects climate, accessibility, and practical matters like getting around and adjusting to living at elevation.

Mexico’s beautiful mountain towns are quaint and picturesque, but some of them are literally built-in to the side of a mountain and feature steep roads and sidewalks. In some mountain towns, houses are constructed on several ‘terraced levels’ to compensate for the steep terrain on which they are built.

The beautiful colonial cities of Guanajuato and Taxco are good examples of this.  If you have or develop any mobility issues, these sorts of places can be, or become, physically challenging to live in.

You might also to consider how you will cope with living at elevation; most people can adjust to living in thinner air, but you ought to keep this in mind if you’re moving from a low-elevation area to living a mile or higher up on a mountain.

Choosing between urban, semi-urban, and rural locations

Another key element to consider is whether you want to live in an urban, semi-urban, or rural location in Mexico.

Mexico’s cities offer all the services and amenities most foreign residents need and are also the most crowded.

Semi-rural locations are generally small or medium sized towns within a 30-to-60-minute drive of a big town or city.

Rural Mexico is unlike rural towns and villages in the US and Europe, for example; it offers some outstanding opportunities for picturesque countryside living, but it will require you to make some compromises and organize your lifestyle routines somewhat differently than if you are in a larger town or city.

The value of good a real estate agent

Working with a local real estate agent, especially when you’re buying a home, can be a worthwhile investment. Well established realty agents carry a wealth of local knowledge, and the best ones have lived and worked at the location they represent for several years or more.  A good local agent can apply their experience to give you invaluable insights and assistance in finding a home, and settling-in by connecting you to local contacts and helping you to make new acquaintances some of which might evolve into new friendships.

Speaking Spanish is important, regardless of location

It’s quite hard to live in Mexico and operate effectively on a day-to-day basis if you don’t speak at least some Spanish.

Living in or near a community of foreign residents will provide you with an immediate support network and there will be people there who can ‘show you the ropes’ and interpret for you if you are new in Mexico and speak little or no Spanish to start.  However, not all places that you might want to live in Mexico offer this, and so being able to converse in Spanish becomes essential.

Being able to converse in the local language offers access to the culture and enriches your overall experience of any foreign country. You will enjoy Mexico a lot more if you take some time to learn, or improve, your Spanish language skills.

Mexperience offers resources including an entire series of articles that help you to get acquainted with the context and nuances of Mexican Spanish language in everyday usage, and shares connections to language learning online, and at schools in Mexico.

Choosing between expat, local, and gated communities

When you have chosen a location to move to in Mexico, you will have three broad choices regarding the type of community and neighborhood you live in; these are:

Expat community locations: to live among other foreign residents, in well-established locations that are popular and often concentrated with other foreign residents; or

Gated communities: to live as part of a gated community that is most likely to be home for a mix of foreign residents and Mexicans; or

Traditional neighborhood: to live in traditional local Mexican neighborhoods.

Expat community locations

If you choose to live in a location that is popular and well-established with other foreign residents, —Lake Chapala, San Miguel de Allende, and Puerto Vallarta are prime examples— you’ll likely find yourself living in a neighborhood or area that has a relatively high concentration of other foreign residents living there, too.

This can provide excellent social and practical support, especially during your settling-in period, and can be enormously helpful as you begin to make new acquaintances and friends and need advice about contacts for services and amenities that you want or need locally.

You also have the advantage of moving into a mature community that has well-structured and organized groups and local societies that address many of the needs and interests of foreign residents.  They also provide helpful opportunities to meet socially with people who share your language and culture.

Many foreign residents move to these well-established places and cultivate thriving lifestyles there. The higher demand for these locations means that you are likely to pay a premium for property—whether you rent or buy.

A potential risk of creating a dependent lifestyle in these places is that you might settle yourself into some form of ‘lifestyle bubble’ that is somewhat removed from everyday Mexico and by design limits your social circles—but it doesn’t have to be this way: plenty of people enjoy the benefits of living in communities heavily populated by foreign residents and integrate constructively with local people, culture, and events; learning (or improving) your Spanish is a key skill in this respect.

