Trust a nerd in a sweater with a methodological approach for this🤓. Tell us where you're thinking about moving to in Mexico, why, and what places should've made it onto this list!
Visiten Valle de Bravo, no muy lejos de la ciudad. Saben, es idóneo, como para seguir filmando la saga de Friday the 13th . Montañas , bosque, lago y unas cabañas increíbles. Saludos desde la condesa.
I have only been living in Mexico for 11 months and I love it for many reasons. I live in Chapala and the weather is just as good as they say but it's the people that make it so special for me. They are the most hospitable people I have ever met. If you are the kind of gringo who is going to come here and treat the locals as though they are inferior, STAY AWAY. This is a great video. I have been to some of those places. I hope to see many more.
As a Mexican I'm glad you're having a great time living down there and glad to see you have a good way of seeing the people it makes everything better.
It's great to hear this perspective. That's what I love about Mexico too-its people. Mostly non pretentious, respectful, hard working, and like you said, hospitable.
@@dr.julianataylor4312 I don't see anything hostile with the comment. It's true, don't treat the locals like they're inferior. That's speaking the truth.
I’m Canadian. A few years ago I did a lengthy solo motorcycle trip in most, almost all, parts of Mexico. The few things that bothered me (noise, unfamiliar bureaucracy) were minor compared to the friendly, honest people and stunning natural beauty. While I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, one of my favorite towns is Batopilas; the ride through Copper Canyon alone may change the way you look at life. My takeaway: Avoid the tourist areas, take time to savor the culture.
A culture that’s going to be robbed and erased from us. The people of MX still haven’t learned their lesson. We were forced to give up parts of our country, to the United States, not the Americans are coming in and stealing more from us?
"Avoid the tourist areas. Take take time to savor the culture" Hard to do with corrupt police, cartels, and Meexecan gangs that are outside of the tourist areas.
No plans to move to Mexico but it's one of our favourite places to travel and have been to about 80 percent of the places on your list. Great choices. I don't know how I would ever choose. They all offer so much and yet are so different. I always tell people that CDMX is the most vibrant and alive place I've ever visited. "Trust a nerd in a sweater" Love it!
My wife and I relocated to Morelia, Michoacan two years ago. She's a Mexican citizen and I'm from Reno, Nevada. The cost of living, people, culture, architecture and of course the food are good reasons to come to Mexico! We're able to afford a beautiful home in a nice neighborhood, on my Social Security income, with plenty left over monthly to save for travel, and eat out at will. We've never been approached or victimized by ANY crime. It does exist, but if you don't search it out, you're safe. I've never been made to feel unwelcome in my new country. Assimilation is key. Its proven to be the best move I've ever made. We're nowhere near any tourist destination, but are able to go, with a short drive. Mexico is a very large country, explore and enjoy. VIVA MEXICO 🇲🇽
Such an interesting and informative video. And there are just so MANY of these videos about living in Mexico. But as you say at the beginning, this is an extremely difficult task to curate this list. I lived in Guadalajara for 5 years working remotely, came back to the US for work, now going back to Guadalajara working remotely again. For your selections, it's probably too close to other options (although I would argue that Monterrey over GDL would not ever be my choice for exactly the reasons you selected MTY. It's the northern Mexico (e.g. much closer to the border) version of Mexico. And that's OK for those people that want that.) What makes these discussions so difficult is always the part that you have to add to everything that you just shared (location, population, climate, general culture, healthcare, etc.): What is the expat experience desired in that location AND how well do you speak Spanish? Let's face it, it's like there's a "range" of what you want your Mexico experience to be. Unfortunately, it's almost like there should be three lists: (and I'm not judging, I'm just saying that there IS an option for everyone depending on what is best for them): 1. The cities for people that want to live in an expat "bubble" (e.g. nearly all your friends are expats), learn the least amount of Spanish, will most likely socialize with other expats, and have the amenities that are most similar to their expat lives before moving to Mexico. 2. The cities for people that are open to living in a colonia that is not primarily expats, adjusting to learning a solid, fundamental amount of Spanish, are looking to have a "mix" of friends and be somewhat OK with English/Spanish being around all the time, are a bit more open to dealing with the cultural things that frustrate typical expats, and they're a bit more OK if they can't replicate as much of their previous lives that they lived before moving to Mexico. 3. The cities for people that are willing to live in a colonia that is just in the location they want (location, location, location) and they don't care if it's all Mexicans, they have a command of Spanish that is an upper intermediate or higher level, their friends may not speak English at all and that's fine, they will get invitations to comidas, cenas, fiestas, quinceañeras, bodas, etc., where there may be no English speakers at all and they will love it, and will embrace the culture and even learn to accept the "crazy" way that things function that are so culturally different from where they are from. And again, not judging...but people have to ask themselves that question: What sort of life do they want to live when they move to Mexico? Then start to curate those cities that can offer you the things you are looking for. There is a place for everyone! :- ) So, make your list, set your expectations, what do you want your Mexico living experience to be, how much work are you willing to do to reach that experience, etc. THEN start making your choices. ¡Saludos a todos! **Lived in GDL for 5 years, became a fluent Spanish speaker (yup, went to school, hired a tutor, studied hard, lived it day in and day out, whatever it took), loved living in the 2nd largest metropolitan area in the country after CDMX (GDL is quite large but still retains so many elements of classic Mexican culture but also you can get anything you want because it's a large metropolitan area), is sometime considered the "silicon valley" of Mexico or even the San Francisco of Mexico, direct flights to major cities in the USA daily, excellent private and public health care, and so much more I could say. **I went to Chapala/Ajijic twice in 5 years and I could never, ever imagine living there. Nope, that's somebody else's desired experience for living in Mexico and they are very happy there, I'm sure. Also spent time in San Miguel de Allende and it's definitely not for me either, although it is absolutely beautiful!
Creo que tadavia no estás preparado, para hacer el cambio, no te visualizas, en una ciudad pequeña como,.ajiji, San Miguel de Allende, las ciudades grande como, México, Puebla, Guadalajara,. Monterrey son muy bulliciosas. Creo que tadavia no es tiempo dar un pasa adelante.
