Mexico
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 27 of 40, strongest on affordability, softest on safety.
- Healthcare 78
- Retiree visa 50
- Affordability 95
- Safety 28
- Climate 84
- Expat community 78
- Retirement visaYesTemporary Resident Visa via economic solvency (the income route retirees use), which leads to Permanent Resident status.mexperience.com
- Min incomeHigh (harder to meet)mexperience.com
- Monthly budgetMuch lower than the USnumbeo.com
- HealthcareGoodallianzcare.com
- SafetyUse cautionen.wikipedia.org
- Top citiesMérida, Ajijic (Lake Chapala), Puerto Vallarta
Good to know
- Good healthcare accessPublic IMSS covers legal residents but has long non-emergency waits and Spanish-only administration; private hospitals in big cities are high quality.allianzcare.com
- Dedicated retirement visaTemporary Resident Visa via economic solvency (the income route retirees use), which leads to Permanent Resident status.mexperience.com
- Low cost of livingEstimated single-person costs about Mex$12,521 per month (roughly US$650) excluding rent.numbeo.com
- Comfortable climateArid or semiarid north, tropical south; highlands between 1,000-2,000m stay mild (16-20C) year-round, with a June to mid-October rainy season.en.wikipedia.org
- Established expat communityLargest US expat population abroad (around 900,000 US-born residents, 2017); retirees cluster in enclaves such as Ajijic and San Miguel de Allende where English is common.en.wikipedia.org
Watch out for
- Safety needs attentionGlobal Peace Index 2025 ranks Mexico 139th of 163 (score 2.65, low state of peace); safety varies sharply by region, with popular expat hubs generally calmer.en.wikipedia.org
Visa & residency
Temporary Resident Visa via economic solvency (the income route retirees use), which leads to Permanent Resident status.
About US$4,400 per month of regular income shown over the last 6 months (some consulates ask 12), or about US$74,000 in savings as an alternative.
You must qualify under either the income or the savings option, not both; Temporary Resident status is renewable and leads to Permanent Resident.
Healthcare
Public IMSS covers legal residents but has long non-emergency waits and Spanish-only administration; private hospitals in big cities are high quality.
International private health insurance is strongly recommended so expats can reach better facilities and avoid public-system waits and language barriers.
Cost of living
Estimated single-person costs about Mex$12,521 per month (roughly US$650) excluding rent.
A one-bedroom city-centre apartment averages about Mex$13,014 per month (roughly US$680), well below major US cities.
Safety
Global Peace Index 2025 ranks Mexico 139th of 163 (score 2.65, low state of peace); safety varies sharply by region, with popular expat hubs generally calmer.
Climate
Varied; the Tropic of Cancer splits tropical and temperate zones, with mild temperate highlands.
Arid or semiarid north, tropical south; highlands between 1,000-2,000m stay mild (16-20C) year-round, with a June to mid-October rainy season.
Community & language
Largest US expat population abroad (around 900,000 US-born residents, 2017); retirees cluster in enclaves such as Ajijic and San Miguel de Allende where English is common.
Spanish is the official language; 68 Indigenous languages hold co-official status.
Taxes
Residents are taxed on worldwide income, but foreign income tax paid can be credited against Mexican tax; verify pension treatment individually.
Mexico has double-tax treaties with the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.
Popular retirement spots
Where retirees in Mexico tend to settle, and the honest reason why. Each note shows its source.
Mérida
Hot colonial capital of Yucatan with a large old town and an established English-speaking expat community.
Ajijic (Lake Chapala)
Village on Lake Chapala, Jalisco with a mild year-round climate and one of Mexico's largest American and Canadian retiree communities.
Puerto Vallarta
Pacific resort city in Jalisco with a tropical climate, a popular retirement destination for US and Canadian retirees.
Questions about retiring in Mexico
Answered from the verified data on this page. Every answer shows its source; anything we have not confirmed says so plainly rather than guessing.
- Does Mexico have a retirement visa?
Yes. Mexico offers the Temporary Resident Visa via economic solvency (the income route retirees use), which leads to Permanent Resident status..
mexperience.com- How much monthly income do I need to retire in Mexico?
As a guide: About US$4,400 per month of regular income shown over the last 6 months (some consulates ask 12), or about US$74,000 in savings as an alternative. Treat this as indicative and verify the current official figure before you rely on it.
mexperience.com- Is healthcare good for expats in Mexico?
Healthcare quality is rated good. Public IMSS covers legal residents but has long non-emergency waits and Spanish-only administration; private hospitals in big cities are high quality. On cost: International private health insurance is strongly recommended so expats can reach better facilities and avoid public-system waits and language barriers.
allianzcare.com- How expensive is it to retire in Mexico?
Much lower than the US. A comfortable single-retiree budget is Estimated single-person costs about Mex$12,521 per month (roughly US$650) excluding rent.
numbeo.com- Is Mexico safe?
Use caution. Global Peace Index 2025 ranks Mexico 139th of 163 (score 2.65, low state of peace); safety varies sharply by region, with popular expat hubs generally calmer.
en.wikipedia.org- What is the climate like in Mexico?
The climate is Varied; the Tropic of Cancer splits tropical and temperate zones, with mild temperate highlands.. Arid or semiarid north, tropical south; highlands between 1,000-2,000m stay mild (16-20C) year-round, with a June to mid-October rainy season.
en.wikipedia.org- Where do retirees live in Mexico?
Popular retirement spots include Mérida, Ajijic (Lake Chapala) and Puerto Vallarta.
en.wikipedia.org
Compare Mexico with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