Living in gated communities

Regardless of whether you live in a location that has an established community of foreign residents already living there, or somewhere less popular with foreigners, most towns and all cities offer the choice of living in a ‘gated community’—a private complex of residential homes that might also feature some shared spaces for social gatherings and other residential amenities like swimming pools, children’s play areas, sports facilities, gyms, and roof gardens.

Most condo units are part of a gated community. Our Guide to Real Estate in Mexico describes the types of homes available in Mexico, including those inside gated communities.

These gated communities offer several advantages, especially regarding management and security, as most of the matters related to maintenance, utilities, and upkeep are managed on behalf of the owners (or tenants) in exchange for a monthly Homeowners Association (HOA) fee.

The ratio of foreigners to Mexicans living in gated communities varies greatly and depends on the location, the locale, and the gated community itself.  If there is a strong contingent of foreign residents living there already, you might find connections there to expat groups, societies, and events through meeting your neighbors and local notice boards or private online social media groups run by the residents.

In gated communities where foreign residents are not highly concentrated, you can still make new connections and get involved in local community activities through meeting your new neighbors, kindling acquaintances, and developing new friendships.  Being neighborly is also an ideal way to improve your Spanish and many Mexicans enjoy talking with foreigners so that they can practice and improve their English.

Living in local Mexican neighborhoods

Some foreign residents seeking a place to live in Mexico might consciously make a choice to avoid places that already have strong contingents of other foreign residents living there; choosing instead to seek less popular places and to live in traditional Mexican neighborhoods where few other foreigners are likely to live in the immediate vicinity.

Most (but not all) foreigners who choose to live within the heart of a local Mexican community will know Mexico already, and their choice of community will come about either through knowing the location where you’ve chosen to live, or perhaps through having rented a home locally for a while and explored potential local options before deciding.

Some people who move to Mexico are more intrepid and carry within them the motivation and character to beat a new path for themselves and thrive without the need for a location already established by foreign residents, or within the managed structure of a gated community.  They might or might not know Mexico well; and some might live with Mexican partners or family here, which facilitates a move into a traditional Mexican neighborhood environment.

Property prices (rentals and purchases) are generally lower in local Mexican communities than in locations already settled with a high concentration of foreign residents.

Cultivating a lifestyle within a Mexican local community will require you to have a good-enough command of the Spanish language to be able to operate, especially regarding finding a house to rent or buy locally and maintaining that property—that you will also have to manage yourself.  Our guide about home maintenance and security offers in-depth practical tips for doing that.

You’ll also need to assimilate Mexican social culture more quickly, and possibly without the aid of other foreign residents nearby providing their personal experience and guidance; our free guide to social etiquette offers an excellent primer.

Factors that may influence your location shortlist

When you have considered what is influencing your choices about a places to live and undertaken some research of specific places to live, the next logical step is to compile a shortlist of places that you would consider moving to in Mexico.

Most people’s shortlist will likely be influenced by these significant factors:

Familiarity

Familiarity of the location(s) and area(s) is important.  If you have visited the location before, and recently enough, —perhaps on vacation— you will already have a feel for the place, and possibly a sense about whether it might be suitable as a place to live, work or retire.  Some additional research to discover its year-round climate (not just the seasons you have experienced there) and how it compares to your lifestyle intentions and requirements, will help you to determine whether any places already familiar to you in Mexico might be potential options for a location to live.

Environment type

Having established whether you want to live in an urban, semi-urban, or a rural location, you can further refine your options and filter your list on that basis.

Coastal plain or colonial highland

If you have decided that you want to be on or near the coast, or living inland at elevation, then that will provide another filter to narrow your choices; if you are open to coast or inland (highland) living, then your ultimate choice is likely to be determined by other factors —for examples, the availability of local services and amenities, and community connections— instead of climate.

Health, amenities, accessibility, communications, and schools

Other key factors you ought to consider include local access to health and clinical services, (especially if you have an existing medical condition and may require urgent assistance); access to local amenities that are important to you, e.g., stores, gyms, leisure or local community facilities, art and culture centers; proximity to transport hubs if you intend to travel a lot (e.g., airport); access to reliable telephony and internet services, especially if you intend to work professionally from home; and the availability of educational establishments if you have school-age children.  Our article about matching your location with your needs describes these things in detail.

