Sunday, July 31, 2016
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Friday, July 29, 2016
A Look at the Salaries of 25 Occupations in Mexico
I created a list showing the median monthly income for 25 occupations in Mexico ranging from waiter to commercial pilot. Although this list does not contain every possible occupation, it is a good representation of pay scales in Mexico.
The data was obtained from misalario.org, a nonprofit organization that provides information to both workers and employers in Mexico concerning salaries, labor law and careers. It has been operating since 2006 and is connected with the WageIndicator Foundation.
Occupations and Income
The following shows the median gross monthly income for a person with 5 years of experience in the listed occupation:
1. Teacher, Primary School: $11,878 pesos ($642.05 USD)
2. Security Guard: $5,056 pesos ($273.29 USD)
3. University Law Professor: $17,323 pesos ($936.37 USD)
4. Chef: $11,638 pesos ($629.08 USD)
5. Cook in a restaurant: $6,623 pesos ($358.00 USD)
6. Lawyer: $18,451 pesos ($997.35 USD)
7. Legal Assistant: $11,972 pesos ($647.13 USD)
8. Cashier in a Supermarket: $5,299 pesos ($286.43 USD)
9. Auto mechanic: $7,761 pesos ($419.51 USD)
10. Foreign language interpreter: $17,507 pesos ($946.32 USD)
11. Waiter: $6,394 pesos ($345.62 USD) …so tip well!!!
12. Carpenter: $7,548 pesos ($408.00 USD)
13. Taxi Driver: $7,726 pesos ($417.62 USD)
14. Hotel Manager: $17,332 pesos ($936.86 USD)
15. Customs or Immigration Agents: $16,533 pesos ($893.67 USD)
16. Commercial Pilot: $38,395 pesos ($2,075.40 USD)
17. Bank Teller: $9,662 pesos ($522.27 USD)
18. Account Manager in a Bank: $16,530 pesos ($893.51 USD)
19. Data Base Administrator: $20,562 pesos ($1,111.45 USD)
20. IT Support Technician: $12,044 pesos ($651.02 USD)
21. Human Resources Manager: $21,180 pesos ($1,144.86 USD)
22. Air Conditioner Technician: $12,504 pesos ($675.89 USD)
23. Pediatric Nurse: $10,881 pesos ($588.16 USD)
24. Gynecologist: $25,969 pesos ($1,403.72 USD)
25. Firefighter: $5,649 pesos ($305.35 USD)
The salaries in U.S. dollars (USD) were calculated based on an exchange rate of 18.5.
Let’s Wrap This Up
When compared to countries like the United States or Canada, the salaries in Mexico are significantly lower; however, this means that the cost of living in Mexico is also significantly lower. This fact compels many of us retirees to move south of the border. Although our monthly pensions, annuity payments, or Social Security payments are sometimes barely enough to get by in our home country — we can live very well within our means here in Mexico.
If you want to see a breakdown of our household expenses, check out How Much Does it Cost a Month to Live in Mexico.
For those of you who are still at working age and want to move to Mexico, I strongly recommend trying to find some source of income online. There are some useful links to remote job sites at Tips to Funding Your New Life in Mexico.
Author: Qroo Paul
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
LOCATIONS IN MEXICO FOR RETIREMENT
Locations in Mexico for Retirement
With nearly two million square kilometers in size, Mexico is a big country with lots to choose from in terms of living environments.
Many factors are likely to influence your decision about where exactly in Mexico you want to retire. This part of the guide highlights some of the questions you might consider as part of that process and makes some suggestions about places in Mexico to explore or short-list…
Expatriate Scene or Local Scene?
There are two broad choices in terms of choosing where to locate for retirement in Mexico:
- you can live in a community of expatriates, who will provide support, speak with you in English and live in places that have been designed for “home away from home” living, or
- you may choose to live among the local community, which means that services and facilities will be those generally available locally (and in many places are excellent) and you will need to make a greater effort in terms of speaking Spanish and integrating into local community life.
The choice is a personal one, and may depend on how well you know Mexico and what your priorities are in terms of lifestyle and activities you intend to take part in.
It’s quite hard to live in Mexico and operate effectively on a day-to-day basis if you don’t speak some Spanish. Living in or near a community of expatriates will provide you with an immediate support network and there will be people there who can ‘show you the ropes’ and interpret for you if you are new in Mexico and speak little or no Spanish to start.
