10 Best Places to Retire in Mexico

Check out our list of best places to retire in Mexico and head there before Trump builds his wall.
Jokes aside, if you are planning to retire in some other country besides the United States, Mexico should be your top choice. It is estimated that over one million of American expats are living in the country, with the majority of them being retirees who are looking to enjoy in warm weather and low cost of living. Another confirmation of the fact that Mexico is an ideal retirement destination is International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index for 2017 which singled out Mexico as the best country to retire to in the world. The index was based on many factors including cost of living, healthcare, climate and more. The proximity to the United States, friendly locals, and large expat community is just a big plus.

When it comes to healthcare in Mexico, the experiences of expats have been positive so far. It is believed that healthcare in the country is very good; mainly thanks to the fact that many doctors received training in the United States. You can opt to pay out of pocket or decide between private and public health insurance. It is important to notice that around two-thirds of all hospitals in Mexico are private ones. Still, the cost of medical care and prescription drugs is a lot lower than in the United States. Data from Trading Economics tells us that there are 2.1 physicians, 2.5 nurses and 1.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in the country. The yearly expenditure of GDP on health is 6.3%.
Let’s quickly check out the safety situation as well. You’ve probably heard lots about gang conflicts and violent stuff happening all over the country. Well, that’s all true, but you should be ok as long as you don’t make a wrong turn. This means that the touristic and expat destinations are generally safe. Of course, this doesn’t mean you are off the hook. Mexico is still one of the most dangerous countries in the world, at least if we are to believe World Economic Forum who ranked Mexico in 113th place in terms of Safety and Security compared to the rest of the world. There are still thieves who will use the lack of attention to snatch your bag or other valuables. Also, muggings are not rare and can turn violent sometimes. As in the majority of countries, public transportation and touristic attractions are places where you should take extra care. In case you want to be a bit more far away from the United States and Mexico, take a look at our list of 10 best places to retire in South America.
Before we continue with our list of best places to retire in Mexico, let us cover the methodology. In order to compile the list, we took the most recommended destinations from multiple sources including Munknee, Huffington Post, and International Living. We ranked and we also awarded the places with points based on average rent cost (Numbeo), hospital to population ratio (Google Maps) and flight cost to Miami, Florida (Google Flights). Extra points were added based on the Peace Index of the State (lower the index translates to more peaceful state) where the destination is located. We should remind you that cost of flight includes transportation costs to the nearest international airport and that hospital to population ratio is there to tell you how many people are assigned to one hospital. Let’s not waste more time and begin with the list of best places to retire in Mexico.

10. Mazatlan

IM Score: 9
Rent Cost: $325
Hospital to Population Ratio: 43,137
Flight to U.S. Cost: $666
State Peace Index: 3.26

Let us start with the sandy beaches and palm trees.  There are some things that Mazatlan does well, like parties, outdoor activities and giving you that beach lifestyle you may crave for. But there are plenty of issues like big cost of airplane tickets to the United States, bad hospital to population ratio and the fact that the state of Sinaloa (where Mazatlan is situated), has one of the worst peace indexes in Mexico.

9. San Miguel De Allende

IM Score: 11
Rent Cost: $665
Hospital to Population Ratio: 14,986
Flight to U.S. Cost: $583
State Peace Index: 2.44

If the beach isn’t the only thing you look for, the beautiful architecture and rich cultural heritage of San Miguel De Allende could give you retirement heaven. The city is seeing lots of expats and visitors coming there to spend days or years, drawn by numerous attractions. But this also made the city less affordable since San Miguel De Allende has one of the highest costs of living on our list of best places to retire in Mexico.

8. Puerto Vallarta

IM Score: 17
Rent Cost: $375
Hospital to Population Ratio: 10,702
Flight to U.S. Cost: $534
State Peace Index: 2.26

This vibrant city located on the coast of Pacific Ocean will not hurt your budget too much while giving you all the modern amenities. They say that you can get a feel of real Mexico in Puerto Vallarta, but also keep the comfort you had in the United States.