Exploring places to live in Mexico

Our series about places to live and work or retire provides a list of key locations to discover and consider.

The references below offer further connections to helpful and insightful articles and guides that can help you to carefully consider significant matters as you discover and explore places to live in Mexico, consider key decision-making factors and, using that knowledge, compile a shortlist of locations for review.

Further research and resources

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Resources include:

• Articles about lifestyle planning in Mexico
• Discover places to live in Mexico
• Principal routes to legal residency in Mexico
• Latest articles about lifestyles in Mexico
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

This article explores typical profile patterns of foreign residents who come to Mexico to live and work or retire, and also describes the key considerations which influence people’s level of commitment when they come to live here.

Foreign residents’ commitment levels vary

While everyone’s situation has unique aspects, people who come to Mexico to live and work or retire tend to fall into one of these profile patterns—and reviewing these can help you to consider what level of commitment you might have.

Full-time residents, fully committed to Mexico

Foreign residents who are fully committed arrive to live and work or and/or retire full-time and settle permanently in Mexico.  They usually sell their home abroad and move all their personal goods to Mexico.

They might already own a home in Mexico, or will purchase a home, perhaps renting somewhere for a time while they scout for and find the property they want to buy.

Some people might commit to Mexico this way and rent a home instead of buying; for example, if they have sufficient income to rent, but insufficient capital to buy—or if they prefer the flexibility that renting a house offers.

These types of retirees tend to visit family and friends in their home country at least once a year; and family and friends may also come to Mexico to visit them.

Our article about considering choices for accommodations in Mexico shares further insight about whether to buy or rent in Mexico.

Full-time residents, partly committed to Mexico

Foreign residents who are partly committed arrive to live and work and/or retire full-time in Mexico, but tend to keep their home and other significant assets abroad.  They either rent long term or buy a home here if they don’t own a home in Mexico already.

They will likely make regular annual trips back to their home country, perhaps at certain times or seasons of the year, to be with family and friends they have outside of Mexico.

Part-time residents, living in Mexico for defined periods

Foreign residents who arrive to live and work and/or retire in Mexico part-time, for defined periods are not fully committed to Mexico and tend to hold considerable assets and perhaps work and family commitments abroad.

When and how long these types of foreign residents stay in Mexico varies, and dates and seasons might depend on individuals’ own circumstances and commitments they have ongoing here, and elsewhere.

Foreign residents who overwinter in Mexico are commonly termed as “snowbirds”—who typically arrive in November and leave in April or May of the following year.  They might own or buy a home in Mexico, or they might rent a house here—and they’ll probably keep a home abroad.

Frequent shuttling or short stints in Mexico

Some foreign residents, especially (but not exclusively) those who live near the southern US border, might shuttle frequently between a home in the US and their home in Mexico.

Others might live most of their time in their home country (or another country) and live in Mexico for a short stint or stints: either for a single, defined period during the year, or through several shorter periods in weeks or months peppered throughout the year.

These types of residents will almost certainly own a home in Mexico, although some might have long term rental arrangements in place.

In years past, foreigners who arrived in Mexico to live this way would not bother getting a residency permit and stay in Mexico using a visitor permit instead.  However, with changes to the way foreign visitors are admitted, it’s prudent to apply for a residency permit in Mexico.

Considerations that tend to influence commitment levels

How long you spend living in Mexico, and how much commitment you make to cultivating a life and lifestyle here, will depend on many things and is ultimately  determined when you define your intentions for moving to Mexico to live and work or retire.

This section describes key considerations that tend to influence people’s decision-making.  Contemplating these these as you make your own deliberations can be helpful as you think about your move to Mexico, or making changes to your current arrangements if you already live here.

Your social and family ties

The choice about whether to live in Mexico full-time or part-time is oftentimes influenced primarily by people’s social and family ties back home.

If you have strong friendships, children and grandchildren that you are close to and want to see them more often than through occasional visits, then you might choose to make Mexico a part-time living place.