You will enjoy Mexico a lot more if you take some time to learn spanish; you can find excellent language schools in many places across Mexico and you can even begin your learning by purchasing a language program online. You can find details of both options by reading the Learn Spanish section on Mexperience.
For those who choose to live within the heart of a Mexican community; the chances are that you will know Mexico well and know where, precisely, you want to live.
If you need help finding a place in Mexico that suits your needs and plans, a good Real Estate Agent in Mexico will help you with this process.
Choosing the right neighborhood in any town or city is important: read Home Security: Knowing Your Neighborhood in our real estate guide for more details. Mexicans will make you feel at home and, if you are open to being so, ‘adopt’ you into their neighborhood and local community.
Choosing the Climate to Live In
The next consideration with regard to location is climate. Higher altitude areas have spring-like conditions all year-round, although some can still get quite hot in the summer months especially. Mornings and evenings in these areas tend to be cool, bordering on chilly during the winter months. Fireplaces and heaters will banish any chill in the air during cooler spells.
Coastal areas tend to be hot and humid most of the year, and will be prone to the rainy season (May through September). Rains tend to be short, fierce and happen in the late afternoon or evening, leaving the night cooled off, although they can persist at times. The Yucatan peninsula, parts of the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific as well as Baja California can be susceptible to hurricanes, which occur mostly between July and October.
For hot and dry weather you’ll need to go inland, on the Baja California peninsula, to Mexico’s colonial heartland or into its northern deserts. Most places in Mexico where retirees settle have excellent year-round climates. Check the local climate information for places you are interested in.
All of the location guides on Mexperience have climate summaries as well as live weather reports. Connect to the guide to Weather and Climates in Mexico on Mexperience for more information about the weather around Mexico’s regions.
Locations for Retirement in MexicoDetailed Guides: Places to Live in Mexico
After you have browsed this summary of locations for retirement, connect to our new Places to Live in Mexico section, which gives detailed guides for places to live, work or retire in Mexico.
This section outlines popular and up-coming locations throughout Mexico which are popular with expats and retirees. They are organized by location type.
Each location has a brief introduction and background; clicking on the location name will take you to the corresponding travel guide on Mexperience where you can find detailed information as well as picture galleries, location map, and live weather link…
Big Cities for Retirement in Mexico
Popular big cities for retirees in Mexico include:
Guadalajara (including Lake Chapala and Ajijic) which has an enormous expatriate scene that has been established there for decades. The lakeside villages of Chapala and Ajijic are where most of the expats live, and it’s an easy drive (about 40 minutes) to Guadalajara which offers all of the amenities you would expect from Mexico’s second-largest city; including direct flights to the USA.
Mexico City remains a strong favorite with some expats and retirees. If you know the capital and you have fallen in love with it, you stay: and most people who stay can’t quite articulate why they do, they just do; and they adore being alive and part of the vibrancy, the vast size and complexity and contrasts of this remarkable historical center that has been a major inhabited settlement of civilization for nearly 600 years. Besides the colossal selection of amenities, Mexico City also offers some of the world’s finest museums, parks, restaurants, markets and shops and, being the center of economic and political power, has the best connections to everywhere you’d ever want to travel to inside Mexico and internationally.
Colonial Cities for Retirement in Mexico
Popular colonial cities for retirees in Mexico include:
San Miguel de Allende was a quiet artisan’s hide-away in the 60’s and 70’s; since the mid 90’s its popularity has rocketed and is today one of the most sought-after colonial cities to live in. People who have known the city for decades say that its quaint roots have been forever altered by the influx of investment and people in recent times; it does, however still rate as one of the top places in Mexico for living and retirement.
Guanajuato, a short drive north of San Miguel, is also experiencing an influx of foreign investment. It is, without question, one of Mexico’s most beautiful and breath-taking colonial cities.
Queretaro, north of Mexico City, is a thriving colonial city within an easy drive of the capital. The center is beautiful and pristinely kept. Many people who leave Mexico City find a new home in Queretaro. It’s an ideal place to consider if you want to be away from the capital but close to it, and want a vibrant city with good amenities and a beautiful colonial environment.
