Thinking of Moving to Mexico? 5 Essential Tips from Women Who Did It

Moving to another country involves all kinds of preparation—much of which we’ve never done before. After 19 years of living in Mexico, the most important thing I’ve learned is that there’s no single way to make your expat dream a reality. Those 1.6 million Americans already living in Mexico? They all did it differently, with their own style, timetable, and priorities. And guess what? They’ve all turned out OK and are happily living their best lives.

I compiled my newest book, Going Expat: Mexico, because I thought hearing the experiences of those who’ve already done it might be helpful for others considering a move.

Here are some of the most common concerns—and how some of my book contributors addressed them.

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1. Making the Decision

When you start talking to people who’ve moved to Mexico, it’s truly amazing to hear all the different ways they arrived at their decision. Some pondered, planned, and made spreadsheets and lists of pros and cons; others went on vacation and spontaneously bought a house. The one thing that’s consistent is a bit of an oxymoron: There is no single way!

Nancy Swan had always dreamed of living in another country. After retirement, she and her husband began considering a move to Mexico. On a visit to Loreto, a small town in Baja California Sur, they decided to look at some houses for sale.

“Have you ever had a moment where you get that feeling of absolute certainty about something or a situation? We got there on a Friday, looked at homes on Saturday, and made an offer on Sunday that was accepted. It all happened so fast!” she recalled. “We were in uncharted waters, but we knew enough to figure out the rest as we went along.”

“The old me would have feared all the unknowns, but I was able to embrace it and just focus on today,” Nancy said. “We moved ahead, committed to taking control of what we could and trusting the rest would work out the way it was supposed to.”

Joey McCune and her husband watched “endless episodes” of House Hunters International, Mexico Life, and Buying Beachfront and thought, someday we’ll do it. They considered several other countries—Belize, Bali, Thailand, and Guatemala—but eventually settled on Mexico.

“We often talked about making an international move, but the timing was never right—we had a lot of excuses,” she said. “But is the timing ever right? I finally decided it was time to take that leap. We didn’t really have a plan other than to downsize and find an area that fit our current and future needs.”

Since 2017, they’ve lived off-grid in the jungle near Tulum, where they run a holistic healing center. Joey said there were many reasons Mexico topped their list: “Its proximity and ease of travel to and from the U.S., future grandkids, the expat community, cost of living, as well as a relatively easy process to become an expat and permanent resident.”

Ruth Thompson embraced a new life in Mexico by downsizing and following her dream.

Sometimes, a big decision like this is fueled by a simple desire.

“We mused about trying a new way of life, and after many conversations and reflections, decided to explore living out of the country for a breath of fresh air and adventure,” said Ruth Thompson Artis. “We decided that Mexico would be our destination, primarily because of its relative proximity to the U.S., the fact that it was drivable, and the cost of living was within our retirement budget.”

Jeanne Carr had read about the UNESCO World Heritage city of San Miguel de Allende many times in International Living magazine. Tired of the cold, dark, and depressing winter weather in Oregon—and the “fractious, destructive politics of our country”—she was drawn to “a different culture, language, traditions, celebrations, and lifestyle—and sun!”

2. Out with the Old, In with the New

If you’re moving to Mexico, a serious purge of your possessions is required. It’s shocking how much “stuff” we accumulate, and chances are your closets, cupboards, and garage are full of things you haven’t used in ages.

“We basically took only what we could pack into our Mazda SUV with our two dogs,” said Ruth. “We discarded, donated, and eventually made decisions on what to take, what to save, and what to leave behind.”

Many properties for sale or rent in Mexico are fully furnished and turnkey-ready, making the move a little easier.

“The house we bought had everything—down to linens, kitchen utensils, and wall art. This meant we sold or gave away pretty much all that we owned,” Nancy said. “The act of ridding myself of most of the possessions I’d accumulated in my adult life has been freeing. I thought I’d have regrets, but I have yet to regret getting rid of something or wish I still had it.”

Purging possessions can be an emotional experience, and at times I’ve wished I had kept more sentimental items—like drawings my kids did when they were little. Even decluttering guru Marie Kondo suggests keeping some things that bring comfort and joy.

Melanie Blair enjoys life in Lo de Marcos after downsizing and starting fresh.

Melanie Blair, who has lived in Lo de Marcos, Nayarit, for 18 years, feels the same way.

“As I look back on some of my downsizing decisions, I wish I had kept more small, memorable things, like my mother’s vintage sequin top,” she said. “Lots of my things went to Goodwill. I just had to give it all up and move on to the next chapter of my life.”

3. Knowledge Is Power

Gathering as much basic information as possible will help you feel more confident about heading into what is now a big unknown. Do your best to keep an open mind about how things might be done differently than you’re used to—even if you can’t always understand why. Expect to make mistakes, and learn to keep going!

