In 10 years, I'm retiring at age 50 ($4000 monthly) I'm considering retiring in Mexico---Any suggestions?

Show all answers

larpmanx

Hopefully, in 10 years $4,000 will still be worth something.

Right now you can live very comfortably almost anywhere in Mexico on $4,000.

You may wish to explore Mexico and look for possible locations. Suggestions can be made if you list the kind of things you are looking for:
small town/city, beach town/cooler inland location, etc.

If you are thinking of buying property, it may be wise to get something now, even if it's just the land. Property costs continue to rise.

marci knows best

Rino has covered most of the bases. I would add get copies of "People's Guide to Mexico" by Carl Franz and "Head for Mexico" by Don Adams. Read them. These will give you a realistic view of Mexico. If Carl Franz has finished his book on retiring in Mexico before you retire, get that too.

Keep traveling around Mexico during those ten years. Get to know the areas and the people. Start learning Spanish. Mexico is different and they sometimes have different values. People who do best are the ones who are able to accept the differences and enjoy them.

We live near Lake Chapala. It is every bit as safe as small town America. Many doctors around the Chapala/Aijijic area are English speaking and highly skilled, and several of the hospitals in Guadalajara are world class. You could live quite comfortably on $4000 a month.

Here are some good Websites to get you started. Mexico Connect is worth the small subscription cost.
http://www.mexconnect.com/
http://www.peoplesguide.com/

viajero_intergalactico

$4,000 is a lot of money in mexico. i mean a lot.

depending on where you go, you can still buy beach front property (through a bank) for about $20,000 and build a nice house for another $40,000.

because you are black, you should not go to live in smaller towns. If you think the USA still needs to work on its racist issues, Mexico is way way behind the US on race. as a matter of fact, Mexico has very little blacks. But in larger cites you will be ok.

just an example, Tijuana is a very expensive border city and you can find a 3 bed, 2 bath house for about $500/month in a nice area. in the super rich areas $4,000 is not enough. but you will have access to USA shopping just across the border, the beach is not too far away.

go to craigslist tijuana to get more price examples. craigslist also has guadalajara, mexico city, etc...

food, gasoline, medical care, are cheaper in mexico.

tv's, air conditioning units, electronics, cell phone servce are more expensive.

Sans

You will do great at that budget. I would say research alot, then narrow it down to 3-4 places. When you retires, spend the first part going to each place and staying a couple of months, then decide!

rhino72032

Go to Amazon.com and type "retire Mexico" into the search box. It will give you a handful of books to read to learn about retiring in Mexico--you'll get a lot more information than we can give in a few paragraphs here.
The top retirement destinations are:
The Lake Chapala area
San Miguel de Allende
Puerto Vallarta
Mazatlan
But you could throw a dart at the map of Mexico and hit a town where some North American has retired.
The first thing to do is decide if you like mountains or ocean. In the mountains, the weather is temperate year-round, but kinda chilly in January. The first two areas listed above are like that. Towns three and four above are on the Pacific Ocean--really hot in the summer, but really pleasant the other three season.
Over the next ten years, learn Spanish and take trips into Mexico and investigate towns you read about in the books.
On $4000 a month, you can live like a king in Mexico. The most expensive areas are the tourist traps like Cancun; the least expensive are the towns you haven't heard of like Guanajuato, Lerdo and Xalapa.
Click the first link to learn more about the Lake Chapala area.
Click the second link to read about one man's experience of retiring to Mexico.

marc95116

Hey,hey, 4 grand can get you a hotel in Mexico.Nah just kidding I paid $35 a month for a two bed room house when I lived their.It wasn't in a upper class neighborhood tough,but it was cool.Also what that other cat said about buying something now is a good idea,cause things change,like laws!I had some friends that lived in a all gringo community which was all fenced off so intruders would stay out.They had security guards too, so you can find places like that if you look.You gotta get on that computer an start typing to get answers,remember a closed mouth doesn't get feed.If you did get some real-estate sooner you could always rent and use it for a vacation home in-the meantime.

michael g

All answers are great - come on down weathers great.
Im retired in Acapulco at 41 - could not do it at this age in the US.
I make a good deal less each month than you and I cant spend all my pension each month. Own a motorscooter , boat and jet skii.

Come down and spend a couple of weeks. Only way to know if your cut out for " the real Mexico " its not the USA and things will be much different and not all are cut out for it.

You being black is also a concern - not from this "honky" but the Mexicans are another story.
Come on down 'bro - plenty of room.
Gotta go......................Beach is calling !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: