Digital Nomad Life in Mexico

"Make learning Spanish a priority. Hire locals to clean your house or build your house or walk your dog or wash your car... whatever. Force yourself to interact as much as possible," said one expat in Yucatan.

"Stroll the malecón in the evening, hang out at Captain Don's bar in 5 de Diciembre neighborhood, and at probably lots of bars in Old Town ("Zona Romantica")," remarked one member in Puerto Vallarta.

"Take a look at Incanto: https://www.incantovallarta.com/ I've attended several events there and have made friends in this environment via Bingo & Theater. The owner is a great and friendly host. Stroll within the calendar, as well, since you teach Improv. The current calendar looks like its still within the high season. This and many other options are available in Puerto Vallarta," explained one expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"There are lots of activities in San Carlos. In the winter, Club Deportivo hosts an Educational series along with the usual bingo and such. There are several non-profit organizations to join, The Rescate (EMS) thrift store collects and sells items to support ambulance service. The Castaway Kids supports the local orphanage. The Rotary - and more. If you want to be involved there are many avenues. Most of the support groups are run by English speaking people, so there should be no hesitation if you haven't entirely grasped the language," said one person in San Carlos.

"Go to a restaurant and talk to the people at the table beside you - talk to a anyone. It is natural and almost expected here in PV. Something I would never do in my original home of Vancouver," said one expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

"People tend to work long hours during the week, not much on the weekends which is generally reserved for families. If you have kids you will be invited to tons of birthday parties, parents are expected to attend, not just drop the kids off. The parties are quite extravagant compared to the US," explained one expat living in Mexico City, Mexico.

"People here love kayaking, fishing, scuba and off-roading. There is a large, modern marina. There are rocky beaches, sandy beaches, public and isolated. There are also many restaurants with excellent food - Italian, Mexican, American, Greek, and even Texas Style BBQ," said one person in San Carlos.

"Tequis is a small, colonial town that caters to weekend tourists, mostly from Mexico City and surrounding environs. Many of them own weekend homes here and come to get away from the hub-bub of big city life. Local denizens are very family oriented and making a living is just a normal part of everyday life. No big corporate presence here, just small businesses and many restaurants. Tons of small specialty shops," said one expat who made the move to Tequisquiapan.

"Renovating old colonial homes, enjoying the beach, learning about the Mayan culture," explained one foreigner living in Yucatan, Mexico.

"Saltillo is a small city/large town, so it's relatively quiet here. People here seem more respectful of their neighbors than in other areas of Mexico. For example, in general people don't blare their music from their homes or use their car horns as doorbells. People work hard and enjoy their families. While social stratification runs the gamut here, in general people are friendly and laid-back. While soccer is still a huge pastime, baseball appears to be just as popular, if not more popular, than soccer. Saltillo's professional baseball team won the 2009 national championship, and I always hear my neighbor kids hitting a ball around. Saltillenses are good runners, too. Every June, the city hosts a half-marathon, and throughout the year there are a variety of 5K and 10K races. Saltillo also boasts a plethora of good public parks--great for picnics, enjoying some green spaces, or playgrounds for kids," said one in Saltillo.

"After studyinng the market here for 2 1/2 years and debating renting or buying, we learned a lot about neighborhoods. And we learned the best way to figure out where you want to be is to come down and go airbnb for a while in different neighborhoods to figure out what you want. For those of us on a budget, Norte and Santiago are much too expensive and the father you go from Centro prices fall dramatically. We just bought a house and it was only after looking at very many and being ready to pounce on one that was significantly reduced in price and in excellent condition. Those go very quickly. Even renting, remember if you don't like the neighborhood, you're stuck for a year usually," said one expat who made the move to Merida.

"I live in a large furnished studio with good sized kitchen with pantry (full size appliances), true dining area (room for 6-8) living area with sofa, coffee table and 2 chairs and nice sized bedroom area. It has a yard with parking and outside dining and is fully air conditioned. It's actually the ground floor of a 2 story house so it's larger than most studios IME. Including my power, water, garbage, gas and WIFI, it's under $400 USD per month. Outside my front door is a park and 2 more parks are within 3 blocks in opposite directions. It's a great neighborhood away from downtown but still has every kind of business within a 5 minute walk. A really nice mall is 2.4 miles away and it's dog-friendly! I've lived in 3 different neighborhoods in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico including Centro and this is by far my favorite! FYI, my AC runs 24/7/365. It's clean, quite, walkable and has green spaces," explained one foreigner living in Merida, Mexico.

"Versalles, Aralias & Fluvial just to name a few. Rentals are found easy with boots on ground. You need to view in person and no deposits until you arrive. Otherwise, most likely, you will have a problem with your deposit and may never see it. In Zona Romantica (my opinion is that it’s for visitors/tourist) you will have fireworks almost every night, many tourist, road blocks for celebrations/water repairs, spring/winter breaks, flooding during the rainy season, and parties non-stop," said one in Puerto Vallarta.

