I would aim lower, since the exchange rate fluctuates. One year you're staying at a 1:25 exchange rate, and then next thing you know it has dropped to a 1:20 or 1:17 exchange rate, or lower. So that means at a rate of 1:20, your $1200 monthly budget (a value of 24,000 MX pesos) could end up dropping to the 1:17 rate which would mean that for every 17 pesos, you pay $1. So then you'd need $1,411 to pay $24,000 MX. That's an extra $211 you'd need to budget for every month. If it dropped even further to 1:15, you'd need to increase your budget to $1600/month. Also, the exchange rate in one city can be different in another. So if you plan to make purchases in different places, you have to factor those exchange rates as well. For instance, I wouldn't purchase a vehicle in Queretaro, I'd go to the Yucatan to buy one. Another issue is that the cost of certain purchases can be more expensive in Mexico than the US, like electronics & convenience items. So I try to take other people's budgets with a grain of salt. In alot of places, showers are tepid or cold, so the budget for an electric heater & its usage would need calculating. Also, I need AC bc I have 2 cats, so costs will go up for that too. Lastly, I don't want to purchase plastic, so I have my own distiller, which makes another hike in the electric bill there as well. Not to mention a few other electronics that they don't use which you own, but may not be considering. You get the gist, everyone's budget is different. There's alot about Mexico that we don't get easy access to, that we take for granted in the USA. Make sure to do research. If you're ok with sacrificing alot of creature comforts, convenience, and having confidence in any govt protection of your rights, then Mexico is great. But don't expect to have the same privileges that we're afforded in the US, this is a completely different atmosphere and nobody warns you until you get there & experience it for yourself.
People saying they want to move to Queretaro is what I like to hear! I had never furnished a home before moving here & really love the space we pulled together. It's a bit hard to tell in the video, but I have more than 40 plants!
Querétaro is a great city. You should give it a chance one day. I lived there over 3 years and I had to move to México city for work reason but there's no one day I wanted to go back there. Just beautiful colonial and modern city at the same time and with so much history.
I just stumbled across your channel, and am so happy I did! Fantastic breakdowns of expenses, you presented the info in a great manner! As someone who's primary motivation is travel, I love hearing from similar minded people! Keep up the great work, I'm excited to follow you on your journey! I just subscribed!
Thanks for subscribing! I'm so glad you found the breakdown helpful. I always find it interesting to see the cost of living in different places in the world. I really appreciate your kind words :)
I've been doing my research on retiring in Mexico and I just came across your work. Very nice. Your videos are low key & informative. Your delivery is pleasant. Thank you!
I don't know how I stumbled across your channel but I'm glad I did. I'm was born in this beautiful city of Querétaro and watching this video reminded me of the time when I used to live by myself in SA, Texas. Surely, watching your videos I can relate to most of the things you say :) . Thank you for this info and greetings from Querétarock.
I just stumbled upon your channel, I've made the big decision to move to Mexico! I'm really excited and nervous at the same time but your info has helped me a lot. :)
I was watching the External Expat and she recommended your channel. Your video was informative and I look forward to binge watching the rest of your videos.
Hi, Katherine! I'm so happy to have you here 🤗 Please let me know if you have any questions about Querétaro or moving to Mexico in general. I'm here to help 🤓
Yes it surprised me. To answer the question in your video regarding cell phone bills, I pay about $22-$25 depending on the exchange rate, here in Costa Rica.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing, I’ve been exploring businesses and shops there on google maps. I’ll have to visit Queretaro soon, it’s about a 2hr 15 min direct flight for me from DFW.
Hi, Beverly! Thanks for watching & taking the time to leave a comment 🤗 if you have any questions about moving to Mexico or living in Querétaro, please let me know 🇲🇽 I'm here to help!
You can also, for the health insurance, pay directly to IMSS, it may be not the best for small check ups for the lines and waiting time, but for cathastrofic incidents, as accidents, cancer, or else is the best and cheaper, for check ups you can go to farmacias similiares, a los of times the doctors y farmacias similares are just retired IMSS doctors.
Thanks for watching, Michael! That's interesting that you've heard the electricity in Mexico is expensive. I believe it is subsidized in many parts of the country. Had you heard it was expensive in a particular city?
Yucatan state can have very expensive electricity. There are different levels, if you use alot (air conditioning) you jump to the most expensive level.
It varies from state to state. I live in Mexico City and I pay around $700 mxn a month, only 2 people. Electricity is subsidized but there are levels of consumption, the lower level the better subsidy you get.
Plus I really like that it's pay as you go. Contracts are the worst 😅 It also works in the US so I don't have get a different SIM or plan when I'm there visiting. Thanks for watching, Jalf!
Sometimes, I wake up & can't believe I get to call it home! It is even better than what I envisioned when I decided to move to Mexico 🇲🇽 thanks for watching!
@@josealbertomiramontes3047 hi, Jose! I lived in pretty much the center of Madrid in a tiny, TINY one-bedroom apartment. But, for the location, I thought the 800 euros per month was fair. I have much more space for a lot less here in Queretaro. Thanks for watching!
@@alex-wittman hola, Si las rentas en EU son carisimas y poco espacio y muy viejo casi todo lol! Gracias por tu reply!! PROUD TO BE MEXICAN! Saludos desde Los Angeles 🙏🏼
Hello Alex! Can you help me better understand how 2 go about changing my USA AT&T account 2 one in Mexico? We're going 2 be visiting there for about 5 months, then returning to our home in Texas. We'll decide if we're going move permanently and go from there. BTW, I've watched a TON of videos from a lot of different ppl regarding moving 2 Mexico 🇲🇽. You are one of the best that I've seen. I appreciate that you give real life, valid information and that you do not drag out videos unnecessarily. Your poise, etiquette and professionalism are refreshing 2 watch. Thank you for what you do for people! God bless!
Wow, I wish I would have kept better track of my cost of living expenses in Indianapolis & Madrid so I could compare. Mexico is BY FAR the most affordable place I've ever lived & moving here has really allowed me to establish financial freedom. Thanks for watching :)
Thanks for watching! It sounds like you have a pretty good setup. I also had a plan I really like when I was living in Madrid. Cell phone providers in Europe are a lot more reasonable than the ones in the U.S.
Great video , nice appartement , I want to move to Mexico as soon as the travel ban is lifted , I have one question for you , why the tap water isn’t good for cooking ? Thanking you in advance for your help.
Thanks for watching & how exciting that you're planning on moving to Mexico! I don't drink the tap water, but I will use it for cooking if I'm going to be boiling it.
@@alex-wittman Thanks so much for making such a nice informative video! I will be retiring to Mexico 2021 from the US. After living/working in other countries also. But just a few comments, first water. It is pumped up to a holding tank at top level of the apartment, maybe from below ground cistern. So it doesnt always look and smell that great or safe to consume. So if your using average 3= 5 gallons per week at 43 mex$ that would be about 13 gallons a month = 559 mex$. I suggest purchasing a Reverse Osmosis system in Mexico to filter the water. RO systems in Mexico have additional pressure pump but for around 7000 mex$ you would never need to buy bottled water again. Plus you know that bottled water is not always safe. Its a 15 million USD industry in Mexico.
