Life goes by very quickly. One day you’re in college and the next you’re at the end of your working life and getting ready for retirement. When you retire you don’t have to deal with late nights, the 8-5 grind or changing diapers! Most likely your kids have already moved out and have families with their own children. As a result, you’re likely ready to downsize your lifestyle and even move to another country. If you’re looking for a country that is beautiful, has amazing welcoming people, great weather and is affordable, then living in Mexico is a fantastic option to consider.
The great advantage of retiring in Mexico is that living there is extremely affordable.
Once you create a list of all the things you want, chances are that Mexico fulfills all the requirements. Moving to an area such as Yucatan, Mexico is a great choice especially for people who have spent most of their lives living in America. When you move to Mexico, you’ll only be a few short hours away from where you used to live while still being far away to enjoy living in a completely different country. There are numerous other benefits of living in Mexico, especially the lower cost of living. We will now take a closer look at living in Mexico and what you’ll need to consider if you want to enjoy a good standard of living.
Securing A Home in Mexico
The very first thing you’ll need to do if you’re interested in living in Mexico is to find a home where you can live. One popular & affordable area that you can consider moving to is Yucatan. There are actually numerous different towns and areas around Merida/Progreso that are great to live in. As a matter of fact, real estate in these areas are quite low and extremely affordable. As well this was recently awarded Mexico’s best area for overall quality of life! So, it doesn’t matter whether you’re interested in living in a condo, house, townhouse or apartment, you’ll surely find a great home. You can choose to live close to the beach or even close to a golf course if you desire. The best time to buy a property in Mexico is now since there are so many great deals available. The type of amenities that you’ll have access to are second to none, especially for the price.
Purchasing property or land in Mexico is significantly cheaper than if you were to buy real estate in Canada or the U.S.
Entertainment
Once you have selected your perfect home, the next thing you’ll have to do is check out the sights and relax. The majority of people who retire are interested in having adventures and going to new places. In Mexico, there are numerous adventure parks that allow you to do horseback riding, tour through the jungle while on an ATV, go ziplining and more. You can even spend time at a cent, diving or snorkeling. If you’re a history buff, then you’ll definitely enjoy visiting the colonial city of Merida and also Mayan ruins and walking through various archaeological sites. The vast majority of these places have all inclusive plans that basically charge one price for transport, food, tour guide talks, drinks etc.
Beaches
Mexico is well known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You can easily spend your days simply relaxing by the beach. According to where you choose to live, you can potentially be only a few minutes away from the nearest beach. Even if you want to travel around and go to different beaches, it is possible to do so on a low budget. All you need is a couple of pesos and you’ll be able to get a colectivo or even a taxi for a bit more. When you arrive at the beach, there will likely be a very small entrance fee. However, you will typically get back this fee if you decide to purchase any refreshments while you’re at the beach. There are also lots of great restaurants that usually have relatively cheap meals and drinks that you can enjoy. Many of these also provide chairs and tables for you to enjoy sitting on the beach for a very low charge.
When it comes to considering the very best place to retire to in Mexico, then Yucatan is highly recommended.
Eating Out
In the U.S. and other western countries, most people only go to fancy dinners very rarely due to the high cost. However, if you decide to live in Mexico, you can enjoy fancy dinners anytime you want. Mexico is well known for its amazing cuisine that is quite affordable. So, whether you’re eating at a local roadside vendor or the finest restaurant, the cost of eating out will be significantly less than what you’re accustomed to. Also, the food is always fresh and of the highest quality. You can easily enjoy eating at the beach, on a rooftop and anywhere else without having to worry about the bill. They also have lots of affordable wine, beer and other drinks.
Shopping
When you’re ready to go shopping there won’t be much of a difference in shopping. There are tons of stores where you can get fashionable clothes, electronics, home supplies and anything else that you need. The only things that will be different are that the labels might be a bit strange where certain items are measured in kilos and liters. Also, all prices will be posted in pesos. When you’re grocery shopping you’ll be pleased to know that just about all of the vegetables, seafood, meat and dairy are typically organic. The cost of groceries would always be less than what you’re accustomed to paying and would greatly lower your living costs.
It is no surprise that life in Mexico is a lot cheaper when compared to Canada or the U.S.
Purchasing Power
Many people wrongly think that their USD or CAD won’t go very far, however, in Mexico that’s not true. The exchange rate of USD to Pesos is extremely good which means that your money will certainly go a long way. When this is combined with already low real estate prices, cheap entertainment costs and affordable food, living in Mexico becomes extremely attractive to westerners. In many cases, when you pay for various goods and services with your credit card in Mexico, you won’t be charged extra fees and you’ll also be given the best exchange rate in most cases. By making full use of this you can reduce your living expenses even further. We will now go over some of the major ways in which making your home in Mexico is a lot cheaper.
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- The cost for housing would be your biggest bill. However, if you were to buy your own home in Mexico, it would cost you between 30 to 50% less than if you were to buy the same home in Canada or the U.S. When you buy real estate in Mexico, this is certainly a sound investment.
- You can go out and eat at restaurants, cafes etc as much as you want. This is because eating out in Mexico will cost you 50% less than eating out back in the U.S. or Canada.
- The cost of entertainment is also a lot lower, especially since there are many cheap options. You can easily pack your own snacks and drinks and visit the beach anytime you want. There are also local parks that are very cheap.
- Transport is also very cheap, especially in Yucatan, Quintana Roo (Riviera Maya). You can use Colectivos to cheaply travel around and they will cost you a dollar or less. You can also easily access taxis and they are a more affordable option in comparison to Lift or even Uber. It is very easy to travel to where you need to go and you don’t need to purchase your own car.
- The conversion rate of US or CAD to pesos is extremely favorable. This will give you greater buying power.
So, when you think about all of these factors…
Who doesn’t want to live or retire and make a new residency in Mexico? In addition to all the advantages listed above, Mexico always has sunny weather for most of the year. The beaches are stunning and the culture is very vibrant and welcoming. You can relax, enjoy your life and spend the rest of your days living in paradise.
