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Mexico Named Best Place To Retire
Been to Mexico? I have a few times and I love it. It's not just the hot weather and the gorgeous beaches -- Mexico is a really friendly, vibrant place with a lot of energy and culture. At least what I've seen of it. Anyway, I digress. The point of this post is to write about how Mexico was named the best place to retire by an annual retirement index in International Living magazine. It used to be that Panama held this coveted title, but housing prices have since sky-rocketed -- I hope this doesn't happen to Mexico too!  Want to see what all the fuss is about? Check out our Travel Guide for Mexico. Not interested in Mexico? Learn more about Australia or South Africa. |
I couldn't find a copy of the whole list -- I wonder if my native Canada made the cut? There are definitely some retirement-worthy places here too. But given the choice between Mexico and the prairie winters, you know which one I'm going with.
(Of course, there are plenty of great places in the U.S. to retire. Check out Money & Finance's great retirement spots in the U.S. and decide if any of them are for you.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Teresa Mar 16th 2008 1:27PM
Interesting info from all viewpoints, however, I have been to Mexico several times, not the beaches, but the interior part of Mexico where everyone should go at least once, so you can see how truly poor the people are, and how hard it is for them to survive. We Americans are truly spoiled, & even though we work hard, we are still paid honest wages and can earn our way up in society, Mexicans for the most part cannot. The wealthier Mexicans work for the government, and the rest are poor & make just enough money to feed their families (barely). Why do you think they migrate to the USA? Think about it, if you didn't have enough money to buy your food each day/week, would you go somewhere else to provide for your family? It costs the average Mexican over $2,000 at the US Embassy in Mexico to get legal documents to pass into the USA. Where in the world is the average poor Mexican going to get that kind of money? That is why they cross undocumented and illegally. Have a heart, where are your morals? My husband and I will be retiring in 5 years if we can figure out how to stop having to pay $8,000/yr. for our self-employed health insurance with a $5,000/yr. each deductible! Since the USA and its Corporate Health Insurance lobbyists keep my health insurance premiums so high, I will have to retire in Mexico just to be able to afford reasonably priced health care. That's fine with me. And to you who are so ignorant to think that the health care is substandard in Mexico, I know plenty of Mexicans who are my friends who do not have any problems when they have surgeries or babies while living in Mexico, they seem to be fit and healthy as can be! Get real. Mexico is considered to be a 3rd world country, but things are improving as the illegal Mexicans here pour billions of dollars back into their home towns and economy there, especially since their government won't put any money into their roads and infrastructure or improve their standard of living. People need to get educated before you make rude comments. And Mexicans are not dirty like someone said, they are very clean and I have seen some of my fellow Americans who I would consider to be a lot less sanitary. PS: I don't drink my own tap water, it is full of all the closed-down GM plants in town waste products mixed with chlorine that you can smell a mile away!
Rob Apr 1st 2008 3:33PM
First, I want to thank Dick Lyman post #113 for a very concise and thorough explanation of the property owning situation in Mexico.
Secondly, I have noticed all the posters here who live in Mexico or have considered it defend their decision as the only possible alternative to the U.S. - it's not! One person suggested Denmark. That is an excellent idea and for retired people offers everything. Another bought in Brazil.
Like I stated before, there are numerous other Latin American countries (just about all of them) that are better destinations than Mexico. One poster indicated that Mexico isn't for everyone. He continued to state that Mexico is a place for those who are flexible (that's one way of putting it) and adventerous. Based on my trips to Mexico and the words on this site, Mexico is acutally the closest you can get to the U.S (Costco, Home Depot, Wal Mart, loads of gringos. I even noticed I could get the exact souvenirs in Arizona as they offered in Baja) and therefore the LEAST adventerous of all countries to visit. Once again folks, there is SO MUCH MORE OUT THERE. Mexico pales in comparison!! Do yourselves a favor and travel. For those who have already settled in Mexico, I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to see more. You settled for the "Wal Mart" of retirement countries.
joebirds Apr 13th 2008 10:04PM
Wow! The vast majority of you are incredibly ignorant. Mexico has all of the convieniences we are used to (Wal-mart, Costco, Office Depot, Sams Club, etc.). The reason Mexicans come north is because their economy cannot support them. They don't leave because they do like it, they leave because they cannot afford to do otherwise.
What most people miss here is that those that come North, are supporting families (mostly). Those families are staying because that is where their roots are.
rerlick Jun 12th 2008 5:57PM
Update on Mexico from the U.S. Department of State:
Travel Alert
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This information is current as of today, Thu Jun 12 14:54:46 2008.
Mexico
April 14, 2008
This Travel Alert updates information for U.S. citizens on security situations in Mexico that may affect their activities while in that country. This supersedes the Travel Alert for Mexico dated October 24, 2007, and expires on October 15, 2008.
Great job AOL! You picked quite a country to recommend for retirement! Don't forget your guns, people.
g.gaudi Feb 8th 2009 11:44AM
retiring in Mexico is easy and very enjoyable. Catemaco, Veracruz is a quiet town on the shores of Lake Catemaco, the 2nd largest lake in Mexico. beautiful mountains, rivers, waterfalls and the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico 30 minutes away.
The cost of living is very low, as compared to many areas of mexico. Housing can be had for around 450.00 usd, within a gated resort type property. This is a furnished unit, just pack your clothes and head south.....you won´t regret it!