@@mariamar2114 Creo que hay un malentendido. Ya viví en Guadalajara por 5 años y conozco muy bien la ciudad y todo lo que ofrece (lo bueno y lo malo). Y ahora regreso a la perla tapatía. :-) Mi punto es que hay una ciudad para todos en México según su gusto y expectativa. Para mí, Guadalajara es mi preferencia. ¡Saludos!
i think their audience is mostly younger americans coming from large cities with a lot of this cross-cultural/linguistic experience already, including mexican americans. they're not really going to see a clear distinction like you laid out. they're not super aware of having a diverse friends group or speaking spanglish / spanish to inlaws etc - it's their life in the US now so it's not really a thing
That’s all good advice. Although I would love to be immersed in a totally Spanish speaking environment the reality of it is I don’t have enough life left to become fluent in Spanish or even conversational. Trust me I know myself better than you do. I will still find some places where I can mix with others and enjoy. Thanks for sharing your views.
can't believe Puebla didn't make the list - Puebla is the 4th largest city in Mexico and let me tell you it got everything of course depending on your style of living. My mother owns a house around the city and I can't tell you how much am grateful for that & its even a hour drive from Mexico City which makes it very convenient. There are many wealthy business people that own companies in Mexico City and live here in Puebla because of the approximate & privacy and more calm pace of living they look for. Puebla has been growing so much and its one of the most modern cities I've been to in Mexico & I live in NYC I know modern lol. Poblanos love to live good & work hard and they know how to party !! The university's here are top in the country I live next to a town were many foreign students live and the night life is awesome. You guys should come visit Puebla & stop by Cholula.
I won’t be surprised that Mexico will be flooded with Americans & Canadians in the next 10 years. You did an excellent job explaining the cities and what they have to offer. Being from LA area, Ensenada has really upgraded their city and makes a great weekend trip. Near by is wine area like Napa called Villa de Guadalupe that is nestled in the mountains.
Great video thanks for sharing The greatest thing in Mexico Is the people very friendly Then the food Then the culture No rasistas No descriminacion No arrogants I ❤️🇲🇽
Outstanding video. My wife and I have been visiting Mexico for years, staying clear of the tourist destinations (for the most part.) We've decided to retire there and in our most recent trip, decided that we finally found the perfect spot. No. 2 on your list - La Paz. It's just an amazing place. We visited Loreto earlier in 2021, but found it to be just a little too small and remote for us. La Paz, unlike so many other port cities, felt completely genuine. It certainly still has a tourism component, but, as the capital of BCS, has the amenities one would expect of a state capital. I suppose the drawback is one you pointed out - flights to the U.S. from La Paz all seem to go through Mexico City with long layovers. But, to the extent it keeps the spring break crowd away, the two hour drive to San Jose del Cabo is a small price to pay.
@@sergtana although I only passed through Morelia for a few hours, I really liked it I can’t wait to go back with a longer stay. Maybe I will run into el Buki, he is one of my favorites too 👍
Broo this is literally a sign for me lol I was born in Morelia and brought to the US at age 9 and I wanna go back… I recently started college in the US and I don’t like it here 🥺 I’m definitely moving to Morelia
Darline, how far out is your move planned? I just started looking at beach areas. I was planning to start in Playa de Carmen. But I won't be moving for at least another 1.5 years. Have you looked into the Visa process?
Y'all's Sunday uploads have become a highlight of my weekend routine of late. Thanks for such a thoughtful, informative, video! You've inspired me to do more research and book a trip as soon as can. La Paz, Mérida, and Querétaro are calling my name :D
Oaxaca City was my most favorite. So many beautiful places in Mx and the people are chill and respectful to each other. Something I don’t experience in the US
Thanks for such informative video. You mentioned several cities in Mexico that are perfect to live. This is depending on personal choices, needs or preferences. Oaxaca City, Santiago de Querétaro and Zihuatanejo are my favorites cities in Mexico.
This was my favorite video of yours, and the best I’ve seen on a top ten in MX. Thank you for providing your insights in such a cogent and expedient way. Looking forward to your soft launch on Moving to Mexico next...
Great list ! Just from researching online we think San Cristobal may be for us. We prefer cool weather so if it is hot we’d end up sitting inside in the a/c …..and we speak Spanish. The other 5 on our short list are Oaxaca, Guanajuato, Morelia, Puebla, or Queretaro. We dont think we want to be around a huge expat population so we crossed San Miguel and Lake Chapala off our list.
Morelia is amazing We are considering moving there it’s relatively close to Mexico City in case one needs to fly back and it has all types of American franchises and the weather is great also. Def consider Morelia, good luck ♥️
Hey guys ! Been watching your videos alot lately. Really want to move over there and live the way you guys live. Working from home. Traveling. I'm working on that as we speak. Hoping to make it a reality someday soon in the future ! You guys motivate me so much. Thanks for your wonderful videos. I love yall. Yall videos are AWESOME !
A life with a bit of land to practice permaculture, or building a 'food forest'. Definitely not farm or ranch size. Not even homesteading. Maybe an acre to begin I'm not confident in my skills to grow in this climate yet, so I wouldn't want to be too far from an urban setting. Safety a concern. It would be my young family with me. We'd like to really settle in somewhere and know the people. Learn from them, and not just gardening 'tips'. We started thinking Merida area, but after seeing a few videos my wife and I have learned so much more about Mexico that we're considering other ideas. Looking to spend our time growing, I was concerned that some areas that get little rain each year would not work so well. Do you have an opinion here? Under these restrictions, my boys have lost enough of their childhood. We just want to be left alone and raise our kids in peace. I'm so happy to have come across your video here. If you see this and something comes to your mind, I would be so grateful to hear the idea. Again, great stuff. Thank you for putting this up for everyone. Cheers
Just found your channel and we're really enjoying it. We sold our house in Boise, Idaho several months ago and have been traveling ever since. The plan is to see a lot of the world but we've been sticking fairly close to home so far. We plan to be in Mexico for at least a couple of months and I've been researching places to visit which brought me to this video. I already knew Queretero was a place we wanted to check out but now I have several others to add to the list. We're traveling with our 13 and 11 year old kids and we're not big city people. It seems several places on your list will fit our needs and desires well.
Guadalupe Inn! i never see a shoutout to my colonia...but yes, we're a tight little community, you get to meet your neighbors in and around the colonia, the business owners who comes and goes, we root for them....alas its the kind of community unity i couldnt find in L.A.
