Into Mexico We Go

💭 If you're reading this on Sunday morning, I'm out on my bike somewhere between Coyoacán and Reforma. Every Sunday (except the last one of the month), CDMX shuts down 61km of major streets for Muévete en Bici — no cars, just bikes, skaters, runners, even dogs. Runs 8am to 2pm, free, no registration, hop in anywhere. Some Sundays pull over 160,000 people. It's one of my favorite things about this city — a whole capital pausing traffic just to let people move. — Adam, in Mexico City 🇲🇽

Mexico's tax authority (SAT) has started actively enforcing a rule that took effect back in January 2026: if they suspect you're issuing false digital invoices (CFDIs), they can show up with an expedited inspection order — no lengthy audit process first. This applies to anyone with an RFC who issues facturas, including freelancers, consultants, and small business owners.

It's not random — SAT needs a specific, written suspicion tied to your name, and they must suspend your invoicing ability the moment they deliver the order. If you invoice through Mexico, keep your CFDIs airtight and make sure they match real, documented transactions. Full enforcement window: 24 business days once an order is delivered.

Source: Riviera Maya News

Jalisco / Nationwide · Street food · $4-8 USD

Slow-braised beef (traditionally goat, now mostly beef) cooked for hours in a deep red chile broth until it falls apart. Served in tacos with the braising broth on the side for dipping. The broth, called consomé, is poured into a cup and sipped alongside. Birria tacos have exploded in popularity but the Jalisco original is something different entirely.

What's in it: Beef shank or short rib, dried guajillo, ancho, and pasilla chiles, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, thyme, bay leaves. Served in corn tortillas with diced onion, cilantro, and lime.

We asked where you are in your move to Mexico — and the results came back with a dead tie at the top.

The two leading responses were equal: actively researching and planning, and moving within the next 12 months.

That tells us something important: this community isn't made up of people casually daydreaming about Mexico. You're in motion. You're serious. You're doing the work.

And that changes how we think about what this newsletter should deliver. Researchers need depth — city breakdowns, cost comparisons, honest takes on the tradeoffs. Near-movers need action — what to do next, in what order, and what not to mess up.

We're going to serve both.

But here's what we don't know yet — what's actually stopping you. The research, the planning, the timeline — all of that is moving. So what's the real obstacle?

That's exactly what we're asking this month. Scroll down and vote in the August poll below.

— Adam

Banks advertise "low fee" or even "free" wires, then quietly bake their real profit into the exchange rate — usually 4-6% worse than mid-market. That's the part nobody shows you upfront. Wise charges its fee openly and converts at the actual mid-market rate, no markup. On $1,000, that gap runs $80-100 — real money if you're moving funds monthly for rent or bills.

Based on today's exchange rate of 17.35 pesos per dollar — August 1, 2026. As the peso/dollar rate fluctuates, your real USD cost will vary.

This is one of the most overlooked pre-move steps and one of the most expensive to get wrong. US citizens must file US taxes no matter where in the world they live — full stop. Canadians have different rules based on tax residency. Mexico may also consider you a tax resident after 183 days in the country, which can create dual obligations.

Avg rent (1BR furnished): $800-1,400 USD/month
Cost of living: Mid-High
Expat friendliness: Very High
Expat community: Yes — massive, diverse
Internet reliability: Excellent in most neighborhoods (50-200 Mbps)
Geography / vibe: High-altitude metropolis (7,382 ft)
Pueblo Mágico: No

The largest city in North America and one of the world's great metropolises. Roma Norte, Condesa, and Polanco are the most popular expat neighborhoods — walkable, restaurant-dense, culturally rich, and well-connected. CDMX has world-class museums, food, nightlife, and healthcare. The tradeoff: pollution, traffic, altitude adjustment, and higher rents in the desirable neighborhoods.

→ A record wave of sargassum seaweed is smothering Mexico's Caribbean coast, forcing beach closures in Cancún and Tulum, with officials projecting 119,000 tons will wash ashore by year's end. (reuters.com)

→ Mexico's last glacier has passed the point of no return. UNAM researchers confirmed the Jamapa glacier on Pico de Orizaba is dying, threatening the water supply and coral reef ecosystem downstream in Veracruz. (pagina3.mx)

→ Mexico sent two Navy ships loaded with over 718 tons of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, its second maritime shipment following June's earthquakes, which killed more than 5,500 people. (elfinanciero.com.mx)

→ Mexico City's rental housing supply jumped in July as landlords converted units to short- and mid-term rentals to capture World Cup tourist demand, reshaping price expectations for permanent residents. (eleconomista.com.mx)

→ INAH opened limited guided tours of an underground museum beneath Mexico City's Centro Histórico, showcasing the Aztec ballcourt and Ehécatl temple uncovered over a century of excavations. (eleconomista.com.mx)

→ CDMX's permanent driver's license program ends for good in 2027. Residents have until December 31, 2026 to apply before the city stops issuing the one-time, no-renewal license. (eleconomista.com.mx)

→ Kia will invest $649 million to build its first Mexico-made EV, a sign automakers still see the country as a long-term manufacturing bet despite ongoing US tariff tension. (forbes.com.mx)

📅 Aug 2–8 — International Guitar Festival, Paracho, Michoacán
Paracho celebrates its famous guitar-making tradition with concerts, competitions, exhibitions, dance performances and guitar workshops. Expect larger crowds and heavier traffic around the town’s central venues.

📅 Aug 5–30 — Fiestas de la Vendimia, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California
The annual grape-harvest celebration begins Wednesday, with wineries hosting tastings, concerts, vineyard tours and special dinners. Reservations and designated transportation are strongly recommended.

📅 Aug 7–9 — Baja Beach Fest, Rosarito, Baja California
The beachfront Latin music festival begins Friday and will bring substantial crowds to Rosarito. Expect heavier traffic, crowded beaches and increased demand for hotels and transportation.

📅 Aug 7–16 — Feria de la Manzana, Zacatlán, Puebla
Zacatlán’s annual apple fair opens Friday with regional food, agricultural exhibits, concerts and cultural celebrations honoring the Virgin of the Assumption. Expect busy roads and a surge in weekend visitors.

📅 Aug 7–30 — Feria Nacional Potosina, San Luis Potosí
One of Mexico’s largest state fairs opens Friday with free concerts, amusement rides, exhibitions, food and sporting events. Expect major crowds, road congestion and higher demand for accommodations near the fairgrounds.

📅 Aug 8 — Emiliano Zapata’s Birthday (1879)
Mexican revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata was born in Anenecuilco, Morelos. He remains one of the country’s most recognized historical figures and a lasting symbol of land reform and farmers’ rights.

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⭐ This week I'm recommending Traveling Mailbox — the virtual mailbox service I use personally to manage all my US mail from Mexico. You get a real US street address, they scan everything and you view it online from anywhere in the world. No more missing important IRS notices or bank statements. Essential for anyone serious about making the move.

→ Get your virtual US address with Traveling Mailbox

Disclaimer - Some links above are affiliate links. If you purchase through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and services I personally use or have vetted for expats in Mexico.