Cuernavaca was an escape shute for capital dwellers back in colonial times; and even today, the road to Cuernavaca from Mexico City gets near grid-lock on holiday weekends. It is a beautiful city with a lot going for it: its proximity to the capital, its magnificent climate, its colonial feel, and a huge influx of investment in recent years will continue to make this a popular choice for foreign and Mexican retirees.
Puebla is another beautiful city, and within easy reach of the capital by road. You need to be living in the heart of the old city to enjoy the charm and splendor because the built-up outskirts belie the true heart and soul of this historical gem.
Oaxaca has, in recent times, experienced some political unrest that has tarnished the location; nonetheless, the people and ambience of Oaxaca remain as true and sincere as ever (not to be confused with the political jockeys who do not represent the true heart and soul of this beautiful place). Notwithstanding its recent issues, Oaxaca remains a popular place for foreigners especially those seeking out an authentic Mexican experience in one of the most culturally-rich regions of Mexico.
Morelia and Patzcuaro have been tucked away for years but recently, they have become popular with a new generation of foreign visitors as well as foreign expats and retirees. Direct flights from the USA to Morelia have helped to make this mountain region more accessible, and there is also a fast road between Morelia and Mexico City that cuts the road trip to just under four hours. Morelia and Patzcuaro are well worth exploring if you love mountains, lakes, forests and the true feel of indigenous and colonial Mexico.
Merida is another relatively ‘new kid on the block’ as a location choice for foreign expats and retirees. Although in the height of the summer months the temperatures here soar (40-45 degrees centigrade / 105-115F is common), the last few years have witnessed an enormous influx of foreigners to this city. Merida is one of Mexico’s most remarkable and culturally-rich provincial cities in Mexico and, notwithstanding the hot summers, will continue to draw certain types of people with its excellent infrastructure, modern amenities and great connections by air to the USA and Mexico City.
Campeche is a picture-postcard colonial city on Mexico’s Gulf Coast. Relatively unknown, even by travelers, this city has a huge potential. Real estate investment has already begun here in the form of foreign projects creating high-end housing and condo communities along stretches of beautiful coastline. Campeche is well served with air connections to the USA and Mexico City and is a potential future ‘star’ of Mexico’s in regards to popular locations for foreign expats and retirees.
Veracruz is an industrial port city on Mexico’s Gulf Coast. Although it may not strike you as a place for expat living or retirement, the city has certain charms of its own which are particularly attractive to people who know Mexico well and enjoy a fusion of Mexican and Caribbean culture.
Beach and Ocean Side Locations for Retirement in Mexico
Popular beach locations for retirees in Mexico include:
Puerto Vallarta has a history and reputation all its own: this is one of Mexico’s fastest-growing cities and the influx of foreign expats and retirees has been unprecedented. The reasons are clear: Puerto Vallarta has an authentic colonial city feel to it and a wonderful ocean-side seat on Mexico’s Pacific coastline. The climate is idyllic (August and September can be stifling but some people leave for those months to visit people elsewhere), the amenities are comprehensive and getting better every year, it’s readily accessible with good road and air connections, and it is, for many, a wonderful place to be. In recent years, Nuevo Vallarta has also become popular and about 20 miles north is Punta de Mita, where development is ongoing. Expect Puerto Vallarta to remain popular (if a bit over-populated with foreigners now) and Punta de Mita to be the next ‘big place’ in this area in years to come.
Los Cabos is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico and it’s also one of the biggest destinations for foreign retiree (or semi retired) expats to go and live in Mexico, particularly San
Jose del Cabo. The fabulous climate (especially in the winter months), access to a whole host of amenities that retirees look for in a destination including excellent medical facilities and some of the world’s top rated golf courses, well developed local infrastructure and easy access via an international airport, and very active social and retirement communities are just some of the reasons foreigners choose Los Cabos as a place for their retirement. Some choose to spend only the winter months here, and rent out their homes in the summer when they are away. Los Cabos is not for everybody, and it is more expensive than some other coastal resort towns, but for the many foreigners who chooose to call this place home, full or part-time, they love it.
Also in Baja California Sur, La Paz and Todos Santos are popular locations for retirement. La Paz offers a laid-back, relaxed pace of life with plenty of water-based sports and eco-activities on tap. Todos Santos is the bohemian arts-center in Baja California Sur and is ideally suited to people who want a town away from the more commercialized feel of Los Cabos.
