Mexico (MX)
Mexico is one of the world's most important expat destinations, especially for US and Canadian retirees, remote workers, entrepreneurs, families and lifestyle migrants.
Country Profile
Everything you need to know before you arrive.
Mexico is one of the world's most important expat destinations, especially for US and Canadian retirees, remote workers, entrepreneurs, families and lifestyle migrants. Mexico City, Guadalajara, Merida, Queretaro, San Miguel de Allende, Lake Chapala, Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, Playa del Carmen and Baja all have distinct expat ecosystems. Long-term residents should plan around INM immigration records, SAT tax residence, RFC/CURP administration, private healthcare, Mexican banking, leases, driving rules and Spanish-language paperwork.
Climate
March-May: hot dry season in many regions. Mexico City and the central highlands are warm by day and cool at night; coastal areas can be very hot.
June-September: rainy season across much of the country, with afternoon storms, humidity and hurricane risk on both coasts. Northern desert cities can be extremely hot.
October-November: often one of the best seasons. Rains taper off, Day of the Dead travel is busy, and highland weather is pleasant.
December-February: dry and mild in central Mexico, cool nights in highlands, warm beach weather on the coasts and cold snaps in northern states.
Demographics
Religion
Social Culture & Etiquette
Warm greetings matter. Handshakes, cheek kisses among friends, buenos dias and polite small talk are normal. Use usted in formal settings until invited to be informal.
Government, medical, school and professional appointments should be treated as strict. Social timing can be more flexible, but expats should avoid assuming lateness is universally accepted.
Dress neatly for immigration, banks, notaries, schools and business. Beachwear is for the beach. Mexico City and business settings are more formal than many newcomers expect.
- ✕ Do not assume Mexico is culturally or legally the same as the US or Canada.
- ✕ Avoid public anger with officials, police, landlords or service staff; calm persistence works better.
- ✕ Do not joke about insecurity, narco violence or corruption with people you do not know well.
- ✕ Do not photograph military, police, immigration or sensitive infrastructure without permission.
- ✓ Spanish is essential outside tourist and elite professional bubbles.
- ✓ WhatsApp is the default communication channel for landlords, doctors, schools, trades and local friends.
- ✓ Family networks are central; invitations and introductions often matter more than formal platforms.
- ✓ Tipping is common for restaurants, delivery, parking attendants, petrol-station attendants, movers and building staff.
- ✓ Keep copies of passport, resident card, CURP, RFC, lease and utility bill available for administration.
🍽️ Traditional Food & Drink
Marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit, served with pineapple, onion, cilantro and salsa.
Complex sauce with chiles, spices, nuts and chocolate, often served over chicken or turkey.
Hominy stew with pork or chicken, garnished with lettuce, radish, onion, oregano and lime.
Corn masa parcels steamed in corn husks or banana leaves, filled sweet or savoury.
Yucatecan achiote-marinated pork traditionally cooked in banana leaves.
Stuffed poblano chiles with walnut sauce and pomegranate, associated with Independence season.
Fruit, flower or grain drinks such as jamaica, tamarindo and horchata.
Coffee brewed with cinnamon and piloncillo, often served in clay cups.
Agave spirits with strong regional identities; drink quality matters and tourist overcharging is common.
📍 Tourist Highlights
Museums, colonial architecture, parks, food and cultural institutions.
Food, mezcal, Indigenous culture, markets and nearby archaeological sites.
Colonial city, Maya heritage, Gulf beaches, cenotes and strong safety reputation.
Colonial architecture and one of Mexico's most established retiree expat communities.
Pacific beach life with strong Canadian, US and LGBTQ expat communities.
Tech, culture, mariachi heritage and a large retirement community near Ajijic.
📖 Brief History
Mexico combines ancient Indigenous civilizations, Spanish colonial institutions, independence-era federalism, 20th-century revolution and a modern manufacturing, services, tourism and cultural economy. It is a federal country with strong state and municipal variation. Daily life can feel very different between Mexico City, the northern border, the Bajio, Yucatan, Pacific beach towns and smaller colonial cities.