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If you’ve been dreaming of packing your bags and starting a fresh chapter outside the US, there’s a very good chance Merida, Mexico has crossed your radar.
You probably have a million questions running through your mind: What is the day-to-day lifestyle actually like? Is the transition overwhelming? How easy is it to settle in as an expat?
That is exactly why I recently sat down for an interview with Laurel and James, who made the leap from Detroit, Michigan, to Merida. As they explained in our interview,
“We lived in the US our whole entire lives. We didn’t do a study abroad when we were in college. We’ve regretted it for the past 20 years, and we just really wanted the adventure of being somewhere else”.
In the video below, we dive deep into the reality of moving to and living in this incredible city, answering the exact questions you’ve likely been asking yourself.
Making a major international move is a huge life transition, and in the beginning, it can absolutely seem daunting. But as Laurel and James shared, taking the process step-by-step is completely worth it. Here is the ultimate inside scoop on what you need to know to make your move a success.
The Logistics: Navigating Immigration and Moving Your Life
One of the biggest hurdles you will face is simply figuring out how to get yourself, your belongings, and your pets across the border. When Laurel and James first started looking into retiring in Mexico, they spent hours aimlessly Googling.
The game-changer for them was realizing they didn’t have to figure it all out alone.
“Once we took that leap and bought the COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide, we honestly quit googling because all the answers we needed were right in the guide from that point on,” Laurel shared.
Tackling Immigration with a Plan B When it comes to securing your residency at the consulate, the biggest piece of advice is to have more than enough documentation.
For example, Laurel and James applied under financial solvency for retirement and brought a massive stack of bank and retirement records. Because they were under 65, the consulate did not accept their retirement funds as admissible. Thankfully, they brought a “Plan B” document showing their monthly income, which was approved instantly.
You must also make sure your full name—including your middle name—is on your bank documents, which is a requirement that often catches Americans off guard.
Mastering How To Move Household Goods If you are bringing your household goods, being obsessively organized will save you hours at the border.
- For every single box you pack, you need to have an inventory.
- You can label the physical box broadly, like “Box number one kitchen utensils”.
- On a separate written manifest, you must record exact contents and serial numbers.
- Any electronics need to have their serial numbers written down.
- So everything from an electric toothbrush to your hairdryer to televisions, big or small, doesn’t matter if it has a serial number, you have to record that.
- We used Google Drive to create Google Sheets, because it was very easy for either one of us to organize it or to enter.
Because Laurel and James did this for their 200+ boxes, the border crossing was incredibly smooth, and their boxes were never even opened for inspection.
Crossing the Border Safely You might be debating whether to fly or drive.
To alleviate stress on unfamiliar roads with military checkpoints, Laurel and James hired local drivers to take them from Monterrey to Merida. This ensured they had Spanish-speaking drivers who knew the roads and could safely navigate interactions with police.
A Note on Bringing Pets: If you are driving your animals with dogs, bring about a month’s worth of food. If you bring too much and they find it, most likely they’ll just make you throw it away. You can check websites like Petco Mexico ahead of time to see if your pet’s prescription food is available locally. For cats, ask your vet for an anti-anxiety medication (like a small amount of Prozac) for the drive, and use a portable, zip-up litter box. Most importantly, you are legally required to have a rabies vaccination and make sure it’s hand signed by your vet.
The Reality of Daily Life in Merida
When you choose to live in Merida, you are stepping into a vibrant lifestyle full of beautiful weather and a warm, welcoming culture. However, making a move to the Yucatan Peninsula also means you need to be prepared for some adjustments.
The Climate and the Wildlife Coming from the north, you might not be prepared for the heat.
As James put it, “One of the first Spanish phrases we learned is mucho calor. It’s very hot here”.
Because the homes have flat roofs, the heat can come right into the house even if you’re running the air. Because many neighborhoods back up to a dry jungle, you will also need to get used to sharing your space with tropical wildlife.
Anything can crawl over the wall, including tarantulas, scorpions, and snakes. The good news is that none of that is deadly. Laurel and James simply bought a dustpan on a stick, and then they sweep them up and carry them to the park across the street and set them free.
Working Remotely If you plan to work remotely, it’s critically important you do have your employer’s sign off. They need to be aware of where you are for tax reasons, for legal reasons, and data security reasons.
When choosing a rental, look for a home with a backup generator, as power fluctuations happen almost every day, especially during the rainy season.
You will also want to ensure your neighborhood has fiber internet (like Telmex). Finally, remember that Mexico doesn’t do daylight savings time. You are constantly fluctuating every six months relative to colleagues in the US or Europe.
An Unbeatable Cost of Living
- Laurel and James monthly rent on our house here in Mexico in Merida is $34,000 or about 1,800 USD per month.
- For that, they are getting a nearly 5000 square foot home with a very large pool, private yard. It has four bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms.
- They can get fiber internet for about $500 a month. That’s about 25 USD.
- For their electric bill, they pay about $7,000 every two months- or about $125 a month USD.
- For homes that have solar panels, you’re looking at about 10% of that.
- They found that groceries cost considerably less if you shop like a local. If you’re going somewhere like a Walmart or a Costco and you’re purchasing the American brands, it is about the same dollar per dollar.
World-Class Healthcare and Vet Care The quality of medical and veterinary care is high quality, very reliable and very low cost here in Mexico.
You can easily arrange for doctors to come to your house for a fee of about 75 USD. Veterinary care is similar; Laurel and James had a mobile X-ray machine brought to their house and did the X-rays there for like 60 USD.
They also receive in-home acupuncture for her for 40 USD. Dental cleanings with an English speaking dentist here in town was only $500, about 25 USD without insurance.
Integrating into the Culture
One of your biggest fears might be how you will be received as an expat. You can rest easy, as the locals tend to be very friendly. Especially with those who truly seem interested in integrating.
“I can honestly say in six months we have not met a single impolite or rude person,” Laurel noted. “Everyone has just been so kind, so generous, so welcoming”. People want to know about you, where you came from, and why you chose Merida. In fact, the lady whose home they are purchasing actually invited them to go spend Christmas with her and her family.”
To truly experience this connection, you have to try and learn Spanish. The more and more Spanish you learn, the better you can integrate into your neighborhood and talk to your neighbors. You will also need to embrace a slower pace of life.
Appointments don’t always happen exactly when they’re scheduled. Sometimes for very practical reasons, like a plumber whose car actually broke down while he was out buying a part. Always have backups, always have plan B, and just be patient and be kind.
It is completely normal to feel a bit lost at first.
As James warned, “In the beginning, it’s going to seem overwhelming. You’re going to seem like you can’t talk to anybody. You can’t understand anybody… but you will”.
Take it in bite-size chunks, do what is comfortable for you, and give yourself grace.
Make Your Move Seamless
Moving to Mexico can seem daunting, but you absolutely do not have to do it alone. As Laurel and James experienced, having the right resources is the difference between an incredibly stressful transition and an empowering adventure.
Whether you are ready to start looking for your dream home, need help navigating the legalities of immigration, or want recommendations for the safest routes to drive, we are here for you.
Through the COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide, we have all the right contacts in Merida and all over Mexico, to ensure your transition is completely seamless.
Having these contacts will help you integrate better, land softer, and truly enjoy getting to know your new home. You bring the dream, and we’ll help you handle the details. Are you ready to take the leap and make Merida your home?
