Ease of Friendships, Quality of Life, and Cost of Living are Key Attractions for Expats in Mexico
By: Patricia Ann Talley, Editor
Although Mexico receives a lot of negative press from the north, it is actually one of the best places for foreigners to live, according to the 2018 annual survey by InterNations, one of the largest global networks for expats.
I am an American expat who has lived in Mexico for 21 years and I can personally attest to this.
Mexico Ranked #3 as the Best Place for Foreigners!
The InterNations organization looked at data and comments from almost 13,000 of its members in 188 countries around the world and developed country rankings, listing the best (and worst) places for foreigners to live. The survey focused on such topics as the ease of settling in and feeling welcomed in a foreign country; the quality of life and value for money; family life; and career opportunities.
The Best Places?
#1 Bahrain (an island country in the Persian Gulf) due to the ease of settling in and career opportunities
#2 Costa Rica with its “pura vida” lifestyle
#3 Mexico for the ease of settling in, the quality of life, and good value for money
Ease of Settling In – Mexico’s Diversity
Mexico is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Due to historic colonial shipping and trade routes, the country has a mixture of Indigenous, European, African, and Asian descendants. Over 60 languages are spoken in the country.
In my view, Mexico is not as “tribal” as the United States; foreigners are welcomed and accepted, especially those viewed as contributing to the community. I’ve never had a Mexican tell me to get out of “their country” because I don’t speak the language, or because I’m a different color, or because I practice a different religion.
While you can exist in many ex-pat enclaves without needing the language, learning Spanish is the key to a whole new world of experiences and friendships. With language skills, you can join the local Rotary Club or charities, or work or volunteer at schools. You can better integrate into the community. This adds to a rich quality of life and personal satisfaction.
Quality of Life
A significant number of respondents (14%) in the global survey said that they moved to Mexico for a better quality of life. Healthcare, leisure options, and social activities were the main factors supporting their high ranking for Mexico.
Last year, I went back to California to have dental work done under my Medicare and supplemental dental insurance plan. Bottom line, I got an estimate of $18,000 USD with my co-payment of $4,500. I returned to Mexico to have the entire work done for under $1,000! Many foreigners are now taking medical or dental vacation trips to take advantage of lower health care costs in Mexico.
Leisure options and social life? Hey, everyone knows that I’m at the pool or on the beach every afternoon! The weather is an average of 86F all year long where I live, so outdoor activities are part of the routine. And, just like any place else, one can be as busy and active as you want. Mexico has many tourist towns and colonial cities with art, music, culture, and nature/conservation events.
Cost of Living/ Value for Money
Lastly, one of the key factors to support foreigners living in Mexico is the lower cost of living and the higher value for their money. When I came to Mexico 20+ years ago, the peso was trading at 8:1; you got 8 pesos for every 1 US dollar. Now, the pesos is trading at almost 20:1, so for every 1 US dollar, you get 20 pesos! Prices haven’t risen that much – the value of foreign money has increased.
Excluding housing costs, I can live like a queen, eat the finest foods, put gas in my car, pay for insurance, and have cable and mobile service along with all of the extras in life for under $400 US per month. Housing costs vary but foreigners can find nice condos in middle-class neighborhoods for as low as $5,000 pesos per month (about $250 US). There are many options for high-income luxury homes and ocean-front apartments.
Overall Satisfaction
The culture and acceptance by the people, nature, outdoor life, leisure activities, family life, a slower pace . . . all these lead to personal satisfaction. And, if you include volunteering and serving your community, living in Mexico can be very rewarding – a dream come true!
So despite the negative news that you may hear about Mexico, foreign expats who live here think it is one of the best places in the world!
References:
InterNations.org Expat Insider Report – Expat_Insider_2017_The_InterNations_Survey
Forbes.com, “The World’s Friendliest Countries Revealed”