Best Cities To Live In Mexico In 2026

Mexico remains one of Latin America’s most compelling destinations, especially for North Americans. More than a million expats call it home, and tens of millions of international visitors arrive each year for its beaches, food, culture, and history. With the United States and Canada just a short flight away, many cities offer a comfortable balance of familiarity and discovery, with reliable services and modern amenities alongside the distinct character that makes life in Mexico feel genuinely different.

Mexico’s lower cost of living compared to Western cities is a major part of its appeal. Digital nomads, retirees, or expats looking for a higher quality of life with a lower cost of living can easily find places in Mexico that fit their priorities. Furthermore, Mexico’s various visas serve best for different needs and purposes.

In this article, I’ll explore some of the best cities to live in Mexico in 2026, giving you a sense of the country’s urban diversity and how different cities suit different priorities.

Santiago de Querétaro combines colonial charm, walkable neighbourhoods, and an orderly, family-friendly lifestyle with growing opportunities

4. SANTIAGO DE QUERÉTARO

Santiago de Querétaro is a fast-growing city in central Mexico, 210 km from Mexico City. Because it is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its well-preserved colonial architecture and is of great importance to Mexican history, it appeals to everyone who values history, walkable neighbourhoods, and a high quality of life without the big-city chaos. With a population of around one million, this safe, affordable, historic, and walkable city attracts foreigners seeking an alternative in Mexico.

The city’s strong infrastructure and growing business potential appeal to people used to living in big cities. Daily life in the city feels orderly and clean compared to many other Mexican cities. Crime levels are also relatively low, and many neighbourhoods are family-oriented. Because of these qualities, many professionals considering relocating from Mexico City consider Querétaro.

Mérida blends a relaxed pace, strong local culture, and a reputation for safety, making it a favourite for families and long-term expats

3. MÉRIDA

If you aren’t into small coastal cities but hesitate to live in giant metropolises like Mexico City, Mérida might be a happy medium for you. Mérida, the capital of Yucatán, has about 1.2 million residents and feels familiar in many ways.

Furthermore, you can still experience a strong local culture and colonial architecture while socializing with the expat communities long-established there. Mérida is usually regarded as one of the safest major cities in Mexico. It is popular among retirees and long-term residents. Although the climate is hot most of the year, it can easily be turned into an advantage, with beaches like Progreso less than an hour away.

Because it isn’t a big city, family-oriented culture is stronger there than in Mexico's larger metropolitan areas. With this wide range of qualities, Mérida attracts many expats with various backgrounds.

Guadalajara offers big city opportunities with a lighter pace, rich culture, and expat-friendly neighbourhoods

2. GUADALAJARA

Expats and digital nomads looking for a city life with economic opportunities while avoiding Mexico City's high population density can consider Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city and the capital of Jalisco state. 1.4 million people live there, and the economy is driven by tech and manufacturing companies. It is also known as Mexico's Silicon Valley.

As expected, cultural life in the city is quite diverse and energetic, supported by young professionals, universities and international companies. Music, food, festivals, and sports, you name it, and the city will provide the activity you are into. Because it’s a large industrial city, not all neighbourhoods are ideal for expats and digital nomads. However, areas such as Providencia, Chapultepec, and Andares offer a comfortable lifestyle without the overwhelming density of a megacity.

I must also say that Guadalajara is a UNESCO-recognized hub for mariachi music, tequila production, and events like the Guadalajara International Film Festival. The city is a great fit for professionals seeking urban life, economic opportunities, and the chance to experience a different culture.

Mexico City is perfect for expats who want big city energy, strong career opportunities, and nonstop culture

1. MEXICO CITY

Mexico City is the cultural, economic, and political center of the country, and one of the largest cities in the world. Its metropolitan population is around 9 million, with a total population of over 20 million.

Thus, you can expect a dynamic and fast-growing economy, especially in tech, media, and service sectors, with a deep job market. There, working for multinational companies and pursuing remote work are easy for expats who are accustomed to a fast-paced lifestyle. English is also widely used among professionals. However, basic Spanish would help you a lot to mingle in society.