@@Heltonsdesigns thanks for watching & I'm glad you found the video informative! I appreciate your advice about the reverse osmosis system. I'm interested to look into it further & learn more. We've just gotten so used to buying the garrafones that I haven't even given thought to there being another way. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment 🤗😭
Hello, I'm going to Guadalajara in the next few months because I'm going to study and when researching the city I found your channel. I would like to know if you could make a video like this about Guadalajara
Thank you Alex. Here in UK, I am paying £37gbp $1065.55 mx electicity £47 $1349.84MX cellphone £47 $1349.84 mx Internet. So now I am retired I will be better out there. These are all per Mth So I am planning now lol
Thank you Alex, Its very kind off you. I am just waiting for my Daughter to marry her Mexican Fiance and move then I intend it go with my Fiance. We want to get married in mexico. Have a good day
I don't need the subtitles but they were there when I started. Sometimes there are funny mistakes as the ap doesn't hear the spoken language very well. Querétaro was translated as Kenneth Otto. Very funny.
Great video! Its nice to see the breakdown of costs. I subscribed and looking forward to more! Do good that you can work online. Do you have a video on that? I am also a small youtuber.
Hi & thanks for watching! I do work online but have never made a video about it. When I first moved to Mexico, I was teaching English online with VIPKID & for the last year, I have been freelance writing. Perhaps I will make a video about it in the future! Thanks for the suggestion!
Hi, Ron! I have several videos about life in Queretaro including a video about why I choose to move here. If you haven't yet, head over to my channel page: ua-cam.com/users/backpackingbrunette for all my videos. Thanks for watching!
@@viajerozz oh no, I'm sorry about that! You haven't received a confirmation email? Here's the signup page if you want to try again or you can send me an email: freebies.backpackingbrunette.com/movetomexicoguide
Electricity in Australia costs us $300 - $1000 per 3 months depending on the weather for heating or cooling. My parents in law pay $10 per 2 months in El Salvador
Hello, I am so happy that I came across your channel. I am moving to Mexico in August and these videos are extremely helpful. I also just purchased your Mexico Residency Roadmap and can't wait to look it over as I am ingesting so much information to ensure that I have a smooth move. I have a visit trip planned in June so I can check out rentals/vacation and I am so ready to leave the US and move to a better quality of living!! Quick question for the water jugs..do you also use that water to cook with, wash your face, brush your teeth or can you use the tap and boil it?
So exciting that you're planning your move to Mexico, Ty! I use that water to drink, prepare coffee & make ice then use tap water for everything else 🤓
Hi, Gary! Here's the link: freebies.backpackingbrunette.com/movetomexicoguide I hope you find the guide helpful! Let me know if you have any questions :)
I already paid 47 dollars towards the package of information to Move to Mexico,! This has been sometime now, yet have not heard from you. It was paid through my CapiitalOne Adventure credit card! Any explanation as to why I have not received the package? Thank you for your reply.
Your apt is lovely. I could definitely live there and be happy. I was wondering about noise, as I heard things could get pretty intense in the popular areas. Your monthly costs are VERY attractive. I look forward to more of your vlogs. I pay $80 a month for internet at 150 mbp. Consistent service. So yeah...
@@alex-wittman Thank you for your honesty. I'm 70 y o and am looking to relocate in the next two years. I will be taking vacations to Mx to get to know Q and MdeA better. Amassing research and your package is an incredible resource and so very generous of you!!! I look forward to your future videos. I thought your colab vid w/the Tangerines in the vineyard was fun. 😁😎👍
Hi hun! I started watching your videos & subscribed. Planning to move to Mexico within a year or 2. I've tried downloading your Move to Mexico guide on 3 separate videos but when I click on it it says "the DNS can't be found" so it doesn't take me to anything. Is there any other way for me to get it? Also Thanks for the videos! Very helpful & informative :)
Haha, that's been there since we moved in! We have a key to lock & unlock it from the main part of the house but have never used it. That's pretty much all I know about it other than the fact Taylor will sometimes lock me out if I'm bugging him too much while he's trying to work 😅
Hi, John! You will need to open a separate Prime account specifically for Amazon Mexico. You can read more about it in this blog post: backpackingbrunette.com/online-shopping-mexico/
So you can't drink the water...but is it safe to shower, wash your hair, and brush your teeth?? When I lived in Korea I needed a water filter because my hair was falling out and my skin got all bumpy.
Yep we mexico have pretty much the lowest cost of living of all latin america, and queretaro is a particularily expensive city, similarly sized cities such as Leon, Merida or Aguascalientes are cheaper. Health insurance I didn't even know expats had to pay for it, as we all mexicans get it for free (well with our taxes I guess, though public insurance is not very good really, so most people prefer to see a particular doctor, which is cheap anyways).
In Houston ya my cell phone cost me 215 dollars per month electric bill from 370 to 200 a month 3 bedroom house and my internet with exfiniti I pay about 90 bucks a month!
Thanks for watching, Sergio! Idk how I will every be able to move back to the U.S. because the prices there are out of control & everyone is trying to trap you with a contract 😅 I love how everything here is pretty much pay as you go!
Hi, Christine! I don't have any links for specific apartments, but if you download my Move to Mexico Quickstart Guide (link in the video description), you can get my top tips for apartment hunting in Mexico plus a renting in Spanish cheat sheet. My insurance is with GNP. Thanks for watching!
Thank you. Just found your channel. Cell phone $85 in Canada. Question. I’m assuming one must speak Spanish to live in your city? Also enjoyed your info re changes with Mexican immigration status
Hi Alex! Do you know if they have bilingual schools for children in Queretaro? I have 3 children and I was wonderring if they had them and what were the tuition costs. Thank you
Hi, Rachel! There are a variety of bilingual schools for children in Queretaro. Since I don't have children myself, I'm not familiar with the tuition costs. I recommend contacting Yvonne from Host Relocation for more information. She's helped a lot of expat families get settled in Queretaro & will likely know more. Host Relocation has a website & Facebook page.
I don't know anyone personally who has done that, so I am guessing it might be fairly expensive. Drinking purified water from the big jugs I showed in the video is standard.
We have 5 dogs...any chance we could find rentals with our pack ? How many times can you keep doing visa runs and getting another 6 month tourist visa ? Thx....love your videos !
Thanks for watching! I don't have any experience renting with pets and five dogs is quite the pack, so if you have the budget for it, it might be worth your while to work with a relator. As far as visa runs, some foreigners do it for years & years (there's no definitive number of times it is allowed). But, one day you could come across an immigration official who just says "NOPE, not anymore." I've heard stories of that happening, but none of them were firsthand accounts. Personally, doing visa runs forever would have made me kind of nervous, so I'm glad I went ahead and got my temporary residency.
