Having stood alone as one of the only countries on Earth that remained open throughout the duration of the draconian global lock-downs passed down by the global elite, Mexico has quickly established itself as one of the freest, and ultimately best places for expats and digital nomads alike looking for a brand new home.
However, covering a massive 1.92 million km, making it the 13th largest country on Earth, possessing the 10th biggest population, and the largest population of Spanish speakers on the planet, Mexico is as beautiful as it is diverse, which all begets the question – for those looking to move to this Latin American powerhouse, what exactly are the best cities for expats in Mexico?
Having been one of the now 7 countries (and counting!) that I have lived in across the planet, I’ve spent quite a great deal of time in Mexico, and can assure you that there are MANY great options to choose from, all across this great nation. However, after great consideration, I have narrowed down my list to the top 5 best cities for expats in Mexico – and here they are, so let’s check them out together, listo?
#1: San Cristobal de las Casas
Wasting no time at all, I must list my favorite city to live in on my list of best cities for expats in Mexico to relocate to – and it is indeed the capital of the fiercely unique Chiapas state, close to the Guatemalan border, in southern Mexico. Set high up in the foothills of the Cordillera Central mountain chain, San Cristobal de las Casas (or San Chris for short) is a great place to escape the brutal coastal Mexican heat, with temperatures much more temperate throughout the year.
Coupled with the fact that the city has some of the best food in all of Mexico (which is really saying something, considering Mexico’s position as one of the culinary capitals of the world!), as well as charming, colorful colonial city streets and cobblestone roads, gives San Chris a kind of homey appeal that few other places in Latin America can truly offer, as well as making it one of the best cities for expats in Mexico.
The only real disadvantage to San Chris is that the water is not safe to drink, as Chiapas for all its qualities still remains one of the poorest states in all of Mexico – and Montezuma’s Revenge, now mostly a forgotten memory of decades past, still rises from the dead from time to time here in the green highlands of this beautiful little city. But if you can get past that small detail, you’ll find one of the most peaceful, friendly, beautiful, and overall best cities for expats in Mexico to call their brand new home.
#2: Mexico City
Of course, I couldn’t make this list of top 5 best cities for expats in Mexico, if I didn’t include the biggest one of them all, as well as the biggest city in all of Latin America – Ciudad de Mexico itself, Mexico City. A truly massive city, Mexico’s capital offers nearly infinite possibilities for world-class entertainment, food, shopping, nightlife, and more – if you can dream it, it certainly can come to life in the never-sleeping streets of Mexico City.
With a huge international airport, which is well connected with many flights to all over Central and South America, let alone destinations all over the world, as well as hosting some of the most modern, elegant neighborhoods within its central core, Mexico City, despite its rougher edges, still maintains a sophisticated, chic edge that easily can go toe to toe with any major world city bar none.
Things to look out for however include a overall higher cost to living (especially if you want to live in best neighborhoods like Polanco), as well as a need to be on your toes a bit more, due to various safety concerns in certain areas. However these concerns haven’t stopped making Mexico’s capital one of the most popular destination for digital nomads and foreigners of all shapes and sizes to immigrate to within the country, rightfully making Mexico City truly one of the best cities for expats to consider when moving to Mexico
#3: Isla Mujeres
Although I am mostly quite critical of the vast majority of Caribbean Mexico, which has become in recent years overwhelmed by the dark sides of over-tourism, such as Cancun, as well as attracting the noveau-psuedo wealthy and influencer-types in droves to the actually pretty sub-par beaches of Tulum, Bacalar, and Playa del Carmen, there is one shimmering gem in the state of Quintana Roo that does warrant your attention as a very attractive place for expats of all shades, and one of the best cities for expats in Mexico to move to as well.
I am talking of course of the small, little island of Isla Mujeres, positioned right off the coast from Cancun proper – placing it perfectly close to major international transport hubs, but far away enough from all the chaos that one can work, live, and enjoy themselves in peace, in a place that contains arguably the best beaches and vivid blue water in all of Mexico.