7. Guadalajara

IM Score: 20
Rent Cost: $310
Hospital to Population Ratio: 29,313
Flight to U.S. Cost: $436
State Peace Index: 2.26

Living in Guadalajara has both its perks and negative sides. You’ll be in a modern city, with a high-quality care and have an opportunity to enjoy in Mexican architecture, culture and cuisine all at the same time. The downside is that we are talking about Mexico’s second largest city that has some issues with the security. Still, there are so many things to do and see in and around Guadalajara that make the bad sides more bearable.

6. Guanajuato

IM Score: 21
Rent Cost: $270
Hospital to Population Ratio: 10,100
Flight to U.S. Cost: $534
State Peace Index: 2.44

Everyone says that this is the city for lovers of the arts. Guanajuato, that ranked 6th on the list of best places to retire in Mexico, lives for it, and you can experience art on every corner. There are so many cultural events and festivals all year round that you probably won’t be able to catch them all. Guanajuato offers high quality of life while being affordable. What else do you need?

5. Tulum

IM Score: 22
Rent Cost: $785
Hospital to Population Ratio: 9,116
Flight to U.S. Cost: $373
State Peace Index: 1.72

We were long enough on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, so it is time to move close to the Caribbean Sea. Tulum, next on our list of best places to retire in Mexico is still waiting to establish itself properly as a retirement destination, but the rent prices are already ahead of that. As you can see, the city has the highest average apartment rent cost on the list. Still, your money will be well spent, since you will spend your days on some of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world.

4. Cancun

IM Score: 22
Rent Cost: $355
Hospital to Population Ratio: 29,919
Flight to U.S. Cost: $300
State Peace Index: 1.72

You have probably heard about Cancun before. It is one of the most famous touristic destinations in Mexico, but also a place where many Americans decide to spend their retirement days. Cancun will give you everything without taking much. The cost of living is reasonable, and flight cost to the United States is the lowest compared to rest of entries on our list of best places to retire in Mexico. From beautiful beaches to natural parks around Cancun, there are few things this city doesn’t excel in.

3. Merida

IM Score: 22
Rent Cost: $300
Hospital to Population Ratio: 31,104
Flight to U.S. Cost: $383
State Peace Index: 1.24

If you can’t decide between beaches and mountains, why don’t have both? Merida offers you proximity to both the Caribbean Sea coast and mountains accompanied by rivers and forests, so you will have plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. You can sometimes decide to stay within the city’s borders, and you won’t make a mistake either. Merida will charm you with its architecture, street performers and the smell of freshly cooked food that lurks around every corner.

2. Playa Del Carmen

IM Score: 26
Rent Cost: $555
Hospital to Population Ratio: 6,518
Flight to U.S. Cost: $310
State Peace Index: 1.72

Are you tired of beach resorts? If not, then Playa Del Carmen is one of the best destinations you can end up. They say that the city is perfectly located, being on the coast of Caribbean Sea and being both close to Cancun that has an international airport and also some more visit worthy destinations. You’ll never be bored here, that’s for sure since the city is filled with activities that will occupy you all day and there is a large expat community.

1. San Cristobal de Las Casas

IM Score: 27
Rent Cost: $255
Hospital to Population Ratio: 9,785
Flight to U.S. Cost: $450
State Peace Index: 1.57

Surprisingly, neither of the beach towns managed to end up at the top of our list of best places to retire in Mexico. That honor belonged to the mountainous city of San Cristobal Delas Casas. It offers all the natural beauties and stunning landscapes you can wish for and more. There is colorful and charming colonial architecture, feel of traditional Mexico mixed with modern amenities. If you don’t have your mind set on spending the rest of your days on a beach, then San Cristobal Delas Casas ticks all the right boxes for you to make it your top choice.