My guess was $350.00 to $400.00 only because Queretaro is not a popular expat area .The further you get from tourist areas and expat areas the cheaper the price gets .your apartment is very nice .but I do have to say you guys drink a lot of water if you use 3 of those big garafones per week .
We do drink a lot of water haha. Three garafones is what we go through when it's hot outside. In the winter, it's more like two. I also use the filtered water to make coffee. The hard water from the tap was doing a number on our coffeemaker. Thanks for watching!
Wait what? I live in Chicago and pay $85 USD for my cell phone monthly and and UA-cam, Facebook Instagram does eat up my data once it's used then it slows it down...WOW we are highly overcharged here....Living here at this point is like cheating yourself and now im looking into treating myself....Thank you for the video
Taylor, moves 3000 miles south, trims the tree and cleans up the patio, Pedro, moves 3000 miles north, trims trees and cleans up patios,…….just two immigrants, doing the work the hometown folks just won’t do…………..too funny 😁 Love the video, beautiful home 🏡
@@eneb8937 that was for one year. But, it has gone up a bit & the dollar isn't quite as strong as when I made this video. This year, it's around $800 USD/year per person. I plan on making a 2021 cost of living in Mexico video with updates.
Hi, Lonnie! When I first moved to Mexico, I was teaching English online with a company called VIPKID. Last year, I made the switch to freelance writing. I have information about both jobs on my blog: backpackingbrunette.com/
@@alex-wittman oh my, thanks for replying! I was just curious to see if there was a different feel in different areas of the city. Like if there’s a “cool part of town” or a more residential part, etc. For example I live in LA and we have silverlake /echo park as the hipster-y side of town, Santa Monica/ Venice on the beach...
Love you place !!! We’re coming in March ! So excited !!! How long do you think we should rent an AirB&B for while we look for a n apartment like yours ? Thanks Alex 💕
Thanks for watching, Deborah! I would recommend renting an Airbnb for at least two weeks (maybe even a month to be on the safe side). Apartment hunting will take time, especially if you want to live in the city center. Make sure you download my free Move to Mexico Quickstart Guide for my best tips! Good luck!
It varies from rental to rental. Usually landlords are flexible & at most, will make you pay an additional fee. It never hurts to ask! Most landlords are willing to work something out.
I liked your video from the beginning because you showed us Querétaro on the map. I know where it is but a lot of viewers most likely don´t. I have seen so many UA-cam channels about living in foreign places and showing the place clearly on a map is too often ignored. Americans, in general, are ignorant of geography. I think you made a good choice by living in a city that most expats wouldn't even know about. They all seem to go to the same places, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Ajijic, Playa de Carmen, and now Bahias de Huatulco, state of Oaxaca. I guess they want to live in places where other Americans or Canadians live to be able to share similar cultural habits and not have to deal with a foreign language. Of course those places are bound to be more expensive as locals can ask for much more knowing the foreigners have more cash than they do. I live in Portugal, way up in the north near the Spanish border. I think I am the only native born American in town. The vast majority of expats here live in the Algarve or near Lisbon. The same thing happens in Spain, where British, Dutch, and Germans tend to concentrate along the Costa del Sol. In some of these places you never have to speak a word of Spanish. As a speaker of Spanish (a bit rusty now after almost fifty years of Portuguese) I would also choose a place like Querétaro (although it might be too big for me since I prefer a smaller place). Oaxaca would be nice, maybe Puebla, maybe Mazatlán. Tepic, Nayarit is also a smaller city for an expat that speaks Spanish and doesn't mind "living with the natives". It has the advantage of being closer to the tropical coast and those amazing beaches. Congratulations, you are doing a good job.
Thanks for watching, Ray & taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment. Every expat wants something different from their experience abroad & while I understand wanting a familiar community, what was more important to me was having total immersion and improving my Spanish skills. To each her own! By the way, I walked the Camino Portugués from Porto a couple of years back... Perhaps I passed through (or near) your town!
@@alex-wittman You walked along the coast. I live inland in Chaves, opposite Verín. We have one of the caminos passing through our town but few people take it. Chaves is an ancient town with a Roman bridge and a population of about 25,000. A bit smaller than Querétaro. I lived in Brasília for about 20 years so I know what it is like to be in a big city. My wife is also from a city of over one million in Brazil and both of us prefer the small city life. We are only 90 minutes from Porto if we want something more urban.
@@rayvogensen2983 sounds like you're in a great spot, Ray! I really love Porto, but village life in Portugal seems lovely 🤗 where you are it sounds like you have the best of both worlds!
@Ray Vogensen Hi Ray, kindly post a link to a video that covers cost of living, medical insurance, etc. in Portugal. I'm hearing good things about retiring there. Oh, can a single male retire on US $1,000 /mth or less? Thx.
@@adad1270 I can't think of a video that covers all of those areas. Yes, a single man can live well there on 1000 dollars a month, not like a king, but comfortably. It depends a lot on where you live. Lisbon, the Algarve, and even Porto have seen rents skyrocket in the last years due to ex-pats and owners converting their buildings into airb&bs. Avoid Lisbon if you can. Braga, Setúbal, Coimbra, Aveiro, and Guimarães are better options. Or even smaller towns like Viseu, Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo would allow you to pay lower rent. Remember that rent is always the biggest cost. In the national healthcare system, you pay nothing if you are enrolled in the Social Security System. That means you would have to pay taxes. If not, private healthcare runs between fifty and 100 euros a month, depending on the copay and your age. If you are over 70, it would not be possible to get good private healthcare. Portugal is a great option. A lot of people speak English, there is little corruption, the infrastructures work well, violent crime is almost non-existent, you can drink the water out of the tap (not like Mexico) and you are close to Spain. I live right near the northern border and we often go over to eat something different or to buy cheaper gasoline. There are no borders anymore. I can drive to Lisbon in four hours, Madrid in four hours, the international airport of Porto in 90 minutes, and the French border in 7 hours. I can't complain.
Hi, thanks for watching! You will still need to follow travel regulations for the U.S. since immigration will want to see your passport when you cross the border. Your residency card is only good in Mexico.
Hi, John! When I first moved down here, I was teaching English online with a company called VIPKID. Now, I am a freelance writer/content creator. I have a video about how I make money on my channel if you want more info!
@@alex-wittman Thanks! I actually saw it after haha!! question if i do insurance and need wifi and to make calls if that possible in mexico or will i run into issues with bad wifi and cell service??? thanks for any help!
@@johnwhitmore85 needing reliable WiFi will dictate a little where you live in Mexico. For example, you probably shouldn't live in a tiny pueblo or super sleepy beach town since neither is likely to have sufficient infrastructure. But in a city like Qro, you shouldn't have any issues. I love our service with Telmex!
@@alex-wittman ok thanks! ya i was looking at MX City and Playa del carmen and i can always use Skype or something to use an american number to call! great youtube thanks!
