The choice to retire in Mexico has increasingly been attracting more and more numbers of retirees to a number of locations throughout the country. Many studies regarding the best retirement destinations have discovered that there are 6 main reasons that retirees rate in order of importance when considering a retirement destination, these are:
Cost of Living
Health Care
Seniors Benefits
Real Estate Values
Leisure and Recreation
Climate
When we take a look at this list, it is no wonder that Mexico has topped the number one spot in the world to retire! Its easy access to the US and Canada has led to significant increases in the number of people choosing to retire in Mexico.
The cost of living in Mexico is significantly lower than that of the US or Canada and the Mexican government has implemented a variety of structures to ensure that this remains so, such as keeping inflation to between 3-4% annually, placing focus on continued strengthening of trade ties between some of the larger countries around the world, and maintaining a strong push to continue reducing the country’s debt. This low cost of living is reflected in everything from groceries, petrol, utilities, health care and insurances, mortgage or rental payments, and lifestyle costs such as recreational activities and eating out. One of the most impressive things when considering this low cost of living that Mexico offers the retiree is that the quality of lifestyle is not at all compromised, which is so often found in countries with significantly lower costs of living than most major world countries.
Health care throughout Mexico is fast becoming considered to be far superior to that provided in America. The Mexican government has pushed strongly over the past 30 years to provide a solid, safe health care system for all citizens, which is not focussed on only those that can pay the most money. The push is not to regionalise health care to the major cities, but to provide top quality health care facilities in all regional areas as well as the ‘big cities’. Providing jobs for its quality doctors and health care professionals to ensure that the country does not experience ‘brain drain’ (where such professionals train in Mexico only to leave the country to practice in their profession due to a lack of jobs or poor pay in their home country) is another strong focus the Mexican government has sought to achieve. The importance of accessible and affordable quality health care has greatly added to the increase in those choosing to retire in Mexico.
Mexico has introduced the Mexican Senior Citizen’s Benefit Programme which offers discounts of up to 50% on many of the services that those over 60 use. This Benefits Programme has further helped with encouraging more and more retirees from an increasing number of countries including the UK and Europe to choose to retire in Mexico as it only adds to the already low cost of living.
Real estate prices throughout Mexico, although have experienced capital growth (significant in some areas), still remains very good value for money when comparing to the US or Canada. The new government laws introduced to encourage foreign investment have also helped to boost the numbers of people choosing Mexico as their number one destination to retire.
Regarding leisure and recreation activities and the climate throughout Mexico, this simply does speak for itself! The number of championship golf courses, top quality tennis clubs, endless choice for water sports, world class sailing and fishing available, and the relaxation of the stunning Mexican coast line or the choice of beautiful quaint colonial towns throughout central Mexico, all blend well with the perfect paradise-like climate found throughout the country. Whether your ideal retirement home is located within a private residential development situated on one of the stunning world class golf courses, a beachside home where sun, sand and surf are your main interests, a place on the marina where you boat is only a few steps away, or living in a beautiful colonial town surrounded by culture and the relaxed Mexican atmosphere, the choice is up to you. For the retiree, Mexico offers everything you may desire.
Some of the most popular destinations to retire in Mexico include the Baja California Peninsular, the Pacific Coast, or some of the inner central Mexican towns. In Baja, it is more the easy access to the US, and the ‘luxury’ of this Peninsular that attracts retirees here. The most common destinations here include La Paz and Todos Santos. Along this stretch of Mexico you will find luxury in every sense of the word. If the best of quality is what you want then head to the Baja Peninsular. Further south along the Pacific coastline the towns of Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, and Puerto Escondido are most popular for retirees heading to Mexico. This east and southern Pacific coastline attracts retirees for its protection from storms that are more common along the Yucatan Peninsular are and the Gulf of Mexico. The central areas of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, and the Lake Chapala region are very popular with foreign retirees and their colonial beauty with stunning views and more temperate climate seem to be the attraction here. All these popular Mexican retirement destinations offer modern communities with top quality amenities and activities. Such modern luxuries now taken for granted such as high speed internet, satellite TV, well known US chain stores, and common franchised restaurants are all readily available, including many US newspapers and magazines, and cinemas. English is also commonly spoken and accepted, so anyone not fluent in Spanish need not be concerned about any language barriers when considering to retire in Mexico.
So it is easy to see why Mexico received the number one spot for the best destination to retire. If you are thinking about retiring soon, or retiring now, then I strongly suggest that, if you haven’t already, then strongly consider the option to retire in Mexico.