Mazatlan, the northern-most ocean facing city on the Mexican Riviera, has long been a favorite vacation spot for Mexican families. One of the location’s key attractions is that it offers excellent facilities at great prices; thus is acknowledged as one of the best ‘value for money’ options on Mexico’s Pacific coast. In recent years, a number of real estate developments have begun to evolve as foreign expatriates look at Mazatlan for retirement and second-home investments. The port city’s excellent air/road connections and proximity to the USA, coupled with affordable living and great climate are making Mazatlan an increasingly attractive option for people who want ocean-side living without the ultra-commercialization associated with some of Mexico’s more widely-known beachfront locations.
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo – these are two contrasting cities which sit side-by-side with each other; situated on the shores of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, about 200km (120m) north of Acapulco. Most expats and retirees will choose the ‘village’ feel of Zihuatanejo instead of the modern ‘vacation city’ of Ixtapa: although the latter offers some stunning property opportunities if you have the cash. There is a fast road connecting the two locations, which are only a few kilometers apart and the local airport offers connections to Mexico City as well as the USA (in season). Estrella de Oro’sDiamante bus line connects Ixtapa to the capital on an executive-class bus; the bus journey time is approximately nine hours.
Acapulco continues to attract a certain type of expatriate; usually those who know Mexico well and enjoy the old-world charms of Mexico. They head to the ‘old town’ of Acapulco — on the south side — where, in the 1950’s and 60’s (and for most of the 70’s) the rich and famous had homes. Those properties, now looking dated and some in need of love and attention, may be acquired at value-prices. If you want something more modern and up-scale (with prices to match), head to the north side of the bay-city: to Diamante. On the road north, you’ll also find houses overlooking the amazing Acapulco Bay (only Hong Kong can better it for style), but you’ll need deep pockets for those mansions, if one happens to be for sale when you’re looking.
Puerto Escondido definitely a ‘niche’ location for retirees and expats, this Pacific coastal enclave attracts surfers and the bohemian-set looking for rustic, authentic — often remote — Mexico. If you’re a surfer, an artist, a romanticist and ocean waves-lover at heart, this may be the ideal place for your retirement.
San Felipe in Baja California, has been a favorite stopping point for travelers exploring the Mexican peninsula for years: today, San Felipe is a retirement boom-town: massive investments have created new infrastructure, services, amenities and high quality retirement homes. Land prices here are still low and ocean-front property is affordable. The town is just a two-hour drive south from the US border (Mexicali) and, facing the Gulf of California (previously named Sea of Cortez) offers wonderful climate and great-waterside living
Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula, is by far the most sought-after place for foreign expats and retirees in the Riviera Maya. Playa has experienced tremendous growth in recent years; at one pont, out-pacing even Puerto Vallarta. Not too far by road from Merida (see above), Playa offers a beautiful caribbean lifestyle without the commercialism and hype of its neighbor, Cancun (although in recent years, Playa del Carmen’s development has created a much more commercialized feel than was here just ten years ago). With Cancun just 30 miles away, you can enjoy the excellent infrastructure and facilities it offers as well as access to a major international airport with direct connections to the US, Canada and Europe.
Cozumel and Isla Mujeres: Although small island life is not for everyone, each of these islands, off the coast of Playa del Carmen and Cancun respectively, offer charms of their own. Cozumel is particularly popular with divers and is a larger island with more happening and more amenities. Isla Mujeres is small, with very little traffic, but has beautiful calm beaches on one side and a rugged, dramatic coastline on the other (some houses overlook the latter, also). Cozumel has an international airport of its own and both islands are well-served with frequent ferries to the mainland.
http://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/retire-in-mexico/locations-for-retirement/
There are two broad choices in terms of choosing where to locate for retirement in Mexico:
- you can live in a community of expatriates, who will provide support, speak with you in English and live in places that have been designed for “home away from home” living, or
- you may choose to live among the local community, which means that services and facilities will be those generally available locally (and in many places are excellent) and you will need to make a greater effort in terms of speaking Spanish and integrating into local community life.
The choice is a personal one, and may depend on how well you know Mexico and what your priorities are in terms of lifestyle and activities you intend to take part in.
