You might plan to start pulling from your Social Security benefits soon. And if you’re considering retiring in Mexico, you might wonder how you can afford to retire with social security alone.
To help you determine if this is possible, I’ll highlight how you can join the thousands of retired ex-pats living in Mexico on social security alone. I will cover what type of lifestyle you can expect, how to qualify for residency, planning for healthcare, and some watch-outs that can eat into your fixed income.
Because there are many different social security benefit amounts, I think it’s important to establish an average. According to US News, AARP, and many other publications, the average social security check is USD $1,800 in 2023 You might never be able to retire on that in the U.S. However, considering Mexico’s lower cost of living, retiring in Mexico is absolutely doable!
Let me explain…
Lifestyle
Yes, you can absolutely live in Mexico for $1800/month. Many people already do it. The trick is having and sticking to a budget.
You’ll have to set a realistic budget for a rental, health insurance, groceries, eating out, transportation, and entertainment. You’ll probably have to shop at mercados or farmer’s markets instead of big-box grocery stores to buy fresh produce.
You should also expect to take public transportation instead of buying or owning a vehicle. In Mexico, gasoline costs $4-$5 a gallon or $83-$95 pesos a gallon. However, most people do fine getting around on public transportation or foot, especially in smaller cities like Ajijic or San Miguel de Allende.
I’d also like to point out that some cities like Ajijic, Puerto Vallarta, and San Miguel de Allende tend to be more expensive than other very similar cities.
But if you look at rentals from word of mouth or by exploring the city and finding “se renta” signs, you are more likely to find the best rentals in Mexico. Another advantage of living in SMA or Ajijic is the weather and the savings on your electric bill. Hardly anyone in these cities has air conditioning or heating. That alone can save you 100 dollars or more monthly on heating or cooling costs than coastal towns.
What’s even better is that not only will you be able to afford to retire in Mexico, but in most cases, you can even hire some services that seem almost like a luxury back home. In Mexico, we hire a housecleaner who comes 2x/a week for less than $15/a day and a gardener who comes once a month for less than $20.
Our cleaning lady helps us clean, wash clothes, fold and put away clothes and also cooks on occasion. She is lovely and very reliable. But more importantly, I don’t have to do it. And when you retire here, you won’t have to either if it fits your budget.
Learn How to Move to Mexico and Have a Better Life for Less! Check out our Complete Mexico Relocation Guide.
Cost of Living
To give you an idea of just how you can stay within a $1800/month budget, here is a quick breakdown for someone living in Ajijic/Chapala Jalisco:
- 2 Bed 2 Bath Condo. $800/Month. It is fully furnished and has a community pool, BBQ area, and plenty of green space to sunbathe.
- Utilities (electric, water, and gas) $30/Month
- Groceries for 1 Person: $300/Month
- Mexico Only Health Insurance $150/Month
- Taxis/Ubers/Didi $50/Month
- Public Transportation: $40/Month
- 30High-speed Internet (50Mbps+) : $25/Month
- Restaurants (eating out 2x/week) $200/Month
- Entertainment: (movies, theater, or similar) $100/Month
- Savings (setting money aside for big emergencies) $125
- TOTAL :$1820/MONTH
You can see that not only is it possible to live on about $1,800/month in Mexico, but you can actually live very comfortably! And keep in mind this is a budget in Ajijic, one of Mexico’s more expensive cities especially for housing.
I also noted that setting some money aside each month for emergencies is important.
For example, you should always try to set some money aside each month for those unexpected things like getting dental work done. Or perhaps you might need to plan for a big trip back home to visit family. Either way, having some savings is necessary and smart.
If you’d like more examples of other people’s expenses while living in Mexico, check out this interview with Sue and Paul in Huatulco. Or check out how April and her family of 4 live on less than $2,000 dollars a month.
