Mexico
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 27 of 40, strongest on affordability, softest on safety.
Key facts
Visa & residency
Temporary Resident Visa via economic solvency (the income route retirees use), which leads to Permanent Resident status.
About US$4,400 per month of regular income shown over the last 6 months (some consulates ask 12), or about US$74,000 in savings as an alternative.
You must qualify under either the income or the savings option, not both; Temporary Resident status is renewable and leads to Permanent Resident.
Healthcare
Public IMSS covers legal residents but has long non-emergency waits and Spanish-only administration; private hospitals in big cities are high quality.
International private health insurance is strongly recommended so expats can reach better facilities and avoid public-system waits and language barriers.
Cost of living
Estimated single-person costs about Mex$12,521 per month (roughly US$650) excluding rent.
A one-bedroom city-centre apartment averages about Mex$13,014 per month (roughly US$680), well below major US cities.
Safety & climate
Global Peace Index 2025 ranks Mexico 139th of 163 (score 2.65, low state of peace); safety varies sharply by region, with popular expat hubs generally calmer.
Varied; the Tropic of Cancer splits tropical and temperate zones, with mild temperate highlands.
Arid or semiarid north, tropical south; highlands between 1,000-2,000m stay mild (16-20C) year-round, with a June to mid-October rainy season.
Community & language
Largest US expat population abroad (around 900,000 US-born residents, 2017); retirees cluster in enclaves such as Ajijic and San Miguel de Allende where English is common.
Spanish is the official language; 68 Indigenous languages hold co-official status.
Taxes
Residents are taxed on worldwide income, but foreign income tax paid can be credited against Mexican tax; verify pension treatment individually.
Mexico has double-tax treaties with the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.
Compare Mexico with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
