Should You Move to Mexico?
Insights and reflections from people who've done it: Mexico City edition.
A few themes are emerging as more and more expatriates and immigrants from the Substack community take the time to answer the survey about their lives abroad. One is mindset; how you approach the stress and otherness of living in a foreign country is key to finding happiness there and making a good life for yourself.
The other is language. While not everyone takes on the herculean task of learning to speak the local language and still does just fine, there is a growing consensus among the respondents that being about to make friends and share a laugh at the cafe in the local language is critical to successfully constructing a good life in a new country.
Language and mindset together will help you weather the storms of visa renewals, doctor’s visits, landlords, and neighbours with your dignity intact and your feelings for your new country positive.
from The Free Bird Hotel (I love the name of her Substack!) is a great example of someone who has learned the local language and gracefully faced the headwinds of culture shock with a willingness to adapt and accept the difficulties that living abroad inevitably brings.Still, even so, it’s never easy. But for Emily—and many of us who live abroad—that’s kind of the whole point.
Emily Fata, Mexico:
Background:
Country of origin: USA
Country of current residence: Mexico
Length of time living abroad: 4 years.
2. Motivation: What was the primary reason for your move? (e.g., work, study, retirement, lifestyle):
In 2016, I spent 3 months in Mexico, traveling, surfing, and volunteering. I actually wanted to stay long-term at that point, but the timing wasn’t right. It took me five more years to work up the courage and figure out the logistics to actually move here. In 2021, I was working remotely and found myself newly single. It was my moment. I put my stuff in storage and went to Puerto Escondido. After 2 years in Puerto Escondido, I got small-town fever and moved to Mexico City.
3. Practicalities: How challenging was the visa and work permit process? What were the biggest hurdles in setting up your life abroad (e.g., housing, healthcare, banking)?
Visa & Work Permit Process
I originally came to Mexico on a tourist visa. After I had been here for about 9 months, I applied for temporary residency. I filled out my paperwork and did an interview at the Mexican consulate in Colorado. They approved me, and then I had another interview at the Department of Migration in Mexico. The exact requirements vary depending on the foreign consulate, but essentially, you have to prove that you have financial solvency. (i.e., enough savings or income to support yourself). I am not permitted to work in Mexico. The visa lasts for one year, and then you can renew it for three more years afterward directly at the migration office in Mexico. Once I got a temporary residency, it was fairly easy to set up a bank account. Although they did try to scam me into signing up for auto insurance (even though I didn’t have a car?), so be wary of that.
Housing, Healthcare, Banking
I couldn’t find a health insurance plan that made sense for my needs, so I have paid out of pocket to see doctors at private clinics and hospitals. Most doctors will charge between $1200 to $2000 pesos for a visit (approximately $60 to $100 USD). In general, the healthcare system is very good, but like anywhere in the world, there are amazing providers and not-so-great ones.
4. Cultural Adaptation: What were the most significant cultural adjustments you had to make? How did you handle language barriers and cultural misunderstandings?
Whenever I face a frustrating cultural barrier and get triggered, I try to pause and observe how the people around me are managing. In the US, we have this expectation that infrastructure should always work, whereas in Mexico, chaos is an accepted part of life, and people adapt. In my first apartment building in Mexico City, the water went out for a week. I was frantically calling my landlord and trying to resolve the situation, and she kept telling me that there was nothing she could do. I wasn’t getting anywhere with my approach, so I had to just relax and pretend I was on a camping trip. In the US, there is a cultural sense that “the customer is always right” that doesn’t really work in Mexico. I am learning not to waste as much energy getting angry or frustrated when I face inconveniences. Things work out in time.
Even though systems or infrastructure don’t always work, people are very generous and will often help you out in unexpected ways. For example, once, I went to pick up a package at a DHL location. There has been a mistake in the system, which was actually at the location across town. One of the employees was leaving work and offered to give me a ride on his motorcycle to the other location. I don’t necessarily recommend accepting rides from strangers, but it was a kind gesture and very representative of life in Mexico. It’s the people who make things work, not the bureaucracy or the systems.
At this point, I speak Spanish pretty well, but I still find myself navigating high-stakes situations and realizing how much vocabulary I lack. Last year, I faced a series of health challenges, and I saw 10 different doctors in addition to getting blood tests, x-rays, MRIS, and a few different procedures done. I always practice what I will say before the appointment and use it as an opportunity to learn new words. It’s truly been a master class in Spanish anatomy! You have to fall in love with the struggle, but sometimes I wonder why I make my life so hard.
I wrote a whole piece about the ego death of learning another language on my Substack. In difficult moments, I always remind myself, “This is literally what I am paying for!” (Referring to my visa fees.) I am in Mexico because I want to understand another language and culture and another way of life. I can either use these triggering moments to learn more about myself and how I react, or I can go back to the US.
5. Quality of Life: How would you rate your overall quality of life compared to the US or where you last lived? Are you satisfied with your host country’s cost of living, healthcare, and education systems?
I love Mexico and am so grateful for my quality of life here. I live in Roma Sur, which is a very central neighborhood in Mexico City, so I can walk or take the metro or a Citi bike almost everywhere I need to go. The weather is temperate year-round, and the streets are lined with Eucalyptus and lime trees and rosemary and lavender bushes. There is a weekly farmers market a few blocks from my apartment, so I get to buy fresh, local produce all year. The food is delicious, and the options are almost overwhelming. You could have a croissant and americano at a hipster outdoor café and then go next door to a local family restaurant for mole enchiladas. The geography throughout the country is varied and unique—I am always escaping the city to explore the volcanoes, beaches, cenotes, waterfalls, hot springs, and desert.
