Living, Working and Retirement in Mexico

Living and Working in Mexico

Every year, thousands of foreigners move to Mexico for a variety of different reasons. Some will go to Mexico to study, others to work for a company that has sent them there on assignment. Some people move to Mexico in search of a new life, usually after having visited several times, perhaps for extended periods.

Many people move to Mexico each year to retire.

Retirement from your work need (and arguably should) not automatically translate to a retirement from your life! Mexico’s retiree’s are far from “out to pasture” and, in fact, many people who have retired in Mexico comment on the fact that they enjoy and savor their active and enjoyable lifestyle and activities in Mexico.

What kind of people retire to Mexico?

Americans and Canadians outnumber Europeans who retire in Mexico by a significant amount. This is simply to do with geography: although some Canadians will travel just as far in terms of number of miles, there is no body of water between the two and the psychological impact of this is greater than we realize. So if you eventually decide to retire in Mexico, and you decide to live inside one of the expatriate communities, you will be sharing the company of Americans and Canadians, who will all speak English with you!

People who retire to Mexico come from all walks of life. Many have had jobs either in large companies, small enterprises, or have had their own business, sold it and moved to Mexico. The reasons for moving to Mexico are as many and varied as the people who make them: It’s a personal choice, and always one made through having known Mexico before – either in passing, with later research trips, or having spent annual holidays in Mexico over several years during their working lives. This is important: If you are going to spend important years of your life in a country other than your own, its imperative that you get to know Mexico and experience it first hand.

Why should we consider Mexico as a place to retire?

As a country, Mexico has an enormous amount to offer retirees. You have a choice of climates, ranging from spring-like all year round to dry and sultry heat, the infrastructure is good in developed areas, the areas you are likely to choose from are as safe as any modern town or city in your home country (in fact, Mexico has extremely tight firearms and lethal knife laws – making it statistically safer than many cities in the USA for example). Outside of Mexico City, violent crime is extremely rare in Mexico.

The pace of life is ideal for retirement – you can relax, and you can still lead an active retirement. Stress levels are insignificant here.

The food is wonderful. Fresh fruit and vegetables, meats and fish are as fresh as you can buy. Buy them at the local weekly market, and you’ll get great value for your money. Your meat won’t be injected full of hormonal additives; your fruit and vegetables won’t have been smothered in preservatives and insecticides during its travel to market. The taste and color of the fruit is succulent: you’ll be treated to tasting foods that have not had to be stored and shipped thousands of miles for you to try them back home. You don’t have to pay more in Mexico to eat healthier.

Good healthcare is available. Mexico has good doctors, dentists, hospitals and other medical specialists. There are a range of insurance services available for you to buy to safeguard you and your dependants from the cost of private medical bills.

Your retirement income can go further in Mexico; exactly how far will depend on your lifestyle expectations. A section below on this page deals with actual living costs, but the essential point to remember is that the basic foods and drink are considerably cheaper in Mexico than they are in Europe. Eating out can be less expensive too, and extremely good value for money.

Utility bills can be lower (with the exception of electricity which has risen significantly recently), property taxes very low, and you may be able to structure your finances so that your retirement income is very tax efficient for you. If your retirement income is generated in hard currency, you will find your earnings stretch further on the basics needed for everyday living than it would in Europe, the USA or Canada for example.

Whether you retire permanently in Mexico or live here say, only during the winter months, is one of your major decisions should you choose to retire in Mexico. This will partly depend on your social and family ties back home, and how important they are to you. It takes, on average, between 16 – 18 hours of traveling to get to Mexico (door-to-door) from Europe and between 6-12 hours from Canada/USA, which means either you, or your friends and family will need to make an effort to see each other.

You may be able to own 2 houses and rent out whichever one you are not living in, thus providing an income and helping you to maintain both. Or you may rent in Mexico, using the proceeds of a house rented back home to pay for your rent in while you’re in Mexico

For some, retirement means breaking away completely and starting a new phase in their life. There are many foreigners who made Mexico their permanent home and are living very happily there. The choice, as ever, is a personal one but an important one as it will have a significant effect on you and others around you.

For those who know Mexico, their retirement there can be part of a dream come true. They enjoy great climate, great food, a rich culture, and fabulously friendly people.

Smart retirees move into Mexican communities and integrate with life there. This makes the whole experience much more worthwhile and fulfilling. What’s the point of retiring in Mexico if you are going to be surrounded by foreigners all of the time!?

For those with hobbies, the hobby or interest can almost always be pursued in Mexico. Communication via the Internet will keep you updated with the latest sports scores and coverage if you need that. Name a sport, and you’ll be able to play it in Mexico. For Brits, even Sunday cricket can be enjoyed by connecting with the British communities in Mexico!

Everything everywhere costs money and Mexico is no exception. However, you’ll find that Mexico can offer good value in just about everything you’ll need to buy, from land and real estate, through to furniture and DIY materials, foods and drink, and entertainment. How much you spend will depend on your lifestyle expectations. Generally speaking, Mexico can be excellent value for money for people who choose to retire here, especially if they are earning a hard-currency based retirement income.

Should you have any questions or need assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

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