Americans and Canadians in droves are discovering that living in Mexico has a lot of appeal. Some are snowbirds, here for about half the year, but many people have become “expats,” or people who live outside their own country. While visiting grandchildren and doing some shopping may take these expats north frequently, they consider Mexico as their place of residence.
Why do we come and stay here in Mexico? Few of us speak Spanish really well; complaining is a major pastime in expat communities; and we are baffled by the customs of the people in our new country of residence. So what is the draw?
Two aspects of life in Mexico are frequently mentioned as major draws: the climate and the cost of living. Of course, climate does vary around Mexico. The Lake Chapala area, at 5,000 feet elevation, is often described as having one of the best climates in the world: not too hot, not too cold, not too wet, not too dry. With about 34 inches of rain a year and temperatures that almost never dip as low as freezing, it’s mighty nice. Other Mexican cities popular with expats may have different climates, but you are not shoveling snow in any of them.
It is hard to generalize about what any given person or couple from the US or Canada will spend for average monthly expenses, because people differ a lot. Fresh produce in the local street market, all the tortillas you can eat, and local meat are very economical. Health care is typically lower in cost than up north, and so are other basics. Many expats who took care of their own housework and yard back home find they can afford a gardener, a maid, or both. One area that will not necessarily provide big bargains is that of housing. In places where a lot of foreigners congregate, prices may be very much like home.
There’s another factor that is less often mentioned that might actually be even more important — it’s certainly at least as important as climate and costs. The Mexican people themselves are wonderfully courteous and welcoming to us. They are patient with our struggles to speak Spanish, and very helpful. One of the cultural differences that every expat has to get used to is that it is very hard indeed for Mexicans to say no to any request. They will very kindly give you inaccurate directions if you ask where a particular street is and they don’t happen to know.
Cynics may argue that the friendliness is because the Mexicans know which side their bread is buttered on. The foreign population certainly provides a large boost to the income of many Mexicans in the popular expat centers. But all you have to do is sit on a park bench and do some people-watching to see how both courtesy and warmth come naturally to the Mexicans.
Living in Mexico is really quite different from life back home, and the best way to find out if it would suit you is to give it a try. Come for a few weeks, or if your schedule allows, come for a few months. Don’t buy a house right away, just absorb the culture and see what you think!
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