Most people who live in Mexico part-time choose to live here during the months of the year when the climate is least agreeable in their home country—and for most that’s the late fall and winter months in the northern hemisphere, when foreign residents arrive to overwinter in Mexico.

Attachment to your home country

Another key influencing factor is how attached you (and your partner and family as relevant) feel to your home country.

For example, some people find the notion of selling the family home —where children were raised, and lifetime memories were engrained— difficult. It’s easier for some people to let go, and more difficult for others.

As you contemplate this, consider your partner’s feelings about the matter; as we noted in a related article about setting out your intentions for moving to Mexico, moving abroad when a one partner is enthusiastic and committed and the other is lukewarm or unpersuaded can break relationships—even long-standing ones.

The distance between Mexico and your home country

Consider how long it takes you to travel between Mexico and you home country.

If your home in Mexico is close to the US-Mexico border and your other home is in the southern US, this might be relatively inconsequential.

Conversely, if your home country is Europe or Japan, your travel time between the two countries will be substantial.

Most Americans and Canadians that fly home will have to travel for between 6-12 hours to get to/from Mexico, door-to-door.  Most Europeans will need to travel for between 24-30 hours to shuttle between Mexico and their home country, door-to-door.

Aside from the time, effort and financial resources you’ll need to expend to travel between Mexico and your home country (especially if you continue to have significant ties to your homeland), there is also a psychological aspect to take into consideration that’s also related to your commitment level (see first section, above).

If you’re only living in Mexico part time and your home country is far away and you have significant commitments and attachments there, this is likely to eventually take a toll on you even if you are able to fund the continual traveling.

Logistics, financial resources, and personal energy

Persistent traveling may become more burdensome for some as they grow older.

Living part-time in Mexico and part-time elsewhere every year requires you to manage at least two sets of homes, two lifestyles, and two ‘lifestyle structures.’

The logistics become more complex if you must rent out one house or the other as part of your income needs.

Shuttling between two countries requires considerably more financial resource and moreover it demands time and energy from you personally every time you shuttle.

Consider the impact this will have on your budget longer term and, more importantly, on your body and overall wellbeing: as we grow older, constant moving may become less attractive, and for some also less viable.

Offspring’s perceptions and concerns

People who come to to live, and especially those who come to retire, often have grown children (and grandchildren) living in their country of origin, or in a country other than Mexico.

Most adult children concern for their parents as they age, and if you choose to live in Mexico, it’s sensible to share those intentions with any children you have and express to them how long and what level of commitment you might make to Mexico in the longer term.

Some children might be quite comfortable with the notion of their parents living or retiring abroad in Mexico; others might see it as fancy experiment that will be short-lived, while others might express worry or fears—especially if the parents are ‘selling-up’ and moving to Mexico full time.  These personal family connections can become significant influencers in the decision-making.

If you intend to commit to Mexico long-term and make Mexico your ‘primary home’ then be sure to communicate this intention with your close family; and consider the longer-term impact, including estate planning and, related to that, senior care services and end-of-life planning.

Some people retire with the intention of living out the remainder of their lives in Mexico and if you become unable to make decisions it’s helpful to have a (legally-binding) plan in place that may prevent others from acting against your wishes and moreover facilitate the implementation of yours and your partner’s wishes.  Hire a Notary Public in Mexico to talk about living wills, and/or consult with a professional financial advisor or attorney.

Further research and resources

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.

• Articles about lifestyle planning in Mexico
• Defining your intentions for moving to Mexico
• Matching your location with your lifestyle needs
• Discovering potential places to live in Mexico
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

Who is eligible for Medicare

Medicare is only available to legal residents of the USA who are of a certain age (or with specific medical situations).  Here are some helpful links for further research; we also recommend you talk to your insurance broker or healthcare providers about your individual situation.

• This Medicare page contains an eligibility questionnaire, and
• This page on the Medicare Interactive website describes the Medicare situation for those who live abroad; and
• This page on the Medicare website describes Medicare policies when outside of the U.S.

