Living in Mexico: Joys and Challenges

It seems that each year, a larger number of Americans start living in Mexico. Canadians come too. Although the seasonal snowbird population accounts for a lot of the numbers around Lake Chapala, San Miguel de Allende, Mazatlan, and other places, many foreigners take up residence here. Of course, visiting family back home may pull them away at times, or perhaps the impulse to shop, but they become residents of Mexico.

Why? What is it about Mexico that draws so many of us to migrate here? Most of us speak the language poorly at best, we complain about this and that, and we are puzzled by many of the ways Mexicans do things.

Put simply, there are two inescapable appeals: the lovely weather and the lower cost of living. Mexico offers a variety of climates, from the steamy tropical beaches to the cooler climes of the central highlands, but in none of these locales will you step outside to shovel snow.

It is hard to generalize about what any given person or couple from the US or Canada will spend for average monthly expenses, because people differ a lot. Fresh produce in the local street market, all the tortillas you can eat, and local meat are very economical. Health care is typically lower in cost than up north, and so are other basics. Many expats who took care of their own housework and yard back home find they can afford a gardener, a maid, or both. One area that will not necessarily provide big bargains is that of housing. In places where a lot of foreigners congregate, prices may be very much like home.

There’s another factor that is less often mentioned that might actually be even more important — it’s certainly at least as important as climate and costs. The Mexican people themselves are wonderfully courteous and welcoming to us. They are patient with our struggles to speak Spanish, and very helpful. One of the cultural differences that every expat has to get used to is that it is very hard indeed for Mexicans to say no to any request. They will very kindly give you inaccurate directions if you ask where a particular street is and they don’t happen to know.

You may say, “But of course they are kind and helpful. Expats are a huge help to their economy.” While that is undeniable, and many Mexicans I know are grateful for it, courtesy and enjoyment of life are a natural part of their culture. Just walk around anywhere and observe.

But there is no use trying to convey how different it is to live here. If you haven’t been to Mexico, and life here has an appealing ring to it, come down for a visit. Stay more than a week or two, and don’t buy a house on that first trip. Inform yourself. Living in Mexico is not for everyone, but for those who adapt, it offers many pleasures.