Retirement in Mexico

Why Choose Mexico for Retirement?

• Settling down in this Central American country opens the door to all sorts of recreational activities. You can enjoy a leisurely life at Mexico.
  
  
• You will get great value for money in Mexico. Did you know you could dine in one of the popular restaurants of Mexico and have a few drinks for less than $9?
• If you are a retiree in Mexico you will be amazed at the low taxes and day-to-day costs. Mexican property tax is payable quarterly at a rate of 0.1% of the assessed value of the property. It is easy to live here at half the cost than in the U.S.
• Healthcare facilities for retirees in Mexico are very affordable. While a visit to the doctor's office will cost you as little as $30, you will also get heavy discounts on hospital bills and medicine bills.
  
  
• The low cost of buying and renting property in Mexico is also a good reason to settle here. The properties in El Dorado Ranch with sea view will hardly cost you $40,000. A retirement home along the Mexican Riviera may also be a favorable option for you.
  
  
  Pros: Natural beauty, great food, excellent weather and a low cost of living.
  
  Cons: Cobblestone streets which may be uncomfortable to ride on, too many dogs around, and poisonous insects like scorpions.
  
  

  Apart from the fine weather, affordable costs and rich culture, Mexico's main attraction for expatriates is its proximity to the US. Many Americans are heading south of the border after retirement to grab an affordable beachfront property in the nearby tropical paradise of Mexico.

  Retirement in Mexico offers incredible value when you consider the safe, secure, ocean-front living with a fabulous year-round temperate climate for so little investment. For instance, while the cost of a beachfront property 30 miles up the coast in southern California would be several million dollars, in Mexico, a spot on the beach could cost you less than $100,000.

  The low cost of living in Mexico allows you to splurge on luxuries that would be absolutely unaffordable in the US. The lovely retirement havens of San Miguel de Allende, Mazatlan, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, and Lake Chapala constitute the major areas where American retirees tend to flock. This land of great natural beauty flaunts a very good health-care system, with well equipped hospitals and several doctors who have been trained in the US or Europe. Besides, excellent cellular coverage and high-speed internet widely available across the country makes Mexico a sought after destination of an increasing number of American professionals and business people who "semi-retire" to Mexico, carrying on work from a beach with a laptop!

  Few points to note if you wish to retire in Mexico:
  
  

  • There can be different visa procedures in Mexico depending on your plans for the period of stay in the country.
    
    
  • A non-working visa known as ‘Rentista' is available only to retirees aged 51 or above. For a rentista status, your application must be backed by a letter from a bank, social security agency, or financial institution, confirming that you receive a certain minimum monthly income.
    
    
  • Foreigners who have lived for five years in Mexico are eligible for permanent resident status and enjoy most of the rights and obligations of a Mexican citizen.
    
    
  • Ownership or renting of property in Mexico is relatively easy. Foreigners can directly buy a plot of land in any area that is not near the coast or the border.
  • Medical benefits stop at the border, so we recommend you to buy health insurance in Mexico. American retirees in Mexico can also sign up for the medical IMSS plan (the Mexican version of our Social Security), which costs about $200 annually and covers medical, dental, as well as vision care. You could also buy a private insurance policy that covers major medical expenses.
    
    
  • Public transportation in Mexico is affordable and reliable, so you need not necessarily buy a car here.