Why Are One Million Americans Moving to Mexico?
In many ways, Mexico today is like the U.S. was 50 years ago…before big government, big business, and special interests whittled away the lifestyle our parents took for granted. Mexico is full of overlooked retirement havens where you can retire in luxury without spending a fortune.
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Population: 113,724,226 (July 2011 est.)
Capital City: Mexico City
Climate: Varies from arid to tropical
Time Zone: GMT-8 to -6
Language: Spanish
Country Code: 52
Coastline: 9,330 km
Location: Mexico borders the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and the North Pacific Ocean
Mexico Articles
- What We Really Want is a Better Quality of Life
Posted on April 25, 2012 by Jennifer Stevens
Thinking about retirement, we usually focus on money. Are we saving enough? With the cost of living ticking up and interest rates near zero, it’s a reasonable question. But preoccupied with funds, we often forget to reflect on why we save to begin with.
Blooms, Tango and Horseback PatrolsPosted on April 25, 2012 by Darius Fisher
Europe’s buzzing boho center, Berlin, bursts into life this month with the Carnival of Cultures. Thousands of performers will take to the streets and stages of the German capital to entertain over a million revelers. The party starts May 25.
Earlier in the month, Cinco de Mayo (May 5) takes place all over Mexico, especially the U.S. border towns. The day commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Puebla, a city and state in the south, has the best parades in the country.
“Why I Love Tulúm”Posted on April 25, 2012 by Glynna Prentice
I’m not usually a big fan of popular “resort” destinations. But I make an exception for Tulúm, in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. This little beach town is very easy to like. In fact, if I had to recommend just one destination in Mexico for beach lovers today, it would be Tulúm.
Seven Things to do in and Around San CristóbalPosted on April 25, 2012 by Jonathan Look, Jr.
Planning a trip to San Cristóbal? Here’s our quick guide to some of the region’s highlights.
Road Testing Retirement: From Beaches to the Highlands in MexicoPosted on April 25, 2012 by Jonathan Look, Jr.
The clouds are sliding off the mountaintops and the sun is warming the pine-scented air. I’m in tropical latitudes but the locals here go about their daily routines swaddled in multi-colored, locally-loomed woolens, just as they have for centuries. It can get chilly at night. Though during the day it’s usually mild enough to relax outdoors.
L.A. Librarian Trades in Books for Tango ShoesPosted on April 25, 2012 by Cherie Magnus
I’ve always loved to dance. I studied ballet as a child. I’ve directed my own belly-dance troupe. In 1997, I finally discovered tango—and I was hooked. When I dance, I feel most like myself. And these days I get to do it all the time as a dance teacher in Buenos Aires, Argentina, passing on one of the most beautiful dances of all—the tango—in the place where it was born and is still at its best.
What Does Your Dream Retirement Look Like?Posted on April 25, 2012 by International Living
201 1 Live and Invest Overseas Conference Package
Las Vegas, NV – October 2011In the Live and Invest Overseas Conference Package, we’ll show you how you can make that dream your reality… for as little as $697 a month. Maybe you long for your own cottage on a quiet beach… a grand apartment in a city vibrant with concerts and cafes… a mountain villa where the air is crisp… or even your own vineyard amid gently rolling hills. Whatever you fantasize about… come with that idea in mind. We’ll show you the places in the world today where you can live your dream, for a small fraction of what you’d pay for a comparable life at home.
2010 Fast-Track Mexico PackagePosted on April 24, 2012 by International Living
Tulum, Mexico – November 2010
The 2010 Fast-Track Mexico Package is no longer available for sale.
Buyers and members of World Club and Publisher’s Roundtable can access the package here.
2009 Fast-Track Mexico PackagePosted on April 23, 2012 by International Living
Merida, Mexico – November 2009
The 2009 Fast-Track Panama Mexico is no longer available for sale.
Buyers and members of World Club and Publisher’s Roundtable can access the package here.
The Best Beach in MexicoPosted on April 23, 2012 by Ronan McMahon
This is the most stunning stretch of white-sand beach I have set foot on. Standing here, on Tulum’s Caribbean coast in Mexico, with warm sea breezes rustling through the palm trees, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d want to be. If you’re looking for a manufactured resort, stay in Cancun. Tulum is the real thing. Jungle crawls over ancient Mayan Ruins. You’ll find caves and underground rivers.
Morocco’s Real-Life “Magic Carpets”Posted on April 17, 2012 by Glynna Prentice
Carol Romano owns an online business and a store in Mexico’s San Miguel famed for its eclectic vibe and its unusual, one-of-a-kind merchandise. But the story of how she came to own her own business started a decade earlier…with a trip to Morocco.
News and Notes from Around the WorldPosted on March 27, 2012 by International Living
On the Cover This Month… Surrounded by picturesque farms, orchards and towering mountains, Vilcabamba …
The World’s Best Real Estate MarketsPosted on March 27, 2012 by Ronan McMahon
In pockets all across the planet, you’ll find amazing opportunities to make money from real estate. I’m talking about beautiful places tucked into lush jungle-clad hills, on white sandy coves, in bustling cities, and in small colonial towns. These are markets on the upswing. The mainstream hasn’t heard of them yet. And in them today you’ll get excellent bang for your buck as well as great profit potential.
