Into Mexico We Go

💭 The things you see on the streets here never stop surprising me! Yesterday I watched a delivery guy on a motorcycle zip past me one handed... the other arm was wrapped around a full sized cake, balanced like it was nothing. No box, no strap, just pure confidence. Weaving through traffic, hitting potholes, and that cake did not move an inch. Only in Mexico do you see stuff like this and just nod like "yep, checks out." — Adam, in Mexico City 🇲🇽

Puebla · Street food / Regional · $3-5 USD

Puebla's signature sandwich, built on a sesame seed roll (the cemita) and layered with breaded milanesa (fried breaded meat), Oaxacan string cheese, chipotle, avocado, papalo herb, and onion. Papalo is the key ingredient, a pungent herb with no real English equivalent, that gives the cemita its distinctive flavor. Nothing else tastes quite like it.

What's in it: Sesame seed cemita roll, beef or chicken milanesa (breaded and fried), quesillo, chipotle chile, avocado, papalo herb, white onion. Some versions add pickled jalapeños.

Everyone obsesses over which city to move to. Merida versus Oaxaca. Puerto Vallarta versus CDMX. The city conversation takes up enormous mental energy. And then people arrive, pick a neighborhood based on where their Airbnb happened to be, and spend the next year realizing that the neighborhood is what actually determines their daily life.

Two people can live in the same city and have completely different experiences based on where they land. In Mexico City, Roma Norte and Iztapalapa are technically the same city. They are not the same experience.

When evaluating a neighborhood, ask five things.

Can you walk to what you need daily? Markets, a coffee place, a pharmacy. If you need a car or Uber for every errand, the neighborhood will wear on you faster than you think.

What is the noise situation? Mexico is a loud country and some neighborhoods are louder than others. Visit on a weekend night and a weekday morning. They will feel different.

Is it safe enough for your comfort level? Not safe in the abstract — safe in the specific way that matches how you actually live. Do you walk at night? Do you have a car? Do you jog in the morning?

What is the internet situation in the actual building you are considering? Not the neighborhood average. The building. Ask to run a speed test before you sign.

And finally: do you like the feeling of it? Some neighborhoods have an energy that either matches yours or does not. That feeling is data.

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☕ OXXO (Andatti, mediano): $25 MXN → $1.48 USD
🟤 Local chain café (Pickup Coffee, americano): $35 MXN → $2.07 USD
🟢 Starbucks (CDMX average cup): $72 MXN → $4.26 USD
🟣 Boutique specialty café (design-forward spots in Roma/Condesa): $160 to $220 MXN → $9.46 to $13.01 USD

OXXO is the real budget hack, not just the convenience play. A Starbucks habit runs nearly 3x an OXXO habit. The trendy specialty cafes popping up around Roma and Condesa now match or beat US coffee shop prices. If you grew up on $5 Starbucks, CDMX Starbucks will feel normal. If you want cheap and caffeinated, OXXO wins every time.

Based on today's exchange rate of 16.92 pesos per dollar — Aug 21, 2026. As the peso/dollar rate fluctuates, your real USD cost will vary.

Your CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población) is Mexico's equivalent of a Social Security Number — an 18-character ID code assigned to every person registered in Mexico. You will need it for almost everything once you arrive: bank accounts, SAT tax registration, IMSS healthcare, utilities, and more. The process is straightforward but worth understanding before you arrive.

Avg rent (1BR furnished): $400-600 USD/mo
Cost of living: Low
Expat friendliness: Moderate — growing
Expat community: Small but active
Internet reliability: Decent in center (20-40 Mbps)
Geography / vibe: Mountain city (7,218 ft)
Pueblo Mágico: No

A small, cool, bohemian city in the Chiapas highlands surrounded by indigenous Tzotzil and Tzeltal communities. One of Mexico's most atmospheric cities — cobblestones, colorful markets, great coffee, strong artisan culture, and a creative expat and digital nomad scene. The altitude means it's always cool, sometimes cold at night. Cost of living is among the lowest on this list.

→ President Sheinbaum presented Mexico’s Olinia Carga electric vehicle, a domestically developed model designed for transporting goods. (Riviera Maya News)

→ New electrical substations are planned for Playa del Carmen to reduce ongoing power interruptions, but they are not expected to be operational until the end of the year. (Riviera Maya News)

→ Fuel retailers agreed to extend price caps on regular gasoline and diesel through 2027. (El Financiero)

→ The US deported more than 2,000 Mexican nationals to Guatemala despite objections from the Mexican government. (Reuters)

→ A Mexican governor accused by the US of having cartel ties returned to office amid continuing scrutiny over the allegations. (Reuters)

→ Mexicans deported from the US are finding refuge in Mexico City’s “Little LA,” while struggling to rebuild their lives in a country many barely know. (The Guardian)

📅 August 23 — XII Festival of Indigenous Cultures, Mexico City
The festival’s final day brings Indigenous food, handicrafts, workshops, traditional music and cultural performances to the Zócalo. Admission is free, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

📅 August 24 — 205th Anniversary of the Treaties of Córdoba, Córdoba, Veracruz
Córdoba marks the signing of the 1821 agreements that recognized Mexico as a sovereign nation. The city’s anniversary program includes historical talks, theater, workshops and free cultural performances.

📅 August 26 — Thalía’s 55th Birthday
Born in Mexico City in 1971, Thalía became internationally famous through Latin pop, Timbiriche and Mexican telenovelas such as María la del Barrio.

📅 August 26 — Mariachi and Charrería Festival Begins, Guadalajara
The 33rd Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería kicks off, running through September 6. The world’s largest mariachi festival features free concerts at Plaza Liberación, galas at Teatro Degollado and charreada competitions across the metropolitan area.

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👉 IMWG Facebook Group post

⭐ This week I'm recommending Virtual Post Mail — a virtual mailbox service that lets you manage all your US mail from Mexico. You get a real US street address, they scan everything, and you view it online from anywhere in the world. It's also HIPAA-compliant, so it's a solid pick even if you're handling sensitive documents. No more missing important IRS notices or bank statements. Essential for anyone serious about making the move.

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.