13 Best Places To Live In Mexico

Mexico is drawing more immigrants and expats each year due to its fantastic climate, delicious food and low cost of living. Deciding to relocate is a big decision and you’ll want to be sure you’ve chosen the best location for you.

We’ll cover the best places to live in Mexico for immigrants, families, single people and more.

Let’s start by taking a look at the best places to live in Mexico.

Sections

Best Places To Live In Mexico

City	Reason
Monterrey	Best for work
Guadalajara	Best for affordability
Mexico City	Best for families
San Miguel de Allende	Best for immigrants
Ajijic	Best for retirement
Mexico City, Roma	Best for young adults
Cuernavaca	Best for students
Oaxaca and Cancún	Best for food and nightlife
Tulum	Best for singles
Puerto Vallarta	Best for the LGBT+ community
Mérida	Best for weather
Cancún, Playa Delfines	Best for beaches
Jalisco, Guadalajara	Best for mountains

Best Places To Live In Mexico for Work

Monterrey is the capital of the Mexican state of Nuevo León and is Mexico’s third largest city. It is one of the best cities in Mexico to settle in if you’re looking for work.

Not only is Monterrey perfect for digital nomads – the cost of living is affordable in comparison to other Mexican cities – but there are opportunities for work in the city also, particularly if you’re hoping to start a business.

The main industries in Monterrey are mainly manufacturing with an emphasis on automotive, aerospace, electronics and textiles. Due to this, the city is a known economic hub making it ideal for workers.

It’s a good idea to have a basic or intermediate level of Spanish before moving to Mexico. Monterrey is not a huge tourist destination, so Spanish is spoken before English.

Chihuahua is another city which is ideal for workers – there is a mix of manufacturing opportunities here as well as opportunities for freelance work.

Cheapest Places To Live In Mexico

There are several affordable cities in Mexico, though costs for digital nomads or freelance workers are likely to be lower than for immigrants.

Guadalajara is one of Mexico’s most developed cities and a hub for businesses and workers, as well as being one of the most affordable cities to live in.

Guadalajara is located in western Mexico and is known for its warm weather and relaxed atmosphere. It’s less of a tourist location than Mexico City, which could be perfect for anyone looking to settle in a quieter city.

Despite this, Guadalajara still provides a high quality of life and has many attractions such as the Guadalajara Cathedral and the UNESCO site, Hospicio Cabañas.

The main bulk of costs when living in Guadalajara is likely to go towards rent, (which is still between 25% to 30% less expensive than in Mexico City).

Merida is another Mexican city with affordable living costs, as well as being voted one of the safest cities in Mexico.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for Families

Moving to Mexico with a family is far easier than in some other countries, and there are plenty of cities that offer a great quality of life for immigrant families.

Mexico’s reputation as a safe country has improved over the last few years, but it’s still worth doing research into the country and taking standard precautions in your everyday life.

Mexico City is one of the best options for families who are relocating to Mexico. It’s the capital of Mexico and one of the most populated cities.

Polanco is one of the neighbourhoods in Mexico that has an existing expat community where newcomers can make new friends and connections. There is a range of family-friendly amenities in the area, such as a high-end shopping district, beautiful parks and exciting museums.

Private healthcare in Mexico City is excellent and there are 24 international schools in the city for expats to take advantage of. The cost of groceries is very affordable and there are plenty of restaurants to indulge in.

San Miguel de Allende is another popular Mexican city for immigrant families. The city has a vibrant culture with a strong connection to the arts, and it’s common to find immigrant families settled in this city.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for Immigrants

San Miguel de Allende is located in Mexico’s highlands and is the principal city in the municipality of San Miguel de Allende. It’s become a very popular location with immigrants and tourists alike in recent years due to its love of the arts and welcoming atmosphere.

The city has received UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its stunning architecture, impressive art collection and annual festivals. Immigrants find San Miguel de Allende to be a lively and fun city, as well as one of Mexico’s safest cities.

San Miguel de Allende has a wonderful climate making it the ideal spot for outdoor and nature lovers – there are plenty of walks and trails to enjoy.

Juarez Park is one of the most upscale and expensive areas of San Miguel de Allende, while San Antonio is home to many families. The entire city is dedicated to the arts and there is a large community here for artists and writers.

Mexico City is another great spot with an existing expat community and high quality of life. The cost of living in this city is higher than in other areas, but the amenities are superb.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for Retirement

For many, retiring in Mexico seems like a dream come true. The country has a superb climate and is known for its excellent private healthcare.

One of the towns that has fast become a favourite for retirees and already boasts a largely retired ex-pat community is Ajijic. Ajijic is located on the shore of Lake Chapala (about an hour south of Guadalajara) and is an idyllic spot with a warm climate and plenty of amenities.

Ajijic does have a rainy season which lasts for about four months, though the rainfall is more moderate than in other areas. English is spoken in Ajijic though it is worth having a basic knowledge or early-learning stage of Spanish.

The beautiful scenery and easy access to Guadalajara are some of the main benefits of retiring in Ajijic, though many expats enjoy the mix of Mexican and immigrant communities in the region too.

Mérida is another slow-paced and wonderfully warm city that attracts retirees. The capital of the Yucatan region, Mérida is ideal for those that are working on a lower budget but still hope to enjoy the perks of living in a big city.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for Young Adults

With it’s rich culture, impressive beaches and thriving nightlife, Mexico is a great country to live in as a young adult. For those looking to move to the city with the largest population of young people, Mexico City is the best choice.