I think that Monterrey is largely overlooked because people see more US influence than mexican. Like you said Monterrey is just 2 hours away of the US by car, to Mexico City for example it takes more than 11 hours; basically half a day. So saying this is obvious that it share more things with Texas in particular and yes summers are hot but summers in Dallas or Houston are even hotter and even more humid specially in Houston. Thanks for giving Monterrey the spotlight it deserves !
Monterrey is kinda americanized however there are no gringos and no English speakers througout the city. People must speak Spanish if an american want to live here on a daily basis, that's what I see as a con, it's a monolingual city. Living here in Mty my whole life.
Like your eyeglasses, those frames fit and compliment your faces well and you are so well spoken, a pleasure to hear your voice. Hopefully will be spending my first winter in Mexico in Puerto Vallarta beginning in November.
I have been to most of these cities and feel Queretaro is my first choice with a very close second being San Luis Potosí. SLP is a perfect size city with superb weather year round. It’s unfortunate that the beach towns are so hot in the summer as I would pick PV as a residence if weather was not so important to me. Ensenada has great year round weather and is an honorable mention
Great video! Lots of useful info. I’ll be checking out some of these areas later this year. Would really like to visit San Cristobal de las Casas. It does check a lot of my boxes. Really appreciate your channel.
Really enjoyed this. Very articulate, well-researched speaker with impeccable Spanish (detected from how he pronounced place names). I have visited most of these also, and now wish to see the ones I haven't. My wife's favorite so far is Mexico City. Mine is probably Ajijic. I love beaches, but she does not tolerate the humidity of either coast well. We may just take a few months here, a few months there to get to know this incredible country.
I'm looking at possible places to move to. That can be scary when you're in your 70s and you'll be going alone. I've watched a lot of videos, and this is the best I've seen so far. Very well thought out, and very well articulated. I hadn't really thought about La Paz until I saw this video. I live in the Mojave Desert, where the temperatures are well above 100 for 4 months in a row, and often above 110, so I think I can deal with the desert heat in La Paz. I'm going to look into it some more. Meanwhile, I'm pounding away at my Spanish lessons.
Wonderful to hear! Let me just say that from experience, moving to Mexico isn't as overwhelming as it seems at first. There's also always the option to go back if it doesn't suit you. Definitely worth the try☺️
@@ClaudiaDolfi I kind-of-sensed it; doesn't sound too appealing. I had heard of the name but did not know where it is. Thank you so much for your response. I appreciate it.
I'm considering Mexico City because I already lived there 7yrs and had an amazing time! So much to see, so much to do and tons of Cultural Stuff. If I had to be honest though, the possibility of earthquakes does bother me and would be the only reason I would consider other places 😗!
@@Sheilawisz Pachuca?.. I should've visited while I lived in MC, but I dont recall hearing that many good things about it. In fact quite the opposite, it seemed like for some people it was a bit of a "punchline" sort of speak, but I could be mistaken it for a different place (and be completely wrong!). I do like big cities though.
I completely understand. Fortunately the neighborhoods further west and southwest are much better places to be for earthquakes than the center. Perhaps you should consider one of those!
@@gabrielort3531 Pachuca used to be very little and boring, but now we have a lot of big city features combined with a peaceful lifestyle. We also have great places nearby, like the famous Real del Monte, Huasca which is a nice little touristic town and El Chico National Park. Pachuca is cold though, down to -12 sometimes in the coldest nights.
@@sergtana i wonder which neoghborhoods would those be? When I lived in CDMX i had ZERO concept of North vs South...lol! Btw..I lived in Col Roma and only until now, I hear there's a Roma Norte and a Roma Sur...and I'm sure I went to La Condesa, but I couldnt tell you where it starts or how to get there...which is "messed up". I suppose now I can google, look at maps, etc. I just wish I remembered from spending 7 whole years there! To "my credit"...I do know where Polanco is....haha!
Awesome video ! I’m now in Puerto Vallarta but for a single guy who likes Mexican ladies it’s not ideal, they don’t date extranjeros here . I’ll try CDMX next :) . Other than that PV is awesome 👌
I’d love to move to Monterrey since it’s so close to where I live now, but I’m still thinking about it lol. Can you all make a video about living in Mexico with a dog? My dogs are honestly the only thing stopping me 😅
I agree! Moving here with a dog shouldn't be an issue. I will say that it's not as common to have large yards in Mexico as it is in the US but otherwise I'd say Mexico is very dog-friendly. If you live in Monterrey, you'll have access to amazing vets, pet stores, and anything you'll need for a dog.
I would really suggest living near the coast somewhere. Dogs can go off leash and it's a blast letting them run around a beach. In lots of places that aren't so crowded you can take your dog with you to restaurants. The typical dog is going to have more fun in Mexico. That said, be aware that a lot of people keep dogs as serious guard dogs and there's a lot of strays running around and you need to keep at eye out so that your dog doesn't get into fights with them.
Definitely Huatulco we've traveled all over Mexico and Oaxaca Huatulco is out favorite. So much so we just purchased a new condo in Huatulco. 🌞🌞🌞🍻🇲🇽🐡🦎🌴🐢🐠🌮🦐🥑🍹👍👍👍❤viva Mexico 🇲🇽
Patzcuaro! Very inexpensive, best climate in the highlands where I live. Friendly people. Good food if you like menudo and fatty meats! Fortunately, lots of local fruit and vegetables for cheap! Lived here for 10 years, don't plan to move or go back north!
I originally looked at Chapala and area and thought the lake looked great until I found out you can't swim in it. I also looked at Hultuco. I am in process of deciding on Puerto Morelos, Los de Marcos or Mazatlan. I know my spelling is off. I will also look at areas you mentioned. My primary goal is safe area and on ocean.
Since I don’t want to live in LA (already have). NY (already have) or DC (luckily haven’t) you’ve settled one place off my list. No Mexico City. Lol. You both make great videos. Thank you.
Very informative video, really enjoyed it ✌️ I know you mentioned Tijuana and it has a lot of pros like proximity to the US but also has a lot of cons with safety and immigration issues 🤷🏻♂️ I like how you referred to as foreign retirees instead of the controversial term of expats 👍 Many years ago I visited Cuernavaca and I really liked it, specially spring like weather and its proximity to Mexico City, but it’s had its share of safety concerns lately. Saludos 🙂🇲🇽
Most amazing review video I've ever seen! Very thorough and chock full of information. I'm a New York native living in Austin Texas at the moment. Since I want the beach and nightlife activity and I'm LGBTQ I've been strongly considering Puerto Vallarta. Monterrey sounds like a good second choice for me as well. Thank you so much for this amazing review. Wishing you all the best! (Liked and subscribed) ❤️💯🔥😁
I am close to retirement and thinking of retiring to Mexico, but like you said so many choices. I am watching a lot of CZcams videos but still not sure of best place to go. Great video, I subscribed and will keep watching, hoping to make a wise decision. 😃
Visiten Valle de Bravo, no muy lejos de la ciudad. Saben, es idóneo como para seguir filmando la saga de Friday the 13th . Montañas , bosque, lago y unas cabañas increíbles. Saludos desde la condesa.