My phone bill in Colombia was like $12 for a 10GB plan 30 days. Here in California it's $55usd for 30 days, unlimited GB, but rather have the $12 plan. Lol
Great info. ...thanks🌞 I would like to try out living in Mexico for 4 -6 months ..soon !! I would like to at least have a motorcycle to ride around on though...dont know if that would be possible BTW i pay per month $58 cdn for cell phone ...$300/ month for my property tax and $100/ month home insurance...+++ natural gas avg. $100..electricity $60 +++ ...mexico is looking cheap.
Yes, when you examine the cost of living side by side, Mexico definitely looks like a good option! I think trying out life in Mexico sounds like a great idea to test the waters & see if it's the right fit for you. Where are you thinking about living? I've seen motorcycle rentals available in many places (especially beach towns) & I'm sure you could work out a discount for a long-term rental.
@@alex-wittman Hi...Im not sure yet ,my first intention would be to spend at least a month or so in one location, then move on . living more like the locals i guess. Dont need to be near the beach ...Probably try puerto vallarta area and venture from there. It wont be til next winter at the soonest though.
My cell phone service with Verizon was $65/mo with 10 MB of data. After moving to Mexico and using their Travel Pass for international access, it rocketed to $127 the first month. I had tons of rollover data on the main plan, but apparently, that doesn't get applied to international calling. Boo. I have to switch, but I'm concerned about all the accounts I have that are tied to my U.S. phone number for two-factor authentication.
Oooo yes, from what I've hear about international plans, they're super expensive. I understand your concern about losing your U.S. phone number, I'm had my two-factor authentication struggles over the years since moving abroad.
Hi, James! When I first moved to Mexico, I was teaching English online. Since then, I've transitioned to freelance writing. I plan to share a video soon about working online with some tips for how you can get started 🤓 so make sure you're subscribed!
Apartment hunting tips, renting in Spanish cheatsheet & 11-point Move to Mexico Checklist! Download the FREE 32-page Move to Mexico Quickstart Guide (PDF) 👉🏼 backpackingbrunette.com/mexicoguide/
After watching this, I would feel comfortable saying I could live on $1000 -$1200 per month as a single retired male.
Thanks for watching, Ken! I hope you found my breakdown of the cost of living in Mexico helpful 🤓
I would aim lower, since the exchange rate fluctuates. One year you're staying at a 1:25 exchange rate, and then next thing you know it has dropped to a 1:20 or 1:17 exchange rate, or lower. So that means at a rate of 1:20, your $1200 monthly budget (a value of 24,000 MX pesos) could end up dropping to the 1:17 rate which would mean that for every 17 pesos, you pay $1. So then you'd need $1,411 to pay $24,000 MX. That's an extra $211 you'd need to budget for every month. If it dropped even further to 1:15, you'd need to increase your budget to $1600/month. Also, the exchange rate in one city can be different in another. So if you plan to make purchases in different places, you have to factor those exchange rates as well. For instance, I wouldn't purchase a vehicle in Queretaro, I'd go to the Yucatan to buy one. Another issue is that the cost of certain purchases can be more expensive in Mexico than the US, like electronics & convenience items. So I try to take other people's budgets with a grain of salt. In alot of places, showers are tepid or cold, so the budget for an electric heater & its usage would need calculating. Also, I need AC bc I have 2 cats, so costs will go up for that too. Lastly, I don't want to purchase plastic, so I have my own distiller, which makes another hike in the electric bill there as well. Not to mention a few other electronics that they don't use which you own, but may not be considering. You get the gist, everyone's budget is different. There's alot about Mexico that we don't get easy access to, that we take for granted in the USA. Make sure to do research. If you're ok with sacrificing alot of creature comforts, convenience, and having confidence in any govt protection of your rights, then Mexico is great. But don't expect to have the same privileges that we're afforded in the US, this is a completely different atmosphere and nobody warns you until you get there & experience it for yourself.
@@YourMajesty143 could you please elaborate as to what rights i would br missing in mexico??par favor
This makes me want to move to Queretaro! Your place is so cute! The detailed breakdown of expenses is super helpful
People saying they want to move to Queretaro is what I like to hear! I had never furnished a home before moving here & really love the space we pulled together. It's a bit hard to tell in the video, but I have more than 40 plants!
Querétaro is a great city. You should give it a chance one day. I lived there over 3 years and I had to move to México city for work reason but there's no one day I wanted to go back there. Just beautiful colonial and modern city at the same time and with so much history.
I just stumbled across your channel, and am so happy I did! Fantastic breakdowns of expenses, you presented the info in a great manner! As someone who's primary motivation is travel, I love hearing from similar minded people! Keep up the great work, I'm excited to follow you on your journey! I just subscribed!
Thanks for subscribing! I'm so glad you found the breakdown helpful. I always find it interesting to see the cost of living in different places in the world. I really appreciate your kind words :)
I've been doing my research on retiring in Mexico and I just came across your work.
Very nice. Your videos are low key & informative. Your delivery is pleasant.
Thank you!
I don't know how I stumbled across your channel but I'm glad I did. I'm was born in this beautiful city of Querétaro and watching this video reminded me of the time when I used to live by myself in SA, Texas. Surely, watching your videos I can relate to most of the things you say :) . Thank you for this info and greetings from Querétarock.
Thanks for watching, Gerardo!
I just stumbled upon your channel, I've made the big decision to move to Mexico! I'm really excited and nervous at the same time but your info has helped me a lot. :)
I was watching the External Expat and she recommended your channel.
Your video was informative and I look forward to binge watching the rest of your videos.
Hi, Katherine! I'm so happy to have you here 🤗 Please let me know if you have any questions about Querétaro or moving to Mexico in general. I'm here to help 🤓
Thanks for watching! Did the affordable cost of living in Mexico surprise you?
Hola que Hermosa eres Elena. Good video Elena. But is it a better and Nicer and Cheaper place to live the Chicago Illinois the windy city. Chi-Raq.
Yes it surprised me. To answer the question in your video regarding cell phone bills, I pay about $22-$25 depending on the exchange rate, here in Costa Rica.
@@charlesphillips2210 thanks for sharing, Charles! It's interesting to hear about the cost of living in other parts of Central America.
I couldn’t find the free resource link you mentioned...? Thx!
@@jennifercapewell9370 hi, Jennifer! Here's the link: freebies.backpackingbrunette.com/movetomexicoguide
Love this apartment! Can’t wait to explore this city more 😍
It is a fantastic city! I feel so lucky to call it home. Thanks for watching!
Interesting. Thanks for sharing, I’ve been exploring businesses and shops there on google maps. I’ll have to visit Queretaro soon, it’s about a 2hr 15 min direct flight for me from DFW.
Thank you! Q is one of my favorites. In my youth I spent 2 winters in Q. Many nice lapidaries.
Thanks for watching, Michael!
First time seeing you and I was impressed with your video. Thanks for sharing.
