Is Queretaro Better than San Miguel de Allende?

We’ve all heard about San Miguel de Allende by now. It’s been called the “Best City in the World” by Travel+Leisure Magazine. And it has several awards for being a charming Pueblo Magico in the central highlands of Mexico.

But all of that attention comes with a price. The cost of real estate has skyrocketed in San Miguel de Allende. The small and charming city was never built for the number of people that now call it home. And the combination of the high cost of living and a surplus in population might make it a little less attractive than it once was for retirees in Mexico.

But what if I told you there’s a city only 45 minutes away that has the old-world charm combined with a world-class modern city that is 1/2 the cost of San Miguel de Allende?

I’m talking about Queretaro!

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And here are the top 6 reasons you should consider living here:

Living in Queretaro Is Beautiful!

Queretaro is one of the most historical cities in the country. Founded more than 490 yrs ago, it’s the 5th biggest city with 2.369 million people. If you love the old-world charm in Mexico, visit the historical center with its narrowed streets, colonial architecture, and a wide variety of restaurants, bars, stores, and services.

But for some people, living on the romantic side of the historic center may not be enough. You might be attracted to modern conveniences and modern amenities. A few minutes away from Centro, you will find many large modern shopping centers, an HEB (yes, like the ones in Texas), and many other modern supermarkets. You’ll also have plenty of restaurants to choose from, high-speed internet, great hospitals, delivery services, and more!

And note that Queretaro International Airport is a great international airport with various nonstop flights to the U.S. For example, you could be in Houston, TX, in 4 hours!

1/3 The Cost of San Miguel de Allende

Queretaro is very close to the small touristic town of San Miguel de Allende. But what you will find is more appealing about Queretaro is the cost of living when you compare the two.

For example:

San Miguel de Allende: 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Apartment in Centro rents for USD 900-$1200/Month.

Queretaro: 2 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Apartment in Centro rents for USD $600-$800

I know the comparison of these apartments isn’t exactly apples to apples. But I think I make my point that you could save a lot of money by moving to a city like Queretaro if you’ve been priced out of San Miguel de Allende. The cost of utilities will likely be the same in both cities since both have very similar climates, and air conditioning is uncommon in either city.

Of course, your cost of living in either city will fully depend on your lifestyle and rental choices.

Healthcare Costs in Queretaro

We followed 2 different expat friends living in Queretaro while undergoing medical procedures. One of the doctors surprised us by saying that in his experience (bariatrician), it’s normal for him to have a lot of American patients. They come for a week, get their surgery, recover, and fly back to their country. 

You may know this as medical tourism.

Even though Queretaro isn’t famous for medical tourism, there are many medical specialists for patients of all ages. The most reputable hospitals are San Jose, Star Medica, Los Angeles, and Mosscati. There is even a trauma-focused hospital called CMJ

There are also smaller local hospitals; generally, their services will be less expensive.

But another option you may not know about is “Docs In A Box,” as we call them in Mexico. Many pharmacies in Mexico have a small office next to it where a general doctor can see you for as little as $50 pesos and prescribe you the meds you can get filled at the farmacia next door. For smaller things, this could be a good option. These drugstores intend for you to get your prescription right then and there so you can get your medications in the same pharmacy. Yes, in Mexico, drugstores are more like convenience stores.

Besides the health services mentioned, there is also a low-cost public hospital system. Both Nationals and Legal Residents can buy a low-cost premium to join. And even though you will likely have restrictions, it is still a great option if you’re on a budget.

Last year in the middle of the pandemic, I met a lady in her 80s that fell and got seriously injured while walking on some cobblestones in San Miguel de Allende. Needless to say, she had surgery at one of the government hospitals in Queretaro and her recovery went well! 

If mobility is an issue for you, Queretaro has flatter stone streets instead of the harder-to-walk-on cobblestones you’d see in San Miguel de Allende.

Perfect Weather in Queretaro Year-Round

Queretaro is located in the country’s central-south part and is considered a temperate climate. Many foreigners love the weather because it tends to be the same all year long. 

There are no natural disasters in Queretaro like Snow, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, or Hurricanes. You can expect every day to be pretty much the same regarding the weather. The driest month is December, and July tends to be the rainiest. Though 2021 was a crazy year!

Many parts of the city did get flooding. But this was a freak year in the history of Queretaro. In my 15 years of living in Queretaro, I hadn’t seen rain like this!

Below is a chart to show you the average highs and lows in Queretaro:

Vibrant And Growing Expat Community

It is very hard to keep track of the number of foreigners arriving daily in the city. I know when someone is new to our community because I frequently read their questions/comments in countless Facebook groups. 

I guess one of the reasons people like it here is that we Mexicans are very welcoming and friendly. And the color of your skin is never an issue here. The expat community is very active. They run businesses, there are a variety of weekly or monthly activities, and many also invite locals to be part of the groups. It’s not only other expats.

Although many English-speaking foreigners live here, you will see most of them in Centro. And compared to most locals, they still get lost in the crowd. 

Here are some Facebook groups I recommend you be a part of:

• Expats & Locals in Queretaro

• International Newcomers and Expats of Queretaro– INEQ is one of the social groups that organize interesting and fun activities.

• Queretaro Expats

• Black Expats in Querétaro  

I frequently read this question regarding living in a “secure neighborhood or expat location.” And I think it’s important to understand that Mexico has no neighborhoods based on your social or foreign status. In a single neighborhood, you could have millionaires and low-income people all within one block. In Mexico, people can live wherever they want/like as long as they can afford rent.

Is Queretaro Safe?

This brings me to the most common question: “Is Queretaro state considered safe?”

Mostly yes. The State Government has done a good job keeping the state and city safe. There are so many national and international businesses running here. And companies from many parts of the world have facilities in Queretaro, mainly related to automotive and aerospatial. So, the city wants to make it attractive for these foreign investments to continue thriving in Queretaro.

No one would want to live here and spend much money relocating employees if they didn’t feel safe.

To give you an idea of the number of investments coming to Queretaro: Foreign direct investment in 2021 was $342 Million US Dollars. And international sales were $9.382 Million US Dollars.

The Centro (or historic city center) is very touristy. You’ll notice many police officers walking around and making their presence visible while you hang out here.

But that doesn’t mean you should make yourself an easy target and not take any precautions. You should still avoid going out very late at night. And if you go to a bank, only go to the ones where you are very visible. And if you are alone, try to be in a spot where you can be seen or heard. The tip here is to pay attention to your surroundings, belongings, and places you visit. 

But overall, people living in Queretaro enjoy a life of peace with the comforts of a big city.

Ready to Start Looking for Rentals in Queretaro?

We have a variety of recommended realtors in Queretaro and across Mexico! If you’re ready to start exploring a move to Queretaro, we would love to help you out!

When you purchase the COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide, you’ll learn about renting and buying a house in Mexico through this amazing and easy-to-follow online guide. And once you’re ready to put your boots on the ground in Queretaro, we connect you with our directory of recommended contacts.