Daniel Shosky

Puerto Vallarta offers everything retirees needed for a comfortable lifestyle, from local and international cuisine to exciting nightlife, a relaxed atmosphere, and modern conveniences, including newer housing and ample shopping options.

With around 14,000 American expats in the greater San Miguel de Allende area, the sizable community can make settling in as a new retiree much easier.

I’ve spent more than a decade living and traveling around Mexico’s coasts and inland cities. In this guide, I’m sharing the places where I’ve personally felt safest as an expat, plus what to look for in any city if safety is your top priority.

Is Mexico safe? After 20 years of living here, I share what safety is really like for expats, plus tips on crime, driving, scams, food, climate, and daily life.

Grocery shopping in Mexico runs from big-box chains like Walmart and Costco to regional supermarkets like Chedraui and the mercado on your corner. Expect to spend roughly 35% less than in the US, and to tip the bagger a few pesos.

Here is everything you need to know about retiring in Lake Chapala, including what kind of lifestyle you are going to have, housing options, how to get around, cost of living, and more.

Merida is the capital of Yucatan and one of the safest cities in Mexico, with a colonial core, strong hospitals, and a growing expat scene. Here is the lifestyle, the summer-heat trade-off, the neighborhoods, and what it costs to retire there, around US$1,750 a month.

In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to obtain a Menaje de Casa on your own, including paperwork, sample letters, and more.

Cozumel offers Caribbean island life with a long-established American expat community, good hospitals, and world-class diving. Here is what it costs to retire there, the best areas, healthcare options, and the island premium to budget for, on roughly US$1,300 a month.