Retire Cheap: Great-Value Towns Where You Can Live Better for LessPosted on March 27, 2012 by International Living
At home, prices are rising. It costs more to put gas in the car, buy groceries, and pay for health insurance. At the same time, retirement savings eroded in the market downturn. And with interest rates at near-zero today, it’s difficult to rebuild.
Budgets in Great-Value TownsPosted on March 27, 2012 by Robert Carry
Santa Fe in Panama…Vilcabamba in Ecuador…Penang in Malaysia…Granada in Nicaragua…Campeche in Mexico…you know these havens come with a rock-bottom price tag, but on what, exactly, do expats in these locations spend their money on? We’ve asked on-the-ground experts for a detailed breakdown of what a typical couple might spend each month. Here’s what they said.
Highlights from the Global Real Estate Index 2012Posted on March 27, 2012 by International Living
Some of the best properties up for grabs in the countries that topped IL’s Global Real Estate Index 2012.
The World’s Best Real Estate Markets in 2012Posted on March 27, 2012 by Ronan McMahon
In this Global Real Estate Index, you’ll find listed the 27 places in the world today that boast the most attractive, and potentially lucrative, real estate opportunities. Each of these places has something special to recommend it…some attribute you won’t find elsewhere. Those that top the list hold the most profit potential right now. Those at mid-table and below are ones to watch.
Video: Moving Overseas as a Single PersonPosted on February 24, 2012 by Glynna Prentice
In this video, Mexico editor Glynna Prentice speaks to an expat couple in Mexico, each of whom moved abroad as a single person. They talk about how being single affected (or not) their decision to become an expat and where to move. This (now) couple, moved to Mexico on their own and met one another there. They both offer advice on moving overseas as a single person.
Scouting for Our Overseas Home on Mexico’s Rivera MayaPosted on February 21, 2012 by anon
Last year we took a week-long vacation to explore Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. We wanted the beaches, the sun, and the turquoise waters, a break from the rat race and a few days rejuvenating, but most of all—with retirement on the horizon—we wanted to find a new overseas home.
Mexico Beaches: 25% Off on the Shores of the Sea of CortezPosted on February 18, 2012 by Glynna Prentice
If you want to live with world-class natural beauty without the world-class price tag, come to Mexico’s Baja California Sur. And be sure to bring a camera. This is a desert land of sharp, clear lines. The mountain peaks in the distance gleam a delicate mauve.
Your Issue this Month – 5 Top StoriesPosted on February 2, 2012 by Eoin Bassett
Jessica has been on the road, exploring the best of Panama’s “close-in” havens. And in your February issue she reveals the places you’ll enjoy stunning natural beauty, yet have the modern amenities of Panama City on your doorstep… Farther north and closer to home, IL Mexico Editor, Glynna Prentice, discovers big discounts on beach-town properties in beautiful Baja California. Lisa Marie Mercer moved to the coastal town of Atlantida, Uruguay, to benefit her health, but she’s staying for the affordability and quality of life. In your issue this month she explains how much she saves on health care and what she likes most about her friendly, convenient new home.
Enjoy Freedom, Opportunity, and Adventure When You Move OverseasPosted on January 24, 2012 by Glynna Prentice
Five years into my expat life, I look forward to downsizing. In fact, I recently bought a small, manageable, lock-and-leave property in Guanajuato, in the Colonial Highlands. It’s a far cry from what I thought I wanted when I first moved to Mexico… Then, I’d wanted a good-sized house, instead of an apartment as I’d had in the U.S.
What Life Overseas Really Looks Like…Posted on January 19, 2012 by anon
What Life Overseas Really Looks Like…
Skeptics inquire: Are the opportunities overseas really as great as we at IL portray them to be? The short answer is “yes.” But don’t take my word for it… Listen, instead, to the many firsthand stories we’ve collected in this month’s issue—on-the-ground reports from folks who decided to answer the question for themselves…at the beach…in the hills…in cities…or on islands…
Five Places at the Profit Tipping PointPosted on January 19, 2012 by anon
When Ernest Hemmingway was asked how he went broke, he replied, “Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.” It’s the same pattern with hot new beach destinations (only instead of going broke, you could make money…gradually, then suddenly).
Baja Beaches: 25% Off on the Shores of the Sea of CortezPosted on January 19, 2012 by anon
If you want to live with world-class natural beauty without the world-class price tag, come to Mexico’s Baja California Sur. And be sure to bring a camera. This is a desert land of sharp, clear lines. The mountain peaks in the distance gleam a delicate mauve. I drive up a hill and suddenly there is the sea; a vast expanse of blue dotted with rocky, deserted islands.
Reclaim Your Retirement Beyond America’s BordersPosted on January 19, 2012 by anon
A round-up of the events you should be chalking down on your callendar.
