💭 A 7.4 hit off Chiapas Friday morning, hundreds of miles from here. A few people hurt, no deaths, life moved on. But it's a reminder of where we actually live. You get comfortable fast in this city. The food, the weather, the pace. Then something like this pops up on your phone and you remember to check your emergency food and water rations. Went and did that this week. — Adam, in Mexico City 🇲🇽
⚠️ A valid passport doesn't guarantee you get into Mexico
INM confirmed this week that having a current passport isn't enough on its own to enter the country. Immigration officers can still deny entry if they find inconsistencies in your travel story, no proof of hotel booking, no return ticket, or insufficient funds to cover your stay.
This affects anyone flying in on a tourist visa, especially first-time visitors or people re-entering after time away. Residents with valid cards are generally not the target here, but be ready regardless.
Have your hotel confirmation, return flight, and proof of funds ready to show if asked. Answer questions about your trip consistently. Don't guess or improvise at the counter.
🧇 Marquesitas
Yucatan / Campeche · Street food / Dessert · $1-2 USD
A rolled waffle cone from the Yucatan Peninsula, made fresh on a hot iron and filled while still warm. The classic filling is Edam cheese (yes, cheese) with cajeta (goat milk caramel). The combination of sweet and savory sounds strange until you try it, and then you will understand why there is always a line at the marquesita cart.
What's in it: Thin waffle batter, Edam cheese (queso de bola), cajeta (goat milk caramel). Modern versions also include Nutella, strawberries, or ham and cheese.
📝 How to choose between temporary and permanent residency
Most people arrive at this decision backwards. They google the options, read a few forum posts, and default to temporary residency because it seems like the obvious starting point. For many people it is. But understanding what you are actually choosing, and what you are giving up, is worth thirty minutes of real thought before you walk into a consulate.
Temporary residency is valid for one year initially and renewable for up to four years total. It requires proof of monthly income, which as of 2026 sits at roughly $2,800 USD per month for an individual. It does not automatically give you the right to work in Mexico. If you want to work for a Mexican employer or invoice Mexican clients, you need a separate work permit addendum, something most expats do not know until they need it.
Permanent residency has no expiration and no renewal. You can work freely. You qualify for it through higher income thresholds, retirement status with a pension, being a close family member of a Mexican citizen, or after holding temporary residency for four consecutive years. That last path is the most common one.
The practical question is not which sounds better. It is which you actually qualify for right now, and whether the income you can document meets the current threshold at your specific consulate. Requirements vary between consulates and change periodically. Call ahead. Do not rely on what someone posted in a Facebook group six months ago.
If you qualify for permanent residency and your situation is stable, it is worth considering seriously. One less renewal every year adds up.
💰 What taking an Uber 10km costs costs across 4 cities
Location | Peso Price | USD Equivalent
Mexico City: $88 MXN ($5.02 USD)
Guadalajara: $86 MXN ($4.91 USD)
Puerto Vallarta: $90 MXN ($5.13 USD)
Playa del Carmen: $99 MXN ($5.65 USD)
Same distance, same app, and the price still swings by 15% depending on which city you're in. Playa del Carmen runs highest, tourist demand pushes it up even outside peak season. CDMX and Guadalajara stay close, both have dense driver networks keeping prices competitive. Worth knowing before you assume "Uber is cheap everywhere in Mexico." It's cheap, but not evenly cheap.
Based on today's exchange rate of 17.53 pesos per dollar, July 18, 2026. As the peso/dollar rate fluctuates, your real USD cost will vary.
✅ Get your documents apostilled
An apostille is an official certification that makes your government documents legally recognized in Mexico. Many documents required for residency — birth certificates, marriage certificates, background checks, divorce decrees — need to be apostilled before a Mexican consulate will accept them. This step takes time and should be started early.
Identify which documents need apostilling for your specific residency type — typically: birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), divorce decree (if applicable), FBI background check (for Permanent Residency).