Don’t be shy about using available resources or asking for help. There are numerous free tools, including expat Facebook groups, translator programs, language apps, and a variety of videos offering useful, detailed information from people already “on the ground.”

“We were not naïve about what to expect in Mexico; the country has its own set of problems, and we tried to familiarize ourselves with what we might encounter,” said Ruth. “We researched YouTube, International Living articles, and film clips, and quickly discovered that once you repeat an internet search once or twice, you’re rewarded with an algorithm of copious referrals and suggestions. Neither of us had much of a handle on Spanish, but we figured we’d fumble through with Google Translate and quick practice sessions with Duolingo.”

Corrie McCluskey found her forever home in Oaxaca, embracing a life of art and purpose.

Corrie McCluskey suggests taking steps toward your dream as soon as you can—and continuing to walk toward it, slowly but surely.

“Educate yourself about what’s required, visit the place and get to know it, solicit help from others who are a few steps ahead of you in the process and can give you current information and advice, and hire someone to help if necessary,” she advised from her home in Oaxaca. “Make an ongoing effort to assimilate upon arrival, get out of your comfort zone, and be willing to interact with everyone around you, in their language, as best you can.”

4. Learn to Be Fluid and Flexible

“If you’re interested in efficiency, Mexico is not the country to move to! I’ve been challenged to view task completion and time very differently,” said Karen Kinney from her home in Mexico City. “But I’ve found that adapting to a slower pace and navigating things not working the same way they do in the U.S. has been an antidote to the never-ending American pressures of speed, perfection, and climbing a ladder.”

“Mexican culture is more conducive to taking a winding road instead of a linear one,” she continued. “And not only do you learn to become OK with this, but you also start to see the immense value in another way of experiencing time. Life becomes something to be enjoyed instead of rushed through. Both the joys and frustrations of living in another country have ultimately enriched my life and helped me evolve in valuable ways.”

Ruth shared some of the unexpected things they encountered after moving to Mazatlán.

“We had to adjust how we looked at things—like irregular and unsafe construction procedures, dead electrical wires dangling from old or unused electrical boxes, random holes or gaps in bricks or sidewalks, or sewer water bubbling from clogged drains in many streets after heavy rains,” she said. “Traffic and pedestrian guidelines are significantly lax, and it’s still amazing to us how few accidents occur in high-traffic areas.”

Denise Perry takes pride in her move to Tlaquepaque and embracing new opportunities.

Long-time expats suggest being gentle with yourself as you navigate your way through your new life. At some point down the road, you’ll laugh at these growing pains.

“It’s taken time to learn the culture, the language, the nuances, the dos and don’ts, and to ease into it. Mexican culture forces you to slow down, to enjoy life, to not take yourself so seriously, and—most importantly—to live for today,” said Amy Jones, who has lived in Mérida for five years. “I’ve learned to let go of expectations and be in the moment. Being on time isn’t a deal breaker. Enjoying life is my first priority.”

“I accept the inconsistencies in electricity, water pressure, trash pickup, rules, regulations, and all the other differences of living in a foreign country,” she continued. “I look at my life, the people around me, the experiences I’ve had, and the lessons I’ve learned, and I’m grateful for all of it, because without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I finally know the definition of happiness, and I feel it constantly—every day.”

5. Give Yourself Some Credit

“It’s said that you never know how truly capable you are until you move abroad by yourself. I’ve found this to be true, and I’m proud of my bravery and resilience,” said Denise Perry, who lives in Tlaquepaque. “I’ve done a great job of keeping my life as stress-free as possible and staying as healthy as I can. I look forward to learning new things and meeting amazing people wherever my path leads me. Only time will tell what my future holds, but I will always be proud of my courage to move abroad and challenge myself to embrace the unexpected.”

In Ajijic, Amanda Turner found new passions and a true sense of belonging.

Amanda Turner, who has lived in Ajijic for seven years, says that Mexico has done more for her than she could ever repay.

“Mexico has nurtured self-interests I never knew I had—like gardening, cooking, baking, and living a healthy lifestyle,” she said. “But the best thing is that my anxiety has mostly disappeared, which was one of my goals. What I thought was a frightening place actually turned out to be one filled with people who instantly treat you like family. When they say, ‘Love thy neighbor,’ in Mexico, it’s truly a way of life.”

Corrie said she’s still impressed with all that she did to make her dream of living in Mexico a reality.

“I have to pinch myself sometimes to realize that I actually made it all happen—getting residency, finding expat health insurance, finding the right piece of land to buy, the downsizing, the packing and inventorying, the move—and that I’m finally here,” she said.

“I get messages from friends who marvel at me living my dream. I want to ask them, Are you doing the same? If not, why not? Life is very short, and the goal is to have lived it well. There are no do-overs. Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid; it just means you do your due diligence, then walk into the unknown and do it anyway.”