Although you can find many chain restaurants that you are familiar with in North America, foodies can enjoy a great variety of local food, ranging from street tacos to internationally ranked restaurants. Furthermore, most of the cultural organizations and activities happen in Mexico City, such as museum exhibitions, concerts, theatres, and sports events, as part of everyday life. Travelling in and out of Mexico City is also easy since it is well-connected with multiple international airports and direct flights across the Americas and Europe.

Considering the large number of expats who prefer to live there, Mexico City attracts professionals, entrepreneurs, and people seeking constant cultural activity and career opportunities.

TYPES OF VISAS IN MEXICO

There are different but well-established paths to residency in Mexico, and expats can try what works best for themselves:

• Tourist Visa: This is the easiest way to enter Mexico because it is issued on arrival and works well for short stays or initially. The length of stay is determined by immigration at entry, so it should not be relied on for long-term living.

• Temporary Resident Visa: This visa is valid for one year, but renewed annually for up to four years. Showing sufficient income around $4,500 USD or savings of about $75,000 USD, or having a local job offer are necessary to meet the requirements. It is the most common option for expats who want to test the water before committing permanently.

• Permanent Resident Visa: A permanent visa allows you to stay in Mexico indefinitely without renewal. It is often used by retirees, long-term residents, and investors. Living in Mexico for four years on a temporary visa would also typically make you eligible for permanent residency.

• Temporary Resident Investor Visa: It enables foreigners to obtain residency through qualifying investments. It is valid for one year, but renewable for up to four years. Applicants can qualify by purchasing real estate, typically valued between $175,000 USD and $230,000 USD, or by making a business investment of around $90,000 USD to $115,000 USD in a Mexican company. The exact investment thresholds vary by consulate and exchange rates.

• Work Permit / Remote Work Options: There is no specific “digital nomad visa” to live and work in Mexico. However, many remote workers qualify through the Temporary Resident Visa by meeting income or savings requirements. With the proper status, remote work for foreigners is permitted.

Safety in Mexico largely depends on location, with many cities being stable and safe, while some border and trafficking areas remain high risk

HOW SAFE IS MEXICO TODAY?

If you are just reading the headlines about the crime rates in Mexico, you would probably even hesitate to pay a visit to Mexico. However, each year over 40 million tourists come to enjoy Mexico's nature, history and food, and the reported incidents are extremely rare.

For sure, Mexico isn’t uniformly safe, but it's not uniformly dangerous either. In Mexico, safety mostly depends on where you choose to live in the country. Many large cities, especially tourist or business hubs, are stable and predictable.

However, some border areas and trafficking corridors are still high-risk. Because most violence in Mexico is linked to organized crime, staying away from these areas keeps you safe. That is why daily safety usually comes down to neighbourhood choice and avoiding high-risk regions. Over a million expats live, work, and retire in Mexico without incident.

COST OF LIVING IN MEXICO

Although Mexico isn’t the cheapest country in Latin America, it remains one of the most affordable for expats, especially compared to the U.S. (around 50–55% cheaper) and Canada (roughly 40–45% cheaper). Even if you live in large cities like Mexico City, your everyday expenses, such as food, transportation, healthcare, and services, will be significantly cheaper than in the U.S. That said, costs vary by region and city, such as being higher in Mexico City and popular coastal areas, and lower in inland cities like Mérida or Querétaro. Housing might be the biggest variable, but overall, Mexico continues to offer a strong quality of life at a relatively low cost.

CONCLUSION

From global megacities to calm historic towns and relaxed coastal hubs, Mexico offers diverse options for expats to live how they want. You are not locked into one place and can move whenever your current city no longer feels like the right fit.

Mexico City and Guadalajara appeal more to professionals, and families usually feel comfortable in Mérida and Querétaro. Plus, with a relatively low cost of living and multiple visa pathways, Mexico is an easy choice for most expats, digital nomads, and retirees.

The country is not perfect, and there's no Shangri-la utopia, but it remains one of the most flexible, livable, and opportunity-rich countries in Latin America today. If you are thinking about relocating to Mexico or looking for a place that better fits you, you can explore your options by downloading our special report on Plan-B Residencies & Instant Citizenships.