Hi, Beverly! Thanks for watching & taking the time to leave a comment 🤗 if you have any questions about moving to Mexico or living in Querétaro, please let me know 🇲🇽 I'm here to help!
Super cute apartment! Love it.
Thanks for watching, Marisol!
You can also, for the health insurance, pay directly to IMSS, it may be not the best for small check ups for the lines and waiting time, but for cathastrofic incidents, as accidents, cancer, or else is the best and cheaper, for check ups you can go to farmacias similiares, a los of times the doctors y farmacias similares are just retired IMSS doctors.
Thanks for the tip, Abraham! I appreciate it!
What a great site! She really covered the bases. One of the best sites of it's kind, in my humble opinion.
Thanks for watching & taking the time to leave such a nice comment, Patrick! I'm happy to hear that you're finding my content helpful.
I have always heard that the price of electricity in Mexico is super high. Glad to see you say it is cheap.
Thanks for watching, Michael! That's interesting that you've heard the electricity in Mexico is expensive. I believe it is subsidized in many parts of the country. Had you heard it was expensive in a particular city?
Yucatan state can have very expensive electricity. There are different levels, if you use alot (air conditioning) you jump to the most expensive level.
It varies from state to state. I live in Mexico City and I pay around $700 mxn a month, only 2 people. Electricity is subsidized but there are levels of consumption, the lower level the better subsidy you get.
That phone bill is really good deal. I pay 10 times that amount with sprint now t-mobile.
Plus I really like that it's pay as you go. Contracts are the worst 😅 It also works in the US so I don't have get a different SIM or plan when I'm there visiting. Thanks for watching, Jalf!
I’m Mexican and lived in he USA for 2 years, I took my Mexican line, never had a USA phone, because it was far more expensive.
Darling little apartment. I love the stuccoed white walls with tile floors.
Sometimes, I wake up & can't believe I get to call it home! It is even better than what I envisioned when I decided to move to Mexico 🇲🇽 thanks for watching!
@@alex-wittman love you house! How was the house or apartment you lived in Spain 🇪🇸 compared to this??
Saludos desde Los Angeles! Stay safe
@@josealbertomiramontes3047 hi, Jose! I lived in pretty much the center of Madrid in a tiny, TINY one-bedroom apartment. But, for the location, I thought the 800 euros per month was fair. I have much more space for a lot less here in Queretaro. Thanks for watching!
@@alex-wittman hola, Si las rentas en EU son carisimas y poco espacio y muy viejo casi todo lol! Gracias por tu reply!! PROUD TO BE MEXICAN!
Saludos desde Los Angeles 🙏🏼
Wow! Thanks for the cost breakdown.
❤️ Your home. So cute!
Thank you, Debra! I'm actually planning on doing an updated house tour soon. There are some new additions I'm excited to share :)
Very helpful! Many thanks.
The host is a very good presenter, good in front of camera.
I got my freebies and just purchased your road map to residency. I’m planning a move next August/September and can use the help. Love your channel.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, Alecia!
Hello Alex!
Can you help me better understand how 2 go about changing my USA AT&T account 2 one in Mexico? We're going 2 be visiting there for about 5 months, then returning to our home in Texas. We'll decide if we're going move permanently and go from there.
BTW, I've watched a TON of videos from a lot of different ppl regarding moving 2 Mexico 🇲🇽. You are one of the best that I've seen. I appreciate that you give real life, valid information and that you do not drag out videos unnecessarily. Your poise, etiquette and professionalism are refreshing 2 watch. Thank you for what you do for people! God bless!
Much love ❣️🇲🇽!!
Thank you for watching, Esmeralda!
Omg cute apartment and everything is cheaper than im paying now. Very interesting. Thank you
Thanks for watching 🤗🇲🇽
I love this place! And the style in which you shot this video
Your rent and home costs are approx $532 USD for 2 people, mine in Detroit, MI are $2,000 for 2 people!
Thanks! It was fun to move around the house & shoot in different parts. I might try to incorporate that into future videos just to mix things up!
Wow, I wish I would have kept better track of my cost of living expenses in Indianapolis & Madrid so I could compare. Mexico is BY FAR the most affordable place I've ever lived & moving here has really allowed me to establish financial freedom. Thanks for watching :)
what a cozy place! lovit !
Sim only in UK with EE $21 - for 1 gig, unlimited call in UK & EU. Big advantage here is almost every place has free wifi. So I never go ver on data.
Thanks for watching! It sounds like you have a pretty good setup. I also had a plan I really like when I was living in Madrid. Cell phone providers in Europe are a lot more reasonable than the ones in the U.S.
Very cute apartment! Lots of great info! Thank you!
I am glad you found it helpful!
Oh man! It’s a really nice appt!!
Thanks, Sergio! I've actually made some pretty significant updates since filming this tour so I think I need to make another video 🤓🇲🇽
Great video , nice appartement , I want to move to Mexico as soon as the travel ban is lifted , I have one question for you , why the tap water isn’t good for cooking ? Thanking you in advance for your help.
Thanks for watching & how exciting that you're planning on moving to Mexico! I don't drink the tap water, but I will use it for cooking if I'm going to be boiling it.
@@alex-wittman Thanks so much for making such a nice informative video! I will be retiring to Mexico 2021 from the US. After living/working in other countries also. But just a few comments, first water. It is pumped up to a holding tank at top level of the apartment, maybe from below ground cistern. So it doesnt always look and smell that great or safe to consume. So if your using average 3= 5 gallons per week at 43 mex$ that would be about 13 gallons a month = 559 mex$. I suggest purchasing a Reverse Osmosis system in Mexico to filter the water. RO systems in Mexico have additional pressure pump but for around 7000 mex$ you would never need to buy bottled water again. Plus you know that bottled water is not always safe. Its a 15 million USD industry in Mexico.
@@Heltonsdesigns thanks for watching & I'm glad you found the video informative! I appreciate your advice about the reverse osmosis system. I'm interested to look into it further & learn more. We've just gotten so used to buying the garrafones that I haven't even given thought to there being another way. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment 🤗😭
Hello, I'm going to Guadalajara in the next few months because I'm going to study and when researching the city I found your channel. I would like to know if you could make a video like this about Guadalajara
Great video!
Yayyy so glad to have found your amazing videos! VERY informative and interested in moving there.
So happy to have you here, Lisa! Thanks for watching!
That house is gorgeous 😍 Eternal Expat Sent me here.
Thank you, Kathy! So glad to have you here!
Alex, your house is lovely! Thanks for sharing with us. I also live in town and in the downtown area. Welcome to Querétaro!
- Romy Macías
Thank you for watching, Romy!
Hi! Just came upon this video! Since this was posted 3 years ago, how does it compare to prices currently?
Thank you Alex. Here in UK, I am paying £37gbp $1065.55 mx electicity £47 $1349.84MX cellphone £47 $1349.84 mx Internet. So now I am retired I will be better out there. These are all per Mth So I am planning now lol
Thanks for watching, Mike! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about moving to Mexico!
