ILA Magazine: Discover the Best Retirement Haven + 14 More
Mexico today is full of overlooked retirement havens where you can retire in luxury without spending a fortune.
Mexico’s lower cost of living—and of just about everything else—means a comfortable, fulfilling life here will likely cost you a fraction of what you pay back home. From real estate to groceries, and from entertainment to healthcare, life in Mexico simply costs less. Here you can still find comfortable homes for under $196,000, and pay cents on the dollar for fresh fruits, vegetables and meats. As for healthcare…across the board, healthcare in Mexico costs less than in Australia—for treatment by well-trained medical professionals in first-class hospitals and clinics. (In fact, there are few places in Mexico where you’re more than a few hours from a good private hospital.)
Today’s Mexico is largely First World, with excellent highways, sleek airports and high-speed telecommunications, as well as first-run films (in English, with Spanish subtitles) and television shows. You’ll find shopping malls and supermarkets, all carrying many familiar products from home.
You’ll also enjoy a more relaxed, slower pace of life here, where children still play in the streets and neighbours know each other. You’ll also find a rich, strong local culture, with traditional markets; colourful, indigenous dress; ancient ruins; and regional music, dance and customs. There is so much to see and do in Mexico, and the local people are friendly and warm.
Mexico is a large country with a varied geography, which means that you can find whatever climate and lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of. Like the beach? Mexico has nearly 9,656 kilometres of coastline and most of it is white-sand beach. In First-World beach resorts like Puerto Vallarta, Cancún or Los Cabos, you can enjoy a range of luxury amenities. If small, local beach towns are more your speed, then check out places like the Yucatán Coast or parts of the Pacific Coast. If you want to get totally off the grid, try along the Costa Maya’s beautiful Caribbean waters.
Mexico’s Colonial Highlands could be for you if you prefer mountain vistas and temperate weather. San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro and a host of others offer sophisticated living in Spanish-colonial cities. No matter what lifestyle you dream of for your retirement, you’ll find it in Mexico.
For the longest time, I’ve wanted to live somewhere in Latin America,” says Sydney native Cathy Crossing. “I always loved the music of that region and wanted to have the opportunity to learn more by living there. “I have played the clarinet since I was a child and have performed as part of a quartet in England, Scotland, France and Belgium as well as Australia...
Residents of Playa enjoy the recreational benefits of an offshore reef, which extends the entire length of Mexico’s Caribbean coast and beyond, providing the perfect backdrop for boating, fishing, scuba and snorkelling year-round.
I’ve lived in both the Colonial Highlands and the Yucatan Peninsula over my nearly nine years in Mexico, and have loved my time in each. In Mexico, there’s something for everyone. And in many parts of the country, you can enjoy life for half of what you’d pay in Australia. (A couple can live very comfortably on $2,800 a month or less, including rent.)
In fact, I’ve discovered a couple of market stalls that serve up a whole range of home-cooked foods to go, from hearty soups to taco fillings to homemade salsas. They’re a great time-saver for busy, working Mexicans who don’t have the time (or inclination) to cook but want a good meal. They’re pretty convenient for expats, too.
“When I got here, I saw this place had everything I wanted, and then some.” At the time, Mona had been working for 15 years in foreign affairs and international trade. The work was high-powered and high-stress. “My work and social life had become so intertwined that I never knew when to relax,” she says. “Everything was about work.”
The first time I saw this sight, I wondered, “What the heck?” That photo was taken in San Miguel de Allende—one of my favourite cities in all of Latin America... Once upon a time, I would never have got to see a street like that—a hangover from the lifestyle I led over a decade ago. Back then, when I travelled to international destinations for business or pleasure, I was always in a hurry... I mean, I only had a week or two at the most to check out everything.
As I write, we’ve been in Mexico for about six weeks. Our Merida house is beautiful and modern and permits a wonderful, truly Mexican experience… while our Cancun condo allows a breathtaking view and direct access to the jewel-like, deep turquoise waters of the Caribbean literally steps away.
Spanish is the official language here but many folks speak at least a little English. Diane and I do our best to speak only Spanish when we’re chatting with locals, but it’s not uncommon to receive responses in English.
Teaching English to students from all around the world by Internet, while based in Oaxaca, allows me to receive a good income in a city with a low cost of living.