No se arrepentirán. La última vez que fuimos( tendra unos tres años),rentamos una cabaña de lujo por al rededor de 500 dlls. Un mes de pleno descanso en medio del bosque . Saludos
I'm surprised you didn't mention Saltillo, as beautiful as it is we pass Monterey to get there to visit family. But I do love your choices. I love north of Austin tx so I do like smaller communities
Looking at Lake Chapala and Guanajuato in November for potential retirement cities. SMA is beautiful but too pricey for this gringo. I’ve heard mixed reviews about Queretaro but maybe we’ll dip in there for a day while we’re staying in Guanajuato. Thanks for your great video. I would be interested in your moving consulting services before I move.
Hola and Aloha! My wife and I are currently in Guadalajara, 1st time in Mexico. We're looking for a little longer duration of stay and thinking about Queretaro. Really enjoyed your video and had a few friends also recommend it. Do you have any suggestions on finding weekly or maybe even a month accommodation as we're working out a budget. Muchas gracias and Mahalo!
Could you maybe do a condesa vs Roma Norte video. Planning to move to Mexico City and those are the two I’m considering (like most people) but I would like to know the main tie breakers between the two. Enjoyed the individual videos on both. Thanks!
Hi! Sorry for a late reply. To be honest, the differences are minimal. I could say that deeper into condesa it gets a bit quieter with less restaurants, bars, etc. It's very nice in the entire neighborhood but it's just quieter in general. Again though, overall you'll find similar businesses, people, and vibe in both. I hope this helps!
Great selection, but I would add: Do you absolutely hate heat, need cold at least during the nights and love some forest to go camping and mountain towns nearby? Then, Pachuca is for you!
Nice video, enjoyed it and agree with most of your conclusions. Just really glad you didn’t mention my town. Please don’t. San Miguel is the bomb, y’all.
Trust a nerd in a sweater with a methodological approach for this🤓. Tell us where you're thinking about moving to in Mexico, why, and what places should've made it onto this list!
Visiten Valle de Bravo, no muy lejos de la ciudad. Saben, es idóneo, como para seguir filmando la saga de Friday the 13th . Montañas , bosque, lago y unas cabañas increíbles. Saludos desde la condesa.
Hi guys! I’m planning to visit the pyramids in Mexico, specifically Teotihuacán for thanksgiving .Do you guys have any tips or recommendations?
I'm still trying to decide. I LOVE CDMX, but I'm afraid to buy a house there with it sinking so quickly and with the earthquakes.
@@michelgonzalez243 I visited Teoticuacan during March, the dry season. Bring a hat and water.
@@jennyhammond9261 antes de comprar casa debes de vivir un tiempo, para que experimentes si te gusta o no, no es lo mismo turistiar que ya vívir.
I have only been living in Mexico for 11 months and I love it for many reasons. I live in Chapala and the weather is just as good as they say but it's the people that make it so special for me. They are the most hospitable people I have ever met. If you are the kind of gringo who is going to come here and treat the locals as though they are inferior, STAY AWAY. This is a great video. I have been to some of those places. I hope to see many more.
As a Mexican I'm glad you're having a great time living down there and glad to see you have a good way of seeing the people it makes everything better.
why be hostile?
It's great to hear this perspective. That's what I love about Mexico too-its people. Mostly non pretentious, respectful, hard working, and like you said, hospitable.
I feel if you are a jerk just stay in your own country especially closed minded people
@@dr.julianataylor4312
I don't see anything hostile with the comment. It's true, don't treat the locals like they're inferior. That's speaking the truth.
I’m Canadian. A few years ago I did a lengthy solo motorcycle trip in most, almost all, parts of Mexico. The few things that bothered me (noise, unfamiliar bureaucracy) were minor compared to the friendly, honest people and stunning natural beauty. While I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, one of my favorite towns is Batopilas; the ride through Copper Canyon alone may change the way you look at life. My takeaway: Avoid the tourist areas, take time to savor the culture.
A culture that’s going to be robbed and erased from us. The people of MX still haven’t learned their lesson. We were forced to give up parts of our country, to the United States, not the Americans are coming in and stealing more from us?
"Avoid the tourist areas. Take take time to savor the culture"
Hard to do with corrupt police, cartels, and Meexecan gangs that are outside of the tourist areas.
No plans to move to Mexico but it's one of our favourite places to travel and have been to about 80 percent of the places on your list. Great choices. I don't know how I would ever choose. They all offer so much and yet are so different. I always tell people that CDMX is the most vibrant and alive place I've ever visited. "Trust a nerd in a sweater" Love it!
What is CDMX?
@@classy5703 Ciudad de Mexico....Mexico City. It's known as CDMX
@@Michael-Bennett Thank you!!
Good... We dont want You.
My wife and I relocated to Morelia, Michoacan two years ago. She's a Mexican citizen and I'm from Reno, Nevada. The cost of living, people, culture, architecture and of course the food are good reasons to come to Mexico!
We're able to afford a beautiful home in a nice neighborhood, on my Social Security income, with plenty left over monthly to save for travel, and eat out at will.
We've never been approached or victimized by ANY crime. It does exist, but if you don't search it out, you're safe. I've never been made to feel unwelcome in my new country. Assimilation is key. Its proven to be the best move I've ever made. We're nowhere near any tourist destination, but are able to go, with a short drive. Mexico is a very large country, explore and enjoy.
