A New Wave of Americans Seeks Better, Cheaper Living in Mexico Dina Al-Shibeeb - MoneyWise
go to original June 25, 2022

Why Californians Are Fleeing to Mexico (CNBC)

While Americans seeking a change of pace in Mexico is not a new trend, recent affordability challenges — particularly the rising cost of housing — have inspired a new surge of expats.

Here's what to consider if you're planning to stretch your dollars down south.

Affordability a Top Priority

In a March survey by the magazine Expats In Mexico, nearly one-quarter of respondents named cost of living as their top motive for making the move, though the Mexican lifestyle and climate also scored well.

Greg Prasker’s stay in Mexico began by paying $1,000 in total for his residency, which included $700 in residency fees to the Mexican government and $300 for his lawyer.

He currently lives in San Cristobal de las Casas, in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. His $525 rent gives him an-all inclusive apartment with a weekly cleaning service.

“That’s expensive for here,” Prasker said. “I know people that are a little further out that are spending $100 or $200 a month."

Those savings are sure to prove alluring to anyone who can take advantage of the ongoing work-from-home revolution.

“Additional flexibility to work remotely and relatively minimal travel restrictions to enter Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to an increasing flow of U.S. citizens working remotely from several Mexican cities,” says Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute.

Inflation and increasing rent and home prices in traditionally expensive areas in California and New York “have also contributed to U.S. citizens’ interest in relocating to Mexico,” Soto adds.

How Many Americans Are Choosing Mexico?

While it's unclear exactly how many Americans are making the move, Soto shared several figures that shed light on the situation.

“Based on data from the Mexican Census, the U.S. immigrant population living in Mexico was 739,000 in 2015 and increased to 797,000 in 2020,” Soto said.

“A total of 104,000 U.S. immigrants moved to Mexico between 2015 and 2020, which means that during the same period approximately 46,000 left Mexico, so that the net increase is 58,000.”

Soto, however, notes that these estimates likely miss a large portion of the expat population, including digital nomads who work remotely from multiple locations in the country.

“The U.S. embassy in Mexico has estimates that tend to be higher (around one million U.S. immigrants) and based on information they collect at U.S. consulates,” he said. “Both estimates are imperfect and likely the 'real' number is between them.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department estimates that there are currently 1.6 million Americans living in Mexico.

Dina Al-Shibeeb is an award-winning journalist with hyperlocal and international experience in various news formats. She began her reporting career covering the Arab Spring and its aftermath for a Dubai-based news station. She has since worked in Canadian media, covering municipal affairs in Vaughan, Ont., for Metroland Media. Her work has also appeared at the Toronto Star.

Read the rest at MoneyWise

Related: Cost of Living in Mexico: How Much You Really Need Per Month in 2022 (ExpatDen)

Related: Best Cities That Are Cheap to Live In & Offer a High Quality of Life in Mexico (My Funky Travel)

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