Residency Income Requirements
And now that you’ve worked out your budget, you might be getting excited knowing that you can afford to retire on your social security income! But there’s one caveat. $1,800/Month isn’t enough for the Mexican Immigration Government to grant you a resident visa. So I’ll cover how you can qualify further on.
(Find out what the income requirements are for residency in Mexico, by consulate)
And every Mexican consulate has different income requirements to apply. I don’t understand it either, but that’s how things are.
Some Mexican Consulates will grant you a temporary resident visa with as little as $3,500/month in income or $57,000 in savings. Some Mexican consulates (for example, Austin, Texas- require you to have more than $4,100/month in income or more than $65,000 in savings. So it’s a big range.
Most Current Income Requirements for Residency
To add a bit of complexity to the process, some consulates require you to be over 65 to apply for permanent residency. I guess they assume that only people over 65 can afford to retire.
So what happens if your social security benefit doesn’t meet the minimum requirements for you to obtain residency in Mexico? Well, most people rely on their savings to prove financial independence. That means that if you’re one of the people whose social security benefit is less than the minimum requirement at the consulate nearest you, then you’ll have to start beefing up your savings account.
Here is a list of all Mexican Consulates and Embassies around the world. Each one should have their income requirements for residency.
A Few Money Saving Tips
One thing you don’t want to do is move to Mexico and end up eating into all your savings because you didn’t plan for some expenses. So here are a few watch-outs that can surprise you and your wallet.
- Rent! Don’t buy. Buying real estate in Mexico can be enticing, but I highly suggest renting for at least 6 months. If you don’t like your area, you can easily pack up and go to a different area when you rent. If you own your home, this is less possible.
- Rent BELOW Your Budget– When you rent at the very top of your budget, you’re vulnerable to changes in the currency exchange rates. To avoid being accidentally priced out of budget if the peso gains strength, try to rent below your budget.
- Sell your car before moving. Owning a car in Mexico has become increasingly more expensive with time. Gasoline costs keep increasing, and public transportation is cheap and readily available. Most cities have a mixture of residential and commercial. Therefore, most neighborhoods are walkable and easy to navigate.
- Only bring what you need! Hiring a moving company to bring your things to Mexico can be very expensive, and in most cases, rentals come furnished. So, it’s always better to downsize and start fresh. You’ll be able to find everything you need in Mexico, don’t worry.
- Buy local health insurance. Most retirees coming to Mexico are surprised when they get sick with a costly illness and don’t have insurance. At the very least, I highly recommend buying local health insurance that will cover you in Mexico. Yes, healthcare in Mexico is very affordable in most cases. But if you end up needing chemotherapy, dialysis, or major surgery the costs can quickly add up if you are paying out of pocket.
- Always save some money. Having a fixed income for the rest of your life can be very liberating and you can live on without worry! But setting some of that income aside for an emergency is still a good idea. That way, you’re not forced to take out a loan or use a credit card with a high interest rate.
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So Why Wait?
I know many people who worked their whole lives and saved as much as they could afford, only to find out they’ll never be able to retire. When they start budgeting their lives without their normal income and counting on social security alone, they quickly realize they can’t afford to work. Most of these people are in their 60s, and the thought of working another ten years seems depressing.
But luckily, there’s a way! And if your social security alone doesn’t give you enough income for you to be able to retire in Mexico comfortably. In that case, you can always count on a few side hustles like teaching English online, remote customer service jobs, or other online part-time opportunities that can help you fund your freedom overseas.
One of the silver linings Covid brought to our modern world is the need for remote workers. Many companies are realizing that remote employees are just as efficient as in-person workers.
Finding Jobs Online- Tips Digital Nomads Need
The same companies realize they can save a lot of money on overhead without needing a big, expensive office. Luckily for you, that means more and more opportunities to continue a job from anywhere in the world!
The point is you only have one life. It isn’t a dress rehearsal, and you’ll never regret having worked more on your deathbed. If you want to learn more about living, traveling, and the cost of living in Mexico, check out my other blog posts here.