It’s quite hard to live in Mexico and operate effectively on a day-to-day basis if you don’t speak some Spanish. Living in or near a community of expatriates will provide you with an immediate support network and there will be people there who can ‘show you the ropes’ and interpret for you if you are new in Mexico and speak little or no Spanish to start.
You will enjoy Mexico a lot more if you take some time to learn spanish; you can find excellent language schools in many places across Mexico and you can even begin your learning by purchasing a language program online. You can find details of both options by reading the Learn Spanish section on Mexperience.
For those who choose to live within the heart of a Mexican community; the chances are that you will know Mexico well and know where, precisely, you want to live.
If you need help finding a place in Mexico that suits your needs and plans, a good Real Estate Agent in Mexico will help you with this process.
Choosing the right neighborhood in any town or city is important: read Home Security: Knowing Your Neighborhood in our real estate guide for more details. Mexicans will make you feel at home and, if you are open to being so, ‘adopt’ you into their neighborhood and local community.
Choosing the Climate to Live In
The next consideration with regard to location is climate. Higher altitude areas have spring-like conditions all year-round, although some can still get quite hot in the summer months especially. Mornings and evenings in these areas tend to be cool, bordering on chilly during the winter months. Fireplaces and heaters will banish any chill in the air during cooler spells.
Coastal areas tend to be hot and humid most of the year, and will be prone to the rainy season (May through September). Rains tend to be short, fierce and happen in the late afternoon or evening, leaving the night cooled off, although they can persist at times. The Yucatan peninsula, parts of the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific as well as Baja California can be susceptible to hurricanes, which occur mostly between July and October.
For hot and dry weather you’ll need to go inland, on the Baja California peninsula, to Mexico’s colonial heartland or into its northern deserts. Most places in Mexico where retirees settle have excellent year-round climates. Check the local climate information for places you are interested in.
All of the location guides on Mexperience have climate summaries as well as live weather reports. Connect to the guide to Weather and Climates in Mexico on Mexperience for more information about the weather around Mexico’s regions.
Locations for Retirement in MexicoDetailed Guides: Places to Live in Mexico
After you have browsed this summary of locations for retirement, connect to our new Places to Live in Mexico section, which gives detailed guides for places to live, work or retire in Mexico.
This section outlines popular and up-coming locations throughout Mexico which are popular with expats and retirees. They are organized by location type.
Each location has a brief introduction and background; clicking on the location name will take you to the corresponding travel guide on Mexperience where you can find detailed information as well as picture galleries, location map, and live weather link…
Big Cities for Retirement in Mexico
Popular big cities for retirees in Mexico include:
Guadalajara (including Lake Chapala and Ajijic) which has an enormous expatriate scene that has been established there for decades. The lakeside villages of Chapala and Ajijic are where most of the expats live, and it’s an easy drive (about 40 minutes) to Guadalajara which offers all of the amenities you would expect from Mexico’s second-largest city; including direct flights to the USA.
Mexico City remains a strong favorite with some expats and retirees. If you know the capital and you have fallen in love with it, you stay: and most people who stay can’t quite articulate why they do, they just do; and they adore being alive and part of the vibrancy, the vast size and complexity and contrasts of this remarkable historical center that has been a major inhabited settlement of civilization for nearly 600 years. Besides the colossal selection of amenities, Mexico City also offers some of the world’s finest museums, parks, restaurants, markets and shops and, being the center of economic and political power, has the best connections to everywhere you’d ever want to travel to inside Mexico and internationally.
Colonial Cities for Retirement in Mexico
Popular colonial cities for retirees in Mexico include:
San Miguel de Allende was a quiet artisan’s hide-away in the 60’s and 70’s; since the mid 90’s its popularity has rocketed and is today one of the most sought-after colonial cities to live in. People who have known the city for decades say that its quaint roots have been forever altered by the influx of investment and people in recent times; it does, however still rate as one of the top places in Mexico for living and retirement.
Guanajuato, a short drive north of San Miguel, is also experiencing an influx of foreign investment. It is, without question, one of Mexico’s most beautiful and breath-taking colonial cities.
