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Inexpensive &Safe

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mag420
  1/20/2019 11:23 EST

Greetings; Seeking information on inexpensive safe locals to retire in Mexico. All replies greatly appreciated.

novato1953
  1/20/2019 11:56 EST

The entire country is inexpensive when your sense of what things should cost was developed in the US. Safe places and risky places are sometimes separated by only a few blocks, and your own behavior is often the biggest wild card. One thing that seems true across Mexico is that dangerous places nearly always look dangerous. Start reading the news from Mexico, employ critical thinking, keep notes if you find it necessary, and you'll learn more.

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IAM
  1/20/2019 15:14 EST

I've lived in Puerto Vallarta for about 2 years and it's indeed inexpensive & safe. If you plan to test the area please google the area and let me know. I and my friends have homes and would be more than happy to assist in anyway. There is a huge expat community here.
By the way, I'm in the residential area, which is about a 10-15 minute ride to downtown central and the famous romatica zone and 5 minutes from the cruise pier and marina area.

Cozumeldeb
  1/20/2019 15:16 EST

Good Advice.
Decide where u want to be ocean, mountains, lots of ex-pats etc. Then research those areas, majority of ex-pats areas have great sites loaded with info.We live in Cozumel, ferry ride to mainland, Playa del Carman. We are half-timers, Cozumel in the winter and Chicagoland area summer. We've traveled quite a lot in MX, beautiful country. Loads of ex pats, Americans, Canadians and seeing quite a few Europeans in the past few yrs everywhere.
Healthcare is very good, climate a big +, cost of living I usually put about 25-30% of the US. I love the areas around Guadalajara, several large ex pat areas surrounding MX's 2nd largest city..Good luck in your search..just as u do in America, don't go in bad areas, situational awareness is key.

Cozumeldeb
  1/20/2019 15:21 EST

Good Advice.
Decide where u want to be ocean, mountains, lots of ex-pats etc. Then research those areas, majority of ex-pats areas have great sites loaded with info.We live in Cozumel, ferry ride to mainland, Playa del Carman. We are half-timers, Cozumel in the winter and Chicagoland area summer. We've traveled quite a lot in MX, beautiful country. Loads of ex pats, Americans, Canadians and seeing quite a few Europeans in the past few yrs everywhere.
Healthcare is very good, climate a big +, cost of living I usually put about 25-30% of the US. I love the areas around Guadalajara, several large ex pat areas surrounding MX's 2nd largest city..Good luck in your search..just as u do in America, don't go in bad areas, situational awareness is key.

hrlee7804
  1/21/2019 09:22 EST

We just moved to San Carlos, Sonora state. For us it has it all and very reasonably priced. The free zone is wonderful. Check it out. Very close to Tucson. No tourists only Snowbirds and a few of us stay 12 months.

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Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.

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Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.
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morepaul
  1/21/2019 09:44 EST

My wife and I moved fulltime to San Jose del Cabo. Bought a house in a non gated area to connect to the local population.. Almost 2 years of fulltime living now and so far have no regrets whatsoever. Unfortunately the cost of living here is not as reasonable as Mexico in general. If you know this coming here then you must have a budget that will allow for this

Good hunting.
.

ldartnall
  1/25/2019 10:52 EST

Hi morepaul
My husband and I are thinking of moving to Mexico for a year and San Jose del Cabo was one of the places we really like. When you say that it is more expensive in general than Mexico, is this the accommodation or every day living? Also, is there much of an expat community there? We know there is a big one in Puerta Vallarta but weren't sure if the Cabo area had one also.
Thanks
Lynne

grapenut
  1/25/2019 20:35 EST

THE MORE EXPATS THERE IN ANY GIVEN LOCATION,, THE BIGGER THE AMOUNT OF Active cartels because the expats r buying drugs from the cartels. BEACH TOWNS, MAJOR EXPAT CITIES. MORE EXPENSIVE TOO. MY NIECE AND HER FAMILY LIVED IN HERMOSILLO AND PAID OVER $1600USD A MONTH FOR AN APT. I PAY $280USD IN JUAREZ. DO SOME MORE INVESTIGATING B4 U COME. STAY CLOSE TO US BORDER AND EVERYTHING IS SAFER AND CHEAPER GAS IS $3. GALLON..THO.

lindarose
  1/25/2019 20:47 EST

you MUST be joking.....expats buy drugs from the cartel???? Now I think I've heard everything!! Do you really think the cartel would fool with a dime bag of weed????? Thanks for the laugh!!

novato1953
  1/25/2019 21:08 EST

When you type in capital letters, it means what you're saying is important. It's a secret signal, like a handshake between brother Masons. You could look it up.

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Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Welcome Home MexicoWelcome Home Mexico

Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

hrlee7804
  1/26/2019 09:14 EST

In my world of text type messages all caps are YELLING! Very annoying.

hrlee7804
  1/26/2019 09:19 EST

Anyplace there are expats there are locals that get paid better at their jobs, thus a richer community. This may be why the cartels have some interest in areas of expats not the occasional bag of weed or an 8 ball of coke once every six months.....for an example.

lindarose
  1/26/2019 09:42 EST

I disagree. The cartel want nothing to do with expats, we offer them nothing. I've lived in MX for the last 27 years, all over & don't believe I've encountered a member of the cartel.