Access to Medicare outside of the USA

Outside of the 50 States and the District of Columbia, Medicare is only available in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

Medicare may pay for specific types of medical care in a foreign country if a foreign hospital is closer to the nearest U.S. hospital should a medical emergency arise while you’re in the U.S., or traveling through Canada between the continental U.S. and Alaska; or if you live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.

If you’re traveling on a ship, Medicare might pay for medically-necessary services provided the vessel is not more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port.

In all cases, Medicare drug plans don’t cover prescription drugs you may buy outside the U.S.

You can get full details about the policies and coverage here on the U.S. Medicare official website.

Alternatives to Medicare when you’re in Mexico

When you’re planning to live in Mexico and need to consider health insurance coverages, there are several options you can consider.

Mexico’s IMSS coverage

As an alternative to Medicare, some foreign residents in Mexico opt to take Mexico’s government-sponsored IMSS health coverage under an insurance program that charges based on age-brackets; typically between US$50-$70 per month for someone of retirement age.  Conditions and exclusions apply, and you must be a legal resident of Mexico to avail yourself of this coverage.

Private medical insurance

Private medical insurance is widely available in Mexico, with policies priced depending on the coverages you seek, your age, health, and medical history.

Medical evacuation insurance

If you’re only in Mexico for short periods, and you have coverages which give your healthcare options in your home country, you might consider a medical evacuation insurance plan to help you get back home in the event of medical emergency.

Discover options for healthcare coverages in Mexico

For details and descriptions of the various healthcare coverages available to foreign residents, read our article about Health and Medical Insurance Options for Mexico that includes options for short visits, extended stays, and long-term residency.

Before you can assess whether Mexico is right for you and your situation, the matters concerning:

• your approach to retirement in Mexico;
• defining your intentions to move here; as well as
• factors that may influence your choice of location; then
• taking the time to settle-in properly to Mexico; and
• finding balance in your day-to-day lifestyle in Mexico…

…are entirely relevant to potential retirees as well as anyone else considering a move to Mexico—see the links in the box titled Further Insights below for more details and articles on these topics.

In essence: If Mexico as a country to live in is right for you (and your partner, and family where relevant), then it’s highly likely that Mexico will suit you for retirement, and that you will be able to cultivate a healthy, wholesome, and fruitful retirement lifestyle here.

Conversely: However attractive or suitable Mexico might appear to you in terms of its climate and environment, amenities, services, and cost of living, if you (and/or those close to you) cannot adapt to Mexico —and create a retirement lifestyle here on Mexico’s terms— then you are unlikely to find contentment in retirement by being here.

Mexico offers an ample variety of places and benefits that can be especially attractive to retirees the resources for retirement in Mexico here on Mexperience help you to consider practical matters and compromises that future or budding retirees may have to consider as part of their deliberations and planning for a retirement lifestyle in Mexico.

Further research and resources

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.

• Articles about lifestyle planning in Mexico
• Latest articles about retirement in Mexico
• Discovering potential places to live in Mexico
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

A consultancy with Samantha will provide you with guidance and concise recommendations about what to expect from senior care support services on offer in Puerto Vallarta—whether you’re planning ahead and considering choices for yourself (or you and your partner) or want to learn more about senior care provision services for someone else close to you.

Consult with an experienced senior care professional

Samantha is fully bilingual and has over 25 years of professional experience on matters related to social care across a wide spectrum of client groups in both public and private organizations.  She has lived in Puerto Vallarta for over 10 years and specializes in attending to the needs of people seeking senior care services there.

Her consultancy offers in-depth knowledge about senior care services on offer in Puerto Vallarta, including recommendations about in-home care services vs local residential homes, through direct experience of working with elder care centers in the Vallarta area.

Working with individuals and families of those preparing for their retirement or changes in their lifestyle or health situations, her areas of expertise include:

• senior care planning and management in private residences;
• bilingual advocate services for those navigating doctors, finances, and end-of-life planning in Puerto Vallarta; and
• providing personalized consultancy to individuals, families, hospitals, and assisted living centers.

Get experienced advice, local insight, and concise recommendations

Samantha’s consultancy service offers local knowledge and clear, concise recommendations about how to plan ahead, prepare for, and explore the availability of senior care services available in Puerto Vallarta.