Queretaro, north of Mexico City, is a thriving colonial city within an easy drive of the capital. The center is beautiful and pristinely kept. Many people who leave Mexico City find a new home in Queretaro. It’s an ideal place to consider if you want to be away from the capital but close to it, and want a vibrant city with good amenities and a beautiful colonial environment.
Cuernavaca was an escape shute for capital dwellers back in colonial times; and even today, the road to Cuernavaca from Mexico City gets near grid-lock on holiday weekends. It is a beautiful city with a lot going for it: its proximity to the capital, its magnificent climate, its colonial feel, and a huge influx of investment in recent years will continue to make this a popular choice for foreign and Mexican retirees.
Puebla is another beautiful city, and within easy reach of the capital by road. You need to be living in the heart of the old city to enjoy the charm and splendor because the built-up outskirts belie the true heart and soul of this historical gem.
Oaxaca has, in recent times, experienced some political unrest that has tarnished the location; nonetheless, the people and ambience of Oaxaca remain as true and sincere as ever (not to be confused with the political jockeys who do not represent the true heart and soul of this beautiful place). Notwithstanding its recent issues, Oaxaca remains a popular place for foreigners especially those seeking out an authentic Mexican experience in one of the most culturally-rich regions of Mexico.
Morelia and Patzcuaro have been tucked away for years but recently, they have become popular with a new generation of foreign visitors as well as foreign expats and retirees. Direct flights from the USA to Morelia have helped to make this mountain region more accessible, and there is also a fast road between Morelia and Mexico City that cuts the road trip to just under four hours. Morelia and Patzcuaro are well worth exploring if you love mountains, lakes, forests and the true feel of indigenous and colonial Mexico.
Merida is another relatively ‘new kid on the block’ as a location choice for foreign expats and retirees. Although in the height of the summer months the temperatures here soar (40-45 degrees centigrade / 105-115F is common), the last few years have witnessed an enormous influx of foreigners to this city. Merida is one of Mexico’s most remarkable and culturally-rich provincial cities in Mexico and, notwithstanding the hot summers, will continue to draw certain types of people with its excellent infrastructure, modern amenities and great connections by air to the USA and Mexico City.
Campeche is a picture-postcard colonial city on Mexico’s Gulf Coast. Relatively unknown, even by travelers, this city has a huge potential. Real estate investment has already begun here in the form of foreign projects creating high-end housing and condo communities along stretches of beautiful coastline. Campeche is well served with air connections to the USA and Mexico City and is a potential future ‘star’ of Mexico’s in regards to popular locations for foreign expats and retirees.
Veracruz is an industrial port city on Mexico’s Gulf Coast. Although it may not strike you as a place for expat living or retirement, the city has certain charms of its own which are particularly attractive to people who know Mexico well and enjoy a fusion of Mexican and Caribbean culture.
Beach and Ocean Side Locations for Retirement in Mexico
Popular beach locations for retirees in Mexico include:
Puerto Vallarta has a history and reputation all its own: this is one of Mexico’s fastest-growing cities and the influx of foreign expats and retirees has been unprecedented. The reasons are clear: Puerto Vallarta has an authentic colonial city feel to it and a wonderful ocean-side seat on Mexico’s Pacific coastline. The climate is idyllic (August and September can be stifling but some people leave for those months to visit people elsewhere), the amenities are comprehensive and getting better every year, it’s readily accessible with good road and air connections, and it is, for many, a wonderful place to be. In recent years, Nuevo Vallarta has also become popular and about 20 miles north is Punta de Mita, where development is ongoing. Expect Puerto Vallarta to remain popular (if a bit over-populated with foreigners now) and Punta de Mita to be the next ‘big place’ in this area in years to come.
Los Cabos is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico and it’s also one of the biggest destinations for foreign retiree (or semi retired) expats to go and live in Mexico, particularly San
Jose del Cabo. The fabulous climate (especially in the winter months), access to a whole host of amenities that retirees look for in a destination including excellent medical facilities and some of the world’s top rated golf courses, well developed local infrastructure and easy access via an international airport, and very active social and retirement communities are just some of the reasons foreigners choose Los Cabos as a place for their retirement. Some choose to spend only the winter months here, and rent out their homes in the summer when they are away. Los Cabos is not for everybody, and it is more expensive than some other coastal resort towns, but for the many foreigners who chooose to call this place home, full or part-time, they love it.