VIVA MEXICO 🇲🇽
Such an interesting and informative video. And there are just so MANY of these videos about living in Mexico. But as you say at the beginning, this is an extremely difficult task to curate this list. I lived in Guadalajara for 5 years working remotely, came back to the US for work, now going back to Guadalajara working remotely again. For your selections, it's probably too close to other options (although I would argue that Monterrey over GDL would not ever be my choice for exactly the reasons you selected MTY. It's the northern Mexico (e.g. much closer to the border) version of Mexico. And that's OK for those people that want that.) What makes these discussions so difficult is always the part that you have to add to everything that you just shared (location, population, climate, general culture, healthcare, etc.): What is the expat experience desired in that location AND how well do you speak Spanish? Let's face it, it's like there's a "range" of what you want your Mexico experience to be. Unfortunately, it's almost like there should be three lists: (and I'm not judging, I'm just saying that there IS an option for everyone depending on what is best for them): 1. The cities for people that want to live in an expat "bubble" (e.g. nearly all your friends are expats), learn the least amount of Spanish, will most likely socialize with other expats, and have the amenities that are most similar to their expat lives before moving to Mexico. 2. The cities for people that are open to living in a colonia that is not primarily expats, adjusting to learning a solid, fundamental amount of Spanish, are looking to have a "mix" of friends and be somewhat OK with English/Spanish being around all the time, are a bit more open to dealing with the cultural things that frustrate typical expats, and they're a bit more OK if they can't replicate as much of their previous lives that they lived before moving to Mexico. 3. The cities for people that are willing to live in a colonia that is just in the location they want (location, location, location) and they don't care if it's all Mexicans, they have a command of Spanish that is an upper intermediate or higher level, their friends may not speak English at all and that's fine, they will get invitations to comidas, cenas, fiestas, quinceañeras, bodas, etc., where there may be no English speakers at all and they will love it, and will embrace the culture and even learn to accept the "crazy" way that things function that are so culturally different from where they are from. And again, not judging...but people have to ask themselves that question: What sort of life do they want to live when they move to Mexico? Then start to curate those cities that can offer you the things you are looking for. There is a place for everyone! :- )
So, make your list, set your expectations, what do you want your Mexico living experience to be, how much work are you willing to do to reach that experience, etc. THEN start making your choices. ¡Saludos a todos!
**Lived in GDL for 5 years, became a fluent Spanish speaker (yup, went to school, hired a tutor, studied hard, lived it day in and day out, whatever it took), loved living in the 2nd largest metropolitan area in the country after CDMX (GDL is quite large but still retains so many elements of classic Mexican culture but also you can get anything you want because it's a large metropolitan area), is sometime considered the "silicon valley" of Mexico or even the San Francisco of Mexico, direct flights to major cities in the USA daily, excellent private and public health care, and so much more I could say. **I went to Chapala/Ajijic twice in 5 years and I could never, ever imagine living there. Nope, that's somebody else's desired experience for living in Mexico and they are very happy there, I'm sure. Also spent time in San Miguel de Allende and it's definitely not for me either, although it is absolutely beautiful!
Creo que tadavia no estás preparado, para hacer el cambio, no te visualizas, en una ciudad pequeña como,.ajiji, San Miguel de Allende, las ciudades grande como, México, Puebla, Guadalajara,. Monterrey son muy bulliciosas. Creo que tadavia no es tiempo dar un pasa adelante.
@@mariamar2114 Creo que hay un malentendido. Ya viví en Guadalajara por 5 años y conozco muy bien la ciudad y todo lo que ofrece (lo bueno y lo malo). Y ahora regreso a la perla tapatía. :-) Mi punto es que hay una ciudad para todos en México según su gusto y expectativa. Para mí, Guadalajara es mi preferencia. ¡Saludos!
i think their audience is mostly younger americans coming from large cities with a lot of this cross-cultural/linguistic experience already, including mexican americans. they're not really going to see a clear distinction like you laid out. they're not super aware of having a diverse friends group or speaking spanglish / spanish to inlaws etc - it's their life in the US now so it's not really a thing
That’s all good advice. Although I would love to be immersed in a totally Spanish speaking environment the reality of it is I don’t have enough life left to become fluent in Spanish or even conversational. Trust me I know myself better than you do. I will still find some places where I can mix with others and enjoy. Thanks for sharing your views.
Does Monterrey have a higher quality of life than Guadalajara? I like the hiking around Monterrey! And are the malls more luxurious in Monterrey?.
I follow this channel because you’re smart, well spoken and your love for Mexico shows. You’re mother must be very proud of you. Congrats.
Aww how sweet, thank you very much!
can't believe Puebla didn't make the list - Puebla is the 4th largest city in Mexico and let me tell you it got everything of course depending on your style of living. My mother owns a house around the city and I can't tell you how much am grateful for that & its even a hour drive from Mexico City which makes it very convenient. There are many wealthy business people that own companies in Mexico City and live here in Puebla because of the approximate & privacy and more calm pace of living they look for. Puebla has been growing so much and its one of the most modern cities I've been to in Mexico & I live in NYC I know modern lol. Poblanos love to live good & work hard and they know how to party !! The university's here are top in the country I live next to a town were many foreign students live and the night life is awesome. You guys should come visit Puebla & stop by Cholula.
Puebla is certainly a great option! It was on the short list for this video but there are so many deserving places that weren't on the list.
I would definitely be concerned about the close proximity of the active El Popo volcano.
Agree!! Or Cholula, both wonderful, but is just because México has too much to offer!, impossible to reduce it to 1 list!
Are the women from Puebla beautiful in appearance? Does Puebla have nice gyms, and good hiking?.
Hoping to move to Mexico in June 2022 from Australia, thanks for the tips!
Great! Any place standing out to you right now?
Welcome
I won’t be surprised that Mexico will be flooded with Americans & Canadians in the next 10 years.
You did an excellent job explaining
the cities and what they have to offer.
Being from LA area, Ensenada has really upgraded their city and makes a great weekend trip. Near by is wine area like Napa called Villa de Guadalupe that is nestled in the mountains.
It is already flooded
No, se ere fleeced now with people from Venezuela, Central America, Africa, Haiti , that is even more scary more poverty and crime
@@elenaortiz8493 In what towns is that, that you heard, please?
Great video thanks for sharing
The greatest thing in Mexico
Is the people very friendly
Then the food
Then the culture
No rasistas
No descriminacion
No arrogants
I ❤️🇲🇽
Outstanding video. My wife and I have been visiting Mexico for years, staying clear of the tourist destinations (for the most part.) We've decided to retire there and in our most recent trip, decided that we finally found the perfect spot. No. 2 on your list - La Paz. It's just an amazing place. We visited Loreto earlier in 2021, but found it to be just a little too small and remote for us. La Paz, unlike so many other port cities, felt completely genuine. It certainly still has a tourism component, but, as the capital of BCS, has the amenities one would expect of a state capital. I suppose the drawback is one you pointed out - flights to the U.S. from La Paz all seem to go through Mexico City with long layovers. But, to the extent it keeps the spring break crowd away, the two hour drive to San Jose del Cabo is a small price to pay.
