After years of talking about living abroad, my husband and I finally took the plunge. We found jobs teaching for an American school, sold our house, and drove with our dog from Nevada to Hidalgo, Mexico. I was recently asked by someone originally from Nigeria why I moved to Mexico when so many people around the world view America as the ultimate desired place to live. What made us choose to leave the States? And why Mexico? Here are the top reasons I chose to leave the United States and move to Mexico.

The Culture

I have traveled extensively throughout Mexico, and the culture is something that keeps bringing me back. Regardless of the destination, I have found people throughout Mexico to be friendly, patient, welcoming and gracious. I admire the strong sense of community, the emphasis on family, and the laid-back approach to life. In addition, Mexico is a large and diverse country where centuries old traditions, iconic architecture, ancient archeological sites, metropolitan areas, and modern conveniences converge. Distinct indigenous groups, regions, languages, foods, artisanal goods, and customs contribute to the country’s complex and vibrant culture. Living in Mexico affords me the opportunity to explore different regions, experience the day to day lifestyle, learn more about the country’s history and identity, participate in celebrations and events, and taste the many flavors of Mexico.

The Language

For the last few years I have been learning Spanish through travel, podcasts, books and classes. While my Spanish abilities have improved, I am nowhere near fluent, or even conversational. Proficiency in Spanish is a valuable skill for the workplace, travel, and general communication, and it is a personal goal of mine. Yet, all of the podcasts and language apps in the world will not make me fluent in Spanish. The most effective way to really learn a language is immersion. I am living in a city with few English speakers, so my Spanish skills are definitely being tested, there is a lot I don’t understand, and I am making a lot of mistakes, but I am learning!

Work Life Balance

Leaving my job with a college access program on a university campus was really hard. I loved my co-workers, was doing meaningful work, and had great benefits. Yet, the work culture in the United States is very demanding. While I tried to set firm work boundaries, the constant struggle to maintain those boundaries and manage a daunting workload was draining. Moreover, after two years of teaching through the pandemic with limited resources and teacher shortages, my husband, like most teachers, was completely burnt out. Similar to many Americans, we were ready for a change. In Mexico, people work hard, but they also have lives outside of work and other priorities. I am hopeful that the more relaxed culture in Mexico will allow me to enjoy a better work life balance and a more manageable workload with less work-related stress.

Travel

One of the huge perks of living in central Mexico is the ability to travel easily within the country. Hidalgo is an excellent launching point to explore nearby destinations, including Mexico City, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Veracruz and Oaxaca. The mountains are 20 minutes away, the ocean is three hours, and CDMX airport is only an hour. I love being able to hop in the car or on a bus for a day trip or weekend getaway. Also, with in-country flights from Mexico City averaging around $50, the opportunities to travel anywhere in Mexico are vast and much more affordable than from the United States. Mexico is an affordable country to travel to, but it is even more affordable to travel within.

Climate

Mexico is known for its warm weather and sunny coastline, but many people do not realize that the climate in Mexico can vary quite a bit by region. Mexico has the hot, arid deserts of the north, the humid jungles of the Yucatán Peninsula, and the cooler mountains of central Mexico. Living in the central highland area, the average temperature year-round is 73 degrees Fahrenheit. This weather is perfect for outdoor activities and enjoying outdoor living year-round. And no, I will not miss the seasons. Scraping ice off windshields is the worst, no matter how pretty the snow may be.

Cost of Living

For many, the low cost of living in Mexico is a huge draw. Digital nomads and retirees can often enjoy a much higher standard of living in Mexico, even on fixed incomes. Because I am working as a teacher in Mexico, I am living on a Mexican salary, so the low cost of living is not necessarily the reason that I moved here. However, I am interested in living a simpler life focused more on experiences and less on consumerism and acquiring things. As hard as it was to sell our house and our belongings, it was also quite liberating. For me, living in Mexico is all about experiences and living life without regrets. And while the transition has not exactly been easy, I am hoping to gain much more than I gave up.

Proximity to the States

Finally, logistics are one of the reasons we chose Mexico over other countries of interest. We had the ability to drive our car with our dog and some of our possessions. The visa and immigration processes were comparibly easy, and we have experience with crossing the border by car from previous travels. We did not have to worry about flying with the dog, and there is no quarantine for pets. In fact, the only thing needed for the dog was a rabies vaccine. Although it is a long drive, we have the ability to drive back to the States to visit family and friends. While leaving my friends, family, job and home in the United States was challenging, it is rewarding and exciting to experience a new culture and lifestyle and to discover all that Mexico has to offer.