Expat Insider 2025: The World Through Expat Eyes

In Mexico, Expats Enjoy the Slower Pace of Living

Expats love the weather, their opportunities to travel around the region, and the friendly locals, yet they complain of safety and corruption issues, in addition to the bad air quality.

In Brief
Friendly Locals, Welcoming Culture
Prepare for Setbacks with Bureaucracy
Mexico Attracts Educators
A Great Climate but Personal Safety Still Worrisome
The Typical Expat in Mexico
Further Reading

Country report for Mexico: 3rd overall out of 46 countries; details in description

In Brief

Mexico is in 3rd place out of 46 countries in the Expat Insider survey — the sixth time in a row it’s ranked in the top 3. The performance of its individual indices remains good, with three — Ease of Settling In (1st), Expat Essentials (7th), and Personal Finances (8th) — in the top 10. Working Abroad (14th) isn’t far behind, while Quality of Life (23rd) is average. Regarding their overall happiness with their life abroad, expats rank Mexico 3rd.

Just to list a few of the great reasons I love living here: all the good friends I’ve made, all the wonderful trips we’ve taken throughout Mexico, all the great activities there are, all the opportunities to volunteer and help others… (US American expat in Ajijic)

Opinion

Friendly Locals, Welcoming Culture

Mexico and the Ease of Settling In go happily hand in hand, as the index consistently ranks 1st since 2014 — except for the few times it dropped to 2nd place, including in 2024. The Culture & Welcome Subcategory (1st) takes the lead, followed by Finding Friends (2nd) and Local Friendliness (3rd).

At more than 20 percentage points higher than the global average, expats feel both at home (79% vs. 58% globally) and welcome (88% vs. 62%) in Mexico. They’re also happy with their social life (74% vs. 52%) and find that making local friends is easy (70% agree vs. 38%).

Unsurprisingly, more than a third of respondents in Mexico (35%) describe their friends and acquaintances as mostly locals, more than double the global average of 16%. It’s easy to get used to the local culture (1st), too, and expats find Mexicans to be friendly in general (4th) and towards foreign residents (3rd).

Prepare for Setbacks with Bureaucracy

In 7th place, with a mixed performance of its subcategories, is the Expat Essentials Index. Housing (8th) and Language (9th) don’t pose too much of a problem for expats, whereas Digital Life (31st) lingers close to the bottom 10.

Around a third of expats in Mexico (32%) say there’s a lack of availability of government services online (vs. 21% globally). And it’s not easy to pay without cash (41st). On the bright side, access to online services such as social media is unrestricted (7th).

When it comes to Admin Topics (18th), it’s easy to get a visa to move to Mexico (76% agree vs. 53% globally). But once there, it’s not easy dealing with the local bureaucracy/authorities (29% positive ratings vs. 37%).

I hate the bureaucracy and the language barrier. People don't have a concept of time. It takes weeks sometimes to get things fixed! (South African expat in Playa Del Carmen)

Opinion

Expats can at least find (9th) and afford (8th) housing, and the majority agree learning the local language is easy (8th).

Mexico Attracts Educators

The Personal Finance (8th) Index reflects expats’ overall satisfaction with their wallets in Mexico. More than four in five respondents (85%) say their disposable income is about or more than enough to lead a comfortable life (vs. 69% globally). Not bad for the 31% of respondents who say they’re already retired (vs. 11%).

Now for the 54% that are working, they find that Working Abroad (14th) in Mexico is just fine. Work & Leisure (11th) and Career Prospects (12th) are the best performing subcategories, followed by Work Culture & Satisfaction (17th) and Salary & Job Security (20th).

The highest share of working expats in Mexico do so in education (20% vs. 11% globally), followed by IT (10% vs. 11%). Overall, 67% of respondents are satisfied with their job (vs. 60%), and a similar share (69%) is happy with their work–life balance (vs. 60%). In fact, a third (33%) work remotely all of the time (vs. 19% globally).

Working hours (31st) could be better, as well job security (27th). Though the job market is highly rated (4th), and expats are happy with their personal career opportunities (8th).

A Great Climate but Personal Safety Still Worrisome

Midway through the ranking is the Quality of Life Index (23rd). Expats in Mexico are delighted with their Leisure Options (2nd), from a vibrant culture & nightlife (2nd) to abundant culinary & dining options (4th). But when it comes to the Travel & Transit (31st) and Environment & Climate (35th) Subcategories, the situation isn’t as positive.

The infrastructure for cars (39th) and air quality (39th) rank in the bottom 10; though the climate & weather (8th) is a big draw and public transportation is more or less affordable (15th).

Safety & Security (33rd) is another issue, with nearly a third of respondents (29%) citing the lack of safety and security as a major concern prior to their move (vs. 7% globally). Their worry wasn’t for nothing, as personal safety ranks in the bottom 10 (39th), with nearly double the global average giving this factor a negative rating (17% vs. 9%). In the open comments, many expats cite cartels and corruption as responsible.

I don't feel 100% safe returning home on foot at night (after 11 pm) and I don’t like that there are some parts of the country I can’t visit due to cartel activity. (Chilean expat in Guadalajara)

Opinion

When it comes to Healthcare (19th), expats’ view is on par with the global average. For example, 67% of respondents positively rate the quality of medical care (vs. 67% globally) and a similar share (69%) is happy with its availability (vs. 68% globally).