Best places to live in Mexico for Americans

There is no single best place to live in Mexico. The country runs from desert border towns to tropical coast to cities a mile and a half above sea level, and the right choice depends on climate, budget, healthcare needs and how much of your life you want to run in English.

How to compare places

• Climate. The central highlands are mild all year. The coasts are hot and humid for half the year. Altitude affects some people’s health.
• Healthcare. Major private hospitals are in the big cities. Smaller towns may be one to three hours from one.
• Cost. Housing drives the difference. Towns popular with foreigners cost more than similar Mexican towns without them. See the cost of living in Mexico.
• Community. Some towns have thousands of English speakers; in others you will need Spanish every day.
• Getting back. Check for direct flights to where your family lives.

The places

Lake Chapala and Ajijic

Mexico’s longest-established retiree community, on a lake about an hour from Guadalajara. Spring-like weather year-round at about 5,000 feet, many English-language clubs and services, and Guadalajara’s hospitals and airport nearby. It is a small-town life, and most of the foreign community is retired.

San Miguel de Allende

A colonial town in the central highlands with a large foreign community, an active arts scene and a walkable historic centre. Cooler evenings at 6,200 feet, cobbled hills that are hard on knees, and housing costs well above the Mexican average. The nearest large hospitals and airports are about an hour away in Querétaro and León.

Mexico City

One of the largest cities in the world, with the country’s best hospitals, restaurants, museums and flight connections. Mild weather at 7,300 feet. It suits people who want city life and can manage altitude, traffic and air quality. Housing in the neighbourhoods popular with foreigners is among the most expensive in Mexico.

Guadalajara

Mexico’s second city: big-city healthcare and services at lower cost than the capital, a mild climate, and a large university and tech sector. You will need more Spanish here than in the expat towns.

Puerto Vallarta and the Pacific coast

A beach city with good private hospitals, a large foreign community and direct flights to many US and Canadian cities. Summers are hot, humid and wet. The towns to the north in Nayarit are smaller and growing fast.

Mérida and the Yucatán

A calm colonial city about half an hour from the Gulf coast, with good healthcare, lower housing costs than the beach resorts and a reputation for safety. It is hot for most of the year and very hot from April to September.

Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya

Caribbean beach towns popular with remote workers and younger arrivals, served by Cancún’s airport. More transient than the retiree towns, with resort-area prices and a hurricane season.

Baja California

From Rosarito and Ensenada near the US border to La Paz and Los Cabos in the south. The north suits people who want to drive back to California; Los Cabos is among the most expensive places in Mexico.

Safety

Safety is the question people ask most, and the honest answer is that it varies by state, city and neighbourhood. The towns with large foreign communities are generally places where residents report feeling safe in daily life. Some states have serious security problems that rarely touch those towns, and some do.

Before choosing:

• Read the US State Department’s travel advisory for the specific state.
• Ask people who live in the neighbourhood, not just the city.
• Visit and stay a while. How a place feels at night and in the low season matters.

How to decide

1. Pick two or three places that fit your climate and healthcare needs.
2. Visit each for at least a few weeks, ideally in its worst season.
3. Rent for six to twelve months before you buy. A local real estate agent can help with long-term rentals.
4. Check which residency option your income supports before you commit.

Common questions

What is the best place to live in Mexico for Americans?

It depends on what you want. Lake Chapala and San Miguel de Allende have the largest English-speaking communities and mild highland weather. Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Maya suit people who want the beach. Mexico City and Guadalajara suit people who want a big city. Mérida is known for being calm and affordable, with very hot summers.

What are the safest places to live in Mexico?

Mérida and the state of Yucatán are consistently described as among the safest parts of Mexico. Safety varies by neighbourhood as much as by city, so read the current US State Department advisory for the state you are considering and ask residents about specific areas.

Where do most American expats live in Mexico?

The largest groups are around Lake Chapala and Ajijic, in San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, the Riviera Maya, Mérida and Baja California.