I prefer Oaxaca but La Paz is just as good. It's a great city. Clean. Great food. Easy going......you picked well, my friend.
You mentioned my city of choice at the tag end after you discussed Oaxaca.....I chose Morelia. thanks for another well-thought-out and concise vlog.
Thank you. Morelia is underrated. Such a beautiful downtown!
@@sergtana although I only passed through Morelia for a few hours, I really liked it I can’t wait to go back with a longer stay. Maybe I will run into el Buki, he is one of my favorites too 👍
Broo this is literally a sign for me lol
I was born in Morelia and brought to the US at age 9 and I wanna go back… I recently started college in the US and I don’t like it here 🥺
I’m definitely moving to Morelia
@@paulinacmnz1590 Best wishes for your new life in Morelia. Looks like you will be there before me.
@@jackwilliams9114 thank you !! 😊
Thanks for the video! I'm planning to move to Queretaro. Visited there this past June. It's an amazing city.
Darline, how far out is your move planned? I just started looking at beach areas. I was planning to start in Playa de Carmen. But I won't be moving for at least another 1.5 years. Have you looked into the Visa process?
I love 🇲🇽 Mexico
Aguascalientes Is another great city for living, also Saltillo just one hour away from Monterrey and has nice weather
Y'all's Sunday uploads have become a highlight of my weekend routine of late. Thanks for such a thoughtful, informative, video! You've inspired me to do more research and book a trip as soon as can. La Paz, Mérida, and Querétaro are calling my name :D
Those are all great ideas although they're very far away from each other! Fortunately, domestic flights in Mexico are affordable:)
Oaxaca City was my most favorite. So many beautiful places in Mx and the people are chill and respectful to each other. Something I don’t experience in the US
Thanks for such informative video. You mentioned several cities in Mexico that are perfect to live. This is depending on personal choices, needs or preferences. Oaxaca City, Santiago de Querétaro and Zihuatanejo are my favorites cities in Mexico.
This was my favorite video of yours, and the best I’ve seen on a top ten in MX. Thank you for providing your insights in such a cogent and expedient way. Looking forward to your soft launch on Moving to Mexico next...
Hello from Houston. Great video and I love that you added pics along each of the towns and not just talked about them. Thank you for the insight. ☺️
Thank you very much!
Great list ! Just from researching online we think San Cristobal may be for us. We prefer cool weather so if it is hot we’d end up sitting inside in the a/c …..and we speak Spanish. The other 5 on our short list are Oaxaca, Guanajuato, Morelia, Puebla, or Queretaro. We dont think we want to be around a huge expat population so we crossed San Miguel and Lake Chapala off our list.
Morelia is amazing We are considering moving there it’s relatively close to Mexico City in case one needs to fly back and it has all types of American franchises and the weather is great also. Def consider Morelia, good luck ♥️
Love this video. Great discussion on some of the most popular cities. Merida is not hot all year round. We actually use blankets in December
We'll definitely consider going in December/January!
Valle de Bravo is a super chill place and would add it to this list
This was great!! I appreciate the information and history of Mexico more and more.
Hey guys ! Been watching your videos alot lately. Really want to move over there and live the way you guys live. Working from home. Traveling. I'm working on that as we speak. Hoping to make it a reality someday soon in the future ! You guys motivate me so much. Thanks for your wonderful videos. I love yall. Yall videos are AWESOME !
Great video. I hope to enjoy Mexico one day.
Good video, you're a adorable boy Serg, I'm from Tequisquiapan Querétaro and is a magic town very calm and beautiful😍 Saludos 👋👋👋👋👋💕
You did this better than every other video on this topic honestly
Thank you! It was a lot of work!
I'm to huatulco in August and I can't wait
A life with a bit of land to practice permaculture, or building a 'food forest'. Definitely not farm or ranch size. Not even homesteading. Maybe an acre to begin
I'm not confident in my skills to grow in this climate yet, so I wouldn't want to be too far from an urban setting.
Safety a concern. It would be my young family with me. We'd like to really settle in somewhere and know the people. Learn from them, and not just gardening 'tips'.
We started thinking Merida area, but after seeing a few videos my wife and I have learned so much more about Mexico that we're considering other ideas.
Looking to spend our time growing, I was concerned that some areas that get little rain each year would not work so well. Do you have an opinion here?
Under these restrictions, my boys have lost enough of their childhood. We just want to be left alone and raise our kids in peace. I'm so happy to have come across your video here. If you see this and something comes to your mind, I would be so grateful to hear the idea.
Again, great stuff. Thank you for putting this up for everyone. Cheers
México City is incredibel 👍👍
Glad to find you guys. Good format and information!
Very well done video with a lot of important info regarding each place!
Thank you!
Very comprehensive review and straight to the point!
Thank you very much!
Thank you for your video!
Wonderful idea!!!!!
Queretaro, Mexico on 11-2-2021.
Excellent content! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Very shareable 👍🏼 ...mas, mas, mas.
Thank you!
No les entiendo ni ,nada, pero sus videos me gustan.
Acabo de subir subtítulos en español! Muchas gracias por tu apoyo:)
Que tierno
Mexico, a country full of culture and traditions, I hope to return soon.
Just found your channel and we're really enjoying it. We sold our house in Boise, Idaho several months ago and have been traveling ever since. The plan is to see a lot of the world but we've been sticking fairly close to home so far. We plan to be in Mexico for at least a couple of months and I've been researching places to visit which brought me to this video. I already knew Queretero was a place we wanted to check out but now I have several others to add to the list. We're traveling with our 13 and 11 year old kids and we're not big city people. It seems several places on your list will fit our needs and desires well.
Thanks for the info👍👍👍
Guadalupe Inn! i never see a shoutout to my colonia...but yes, we're a tight little community, you get to meet your neighbors in and around the colonia, the business owners who comes and goes, we root for them....alas its the kind of community unity i couldnt find in L.A.