When you’re seeking choices for senior care provision in the Puerto Vallarta area, Samantha can help you to discover and explore the options available:

When you’re planning for retirement or changes in your lifestyle in Mexico:

• Undertaking an Initial Assessment to determine your current situation.
• Advice about key matters you need to take into careful consideration.
• Guidance about realistic choices on offer in Puerto Vallarta and available service options.

When you need to talk about plans for someone close to you

• Personal consultation to discuss your situation and how you may source the help you need.
• Practical matters you need to consider as someone ages and external assistance is required.
• How to meet needs and provide support whilst respecting autonomy.
• Potential service options and practical tips on exploring potential care homes in Puerto Vallarta.

Consultancy that flexes with your needs

Samantha offers a FREE initial 15-minute conversation to talk about your situation and to determine if the consultation service is right for your needs.

Personalized consultancy is offered at US$85 per hour, with a 1-hour minimum, and time billed precisely as used after the first hour.  Samantha keeps a detailed log of the support time provided to you.

How the consulting service supports you

The service is designed to provide you with a personalized consultation that focuses on your specific circumstances and needs and provides you with a post-consultation written brief. Typically, the consultation follows this path:

Free 15-minute conversation

Samantha offers a FREE 15-minute conversation to discuss your situation and to determine if the consultancy service is right for your needs.

Your personalized consultation

If you decide to proceed with a formal consultation, Samantha will send you a payment link for the first hour of consultancy and schedule your first formal consultation call (by telephone, Zoom, or Skype, as you prefer) at a mutually convenient date and time. If your situation is urgent, a priority consultation may be accommodated, but please only request this if the need is genuinely urgent.

Gathering key information

The personal consultation will be carefully structured to talk about your current situation and future plans, answer any specific questions you have, and identify the key matters and issues related to senior care within your individual circumstances.

Guidance to help you make informed choices

The initial assessment enables Samantha to offer concise recommendations about senior care service provision in Puerto Vallarta, including how the services work, what to expect, with insights to help you interact positively and creatively with the services available.

Post-consultation

After the call, Samantha will compose a written brief of the initial assessment and her comments and recommendations. She’ll send these to you by email so that you (and your family) can use this to plan and make some informed choices; the brief also serves as a helpful reference if you need to share key information with other professionals and caregivers.

Follow-up call

After you’ve had an opportunity to read the post-consultation brief, you can optionally schedule a follow-up call with Samantha to talk through the details and answer any further questions you may have.

Make a service request now

To proceed with a service request, please complete the request form below.

Samantha will contact you personally to organize your FREE 15 minute call, with the option to proceed with a formal consultation afterward.

Benefits of a simple lifestyle in Mexico

Simple living is concerned with identifying your priorities, and defining what is most important in your life.  Common priorities which tend to emerge through this lifestyle choice tend to be matters related to:

• feeling better and focusing on well-being
• reviewing work routines;
• letting-go of unimportant pursuits to create more space for sharing with family and close friends;
• reducing stress; and
• reducing ‘clutter’—material and situational.

A key principle of simple living is to improve your quality of life through practices which bring about material simplicity: considering your true needs and being aware of how much is “enough.”

A by-product of simplicity is the reduction of financial costs, although the benefits of living simply extend beyond finances.  (You may of course, move to Mexico, live a lavish lifestyle, and spend more than you do in your home country.)  Many people who come here in search of a new life situation also come to learn about  the attractions and benefits simpler lifestyles provide.

You don’t have to wait for retirement

In addition to people approaching, or planning for, retirement, we’re receiving an increasing number of inquiries from working-age people, particularly those working independently, who are considering relocating to Mexico as part of a life and work-style change.  Modern communications, and particularly the internet, makes teleworking from Mexico a viable possibility for working-age professionals with portable skills.

Simpler living for retirees in Mexico

If you are thinking about or actively planning for your retirement, Mexico continues to be one of the world’s most popular places for foreign retirees and you can learn more by reading our extensive articles and guides to retirement in Mexico. Provided you meet the financial criteria required to obtain a residency permit, retirement is one of the most straightforward ways to attain legal residency in Mexico.