Mexico City feels completely modern but also ancient. The past is very much alive—the Mesoamerican City of Teotihuacan is only 30 minutes away, and many indigenous healing practices are still used today. I love going to a temazcal on a random Wednesday evening or learning about traditional herbal remedies at the market.
The cost of living is going up, partially because of all of the foreigners moving here. There is a lot of privilege in earning USD or euros and then paying for things in pesos. I feel guilty for this, but I also see it as a compliment. Mexico City is so gorgeous and fun and full of color and life! Of course, we all want to live here. That being said, I am currently looking for a new apartment, and I will have to increase my budget significantly to find something. Don’t move to Mexico solely for the cost of living. You have to really love the country and the culture to make life work here.
Regarding the healthcare system, I’ve had some positive experiences and some negative ones as well. I do appreciate that the doctors in Mexico spend more time with you ask more questions, and follow up with you personally. A lot of them will give you their personal numbers and will text you directly on WhatsApp.
To be fair, there are cons to this idyllic urban paradise. It’s going to take a few years to get your microbiome adjusted. I’ve gotten sick from food and water several times. The air quality is also not very good, and I’ve had some problems with my sinuses. The traffic is also brutal if you have to drive or commute during rush hour. As I mentioned before, it’s pretty common for the infrastructure in apartment buildings (like water or gas) to just stop working, and you don’t have a lot of recourse.
6. Professional Experience: How has living abroad impacted your career? Was it easy for you to find employment?
My visa doesn’t permit me to work in Mexico. I have a consulting and writing business and work with clients remotely. Most of my clients are based in the US. Living in Mexico has hurt my business because it’s harder to network and meet with clients in person. However, living in Mexico has been so inspiring for me creatively, so it’s been worth the trade-off.
7. Advice for Future Expats: What are the top three things you wish you knew before moving abroad? What advice would you give to someone considering a similar move?
· Try it out before you make the full commitment. I recommend coming on a tourist visa for a few months as an experiment before officially moving here. Living in Mexico is very different from living in the US (or Europe, I imagine), and it’s not for everyone. It was easier for me to handle the initial periods of loneliness and discomfort because I didn’t put pressure on myself to make it work at all costs. It’s important to observe the culture and way of life before inserting yourself into it.
· Invest in learning the language. Speaking Spanish gives you a much deeper connection with the city and the local people. Mexicans are very friendly and warm, and the world comes alive when you can engage in their language. Even if you struggle and make mistakes, people appreciate the effort. I still take private lessons with a teacher, and I also went to an intercambio every week when I first moved here. I also watch Spanish television series and podcasts, which helps me with the more colloquial use of the language.
· Prioritize communities. I volunteer at a community garden and take weekly dance classes at Parque, Mexico. I also found a longboarding community by going to a meet-up that I found on Instagram. Mexico City is huge, so finding little pockets where I can show up every week and see the same people over and over again has been really grounding. It’s also given me a sense of belonging and helped me progress in my Spanish. I love and appreciate all my foreign friends, but I have noticed that a lot of foreigners tend to stay for a year or two before going back to their home countries. Finding a local community of people who share your interests helps if you want to stay here long-term.
8. Overall Experience: Looking back, would you say moving abroad was a positive experience? Why or why not?
I am so grateful for the opportunity to live here. It’s been fun and wild and has stretched me in ways I didn’t expect. Because of the language and cultural differences, I feel like I am more present and alive in my everyday tasks. Even going to the market to buy food is still an adventure.
I’ve also grown so much spiritually during my time here. When we live in the country where we grew up, it’s harder to see that culture and customs, and belief systems are something that humans create. We don’t have to accept them as the de facto way of living. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have because I grew up in the US, but I have never connected to the value system of endless growth and consumption. When you immerse yourself in a new culture, it’s like ripping off the blinders and seeing that there are other ways (possibly wiser ways) to live and inhabit the planet.
Culture is an iceberg, and you can only really see the very tip on a vacation or trip. When I first moved here, I glorified Mexican culture. There is still so much that I admire, but there is a shadow side as well. In the beginning, I was ignorant to the classism and how much it affects everyday life. Now, I see this more clearly, and it’s not pretty. This is a great spiritual lesson, though—there is no perfect place or perfect culture. We are all carrying the wounds of our ancestors, of war, and of colonization. But when you move around and open yourself to other ways of being and living, you can learn a lot and, ultimately, create your own culture.
9. Additional Comments: Please feel free to share any other insights or experiences you have.
Living abroad can teach us so much about who we are and who we are meant to become. If you feel an intuitive pull to a certain place, go! But go reverently and curiously. I feel like I only realized how programmed I was by American culture until I moved here, and I am glad to have more separation from that. Thanks, Mexico, my home, and my teacher.
I write about my adventures in Mexico on my Substack, The Free Bird Hotel. Find me there.
If you live or have lived abroad and would like to take the survey, please feel free to DM me.
Want to read about another indomitable woman who’s moved to Mexico? Well, here you go, friend!
Should You Move (Off-Grid) to Mexico?
Welcome to another installment of Should You Move? This time, we are going to Central America with Julie and her partner, Lurko: two 50-somethings learning to live off the grid in a tiny home in the jungle of Nayarit, Mexico.
I enjoyed this interview. I felt like the question of dating would have been interesting too.
Informative and enlightening. Living somewhere so ancient and modern is indeed wonderful. The air and water quality are huge negatives though, as mentioned. I remember falling in love with CDMX my first time there when I didn’t realize the metro would start immediately the doors closed—I fell off balance onto a young man and probably hurt him a lot. I apologized profusely, and he was smiling at me, trying to make me feel less guilty! One will have so many friendly, heartwarming moments like this in Mexico.