- One of the World’s Best-Kept Caribbean Secrets – For Now
Posted on January 13, 2012 by Ronan McMahon
Tulum’s beaches are mesmerizing.
Nestled at the end of a stunning powder sand Caribbean coastline, surrounded by untamed jungle, ancient forest cities, a protected nature reserve, and the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea, Tulum is one of the world’s best-kept secrets…for now.
Close by is the exclusive development called Tao. It’s a project made up of condos, town homes and residences. RETA members bought pre-release and pre-construction here 18 months ago. Back then, not a single sod had been turned. But developer Benjamin Beja had a vision, a hard-working team and a truly special piece of land.
The Most Fun Way to Make Money in MexicoPosted on January 11, 2012 by Glynna Prentice
A fun way to fund your vacations is by having an import-export business—it’s not as complicated as it might sound. It could be simply buying local products in Mexico, like handicrafts, and selling them back home when you return. Mexico makes so many handicrafts that you have plenty of options, from Mexican rugs to silver to pottery and more. Several regions of Mexico are particularly known for their handicrafts.
Head-to-Head with Mexico’s ‘Crazy Potato’Posted on January 11, 2012 by J. Keith Howie
The afternoon sun beat down on the concrete building radiating heat around the pool, making it mandatory to take a dip in the cool refreshing water and to enjoy the extraordinary view across Mexico’s Zihuatenejo Bay. It provided me with a great opportunity to take some photos from the pool to sell on one of the Micro-Stock agencies I post to.
Affordable-living in La Paz, MexicoPosted on January 10, 2012 by Glynna Prentice
I’m in an SUV in La Paz, in Mexico’s Baja California Sur. The sun is hot and we’ve rolled down the windows as we drive through town. We go at a leisurely pace, stopping at street corners to obey the four-way stop signs; La Paz is too low-key to need many stop lights.
How One Jobless American Turned Things Around in MexicoPosted on January 3, 2012 by Arthur Hoffman
When Cheryl Finnegan lost her job, she considered putting up a fight. She could stay in San Francisco—maybe get back into another firm with another position in corporate marketing. Or she could do something else with her life. At the age of 39, in the middle of a divorce and with a generous severance package from her former employer, Levi Strauss, Cheryl did just that.
3 Lots Only – Big Land Near the CaribbeanPosted on December 27, 2011 by Ronan McMahon
In Tulum, you’ll find some of the world’s finest white powder beaches…backed by palm trees that rustle in the Caribbean breezes… and you’ll find the world-famous Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve, too.
A 12-minute drive from the white sand and sparkling turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea you’ll find a one-of-a-kind project called Los Arboles Tulum.
- How to Escape The Undertow
Posted on December 20, 2011 by anon
Old beliefs die hard—but we’re doing our best here at International Living to speed them on their way. From Penang, Malaysia to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico… Dublin, Ireland to the Pacific coast of Nicaragua… from Bilbao, Spain to Bangkok, Thailand, … this month’s issue is packed with boots-on-the-ground revelations about destinations you may think you know…
The World’s Best Retirement HavensPosted on December 20, 2011 by anon
Look at the right places beyond our borders today, and you’ll find you have more good choices than ever for a comfortable – even a pampered – retirement. In any one of our top 19 havens for 2012, a lifestyle well beyond your reach in the States could be yours for pennies on the dollar.
- Why Ecuador is the World’s Best Retirement Haven
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Why did Ecuador top the 2012 Retirement Index? One of the key strengths that …
- Cheapest Places to Retire
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Ecuador 97/100 Ecuador stormed to the top of our list in the cost of …
- The Best Retiree Benefits
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Panama, Scored: 100/100 Panama has put together the most appealing program of special benefits …
- The Best-Value Real Estate
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Ecuador, Scored 97/100 Ecuador topped the real estate category in this year’s Retirement Index—and …
- Healthcare in our Havens
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Panama, Scored 91/100 Panama offers high quality health care and modern hospitals in the …
- The Best Climate
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Italy, Scored 98/100 Scoring a country on its climate is difficult, because everyone has …
Upcoming Event
-
If Money Were No Object, What Would Your Dream Retirement Look Like?Event Date: Sep 28, 2012
Fast-Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference
September 28-30, 2012 - Las Vegas,NV
Whatever you fantasize about…come with that idea in mind. We’ll show you the places in the world today where you can live your dream, for a small fraction of what you’d pay at home.
Find out more and register here.
More About Mexico
- Invest in Mexico
- Mexico Visa and Residency Information
- Travel in Mexico
- Beachfront Property in Mexico
- Live in Mexico
- Health Care in Mexico
- Living in Mexico: Easy, Inexpensive, and Close to Home
- One Million Americans in Mexico Can’t All Be Wrong
- Mexico Fact File
- Taxes in Mexico
- Retire in Mexico
- Why Mexico?
- Move to Mexico
- Mexico Real Estate
- Rolodex: Contacts in Mexico
- Medicare Benefits for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad
- Retiree Benefits in Mexico
- Making Money in Mexico
- Cost of Living in Mexico