Simplifying your home life

Land and property prices continue to be affordable in Mexico and the affordability continues even after your purchase, because ownership costs are lower in Mexico than in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Read more about the advantages of lower property ownership costs in Mexico and if you plan to rent a home, you’ll find that Mexico can offer good value to renters, too.  Read our free and regularly-updated guide to real estate in Mexico to learn more about property rental and purchase.

An affordable lifestyle in Mexico

While financial considerations are only part of the criteria people consider as they explore relocation, finances remain a cornerstone of the decision-making process.  For working-age people, lower costs can translate into additional income available for retirement or other savings; and for retirees on fixed incomes, Mexico’s lower basic living costs can make your retirement income stretch further.

Actual living costs will depend on your lifestyle choices and expectations: our Guide to the Cost of Living in Mexico will help you to create a detailed budget based on your individual circumstances.

Resources for living & lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• A section with articles about living simply in Mexico
• Insights for lifestyle planning as you research Mexico
• Extensive articles about living and lifestyle in Mexico
• Helpful tips and inspiration for cultivating a home life in Mexico
• A library of free guides about Mexico
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

Estate planning for legal residents in Mexico

The estates of tourists and temporary visitors who come to Mexico for a short period are not affected by this issue as they are most likely to be legally domiciled in their home country, where their will would be read and interpreted, regardless of where in the world they die.

However, for residents living in Mexico (and those planning to make Mexico their primary residence, or legal domicile), it’s important to ask the question: How will my estate and loved ones be affected when I die in Mexico?

It’s a simple question with complex answers, and taking the time to consider your present circumstances and plan for your passing in Mexico will ensure that your loved ones will not be left dealing with complex legal matters, and that your assets and other interests are dealt with according to your wishes when you die.

If you already have a living will set-up in your home country, you also need to consider how that might be affected by your legal residence in Mexico; you might have to take steps to ensure that your wishes are legally enforceable under Mexican law.  Mexico’s legal system is markedly different from places such as the US, Canada, and other European countries, hence the importance for foreigners living in Mexico to acquaint themselves with local laws and customs—and prepare their estate accordingly.

Who needs to make estate planning arrangements?

Planning for your estate to be properly administered after your death is especially important if you:

• have legal residency in Mexico;
• own a home in Mexico;
• hold a bank account(s) in Mexico;
• have savings and investment plans in Mexico;
• own a company in Mexico;
• hold any trusts in Mexico;
• have assets split between Mexico and other countries.

Professionals who can help

You will need to hire some professional help to get this done properly.

Professional advisors

Professional law firms and property consultants can provide advice and either help you directly by writing a will, or referring you to a trusted source who can undertake the legal paperwork work for you.  See Professional Assistance services.

Notary Public

We have explained in these pages before now the importance of the role of the Notary Public in Mexico, and this person should be your first port of call as you begin to plan your estate.  Even if you use other services to structure your estate (e.g. financial planner), you will need to hire a Notary Public in order to get the necessary legal instruments in place.

Accountant

If you have business interests in Mexico, you should also consult with your accountant about matters related to any business accounts or assets, especially where these are held in company names, trusts, or jointly owned with others.

Financial planner

If you have a financial planner or investment manager, you should also involve that person in discussions about planning your estate.

Your country’s consulate offers limited support

As we mentioned in our article about consulate support, your home country’s consulate can only provide limited support in relation to personal matters, and in the event of a natural death, they will usually help to identify and contact the person’s next-of-kin in their home country.  They cannot and won’t become involved in any matters related to estate disputes, probate or any issues in relation to your personal assets in Mexico.

Don’t delay your estate planning work

If you’re living in Mexico and have any significant assets here or abroad, and have been procrastinating on matters related to your estate, or if you plan to move and create a new lifestyle in Mexico and want to ensure that your assets and personal interests are protected if you die when you’re here, you need to stop thinking about it and start taking some action.  By making adequate plans for the inevitable, your loved ones will be grateful and your assets will be properly administered.

Resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• Insightful articles about living and lifestyle in Mexico
• Complete guides to aspects of living in Mexico
• A library of free Mexico guides you can download
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free