Looking for American Expats in Mexico?

Thinking about moving to Mexico as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what an American expats in Mexico wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• Friendships come easily. This is the standout — 73% of expats in Mexico say making local friends is easy (vs. 39% globally), 87% feel welcome, and 84% rate locals as friendly.

• The weather and outdoor life are a draw. Sunshine and an easy climate come up constantly, and 84% of expats in Mexico rate the climate and weather positively, against 58% globally.

• The food is a highlight. Mexican cooking wins people over — 92% rate culinary variety positively, one of the survey's top scores.

• Your money goes further. Affordable housing and daily costs draw praise, with 57% rating the general cost of living positively and 50% rating housing affordability positively.

• Safety is the biggest worry. Crime and personal security come up often, and 68% of expats in Mexico rate personal safety positively — below the global average of 81%.

• Corruption and red tape frustrate. Only 29% find it easy to deal with local authorities (vs. 38% globally), and political stability rates 45%.

• Air quality and traffic wear on people. Pollution and congestion are recurring in the cities, and 46% rate air quality positively, against 65% globally.

• Careers can stall. Just 48% say the move improved their career prospects (vs. 55% globally), and the local job market rates 40%.

For Americans, Mexico offers warmth, weather, and a social life that comes together fast, at a cost that's easy on the wallet — and 85% are happy with life there. The trade-offs are safety, bureaucracy, and a job market that rewards remote workers and retirees more than career-builders.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

Of course, expat living in Mexico is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Mexican way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in Mexico, residing in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in Mexico City or Americans in Guadalajara.

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from United States of America in Mexico.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our Mexico Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get stuffed turkey in Guadalajara.
• Search the InterNations Places database for Mexico to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.

From the Yucatán peninsula to the Zapotec and Mixtec state of Oaxaca, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in Mexico.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in Mexico. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Mexican guacamole, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Mexico City’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see the commercial and industrial hub of Northern Mexico as well as other beautiful landmarks in Mexico.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in Mexico!