Thank you Alex, Its very kind off you. I am just waiting for my Daughter to marry her Mexican Fiance and move then I intend it go with my Fiance. We want to get married in mexico. Have a good day
I don't need the subtitles but they were there when I started. Sometimes there are funny mistakes as the ap doesn't hear the spoken language very well. Querétaro was translated as Kenneth Otto. Very funny.
Thanks for letting me know, Ray! I will look into that. This was one of my very first vides for UA-cam & I've changed how do subtitles since then 🤓
@Kristoff Lmz lol this is hilarious! I really need to go back & fix these...
@Kristoff Lmz they are funny!
Great video! Its nice to see the breakdown of costs.
I subscribed and looking forward to more!
Do good that you can work online. Do you have a video on that?
I am also a small youtuber.
Hi & thanks for watching! I do work online but have never made a video about it. When I first moved to Mexico, I was teaching English online with VIPKID & for the last year, I have been freelance writing. Perhaps I will make a video about it in the future! Thanks for the suggestion!
@@alex-wittman thanks!
Excellent information, thanks for sharing! Searching now for your other videos. I am sure you have one on what the city is like there?
Hi, Ron! I have several videos about life in Queretaro including a video about why I choose to move here. If you haven't yet, head over to my channel page: ua-cam.com/users/backpackingbrunette for all my videos. Thanks for watching!
@@alex-wittman Thanks! I have tried twice to download your free quick start guide but can't seem to receive it.
@@viajerozz oh no, I'm sorry about that! You haven't received a confirmation email? Here's the signup page if you want to try again or you can send me an email: freebies.backpackingbrunette.com/movetomexicoguide
@@alex-wittman It might be a browser issue. Can you give me your email address and I will send you mine?
Where do you go/who do you contact to setup home utilities.
Great video, thanks!
Thanks for watching, José!
Electricity in Australia costs us $300 - $1000 per 3 months depending on the weather for heating or cooling. My parents in law pay $10 per 2 months in El Salvador
That's quite the contrast, Cory! Are you thinking of moving to El Salvador one day or are you considering Mexico?
@@alex-wittman I would love to live in El Salvador, Mexico, or Panama! 😂 I have only visited El Salvador for 6 weeks and loved it!
Hello, I am so happy that I came across your channel. I am moving to Mexico in August and these videos are extremely helpful. I also just purchased your Mexico Residency Roadmap and can't wait to look it over as I am ingesting so much information to ensure that I have a smooth move. I have a visit trip planned in June so I can check out rentals/vacation and I am so ready to leave the US and move to a better quality of living!! Quick question for the water jugs..do you also use that water to cook with, wash your face, brush your teeth or can you use the tap and boil it?
So exciting that you're planning your move to Mexico, Ty! I use that water to drink, prepare coffee & make ice then use tap water for everything else 🤓
While everything seemed inexpensive, I was expecting your rent to be cheaper since it's a duplex type of place.
Hi Alex, do you know if they also can provide 300mbps ?
I agree with you about megacable! I loathed them. TelMex and Totalplay are better.
What is the link for "Move to Mexico" I'm highly interested.
Hi, Gary! Here's the link: freebies.backpackingbrunette.com/movetomexicoguide I hope you find the guide helpful! Let me know if you have any questions :)
Great site! What Telcel plan do you handle please? And could you please recommend the conditions on your GNP plan? Thanks!
I already paid 47 dollars towards the package of information to Move to Mexico,! This has been sometime now, yet have not heard from you. It was paid through my CapiitalOne Adventure credit card! Any explanation as to why I have not received the package? Thank you for your reply.
Your apt is lovely. I could definitely live there and be happy. I was wondering about noise, as I heard things could get pretty intense in the popular areas. Your monthly costs are VERY attractive. I look forward to more of your vlogs. I pay $80 a month for internet at 150 mbp. Consistent service. So yeah...
Hi, Alixandrina! It can get noisy in my neighborhood on the weekends, but it is very relaxed during the week.
@@alex-wittman Thank you for your honesty. I'm 70 y o and am looking to relocate in the next two years. I will be taking vacations to Mx to get to know Q and MdeA better. Amassing research and your package is an incredible resource and so very generous of you!!! I look forward to your future videos. I thought your colab vid w/the Tangerines in the vineyard was fun. 😁😎👍
La mejor comida del mundo.! ❤
Hi hun! I started watching your videos & subscribed. Planning to move to Mexico within a year or 2. I've tried downloading your Move to Mexico guide on 3 separate videos but when I click on it it says "the DNS can't be found" so it doesn't take me to anything. Is there any other way for me to get it?
Also Thanks for the videos! Very helpful & informative :)
Hi, Chanel! So sorry about that...the page to download the guide is back up now: freebies.backpackingbrunette.com/movetomexicoguide
I had the same issue :(
I noticed the deadbolt in the door to Taylor's office. Can you speak to that?
Haha, that's been there since we moved in! We have a key to lock & unlock it from the main part of the house but have never used it. That's pretty much all I know about it other than the fact Taylor will sometimes lock me out if I'm bugging him too much while he's trying to work 😅
It's really not a bad price for a 2 bedroom in the city center.
Great video thank you. Does Amazon Prime from the US work in Mexico?
Hi, John! You will need to open a separate Prime account specifically for Amazon Mexico. You can read more about it in this blog post: backpackingbrunette.com/online-shopping-mexico/
Nice video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank u for your video 👍
Thanks for watching!
So you can't drink the water...but is it safe to shower, wash your hair, and brush your teeth?? When I lived in Korea I needed a water filter because my hair was falling out and my skin got all bumpy.
Yep, I do everything with the water but drink it. If I’m making something with a water-base, like coffee or soup, I will also use the purified water.
Another bomb video! 👏🏾👏🏾
$9 monthly cell phone bill...WOW! We pay almost $300 for 4 lines each month 🤦🏾♀️.
Yikes! Imagine what you'll be able to do with that extra $291 each month!
@@alex-wittman oh trust me, we have written it down and made it plain like the bible says 😃. So exciting!
Very help full
Thanks for watching, Kirtikumar!
Very surprising cost of living. Particularly the health insurance!! Wow!
Yep we mexico have pretty much the lowest cost of living of all latin america, and queretaro is a particularily expensive city, similarly sized cities such as Leon, Merida or Aguascalientes are cheaper. Health insurance I didn't even know expats had to pay for it, as we all mexicans get it for free (well with our taxes I guess, though public insurance is not very good really, so most people prefer to see a particular doctor, which is cheap anyways).
In Houston ya my cell phone cost me 215 dollars per month electric bill from 370 to 200 a month 3 bedroom house and my internet with exfiniti I pay about 90 bucks a month!
Thanks for watching, Sergio! Idk how I will every be able to move back to the U.S. because the prices there are out of control & everyone is trying to trap you with a contract 😅 I love how everything here is pretty much pay as you go!