I think that Monterrey is largely overlooked because people see more US influence than mexican. Like you said Monterrey is just 2 hours away of the US by car, to Mexico City for example it takes more than 11 hours; basically half a day. So saying this is obvious that it share more things with Texas in particular and yes summers are hot but summers in Dallas or Houston are even hotter and even more humid specially in Houston. Thanks for giving Monterrey the spotlight it deserves !
Monterrey is kinda americanized however there are no gringos and no English speakers througout the city. People must speak Spanish if an american want to live here on a daily basis, that's what I see as a con, it's a monolingual city. Living here in Mty my whole life.
I agree. People focus on the ways that it's similar to the US but it has so many things that make it uniquely Mexican and wonderful!
Does Monterrey have nice gyms for working out with saunas! Is the hiking nearby good? Beautiful Women!? 😊
Like your eyeglasses, those frames fit and compliment your faces well and you are so well spoken, a pleasure to hear your voice. Hopefully will be spending my first winter in Mexico in
Puerto Vallarta beginning in November.
Thank you very much! I know you'll enjoy it.
I have been to most of these cities and feel Queretaro is my first choice with a very close second being San Luis Potosí. SLP is a perfect size city with superb weather year round. It’s unfortunate that the beach towns are so hot in the summer as I would pick PV as a residence if weather was not so important to me. Ensenada has great year round weather and is an honorable mention
Lovely video
Great video! Lots of useful info. I’ll be checking out some of these areas later this year. Would really like to visit San Cristobal de las Casas. It does check a lot of my boxes. Really appreciate your channel.
Amazing! I wasn't so sure about including that one because I know it's for a very particular person but you justified it.
Thank you Serg. As a single guy looking to save money, but live well and in a more inspiring environment, I've narrowed down to PV and queretaro.
Outstanding vlog. Thanks so much. Great information wonderfully presented.
Really enjoyed this. Very articulate, well-researched speaker with impeccable Spanish (detected from how he pronounced place names). I have visited most of these also, and now wish to see the ones I haven't. My wife's favorite so far is Mexico City. Mine is probably Ajijic. I love beaches, but she does not tolerate the humidity of either coast well. We may just take a few months here, a few months there to get to know this incredible country.
I was your 1k liked video wooow, cool video.
Great video. Oaxaca, PE, Mazunte, Zipolite, Huatulco are where I'll be visiting. Thanks for your suggestions!
What is PE?
Moving to San Cristóbal de las Casas claiming this energy. 😎
I'm looking at possible places to move to. That can be scary when you're in your 70s and you'll be going alone. I've watched a lot of videos, and this is the best I've seen so far. Very well thought out, and very well articulated. I hadn't really thought about La Paz until I saw this video. I live in the Mojave Desert, where the temperatures are well above 100 for 4 months in a row, and often above 110, so I think I can deal with the desert heat in La Paz. I'm going to look into it some more. Meanwhile, I'm pounding away at my Spanish lessons.
Wonderful to hear! Let me just say that from experience, moving to Mexico isn't as overwhelming as it seems at first. There's also always the option to go back if it doesn't suit you. Definitely worth the try☺️
I'm 66 and have to get serious about learning Spanish and Russian.
I would add Pachuca as an honorable mention. Its not as fun as the cities mentioned but it is very safe, family oriented and affordable.
Yes! Some other perks of Pachuca are the cooler weather, forests, and it's large enough to have everything you need.
@@sergtana there also really starting to develop the area
What State is Pachuca in?
@@lupitacajero7185 Capital of Hidalgo. I've been there several times but don't particularly like it though...
@@ClaudiaDolfi I kind-of-sensed it; doesn't sound too appealing. I had heard of the name but did not know where it is. Thank you so much for your response. I appreciate it.
Gosh, you did so good with the video that I want to move to them all. That makes it all the harder to descide.
Puerto Vallarta is my dream
Awesome detailed video 🙏🏾
I'm considering Mexico City because I already lived there 7yrs and had an amazing time! So much to see, so much to do and tons of Cultural Stuff.
If I had to be honest though, the possibility of earthquakes does bother me and would be the only reason I would consider other places 😗!
Move to Pachuca! Safe from quakes, nice small city but well equipped, and if you like MC you take the bus and it's just 90 minutes, no problem!
@@Sheilawisz Pachuca?.. I should've visited while I lived in MC, but I dont recall hearing that many good things about it. In fact quite the opposite, it seemed like for some people it was a bit of a "punchline" sort of speak, but I could be mistaken it for a different place (and be completely wrong!).
I do like big cities though.
I completely understand. Fortunately the neighborhoods further west and southwest are much better places to be for earthquakes than the center. Perhaps you should consider one of those!
@@gabrielort3531 Pachuca used to be very little and boring, but now we have a lot of big city features combined with a peaceful lifestyle. We also have great places nearby, like the famous Real del Monte, Huasca which is a nice little touristic town and El Chico National Park. Pachuca is cold though, down to -12 sometimes in the coldest nights.
@@sergtana i wonder which neoghborhoods would those be?
When I lived in CDMX i had ZERO concept of North vs South...lol!
Btw..I lived in Col Roma and only until now, I hear there's a Roma Norte and a Roma Sur...and I'm sure I went to La Condesa, but I couldnt tell you where it starts or how to get there...which is "messed up".
I suppose now I can google, look at maps, etc. I just wish I remembered from spending 7 whole years there!
To "my credit"...I do know where Polanco is....haha!
Awesome video ! I’m now in Puerto Vallarta but for a single guy who likes Mexican ladies it’s not ideal, they don’t date extranjeros here . I’ll try CDMX next :) . Other than that PV is awesome 👌
They must have thought you are guy 😉 Better don't try to look for the ladies in Zona Rosa 😉
Awesome muchacho; Gracias por compartir Your Wisdom... Priceless info Sir.
I’d love to move to Monterrey since it’s so close to where I live now, but I’m still thinking about it lol. Can you all make a video about living in Mexico with a dog? My dogs are honestly the only thing stopping me 😅
Hi! I brought 2 dogs from Chicago to live in Mexico and it’s great! You can do it!
I agree! Moving here with a dog shouldn't be an issue. I will say that it's not as common to have large yards in Mexico as it is in the US but otherwise I'd say Mexico is very dog-friendly. If you live in Monterrey, you'll have access to amazing vets, pet stores, and anything you'll need for a dog.
