Shot at the Minnesota Zoo.  A critically endangered Mexican Gra…
Usage map for the year 2000 of the indigenous languages of Mexi…
Mexico view 3
Francisco I. Madero, former Mexican president.
Two young Tuberous Parasol Fungi (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) in na…
Mexico view 6

Mexico

Atlantic Ocean, Paci…
Climate
MXN
Currency
Caution
Safety
Moderate
Cost of Living
Spanish
Language
Country Information Mexico

Mexico is a vibrant and diverse country located in the southern portion of North America, bordered by the United States to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast. With a population of approximately 128 million people, it is the most popu...

Cost of Living
vs EU Average10% cheaper
Rent
MX$16,000Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
MX$225Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
MX$30.31Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
MX$11.75One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Mexico Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
  • District Matching for your Lifestyle
  • Vetted Local Partner Directory

With a safety index of 47/100, Mexico offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Most international visitors, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and most EU/Schengen states, can enter Mexico visa-free for tourism or business for up to 180 days, provided they obtain a Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM) / tourist card on arrival or online before travel.[3][4][5][8] Mexico does not issue visas on arrival at ports of entry; nationals who do require a visa must obtain it in advance from a Mexican consulate.[5] A tourist card/FMM is an entry permit,...

Visa-free entry: 180 days
Digital Nomad Visa available
Work permits available
Retirement visa options
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Mexico

Create your free profile to see personalized match scores.

Location Intelligence for Mexico
Cost of Living42.3

10% below EU avg

Safety47.3

27% below EU avg

Quality of Life125.9

19% below EU avg

Purchasing Power52.0

26% below EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Mexico City

Timezone

UTC-08:00

Area

1,964,375 km²

Population

128,932,753

Mexico shows a purchasing power index of 52/100, indicating moderate economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Mexico

GDP

$1.41T

HDI

0.8

Quality of Life

55/100

+12 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

22/100

-20 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Mexico. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
Mexico
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Very High

Mexico’s cost of living is very low by global standards, with a Cost of Living Index around 34 and Rent Index near 10 relative to New York = 100, making daily expenses and housing highly affordable for residents and expats.

Housing Market

Good

Home affordability is relatively good, with a property price-to-income ratio of about 6.4 years, while rents remain low outside prime areas of Mexico City and tourist zones, though prices have risen in main nearshoring and coastal markets.

Average Income Levels

Poor

Average incomes are modest and below many OECD countries, with a purchasing power index around 64; wages are improving in manufacturing and services but still limit domestic buying power despite low living costs.

Tax System

Moderate

Mexico has a progressive federal income tax from 1.9% up to 35% on higher incomes, a standard VAT of 16% (0% on some essentials), relatively low property taxes, and frequent rule changes that can make compliance complex for individuals and small firms.

Business Environment

Moderate

Mexico ranked 60th in the final World Bank Doing Business 2020 report and remains a key nearshoring hub with strong manufacturing links to the US, but investors face bureaucracy, legal uncertainty, security issues, and uneven rule of law despite improving industrial regions.

Social Security

Moderate

The social security system (IMSS, ISSSTE, and public programs) provides mandatory health coverage, pensions, and some unemployment and disability support, but benefits and service quality vary sharply by region and formal vs informal employment status, leaving many informal workers underprotected.

Work & Business in Mexico
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

Mexico, spanning over 1.9 million km², exhibits remarkable climate diversity due to its varied topography including coasts, highlands, deserts, and mountains. Köppen classifications range from tropical wet (Af) in southern lowlands to arid desert (BW) in the north and temperate dry-winter (Cw) in central plateaus.

Climate
Tropical, Dry
Summer
22–35°C
Winter
5–28°C
Sunshine
3200+ hrs/yr

6 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Mexico

Life Expectancy

75.0

Population

128,932,753

Religions

Christianity (Catholic)
78%
Christianity
11.2%

Ethnic Composition

''[[#Ethnicity and race
N/A
What Expats Say About MexicoBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Mexico. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in Mexico
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Mexico
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Mexico
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

Mexico is a federal republic currently governed by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo of the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), who took office in October 2024. The country is undergoing significant institutional changes including a major judicial reform that replaces appointed judges with popularly elected ones and legislative reforms expanding military authority and government surveillance capabilities. These reforms have raised concerns among international observers regarding judicial independence, democratic checks and balances, and fundamental rights protection.

System
Federal Republic
Democracy
Flawed Democracy
Legal System
Civil law system undergoing judicial reform with popular election of judges
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Mexico
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Mexico flag
Mexico at a Glance

Languages

Spanish

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Mexico

Population

128,932,753

Currency

MXN

Timezones

UTC-08:00 to UTC-06:00

Calling Code

+52

Week starts on

Monday

Gini Coefficient

45.4 (2018)

Traffic side

right side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.