Also in Baja California Sur, La Paz and Todos Santos are popular locations for retirement. La Paz offers a laid-back, relaxed pace of life with plenty of water-based sports and eco-activities on tap. Todos Santos is the bohemian arts-center in Baja California Sur and is ideally suited to people who want a town away from the more commercialized feel of Los Cabos.
Mazatlan, the northern-most ocean facing city on the Mexican Riviera, has long been a favorite vacation spot for Mexican families. One of the location’s key attractions is that it offers excellent facilities at great prices; thus is acknowledged as one of the best ‘value for money’ options on Mexico’s Pacific coast. In recent years, a number of real estate developments have begun to evolve as foreign expatriates look at Mazatlan for retirement and second-home investments. The port city’s excellent air/road connections and proximity to the USA, coupled with affordable living and great climate are making Mazatlan an increasingly attractive option for people who want ocean-side living without the ultra-commercialization associated with some of Mexico’s more widely-known beachfront locations.
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo – these are two contrasting cities which sit side-by-side with each other; situated on the shores of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, about 200km (120m) north of Acapulco. Most expats and retirees will choose the ‘village’ feel of Zihuatanejo instead of the modern ‘vacation city’ of Ixtapa: although the latter offers some stunning property opportunities if you have the cash. There is a fast road connecting the two locations, which are only a few kilometers apart and the local airport offers connections to Mexico City as well as the USA (in season). Estrella de Oro’sDiamante bus line connects Ixtapa to the capital on an executive-class bus; the bus journey time is approximately nine hours.
Acapulco continues to attract a certain type of expatriate; usually those who know Mexico well and enjoy the old-world charms of Mexico. They head to the ‘old town’ of Acapulco — on the south side — where, in the 1950’s and 60’s (and for most of the 70’s) the rich and famous had homes. Those properties, now looking dated and some in need of love and attention, may be acquired at value-prices. If you want something more modern and up-scale (with prices to match), head to the north side of the bay-city: to Diamante. On the road north, you’ll also find houses overlooking the amazing Acapulco Bay (only Hong Kong can better it for style), but you’ll need deep pockets for those mansions, if one happens to be for sale when you’re looking.
Puerto Escondido definitely a ‘niche’ location for retirees and expats, this Pacific coastal enclave attracts surfers and the bohemian-set looking for rustic, authentic — often remote — Mexico. If you’re a surfer, an artist, a romanticist and ocean waves-lover at heart, this may be the ideal place for your retirement.
San Felipe in Baja California, has been a favorite stopping point for travelers exploring the Mexican peninsula for years: today, San Felipe is a retirement boom-town: massive investments have created new infrastructure, services, amenities and high quality retirement homes. Land prices here are still low and ocean-front property is affordable. The town is just a two-hour drive south from the US border (Mexicali) and, facing the Gulf of California (previously named Sea of Cortez) offers wonderful climate and great-waterside living
Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula, is by far the most sought-after place for foreign expats and retirees in the Riviera Maya. Playa has experienced tremendous growth in recent years; at one pont, out-pacing even Puerto Vallarta. Not too far by road from Merida (see above), Playa offers a beautiful caribbean lifestyle without the commercialism and hype of its neighbor, Cancun (although in recent years, Playa del Carmen’s development has created a much more commercialized feel than was here just ten years ago). With Cancun just 30 miles away, you can enjoy the excellent infrastructure and facilities it offers as well as access to a major international airport with direct connections to the US, Canada and Europe.
Cozumel and Isla Mujeres: Although small island life is not for everyone, each of these islands, off the coast of Playa del Carmen and Cancun respectively, offer charms of their own. Cozumel is particularly popular with divers and is a larger island with more happening and more amenities. Isla Mujeres is small, with very little traffic, but has beautiful calm beaches on one side and a rugged, dramatic coastline on the other (some houses overlook the latter, also). Cozumel has an international airport of its own and both islands are well-served with frequent ferries to the mainland.
http://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/retire-in-mexico/locations-for-retirement/
Friday, July 8, 2016
Ajijic Makes The Grade For Magic Spell
http://www.theguadalajarareporter.com/index.php/news/news/lake-chapala/48399-ajijic-makes-the-grade-for-magic-spell
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