Cozumeldeb
  1/26/2019 11:53 EST

I suggest u sign up for safe travel site thru US State Dept. Covers all countries, sign in MEXICO. Will give u a state by state update. Having said that, our experience in MX since 1989 there have been changes. The US is the #1 user of drugs, which needs to be addressed, no hope with current disaster crook in WH.
To label the country as a whole is ridiculous, we're from Chicago when folks back home ask if we are afraid, we laugh.
Situational awareness is a must everywhere. Fairly easy to spot a crime ridden area and avoid. We bought in Cozumel in 2001, we live in a secured condo bldg.

dolfna
  1/26/2019 19:31 EST

I moved to plays of Tijuana in 2014, then to Rosarito and now I live in Puero Madero in the state of Chiapas.

I have driven from Tijuana to Cancun with a mexican. From Cancun to Puerto Madero by myself. From Tijuana to Puerto Madero with a Mexican then back by myself.

I feel very safe in this country. While my Spanish is extremely limited and very slowly improving

There are many questions you need to ask yourself. In an emergency how fast and how much to go back to the USA.

What will be the expense to have family come or go back and see? Do you need to live close to the border? What changes are you willing to make?

Are you going to live under a tourist visa which many do or go for temp or perm residency? What about a vehicle are you bringing yours? If your outside of the border zone that complicates things. My car permit is about to expire. You would be amazed how fast that 6 months goes.

Age you living somewhere that getting another permit isn't an issue or having to spend time and money driving to where you can turn it in and buy another?!

Im ok with the fact I don't flush the toilet paper. Missing certain foods I like but not a big deal. The culture approves of alcoholism. Things move at a slower pace harder to get stuff done

If my computer breaks its better ri fly to the USA then get the older technology. Thankfully telcel now offers internet en tu casa for 400 pesos. Game changer on where I can live

I like Express VPN so I can watch hulu and American Netflix and get to other sites that may have been otherwise blocked

I just bought a ocean front home for 24k. I could of got it for 15k however I needed payments. it is actually 2 houses on one piece of land. I have a major city Tapachula which is 30 minutes away for Walmart, Home Depot and Sams club.

My ocean is warm however here the sand is more a black. Im not in an American area at all. Things such as homes much cheaper for that reason

Have I had my house robbed. Yes however being careless caused it I've had my house robbed in the USA too. Not for the same reason

Here I was watched for days I left my door alone less than 10 minutes. They got my purse all my id, cards, cash, phones and computer. As an very white American in a non tourist area. A poor area slowly improving. I am aware I am a target. Lesson learned zero problems since.

Thankfully I got help fast. A man who ran the hotel limited English have me his phone and money till I could get to my funds, (He barely knew me) and flew without Id with a police report to Tijuana I had taken a photo of my id so I printed a pic of my passport then once at a border I easily crossed and fixed everything. That cost me 1000s

So then you have to ask what are your emergency plans and network? Life does happen be prepared

For me to fly to Seattle and back can be done round trip 500. I can fly from here to Denver 1 way about 300 if I book from here to mexico city. Then mexico city to TJ then from san diego to Denver.

You learn tricks. Know what is important to you and the lifestyle you desire.

I hope some of my experiences help you

Taganrog
  2/6/2019 23:52 EST

Your post tells us you may be able to give us some info. Here’s our situation - Just purchased a condo in the Colonia Independiencia and we are coming down the end of March for the signing and such. We need to cover a lot of territory in a matter of days as far as buying furniture for 2 brms/ living room/ kitchen and refrigerator. Also getting the utilities started. Public transportation from the neighborhood. And anything else that would be helpful to know. Language barrier a non issue. Many thanks

stevenlloyd
  2/9/2019 09:10 EST

My wife and I are considering La Paz. Any thoughts on how expensive or safe it is to settle there?

hrlee7804
  2/10/2019 10:04 EST

I live across the Sea in San Carlos and folks here talk about how expensive that area is and the roads are not safe or maintained well. Shopping is an issue also. Many stop by here to catch the ferry to that area. This town of San Carlos is amazing. Check it out. Google whatsupsancarlos. If you want it more quiet then look at Kino Bay just north also on the water.

Dharmagranny
  2/14/2019 17:09 EST

Where I live, expats are the number one consumers of illegal drugs. There is a cartel turf war going on, with five murders this week in a largely expat (fairly upscale) neighborhood. Don't kid yourself about why the cartels export so many drugs to the United States, and don't kid yourself about why they claim turf in towns where there are lots of expats.

LAKingsFan
  2/22/2019 16:34 EST

Regarding safety, Mexico is just like the US in that there are good and bad areas. If you frequent the bad areas and engage in risky behavior you are more likely to become a victim.

Cozumeldeb
  2/22/2019 21:55 EST

Agree 100%. Don't be stupid

3rdDisciple
  2/24/2019 23:21 EST

Note on US State Department advisories : A general guide only. They have a permanent no travel advisory on the large southern Island of Mindanao ( NPA (New People's Army - communist's) and Muslims and Kidnap for Ransom groups) and yes there are some area's you would not want to go to yet I lived on the Island two years, no auto, walked every where I wanted and never felt threatened. That poster saying situational awareness ( Street Wise ) is correct. Be aware of your surroundings is in order even when you are home !
Here is another HUGE misconception: That the Embassy or Consulate or State Department of the US is going to give a damn if you, a citizen of the USA get in deep doo doo in a foreign country. They will take the report and that is it. Don't expect them to send a Posse for you. Exceptions could be if you are a Politico, Multi National Enterprise or a 1%er, read $$$$. You are subject to the laws and processes of the Nation you are in and US Agencies will not get involved on your behalf.
Conversely there may be an area that used to be safe and is now dangerous; the US Government is not going to be the first to know and may not appear in their travel warnings until some event hits the news and draws attention to it.
2 centavos.

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