Hi Id like to move there do you have any link to share for apartments which is safe and cheap ?and what is your insurance ?
Hi, Christine! I don't have any links for specific apartments, but if you download my Move to Mexico Quickstart Guide (link in the video description), you can get my top tips for apartment hunting in Mexico plus a renting in Spanish cheat sheet. My insurance is with GNP. Thanks for watching!
@@alex-wittman thanks a lot
Thank you. Just found your channel. Cell phone $85 in Canada. Question. I’m assuming one must speak Spanish to live in your city? Also enjoyed your info re changes with Mexican immigration status
Hi Alex! Do you know if they have bilingual schools for children in Queretaro? I have 3 children and I was wonderring if they had them and what were the tuition costs. Thank you
Hi, Rachel! There are a variety of bilingual schools for children in Queretaro. Since I don't have children myself, I'm not familiar with the tuition costs. I recommend contacting Yvonne from Host Relocation for more information. She's helped a lot of expat families get settled in Queretaro & will likely know more. Host Relocation has a website & Facebook page.
That water is expensive here in Acapulco is about $15 pesos
Thanks for watching, Francisco & it's very interesting to hear the water prices in another part of Mexico.
Super happy to find your videos! Just a note: your volume is too low. Difficult to hear you.🙏💕
This was one of my first videos ever & have since worked to fix the volume issues. Thanks for watching!
Great, very informative video. One question about the cell phone: did you not want to keep a US cell number fir calling people back in the US?
I can make and receive calls to/from the US with my Mexican SIM card!
My cellphone bill is $61 dollars a month in Canada and I’ve got one of the cheaper plans you can get with data 😢
By U.S. & Canadian standards, $61 sounds like a deal!
Great guide but you missed transportation and going out
Thanks for watching, Kaizen! I would like to do another video in the future with the expenses I overlooked in this one. I appreciate the feedback 🤓
Can you use a filtration system for water in the house?
I don't know anyone personally who has done that, so I am guessing it might be fairly expensive. Drinking purified water from the big jugs I showed in the video is standard.
@@alex-wittman i see thank you. I love your videos and demeanor. I am grateful you found that place.
We have 5 dogs...any chance we could find rentals with our pack ?
How many times can you keep doing visa runs and getting another 6 month tourist visa ?
Thx....love your videos !
Thanks for watching! I don't have any experience renting with pets and five dogs is quite the pack, so if you have the budget for it, it might be worth your while to work with a relator. As far as visa runs, some foreigners do it for years & years (there's no definitive number of times it is allowed). But, one day you could come across an immigration official who just says "NOPE, not anymore." I've heard stories of that happening, but none of them were firsthand accounts. Personally, doing visa runs forever would have made me kind of nervous, so I'm glad I went ahead and got my temporary residency.
My guess was $350.00 to $400.00 only because Queretaro is not a popular expat area .The further you get from tourist areas and expat areas the cheaper the price gets .your apartment is very nice .but I do have to say you guys drink a lot of water if you use 3 of those big garafones per week .
We do drink a lot of water haha. Three garafones is what we go through when it's hot outside. In the winter, it's more like two. I also use the filtered water to make coffee. The hard water from the tap was doing a number on our coffeemaker. Thanks for watching!
Thank you
Are studios or smaller houses or apartments a thing in Mexico?
Yes, they definitely are! Is there a particular city you're inquiring about?
Hello ... Im curious for Mexico ... I have many years living in US. Thinking where to live to future !! Im from Costa Rica but is expensive !!
Hi, Ronald! I have lots of videos about moving to Mexico that I think you will find helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know!
Your apt is gorgeous and roomy!
Thanks for watching, Laura!
water 3 bottles per week is 3x2x4 24 not 9
Wait what? I live in Chicago and pay $85 USD for my cell phone monthly and and UA-cam, Facebook Instagram does eat up my data once it's used then it slows it down...WOW we are highly overcharged here....Living here at this point is like cheating yourself and now im looking into treating myself....Thank you for the video
Thanks for watching!
Beautiful home. Blessings
Thanks for watching, Alexandra!
Water $43 mxn is very expensive.
Water is aprox $15 to $30 pesos mxn
Thanks for sharing your experience, Mari! I know prices can differ in different parts of the country.
Taylor, moves 3000 miles south, trims the tree and cleans up the patio, Pedro, moves 3000 miles north, trims trees and cleans up patios,…….just two immigrants, doing the work the hometown folks just won’t do…………..too funny 😁
Love the video, beautiful home 🏡
Thanks for watching! 🤓🤓
So health insurance is $588 U.S. dollars a year? Is that for 1 or 2 people?
That's just for one person!
Is that per year? Thanks
@@eneb8937 that was for one year. But, it has gone up a bit & the dollar isn't quite as strong as when I made this video. This year, it's around $800 USD/year per person. I plan on making a 2021 cost of living in Mexico video with updates.
Tell what kind jobs I can get too move please
Hi, Lonnie! When I first moved to Mexico, I was teaching English online with a company called VIPKID. Last year, I made the switch to freelance writing. I have information about both jobs on my blog: backpackingbrunette.com/
For internet I love Totalplay
Thanks for sharing, Jorge! We tried to get Totalplay, but it wasn't available in the historic center at the time for the speed we needed.
Curious, are there any safe areas in the country that one can stay for about $750/mo or less for rent?
Many! It all depends on what you're looking for in a city.
@@alex-wittman Thank you for your answer! My wants: Safe area, quality housing (clean is important), near the ocean preferred.
Is there a video of the different neighborhoods of queretaro?
Hi, Paul! I don't have one at the moment. Are there any neighborhoods in particular you're interested in seeing?
@@alex-wittman oh my, thanks for replying! I was just curious to see if there was a different feel in different areas of the city. Like if there’s a “cool part of town” or a more residential part, etc. For example I live in LA and we have silverlake /echo park as the hipster-y side of town, Santa Monica/ Venice on the beach...
@@ptvm I plan on doing some videos in the future about different neighborhoods in Qro so keep an eye out!
I pay 500 dlls just for bills light water and gas. Monthly
Thanks for watching, Gloria! I'm really fortunate to have such affordable utility bills.
Love you place !!! We’re coming in March ! So excited !!! How long do you think we should rent an AirB&B for while we look for a n apartment like yours ? Thanks Alex 💕
Thanks for watching, Deborah! I would recommend renting an Airbnb for at least two weeks (maybe even a month to be on the safe side). Apartment hunting will take time, especially if you want to live in the city center. Make sure you download my free Move to Mexico Quickstart Guide for my best tips! Good luck!
Thanks
Thanks for watching! I'm glad you found the video helpful :)
Are pets usually allowed in rentals?
It varies from rental to rental. Usually landlords are flexible & at most, will make you pay an additional fee. It never hurts to ask! Most landlords are willing to work something out.