"Merida is made up of the Centro area (downtown) and then many different neighborhoods which are called colonies and Fracc's. We were told by a realtor that many expats move to the North Merida area, which is nice and very safe with many stores and restaurants. He said anything above Calle 59 is good. We ended up finding a place in a small neighborhood called San Pedro Uxmal. I don't think there are many expats there, but the home had everything we wanted and the price was good. We are very happy there," explained one expat in Merida.

"My favorite area is 5 Diciembre with a more local atmosphere and more Mexican nationals full time occupants, than some of the others," explained one person living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"I suggest you never secure a 6 mo lease until you see and feel the property. Committing to 6 month online is not recommended whether you get a 180 day visa or not. Get a hotel when you arrive and make that your base camp to find longer arrangements. Don't think what you see online is what is actually there. Bait and switch happens in Mexico....and don't forget it. Once they have your money you are behind the curve," remarked one member in San Carlos.

"Living costs are about 2/3 of those in the states. This is a relatively new area. 60 years ago there was nothing here but a fishing village. Not as cheap as in other parts of Mexico, but still a savings. Bring a good sturdy vehicle. The weather and the waters are sublime (although hot and humid in the summer months). Very low crime area, but petty theft is here as it is everywhere. You feel welcome wherever you go. Relax. Sometimes you have water and electricity...sometimes you don't. Bring butter," explained one expat living in San Carlos, Mexico.

"Learn basic phrases in Spanish, be patient and kind. Remember Mexico is a foreign country and nothing like the United States. If you are an arts and crafts person and are retired or have your own income, I think you would like it here," said one person in Patzcuaro.

"Get out, see the town. Clearly, learning Spanish makes getting out a lot easier, so learn Spanish (again, people here are pretty patient, so it's a great community to try perfecting one's broken Spanish). The downtown has a lot to offer, between the Alameda, Plaza de Armas, and various free/cheap museums. The Serape Museum is my favorite, and, as creepy as it sounds, the Bird Museum is pretty interesting (and in the summer, well worth spending 10 pesos for an hour or so in the air-conditioning). If your company is moving you, they'll probably suggest that you live in the way north side of the city--this is a nice area of town and may be advantageous as it seems that most expats live there. However, do consider the Republica neighborhood, downtown, and the south side of town. They're all great places to live, within walking distance of points of interest, and often a lot cheaper than the northern neighborhoods," said one expat who made the move to Saltillo.

"Read www.yucatanliving.com and www.meridainsider.com for information on living here," explained one foreigner living in Yucatan, Mexico.

"The culture of the island is nothing to appreciate except for the hotel owner who left to work in the states. Where I live now, people say good morning or good afternoon when they ride the cambis (little buses) The children are so obviously loved and I haven't heard a swear word since moving here. This is Purepecha country, the indigenous people who farm and make crafts to sell. I appreciate being among people who have a similar take on life--don't worry, don't hurry, don't take yourself too seriously, trust in God," explained one expat living in Purepecha, Mexico.

"The language is fun to learn, the food is great, a lot of people I've met are really special and I've made some friends, although it hasn't been easy. They are a close-knit culture with their families and don't accept gringas very willingly, but I'm okay. There are astoundingly beautiful places that I could never see the like in the States," said one person in Guadalajara.

"Simpler lifestyle, fresher food, lower priced food, lower price utilities and rent, ocean breezes. Fisherman live on my streets, seeing them repair their nets, getting boats ready. Love fresh shrimp and fish. So many to list here," said one expat who made the move to Puerto Penasco.

"The history is amazing, and you have the pyramids on one side, the beautiful beaches on another, the perfect climate, the warm and affectionate people, and the food tastes great," explained one foreigner living in Mexico City, Mexico.

"Most people that we have met have been very friendly. Some going out of their way to help us, Merida is a very historical city and very rich in Mayan and Mexican culture. We have not had any time yet to check out all the history and culture, but are really looking forward to finding all about it," said one in Merida.

"Pounds to kilos. :-) Power-outages for no reason. Bugs (especially black widow spiders and scorpions hitching a ride on the plant trucks). exchange rates and devaluations. (Luckily we had a USD account when they devalued the peso by 50%," said one person in Guadalajara.

"A delightful challenge is to let go of the "pressue cooker" lifestyle which I lived while climbing the ladder of success. The language, until I learn more, is still slightly a challenge. And, since I really enjoy knowing what's going on in the country in which I live, I really find it challenging that I don't understand the politics of the county. Lastly, I find it very difficult to find other expats to socialize with. Where are you all hiding?," said one expat who made the move to Tequisquiapan.

"I hate the slowness of the bureaucracy. I don't like the bank fees and exhorbitant fees associated with Mexican banks and US foreign banks in Mexico. I don't like the need to negotiate with others not used to fixed prices because it means I got to figure out what the reasonable price for an item is and then negotiate down. I never liked shopping much so it is not fun to do that for me. But I love buying artistic things that bring me joy to look at it at home. I don't like men ignoring me and asking my husband the question or giving my husband the answer. It is impolite," explained one foreigner living in Merida, Mexico.

