Living in Mexico
Living in Mexico
When you live in Mexico you can truly enjoy the good life.
Just across the border from the U.S. , Mexico is now “closer than ever” – that’s a motto used by the Mexican Tourism Association – and as many expats are choosing to live in Mexico, we couldn’t agree more.
What does that mean exactly? Well, in terms of physical proximity, Mexico is the closes southern neighbor to the U.S. and a NAFTA partner, with all the good roads, high-speed communications, and top notch health care that you’d expect up north. Those who move to Mexico find living and doing business there to be very easy.
Mexico is served by a large number of international airports with regularly scheduled flights from all over the world. But imagine having the option of driving from the U.S. or Canada to explore this magnificent country in your own car, at your own pace. Imagine returning to the U.S. and not having to worry about skyrocketing airfare or – perish the thought – disrupted air service caused by strikes, weather or other delays.
By living in Mexico you will be ble to enjoy its rich culture and customs.
Previous administrations did little in the way of infrastructure improvements, but President Filipe Calderon seems committed to allocating funds for new and expanded road, ports and telecommunications infrastructure. This goes hand in hand with increased privatization, which will allow concessions in the national airport network and the telecommunications sector. The idea is that all of those improvements will further encourage and facilitate commerce. A low cost of living in Mexico means a high quality of life.
Everyone seems to agree: the quality of your life improves when you live in Mexico. Things take longer so you’ll need to learn to slow down. Goods and services cost less so you can afford the kinds of luxuries only the very wealthy enjoy up north like a maid, a cook and gardener. When you can afford to hire help, all of a sudden you have time to read, time to volunteer at the local school or orphanage, time to golf, relax on the beach and most importantly – time to savor life
The key to smart shopping in Mexico is local shopping. You’ll pay about 50 cent a kilo (2.2 lbs.) for fresh fruit like mangos, oranges or pears. A kilo of avocados sells for about $1.55 which is what you will pay for one avocado in the U.S. While it is true that you can find just about any product you’re used to having up north from Campbell’s Soup to Tide it’s also true that you’ll probably pay more for the convenience of a brand name. It you shop at the local produce markets and the store where the locals buy you are sure to pay less for your goods.
Live a long life in Mexico with its first rare health care.
You will find that, in general, health care in Mexico is very good and in many places it is excellent. Most doctors and dentists in Mexico received at least part of their training in the U.S. (and many U.S, doctors have trained in Mexico, notably in Guadalajara). Many continue to go to the the U.S. or Europe for ongoing training.
Every medium to large city in Mexico has at least one first-rate hospital. A big plus is the cost of health care in Mexico is generally one half or less than what you might pay in the U.S. The same foes for prescription drugs. Those manufactured in Mexico cost, on average, about 50% less than the same drugs in the U.S.
Visits to dentists are an attractive draw for travelers to Mexico, since quality dental work costs a fraction what it does in the U.S. or Canada. Many dentists and other medical doctors in Mexico speak English.
The paradox for Mexico’s increasing modernity and its attractiveness is that things still move a bit slower. You can enjoy a relaxed and refreshing lifestyle, like some out of a 19th century travelogue and yet it isn’t half a world away. That is a plus that other destinations with this kind of weather, culture and lifestyle just cannot match.
Living in Mexico is truly a return to kinder, gentler times.