NORMA MAHER Oct 2nd 2007 6:27AM
RETIRE AND MOVE TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES TO RETIRE AND FEEL SAFE BECAUSE I'M AN AMERICAN. NEVER
mabel Jul 3rd 2008 9:47PM
I have a problem losing most of my Constitutional rights,thats why a person would want to retire in a peaceful country other the america!
Rick Oct 2nd 2007 6:36AM
I've done some research on this subject and I've recently visited Ajijic, which is just south of Guadalajara. In a search for " best climate, " Ajijic is second in the world next to Kenya. There is a large ex-pat community and the native Mexicans were very friendly. If you are looking at Mexico or any other area to retire, I'd suggest you the book, " Living Abroad in Mexico, " or whatever country you may be looking to become an ex-pat. On a grading level and the USA being graded as an A, Mexico came in at a B+ regarding health care, cost of living, transportation, education, etc. Mexico is long past the view of many who may still say you can't drink the water and it is nothing more than barren dessert. Ajijic is higher than Denver in altitude and is surrounded by beautiful mountains..... Rick
Bob Jun 20th 2008 1:30PM
Hey Rick,
I liked your post and I am moving down there next month, but I am not quite at the retirement age I am 45 and I am wondering I know it's retirement community, but are there any younger women there.
Regards, Bob
Aida Fajardo Oct 2nd 2007 7:48AM
Family keeps my husband and me where we are in Jersey. However, we have visited Cabos, Veracruz, and Cozumel and Cabos has our vote as the most beautiful place to retire. The people of Mexico are friendly, happy and very helpful. The music makes you want to sing and dance. If we could, Mexico would be where we would retire.
Aida Fajardo Oct 2nd 2007 7:59AM
Family keeps my husband and me where we are in Jersey. We love Mexico. We have visited Cozumel, Veracruz and more recently we had a family wedding in Cabos. The people of Mexico are very friendly, happy and helpful. If we could retire in Mexico, Cabos has our vote as the best place. Viva Mexico!
Curious Oct 2nd 2007 7:59AM
Hmmmm, if it's such a great place to retire why are so many illegals trying to leave it?
linda Mar 24th 2008 2:46PM
Live and let live, different strokes for different folks, walk a mile in my shoes. Those are all kinda hokey sayings but they really are true.
Glenn Oct 2nd 2007 8:08AM
I used to live in Mexico - in the capital as well as in the beautiful state of Michoacan. As is said in Mexico..."Como Mexico no hay dos," which means there isn't another place [in the world] like Mexico. I do agree. The people are very friendly and the country very diverse. But there is a down side as well. Crime is rampant (I was mugged) and the "manana" mentality to get things accomplished can be nervewrecking. When push came to shove, we decided to retire in the USA!
webguy Oct 2nd 2007 8:10AM
I heard they were building a wall to keep us out of Mexoco, so why would we want to go life there??
Harry Oct 2nd 2007 8:36AM
We American citizens know that Mexico is the best place to retire, the Mexicans come across the border to earn enough money (US Dollars) to go back and retire. So it must really be better than we think.....
Harry Oct 2nd 2007 8:47AM
I heard that many years ago some rich Americans built a community in Mexico, their oun little town with water, electricity, sewage diposable plants and every thing they would have in the USA, except the prices of every thing were so much cheaper. They even had servents...
After many years the Mexican government took every thing they had, homes, furniture, land and ran them back to the USA. Seems like that was 40 or 50 years ago. True or not true ??????????
Peter Oct 2nd 2007 8:56AM
This is AMERICA ONLINE, so I will assume this blog largely elicits responses from Americans. What a bunch of garbage this story is! This piece was written with vacation goggles on! Okay, so what do you do when you want to buy supplies for your hobby? Food shopping in a bright, clean supermarket with food from all over the world like we have at Whole Foods or even Publix? Air conditioned malls with ample parking and great stores? Movie cinemas, hospitals, dentists, doctors,etc.? After you visit the beach 100 times or so, play golf at the courses you can afford on your retirement, and start treating your skin cancer, there's little else to do. Spain (where all the Brits and others have been buying and building throughout Andalusia) is beautiful, so is France, but again, very expensive with the Euro @ 1.42 vs. the $, so your retirement funds will run out more quickly, and again, even though we are technically talking FIRST world countries as opposed to Mexico, we are still NOT talking US level conveniences that we Americans take for granted far too easily thanks to our idealistic Lefty media outlets knocking the US all the time -- like AOL. Bottom Line, retire in Florida, Arizona, Calif, Nevada, etc., volunteer with kids schools and day cares or anyplace else, retain the access you take for granted to so many plentiful and vital services and travel to Mexico, Spain etc., have a blast but see the forest through the trees.
dagnabit Oct 2nd 2007 9:03AM
Fortunately, I've children and grandchildren to keep me where I'm at. Had a terrible example from my parents, who had eight children, and left for Florida, only coming home for 4-6 weeks during the summer. They missed graduations, weddings, youngsters sporting events, EVERYTHING. My wife and I love to travel, but home is home. Being selfish can be very extreme, and cold. So visit to your hearts, and wallets, content. But you can't pretend to be there - home is where the heart is.
SHARK1 Oct 2nd 2007 10:13AM
The mexicans sneek here by means of a "coyote" this is the man who gets 3,000$ to help them cross the boader and hided till they go to whatever state they might want. Once there they live meager lives often renting with others like several families in one big room with curtains as dividers and one kitchen and bathroom. The money they make in america gets sent back to mexico. I am told that the average mexican needs 40,000$ us dollars to retire inmexico and his familiy will live well. And this goes on and on. Thats why you rarely see any old mexicans in america except those who received education and make enough to enjoy the life here.