"I think language is the main challenge. Originally, we were going to move to Playa del Carmen where many of the Mexicans speak English as it is a tourist town. We changed plans and moved to Merida and have found that the majority of Mexicans do not speak English, so it is definitely a challenge daily!," said one in Merida.

"The constant sound of explosives going off IS awful. Not just fireworks but M-80s at 5 am on a Sunday. There is a competition between the Colonia's and their Churches when it comes to fireworks, firecrackers, and mostly M-80's which are NOT firecrackers but sound more like a bomb detonating. This is not just a Mexico thing. San Miguel is way worse than Oaxaca City, Mexico City, Merida, etc. for blowing stuff up. For every Catholic or Cultural holiday be prepared for massive noise and there are TONS of these holidays every month. It's horrible," explained one expat in San Miguel de Allende.

"We used our recommended attorney, which was a great move. We applied at the Mexican consulate in Seattle which took four hours ... We brought proof of income, passports and that was it. Our attorney had suggested that we apply for one permanent (for me) and one temporary visa for my wife... This allowed us to bring the car down under her name. It also sped the shipment of household goods using her temp visa. The cost of the attorney (minimal) was well worth the price.. He had the local connections that moved the paper along. When we arrived in Ajijic we immediately started the local paperwork for our visas. After being finger printed and filling out a couple of forms, we had our visas in 10 days," said one expat who made the move to Ajijic.

"I ordered 1.1 lbs of american cheese, not understanding the difference between a kilo and a pound when we first arrived. We ate cheese for a month," said one expat in Guadalajara.

"I was told by a good friend to just throw the words out there. They noticed that I had a tendency to be a lot quieter than usual during table discussions where everyone is engaged and fluent in Spanish. He said "Just like a baby babbles and throws a word incorrectly just do it anyway. We will correct you!". That was a relief! He knew that I was afraid of making mistakes so he told me to do the opposite of what my mind was telling to do. Don't stay silent, just jump in there and graciously accept the friendly help! They love it! And it breaks the ice! It makes sense. As a teacher that's exactly what I encourage.my students to do -- I tell them to just jump into the discussion and I'm there to help as needed," remarked one member in Comitan, CHIAPAS.

"Yes, not listening tho the U.S. Embassy advice and leave the country for security reasons. I endured complete financial loss, physical injury and other kidnappings after staying after their advice," explained one expat living in Coastal Oaxaca, Mexico.

"Sure, I tried out new words I thought I had learned and made a fool of myself, but I just laughed with everyone else and it was fine. Also, I fell twice in the street 'cause the streets are so broken and uneven and felt silly, but a nice lady helped me, very kind," said one person in Guadalajara.

"Not that we have noticed yet, but I'm sure that will be happening in the future :-)," said one expat who made the move to Merida.

"Although I have met people having care for serious conditions, my experience has only been dental. People I know who had the same procedure done just across the border in San Diego had side effects I did not experience with my Mexican dentist," said one digital nomad in Tijuana.

"The high humidity produces the famed "city of flowers" of which the state capital Xalapa, 4 miles away, boasts but also leads to a runny nose. I have found work-arounds and would not trade the beauty of the natural world for anything. It's hard to see children begging. Street repair is ignored. Traffic is heavy at high-use times. Adjusting has been remarkably easy," said one member in Coatepec.

"Working class Mexicans live in Mazatlán too so there are some cheap accommodations available provided you are OK with such locations and lifestyle, none of which have an ocean view," explained one expat in Mazatlan.

"I've never experienced any racism by Mexicans towards white people. But I've seen PLENTY of racist white people treating Mexicans poorly. Maybe try treating them with a little respect and courtesy. In my experience, Mexican people are warm and kind and good. If you go to Mexico and get mad at the locals for not speaking English, you should GO HOME," remarked one global nomad in Merida.

"San Carlos, Sonora. It is still in the 'free zone' and 3 hours from US at Nogales. Tucson is then close for a larger town. Many gringos leave in the summer but this is a vacation destination for the mid to upper class Mexicans. Weekends and summer is busy here with those on holiday. There are many gift shop who maybe you could sell to until and if you got a status to have a business location. Costco 1 hour away in Hermosillo. Hot and humid in summer like all locations on the water. It is said 70% snowbird north in the summer. I have no problems with the heat. Finding a place that has it all does not exist or everyone would only live there. Prioritize is the key," explained one digital nomad living in San Carlos, Mexico.

"Expats and digital nomads often appreciate the affordability of living in Mexico, as well as the warm climate and friendly people. They also enjoy the vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and the wide variety of activities available. On the other hand, some expats and digital nomads may find the language barrier and bureaucracy to be challenging. Additionally, the lack of reliable public transportation and infrastructure can be a source of frustration," said one foreigner in Mexico.