I would really suggest living near the coast somewhere. Dogs can go off leash and it's a blast letting them run around a beach. In lots of places that aren't so crowded you can take your dog with you to restaurants. The typical dog is going to have more fun in Mexico. That said, be aware that a lot of people keep dogs as serious guard dogs and there's a lot of strays running around and you need to keep at eye out so that your dog doesn't get into fights with them.
Culiacan y Mazatlán son increíbles también 😎
Helpful
Great video!!!
Definitely Huatulco we've traveled all over Mexico and Oaxaca Huatulco is out favorite. So much so we just purchased a new condo in Huatulco. 🌞🌞🌞🍻🇲🇽🐡🦎🌴🐢🐠🌮🦐🥑🍹👍👍👍❤viva Mexico 🇲🇽
Amazing video Thanks so much!
Patzcuaro! Very inexpensive, best climate in the highlands where I live. Friendly people. Good food if you like menudo and fatty meats! Fortunately, lots of local fruit and vegetables for cheap! Lived here for 10 years, don't plan to move or go back north!
I originally looked at Chapala and area and thought the lake looked great until I found out you can't swim in it. I also looked at Hultuco. I am in process of deciding on Puerto Morelos, Los de Marcos or Mazatlan. I know my spelling is off. I will also look at areas you mentioned. My primary goal is safe area and on ocean.
Safe with Ocean - San Felipe in Baja North. Great people, small community, 2 1/2 hours from Yuma
Since I don’t want to live in LA (already have). NY (already have) or DC (luckily haven’t) you’ve settled one place off my list. No Mexico City. Lol.
You both make great videos. Thank you.
That's funny! You could mix in Paris to that in certain neighborhoods if that makes it a little more enticing.
Believe me, Mexico City is beautiful, not like LA, NY, or DC.
Been to Puerto Vallarta twice and loved it. Want to move there.
Very good choices. Merida is too hot most of the year.
Very informative video, really enjoyed it ✌️
I know you mentioned Tijuana and it has a lot of pros like proximity to the US but also has a lot of cons with safety and immigration issues 🤷🏻♂️
I like how you referred to as foreign retirees instead of the controversial term of expats 👍
Many years ago I visited Cuernavaca and I really liked it, specially spring like weather and its proximity to Mexico City, but it’s had its share of safety concerns lately.
Saludos 🙂🇲🇽
Thank you! Tijuana and Cuernavaca were both on my shortlist for this video.
Awesome video thank you
Thank you for sharing. I would be extremely interested in a similar video touching on the best small towns in Mexico 🙂
Love it. Thanks you two!
Bacalar, Quintana Roo
Most amazing review video I've ever seen! Very thorough and chock full of information. I'm a New York native living in Austin Texas at the moment. Since I want the beach and nightlife activity and I'm LGBTQ I've been strongly considering Puerto Vallarta. Monterrey sounds like a good second choice for me as well. Thank you so much for this amazing review. Wishing you all the best! (Liked and subscribed) ❤️💯🔥😁
Excellent content
I really want to move to la paz. Thats my dream. And I've never been there. Lol. But I have done a lot of research
I am close to retirement and thinking of retiring to Mexico, but like you said so many choices. I am watching a lot of CZcams videos but still not sure of best place to go. Great video, I subscribed and will keep watching, hoping to make a wise decision. 😃
You needed to talk about the trees in Oaxaca. They're kind of loco
You could spend hours talking about what makes Oaxaca unique!
Guadalupe Inn, San Ángel, Jardines del Pedregal are places to live for very rich 🤑 people... Not for people in a budget
Visiten Valle de Bravo, no muy lejos de la ciudad. Saben, es idóneo como para seguir filmando la saga de Friday the 13th . Montañas , bosque, lago y unas cabañas increíbles. Saludos desde la condesa.
Varias veces lo hemos platicado pero siempre sale algo que cambia nuestros planes. Pronto!
No se arrepentirán. La última vez que fuimos( tendra unos tres años),rentamos una cabaña de lujo por al rededor de 500 dlls. Un mes de pleno descanso en medio del bosque . Saludos
Amazing!!!
I'm surprised you didn't mention Saltillo, as beautiful as it is we pass Monterey to get there to visit family. But I do love your choices. I love north of Austin tx so I do like smaller communities
Saltillo is also a great option! Especially if you like everything about Monterrey but prefer a smaller city. Thank you for your input!
great info, thanks for video
Thank you for watching!
Great video
Looking at Lake Chapala and Guanajuato in November for potential retirement cities. SMA is beautiful but too pricey for this gringo. I’ve heard mixed reviews about Queretaro but maybe we’ll dip in there for a day while we’re staying in Guanajuato. Thanks for your great video. I would be interested in your moving consulting services before I move.
Hola and Aloha! My wife and I are currently in Guadalajara, 1st time in Mexico. We're looking for a little longer duration of stay and thinking about Queretaro. Really enjoyed your video and had a few friends also recommend it. Do you have any suggestions on finding weekly or maybe even a month accommodation as we're working out a budget. Muchas gracias and Mahalo!
Could you maybe do a condesa vs Roma Norte video. Planning to move to Mexico City and those are the two I’m considering (like most people) but I would like to know the main tie breakers between the two. Enjoyed the individual videos on both. Thanks!
@Evral Tatum-Mcfield some people can afford to live in these neighborhoods and would like to know the differences between the two.
Hi! Sorry for a late reply. To be honest, the differences are minimal. I could say that deeper into condesa it gets a bit quieter with less restaurants, bars, etc. It's very nice in the entire neighborhood but it's just quieter in general. Again though, overall you'll find similar businesses, people, and vibe in both. I hope this helps!
Roma!!! Best option by far, dig into that
Definitely Roma, less snobby, more artsy, a lot of historic buildings, alleys, parks, nice caffés...
I love San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.
You need to visit Morelia, Michoacán. Literally “la Cuna de independencia” and la nueva España. Should be top 3 and Guadalajara?
Wow me encantó tu video tu inglés excelente
Muchas gracias 😊
Great selection, but I would add: Do you absolutely hate heat, need cold at least during the nights and love some forest to go camping and mountain towns nearby? Then, Pachuca is for you!
Absolutely! This list could be so much longer and still offer amazing places for different reasons.
Nice video, enjoyed it and agree with most of your conclusions. Just really glad you didn’t mention my town. Please don’t. San Miguel is the bomb, y’all.
Thank you
Thanks for the video,love to live in a small town lam not city lover.