Top Places to Live in Mexico

Compare the top destinations in Mexico for expats, retirees, and digital nomads. See city scores for affordability, healthcare, safety, and expat community strength.

Puerto Vallarta

Overall Score: 8.9 / 10 – Best for retirees, beach lovers, active expats

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Lake Chapala / Ajijic

Overall Score: 8.8 / 10 – Best for retirees, long-term expats

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Mérida

Overall Score: 8.9 / 10 – Best for retirees, families, safety-focused expats

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San Miguel de Allende

Overall Score: 8.8 / 10 – Best for retirees, creatives, culture lovers

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Playa del Carmen

Overall Score: 8.6 / 10 – Best for beach lovers, digital nomads, active expats

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Mazatlán

Overall Score: 8.3 / 10 – Best for retirees, beach lovers, value seekers

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Oaxaca City

Overall Score: 8.7 / 10 – Best for retirees, artists, culture lovers

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Tulum

Overall Score: 8.1 / 10 – Best for beach lovers, digital nomads, and wellness-focused expats

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Guanajuato

Overall Score: 8.5 / 10 – Best for retirees, artists, culture lovers

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Ensenada

Overall Score: 8.4 / 10 – Best for retirees, seasonal residents, and beach lovers

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Rank	City	Overall Score	Cost	Safety	Healthcare	Airport	Expat Community	Link
1	Puerto Vallarta	8.9	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	View
2	Lake Chapala / Ajijic	8.8	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	View
3	Mérida	8.9	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	View
4	San Miguel de Allende	8.8	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	View
5	Playa del Carmen	8.6	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	View
6	Oaxaca City	8.7	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	View
7	Mazatlán	8.3	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	View
8	Guanajuato	8.5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	View
9	Ensenada	8.4	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	View
10	Tulum	8.1	⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	View

Rank	City	Overall Score	Cost	Safety	Healthcare	Airport	Expat Community	Link
1	Puerto Vallarta	8.9	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	View
2	Lake Chapala / Ajijic	8.8	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	View
3	Mérida	8.9	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	View
4	San Miguel de Allende	8.8	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	View
5	Playa del Carmen	8.6	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	View
6	Oaxaca City	8.7	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	View
7	Mazatlán	8.3	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	View
8	Guanajuato	8.5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	View
9	Ensenada	8.4	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	View
10	Tulum	8.1	⭐⭐☆☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐☆☆☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	View

Still not sure where to move?