International Living (IL), which is well-known for publishing reliable statistics on relocation and global retirement, has declared Mexico to be the number one country in which to retire in 2017 for United States expats. International Living’s statistics rated a variety of different factors that considered residency, cost of living, getting visas, and adjusting to the local lifestyle.
Mexico is the Best Place to Retire
There are already over one million American expats living in various locations throughout Mexico, many of whom are concentrated in the major tourist hotspots such as Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Cabo San Lucas. With so many factors that make Mexico the best place to retire, it comes as no surprise to us at Garza Blanca Real Estate that Mexico has been awarded such a coveted position by International Living.
Mexico Beats Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica and More for the No.1 Spot
Retiring abroad is a trend that is not looking to slow down, particularly amongst the baby-boomer generation. Projections for the future predict that in the coming years it will only increase. The top 10 countries that ranked as the best place to retire according to International Living to are Malta, Panama, Portugal, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Spain, Malaysia, and Colombia, with Mexico hitting the number one spot for the best place to retire.
Below are some of the reasons why Mexico is the best place to retire:
Affordable Living (including luxuries)
One concern that all retirees must face is finding somewhere to live that is affordable. Mexico excels in this area as one of the most affordable places to live without having to give up luxuries like eating out, spa treatments, travel, housekeepers etc. In Mexico you will find that your grocery bills will be cheaper and your housing less expensive. Even private healthcare coverage is not as expensive as in the US and is of excellent quality.
Incredible Exchange Rates
Your money will go farther than ever due to the current exchange rates between the United States dollar and the Mexican peso. Now is the time to purchase property and invest in Mexico.
Close Proximity to the United States
There are daily direct flights to many of the major cities in the United States, making getting back and forth a breeze and making it more likely that your nearest and dearest come to visit you when your retire to Mexico. You can be at your destination within just a few short hours, so you will never miss out on your grandchild’s birthday party or a Thanksgiving family reunion.
Familiar Brands
For better or worse, you may be surprised to know that you can find many of the same conveniences in Mexico as you have back home, which include Walmart, Costco, and your favorite fast food restaurants. Mexican supermarkets also carry the most popular brands from home.
Crossing Language Barriers
English is widely spoken in most of the major tourist destinations in Mexico and places that are popular amongst Expats such as San Miguel de Allende, Lake Chapala and Tepoztlán. Movie theaters usually show all the major English speaking movies too with subtitles. More importantly, Spanish is a fairly easy language to learn the basics and is a lot of fun.
Do you agree with International living’s verdict that Mexico is the best place to retire? Please let us know what your thoughts are by leaving a comment.