Near Playa Norte on the north shore of the island you can find all sorts of great, unique coffee shops, restaurants, and water sports galore, while the further south you go, the more peaceful and relaxed you get, with unbelievable views off the sea-side cliffs, sprayed constantly by a refreshing sea-spray, in this, the most western point in all of Mexico, and certainly one of the best cities for expats in Mexico, as well as my favorite place on the Caribbean coast to spend significant time in.
#4: Puerto Escondido
For expats and digital nomads looking for a more laid back, Mexican beach atmosphere, but with vibes edging closer to Bali, then Puerto Escandido, on the country’s southwest coast should certainly be near the top of your list of best cities for expats in Mexico to move to. Filled to the brim with laid back sufer dudes (and dudettes), yoga classes galore, and some of the best smoothie bowls this side of Southeast Asia, if you are reading this article while wearing elephant pants, then Puerto Escandido is probably the place for you.
Meanwhile, if you are more like me, and aren’t exactly ready to start a vegan, keto, whole-grain, or gluten-free diet, like many of the other, more hippie-conscious expats in this part of Mexico may observe, then the good news is that there’s plenty of great eats and activities to be had in Puerto Escandido as well, considering you are right in the middle of Oaxaca state – one of Mexico’s premier foody destinations known the world over.
Playing host to some of the softest, brown-sugar colored beaches found anywhere in Mexico, or even the world for that matter, this chilled-out Pacific city might be the perfect place for any foreigner looking to work, play, and live in not only one of the best cities for expats in Mexico, but also one of the most interesting, and unique locales in all of Latin America.
#5: Puebla
Perhaps the least known place on my list of the top 5 best cities for expats in Mexico, is the gorgeous, little township of Puebla, located in the eastern-central portion of the country, just south-east of the capital, Mexico City. Benefiting like both San Chris, and the capital city from its higher elevation, Puebla has a lovely, cooler climate, standing in great contrast to the sweltering coast, but while sacrificing none of the famously strong sunny days to be had at lower elevations.
Additionally, Puebla’s old-world, colonial architecture make it one of the prettiest cities in all of Mexico – certainly on the same standard as more famous cities like San Miguel de Allende, but without the torrent of over-tourism, and constant erosion of local culture. But the buildings aren’t the only artistic joy to be found in Puebla, one of the best cities for expats in Mexico – as this city also is where most of the famous Talavera tiles, found adorning houses all the way up and down the Latin American heartland, are made to this very day.
Add in the fact that this town is also famous for being the originator of mole poblano, a regional dish that incorporates a kind of bean sauce that is sweet, bitter, salty, and altogether out of this world delicious, as well as having some of the friendliest locals anywhere in the country, and one can truly start seeing the charming appeal of Puebla – one of the best cities for expats in Mexico, period.
Destination: Mexico, A Proud Land of Freedom, Fire, and Opportunity
Despite getting a ton of bad press over the years, for reasons due to paying host to much of the illegal immigration into its northern neighbor, the United States, as well as for its very real high crime rates in many of its northern states, Mexico remains an enigmatic nation, with plenty of pros and cons, more of which I’ve written about here, that ultimately makes up for its shortcomings by being one of the most welcoming, friendly, entertaining, and amazing cultures and countries on the planet.
Having taken in so many ‘covid refugees’ during the last few years, as well as having made immigration to the country pretty streamlined and mostly easy to understand, a process of which I underwent, and wrote about more here, Mexico has managed to turn a global lock-down into a massive opportunity – and it shows, with the nation now being the most visited place on the planet.
If you are one of the lucky foreigners, intelligent investors, or savvy digital nomads looking for a new home in the Latin American region – look no further. Just pick one of these top 5 best cities for expats in Mexico to start your new adventure in, and I’m sure you’ll soon set out on one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life!
Meanwhile, if you are looking to compare Mexico to other nations in Latin America to potentially move to, then why not take a look at my in-depth article at the best nations to live within the region right here? I wish you the best of successes in all of your efforts to make your international dreams a reality – bienvenidos y gracias! 🙂