Mexico City has a variety of districts that vary in size, taste and culture. Young adults looking for a trendy and engaging neighbourhood would do well in Roma – the hipster heart of Mexico City.

West of Mexico City’s Centro Historico, Roma is full of art deco mansions, colourful street art and delicious eateries. There are great museums in Roma as well as local bookshops and cafes for those looking to soak in the culture.

Oaxaca is another great city for young adults, with lots of nightlife opportunities as well as being close to beaches if you’re interested in the surf scene.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for Students

Deciding to study abroad in Mexico will depend on various factors, such as what you plan to study, how long you want to study for, and, most importantly, where you want to study.

Cuernavaca is the capital of Mexico’s Morelos state and is a known choice city for university students who are studying language. It’s common for international students to be paired with local host families or you can seek your own accommodation.

The city also has a lot of history, ideal for the student who wants to spend their days soaking up Mexican culture and eating delicious local dishes such as pozole blanco.

Other student cities are Guadalajara – ideal for students of IT and technology – and Cancun – noted for its party background and as a common spring break location.

Best Places In Mexico for Food and Nightlife

Oaxaca is in southern Mexico and is the capital of the state of Oaxaca. It has been named Mexico’s food capital and is a great city to explore for food and history lovers.

Not only does Oaxaca have a thriving restaurant scene, but it’s also famous for its outstanding local produce. Oaxaca hosts the Mercado 20 de Noviembre (20th November Market) which displays an array of freshly made produce such as moles (traditional Mexican sauces), chocolate, Mezcal (national beverage) and pan de yema (egg bread).

In terms of nightlife, Mexico is well known for it’s partying culture and you’ll find more than one city has its fair share of clubs, bars and music venues.

Cancún, in particular, is famed for its year-round parties. Cancún is located on the Yucatán Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea and has various outstanding beaches, resorts and nightclubs.

The Hotel Zone and downtown Cancún have hundreds of restaurants and clubs and the spot is so well-loved that Cancún has become a famous destination for Spring Break.

Cancún’s nightclubs and bars stay open all year round and most don’t close until the early hours of the morning.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for Singles

Tulum is one of the best cities in Mexico for singles, with a large community of young professionals and single people already based in the town.

Tulum is located on the Yucatán Peninsula and is known for its stunning beaches and well-preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city. Tulum is slightly less busy than Cancún and more affordable, making it the ideal location for singles who want to have a more settled and laid-back lifestyle.

There is a massive range of exciting attractions in Tulum including historic visits to the ruins, exotic wildlife encounters and delicious cuisine. There is a big community of artists, yogis, solo travellers and digital nomads in Tulum, providing great opportunities to make new friends or meet new people.

Cancún is another great spot for single people due to the never-ending stream of tourists and young people looking to eat, drink and party.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for the LGBT+ Community

Attitudes towards the LGBT+ community in Mexico are continuously improving and due to the large amount of tourists in the country, there are LGBT+-friendly locations in the larger cities.

Puerto Vallarta is a resort town in Mexico’s Jalisco state and is a popular tourist destination. There is a strong mix of tourists, immigrants and national residents in Puerto Vallarta, and the city is known for being extremely welcoming and friendly.

Most of the LGBT+ scene is located in Zona Romántica (the Romantic Zone), including the gay beach Playa Los Muertos. The Romantic Zone has restaurants, bars and nightlife dedicated to the LGBT+ community.

In Mexico City, the Zona Rosa (Pink Zone) is an LGBT+-friendly district with shopping, nightlife and restaurants.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for the Weather

Mérida is the best city in Mexico to relocate to for warm weather. It’s the capital of the Yucatan region, which has the best climate in the country.

Mérida is a quietly charming city, that is very easy to navigate and much less busy than other Mexican cities. It is also very affordable and still retains many of the convenient amenities that attract people to city life.

Mérida can be very hot and humid in the summer, which may be too intense if you’re used to or prefer a cooler climate. For those who embrace the sunshine, Mérida is the ideal location.

The rainy season in Mérida runs from June to October, and January is the best time to visit if you’re hoping for dry weather. The hottest month in Mérida is typically April, but tropical storms coming in from the coast can negatively impact the city.

Mexico City and Monterrey are also known for having good climates, but again, it can be quite hot and humid at these locations.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for Beaches

Cancún is noted for having some of the most outstanding beaches in Mexico, and though it’s famous for its party scene and nightlife, Cancún also offers tranquil and idyllic beaches.

Playa Chac Mool is perfect to walk along the stretch of pure white sand, and you can pick up any number of water sports as Cancún has over twenty beaches – all with their own atmosphere.

Playa Delfines (also known as Dolphin Beach) is the most popular beach in Cancún as it is the largest in the area and also lets visitors enjoy spectacular views of dolphins.

Best Places To Live In Mexico for Mountains

While potentially best known for its beaches, Mexico is also home to some stunning mountain ranges. Most of Mexico’s inland colonial towns are elevated at least 4,000 feet above sea level.

Mountain living tends to offer a cooler climate and some people don’t find it easy to live at a higher elevation – but those who want the stunning view and easy access to hiking trails would do well to consider moving to Jalisco which has large mountain ranges (sierras) including the Sierra Madre Occidental.

The capital city, Guadalajara’s highest and most prominent mountain is Cerro de Santa María and Guadalajara city is known to be a cultural hub holding annual book and film festivals.