In the US, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's office in the state where the document was originally issued — NOT a federal office. Each state has its own process and fees.
For FBI background checks, request through the FBI's Identity History Summary service and then apostille through the US Department of State.
Allow 4–8 weeks for this process. Some states are faster — check current processing times before you start.
San Miguel de Allende
🏡 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Avg rent (1BR furnished): $900-$1,400 USD/mo
Cost of living: High
Expat friendliness: Very High
Expat community: Yes — large, long-established
Internet reliability: Good (40-80 Mbps)
Geography / vibe: Colonial highlands (6,200 ft)
Pueblo Mágico: No
The most famous expat destination in Mexico and the most expensive. San Miguel is genuinely beautiful — cobblestone streets, pink church, art scene, excellent restaurants, strong English-speaking community. But it comes at a cost. Rent, food, and services are significantly higher than most Mexican cities. Best for retirees with comfortable budgets who want a ready-made expat community.
🇲🇽 Mexico This Week
→ Magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the Chiapas coast Friday, felt as far as Guatemala and Mexico City, with 137 aftershocks recorded in the following hours. (nmas.com.mx)
→ Sheinbaum clarified that a valid passport doesn't guarantee entry into Mexico, confirming INM can still deny admission over inconsistent travel details or missing documentation. (elimparcial.com)
→ Blackouts overwhelmed Yucatán's regional utility with over 700 reports, prompting lawmakers to propose compensating affected users. (yucatan.com.mx)
→ Mexico City Metro kicks off its biggest transformation yet, with Line 3 set for a 40 billion peso renovation while keeping the route operating throughout. (liberalmetropolitano.com)
📅 Jul 17 – Aug 2 — Vive León Summer Festival, León, Guanajuato
Fifth edition, space-themed, mostly free (80% of activities). Runs through this window and beyond.
📅 Jul 20 — Third T-MEC Negotiation Round, Mexico City
US and Mexican trade officials meet to continue the review that kicked off July 1.
📅 Jul 20 — Guelaguetza "Lunes del Cerro", main event, Oaxaca
The signature day: dance performances from all 8 regions of Oaxaca. Hotel occupancy hits 100% this week — book ahead if traveling.
🗓️ Jul 24 — International Tequila Day
Not a Mexican civic holiday, but widely marked in bars and restaurants across the country. Easy, fun, low-stakes inclusion for expat readers.
🗓️ Jul 24, 1888 — Ciudad Juárez Gets Its Name
Renamed in honor of Benito Juárez, who used the city as his base during the French intervention.
💬 Here’s what our Facebook community shared this week:
📌 TOP 5 Community Wisdom Comments
Mexico can exceed your expectations because many residents say the culture, people, food, and lifestyle are even better than they imagined.
Freedom is a major part of the appeal because daily life can feel less restrictive and more relaxed than back home.
The right community may surprise you because some people planned for beach life but discovered they were happier in the mountains or a smaller inland city.
Local acceptance makes a huge difference because friendly neighbors, warm greetings, and genuine connections can quickly make Mexico feel like home.
The dream still includes real challenges because heat, humidity, insects, allergies, unreliable utilities, limited hospitals, and home maintenance vary greatly by location
See the full post + comments:
👉 IMWG Facebook Group post
🗳️ Where are you in your Mexico move right now?
⭐ 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
🤝 Know someone who's thinking about moving to Mexico? 🇲🇽
Send them this newsletter and help them get real information instead of guessing their way through the process.
Refer 3 friends → earn a free 45-minute 1:1 consult with me personally. We'll talk through anything — your visa options, which city fits your budget, what the move actually costs, or whatever questions are keeping you up at night.
Capped at 2 consults per month. First come, first served.
🔧 Tools and resources I personally use and recommend for expats in Mexico:
📬 Virtual Mailbox | |
🏥 Insurance | |
🔒 VPN | |
🇲🇽 Language |
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.