I liked your video from the beginning because you showed us Querétaro on the map. I know where it is but a lot of viewers most likely don´t. I have seen so many UA-cam channels about living in foreign places and showing the place clearly on a map is too often ignored. Americans, in general, are ignorant of geography.
I think you made a good choice by living in a city that most expats wouldn't even know about. They all seem to go to the same places, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Ajijic, Playa de Carmen, and now Bahias de Huatulco, state of Oaxaca. I guess they want to live in places where other Americans or Canadians live to be able to share similar cultural habits and not have to deal with a foreign language. Of course those places are bound to be more expensive as locals can ask for much more knowing the foreigners have more cash than they do.
I live in Portugal, way up in the north near the Spanish border. I think I am the only native born American in town. The vast majority of expats here live in the Algarve or near Lisbon. The same thing happens in Spain, where British, Dutch, and Germans tend to concentrate along the Costa del Sol. In some of these places you never have to speak a word of Spanish. As a speaker of Spanish (a bit rusty now after almost fifty years of Portuguese) I would also choose a place like Querétaro (although it might be too big for me since I prefer a smaller place). Oaxaca would be nice, maybe Puebla, maybe Mazatlán. Tepic, Nayarit is also a smaller city for an expat that speaks Spanish and doesn't mind "living with the natives". It has the advantage of being closer to the tropical coast and those amazing beaches. Congratulations, you are doing a good job.
Thanks for watching, Ray & taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment. Every expat wants something different from their experience abroad & while I understand wanting a familiar community, what was more important to me was having total immersion and improving my Spanish skills. To each her own! By the way, I walked the Camino Portugués from Porto a couple of years back... Perhaps I passed through (or near) your town!
@@alex-wittman You walked along the coast. I live inland in Chaves, opposite Verín. We have one of the caminos passing through our town but few people take it. Chaves is an ancient town with a Roman bridge and a population of about 25,000. A bit smaller than Querétaro. I lived in Brasília for about 20 years so I know what it is like to be in a big city. My wife is also from a city of over one million in Brazil and both of us prefer the small city life. We are only 90 minutes from Porto if we want something more urban.
@@rayvogensen2983 sounds like you're in a great spot, Ray! I really love Porto, but village life in Portugal seems lovely 🤗 where you are it sounds like you have the best of both worlds!
@Ray Vogensen Hi Ray, kindly post a link to a video that covers cost of living, medical insurance, etc. in Portugal. I'm hearing good things about retiring there. Oh, can a single male retire on US $1,000 /mth or less? Thx.
@@adad1270 I can't think of a video that covers all of those areas. Yes, a single man can live well there on 1000 dollars a month, not like a king, but comfortably. It depends a lot on where you live. Lisbon, the Algarve, and even Porto have seen rents skyrocket in the last years due to ex-pats and owners converting their buildings into airb&bs. Avoid Lisbon if you can. Braga, Setúbal, Coimbra, Aveiro, and Guimarães are better options. Or even smaller towns like Viseu, Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo would allow you to pay lower rent. Remember that rent is always the biggest cost. In the national healthcare system, you pay nothing if you are enrolled in the Social Security System. That means you would have to pay taxes. If not, private healthcare runs between fifty and 100 euros a month, depending on the copay and your age. If you are over 70, it would not be possible to get good private healthcare. Portugal is a great option. A lot of people speak English, there is little corruption, the infrastructures work well, violent crime is almost non-existent, you can drink the water out of the tap (not like Mexico) and you are close to Spain. I live right near the northern border and we often go over to eat something different or to buy cheaper gasoline. There are no borders anymore. I can drive to Lisbon in four hours, Madrid in four hours, the international airport of Porto in 90 minutes, and the French border in 7 hours. I can't complain.
Does Mexican residence permit you to enter America without a visa?
Hi, thanks for watching! You will still need to follow travel regulations for the U.S. since immigration will want to see your passport when you cross the border. Your residency card is only good in Mexico.
Give me the WhatsApp or Instagram number so that I can contact you
What do you do for work??
Hi, John! When I first moved down here, I was teaching English online with a company called VIPKID. Now, I am a freelance writer/content creator. I have a video about how I make money on my channel if you want more info!
@@alex-wittman Thanks! I actually saw it after haha!! question if i do insurance and need wifi and to make calls if that possible in mexico or will i run into issues with bad wifi and cell service??? thanks for any help!
@@johnwhitmore85 needing reliable WiFi will dictate a little where you live in Mexico. For example, you probably shouldn't live in a tiny pueblo or super sleepy beach town since neither is likely to have sufficient infrastructure. But in a city like Qro, you shouldn't have any issues. I love our service with Telmex!
@@alex-wittman ok thanks! ya i was looking at MX City and Playa del carmen and i can always use Skype or something to use an american number to call! great youtube thanks!
My phone bill in Colombia was like $12 for a 10GB plan 30 days. Here in California it's $55usd for 30 days, unlimited GB, but rather have the $12 plan. Lol
If, like me, you regularly connect to WiFi, there really isn't a need for unlimited data. At least, that's my experience!
Great info. ...thanks🌞 I would like to try out living in Mexico for 4 -6 months ..soon !! I would like to at least have a motorcycle to ride around on though...dont know if that would be possible
BTW i pay per month $58 cdn for cell phone ...$300/ month for my property tax and $100/ month home insurance...+++ natural gas avg. $100..electricity $60 +++ ...mexico is looking cheap.
Yes, when you examine the cost of living side by side, Mexico definitely looks like a good option! I think trying out life in Mexico sounds like a great idea to test the waters & see if it's the right fit for you. Where are you thinking about living? I've seen motorcycle rentals available in many places (especially beach towns) & I'm sure you could work out a discount for a long-term rental.
@@alex-wittman Hi...Im not sure yet ,my first intention would be to spend at least a month or so in one location, then move on . living more like the locals i guess. Dont need to be near the beach ...Probably try puerto vallarta area and venture from there. It wont be til next winter at the soonest though.
@@garo52 sounds like a great plan to start!
My cell phone service with Verizon was $65/mo with 10 MB of data. After moving to Mexico and using their Travel Pass for international access, it rocketed to $127 the first month. I had tons of rollover data on the main plan, but apparently, that doesn't get applied to international calling. Boo. I have to switch, but I'm concerned about all the accounts I have that are tied to my U.S. phone number for two-factor authentication.
Oooo yes, from what I've hear about international plans, they're super expensive. I understand your concern about losing your U.S. phone number, I'm had my two-factor authentication struggles over the years since moving abroad.
@@alex-wittman How did you solve your two-factor authentication issues?
Got Metro PCS rmobile 65 a month. Have Movistar Mexican Phone 24 a month
What's wrong with the water????
Hi, Maria! Most people drink purified water since the water from the tap is potentially contaminated. It's a pretty common practice throughout Mexico.
What are some good online jobs !
Hi, James! When I first moved to Mexico, I was teaching English online. Since then, I've transitioned to freelance writing. I plan to share a video soon about working online with some tips for how you can get started 🤓 so make sure you're subscribed!