If I move to Mexico. wheres the best place for an expatriate to go?

[Mari333]

Ive lost my free speech rights here, and thats it, I want to know where in Mexico I can live thats cheap, safe, and I wont be afraid to live there. I heard theres no quarantine laws for moving my pets there and I need to know where I can go there thats american friendly and Im safe
anyone got any ideas?
Mari333

[Misinformed01]

1. San Miguel de Allende

If I can find the old website I used to check I will post it.

[carpetbagger]

3. I've heard of San Miguel de Allende

It's a known magnet for expatriates, mostly retirees.

However, I'll play devil's advocate here. You'll still be more likely to be subject to false imprisonment, harassment, and the like in Mexico than you would be in the US.

What about Costa Rica or Canada?

What about Europe or New Zealand?

[seventhson]

2. San Miguel has an Amrican University and is an arts and culture mecca

I have heard it is very cool.

and it is beautiful

[DiverDave]

4. Just go a bit further south

Costa Rica.
They speak english (alot of them)
High literacy rate, universal medicine.
No civil unrest, and they like americans.
Pretty cheap to live too.
And the second largest barrier reef on earth. ( that last one is my main draw, and the cheap living)

[feminazi]

5. Ajijic and Lake Chapala

are supposed to have large ex-pat communities, too.

[theoceansnerves]

6. i've only been as far south

as rosarito. i know you can buy homes there really cheap. i suppose it's as "american friendly" as it gets considering it's a tourist place. but, it's also kinda dirty in town, but no worse than your average american urban inner city.

[slackmaster]

8. Only Mexican citizens can buy real estate close to the coast

I can't quote the exact distance, but basically anywhere you'd really want to live you can't own. You can get a long-term lease, but the Mexican government is famous for terminating those prematurely and tossing people out on the street with 30-days' notice.

[theoceansnerves]

9. aye you're right

i was thinking of the leases.

[cryofan]

7. forget about the established expat and touristy areas

Like San Miguel Allende, Acapulco, Lake Chapala, etc. Those areas have a look of expats and are therefore expensive.

You can get something cheap in some areas around Guadalajara, but it may be cheaper in other areas. But then most cheaper areas do not have a nice climate, either.

You might want to look at something in between Mexico City and Guadalajara. Morelia, that general area. THe good thing about Mexico is that if you get into high altitude areas that are not too crowded or with a lot of expats or tourists, you can live rather cheap without fear of disease, if you are a bit careful about what you eat and drink. I am talking about $100 a month rent. And simple local market foods are quite a lot cheaper, too. But you would probably need to speak some Spanish to get the good deals on rent.

Medical care is quite a bit cheaper too. Quite a bit.

You can get a tourist visa for 6 months, and then take a bus back to the border every 6 months to get it renewed.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. About the most American friendly city is Puerto Vallarta

Many Canadien and American ex pats live there and one can still survive...food and rentwise for under 1000 per month...the city itself is relatively safe

[Harrumph]

11. I've lived in Mexico for....

16 years now and still love it. I'm close to the Calif. border (2 hours)which is great for shopping and such. There is a large amount of ex-pats that live here (mostly snowbirds) and right now we are overrun with spring breakers. This town sits on the Sea of Cortez (gulf of cali) and has lots of gringo tourists during winter and spring. Too hot in summer unless you have AC. And this mexican town hates Bush* (the crazy cowboy)!

[BigBigBear]

12. Are you in Rocky Point, Demo_god?

We drive down there every year in October for swimming, fresh shrimp and lots of downtime.

Actually, now that I think about it - Rocky Point is a LOT further than 2 hours fropm the CA border.