ON MY MIND
💭 I’m still in the U.S., and every visit feels a little surreal now. After living in Mexico, I notice the differences in culture, routines, and how everyday systems work so much more than I used to. Some things feel easier here, some feel worse, and some are just… different. And then there’s the driving. So. Much. Driving. I forgot how much of life in the U.S. can revolve around getting in a car just to do almost anything. The good, the bad, and the ugly… it’s always interesting seeing both countries with fresh eyes. — Adam, in the U.S. 🇺🇸
⚠️ Mexico is moving toward higher visa and foreign visitor fees in 2027
Mexico’s proposed 2027 Federal Fees Law includes increases to several charges paid by foreigners, including certain visa and visitor fees.
This could affect people planning a move to Mexico, foreigners applying through Mexican consulates, and visitors entering the country.
One proposed change would raise the fee for foreign visitors without permission to work from MXN $983 to MXN $1,158. Certain visa fees issued through Mexican consulates and embassies would also increase.
The proposal has advanced through Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies, but the new fees are not final yet and still need to complete the legislative process before taking effect in 2027.
Source: Expansión
EL ANTOJO
🍲 Sopa de Lima
Region: Yucatán · Category: Regional / Soup · Price: $3-5 USD
A light, bright chicken broth soup from the Yucatan, flavored with the local lima (a bitter citrus fruit different from regular limes) and topped with crispy fried tortilla strips. It is the kind of soup that makes you feel better immediately. Clean, aromatic, and deeply refreshing even in heat. One of the most underrated soups in Mexican cuisine.
What's in it: Chicken broth, shredded chicken, local lima or bitter orange, tomato, onion, garlic, habanero, cilantro. Topped with fried tortilla strips and an extra squeeze of lime.
EDITOR’S PICK
⭐ This Week I’m Recommending: Timekettle AI Interpreter Earbuds
I recently came across Timekettle’s new W4 Plus AI Interpreter earbuds, and these could be incredibly useful for life in Mexico. They translate conversations in real time, can help with phone calls and media, and even offer offline translation. Think doctor visits, dealing with a mechanic, or those moments when your Spanish just isn’t quite enough.
💰 What a realistic week of Spanish classes costs in Mexico, group vs private
Option | Weekly cost (MXN) | Weekly cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
💻 Online tutor based in Mexico, 3 hrs | $667 – $945 | $36 – $51 |
🧑🏫 Local private tutor, in person, 3 hrs | $900 – $1,800 | $49 – $97 |
👥 Group school, 20 lessons (Oaxaca, Mérida) | $4,318 – $4,410 | $233 – $238 |
🏫 Private lessons at a school, 10 lessons (Oaxaca) | $5,985 | $323 |
Per hour, a group school is the cheapest seat at under $12 USD. Per week, it is the biggest bill, because immersion schools sell 20-lesson blocks and price them in dollars. Local private tutors charge in pesos, usually 300 to 600 per hour across Mexico. Some add as little as 100 pesos per hour for a second student. Split a tutor with your partner and you beat the group school on price and on speaking time.
Based on today's exchange rate of 18.53 pesos per dollar — Oct 15, 2026. As the peso/dollar rate fluctuates, your real USD cost will vary.
DO THIS
✅ Register with SAT — Mexico's tax authority
SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria) is Mexico's equivalent of the IRS. If you plan to work, freelance, run a business, or receive income while in Mexico — even from foreign sources — you may need to register with SAT and obtain an RFC number. This step trips up many expats who don't do it proactively.
RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) is your Mexican tax ID number. You need it to open certain bank accounts, invoice clients, sign leases formally, and more — even if you're not earning Mexican income.
Register at sat.gob.mx or visit a SAT office in person with your CURP, passport, and proof of address. As a foreign resident, bring your residency card.
If you work remotely for a foreign employer and receive income from outside Mexico, consult a Mexican accountant (contador) about your specific obligations — the rules are nuanced.
Many expats hire a local contador for $50–100 USD/month to handle SAT filings, especially if they are invoicing clients. Worth every peso to avoid fines.
🏡 Cuernavaca, Morelos
Avg rent (1BR furnished): $500-$750 USD/mo
Cost of living: Mid
Expat friendliness: Moderate
Expat community: Moderate
Internet reliability: Good (30-60 Mbps)
Geography / vibe: Subtropical highlands (5,058 ft)
Pueblo Mágico: No
Called the City of Eternal Spring for its year-round mild climate, Cuernavaca sits just 85km south of Mexico City and has long been a weekend retreat for capitalinos. Colonial architecture, lush gardens, good restaurants, and a manageable size. Close enough to CDMX for day trips while being significantly cheaper and calmer.
🇲🇽 MEXICO THIS WEEK
→ The peso hit 18.60 per dollar, its weakest level since November 2025, after hotter-than-expected US inflation data raised bets on another Federal Reserve rate hike. (Expansión)
→ Mexico City’s proposed rent law would cap yearly increases at inflation and add fines and new contract rules for landlords who break it. (El Economista)
→ Tighter short-term rental rules in Mexico City could create a black market, real estate experts warn, without closing the capital’s housing shortfall of more than 700,000 homes. (El Financiero)
→ Smelly sargassum seaweed and a strong peso are hurting tourism at Mexico’s beach resorts. (Financial Times)
→ Mexico’s antitrust regulator is set to approve the Viva-Volaris merger before the end of 2026, creating the country’s largest airline group, according to six sources. (Reuters)
→ The death toll from Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel’s remnants rose to six, with most of the deaths caused by flooding in Ensenada, Baja California. (AP)
WHAT’S HAPPENING
📅 October 18 — Festival Internacional Cervantino Closing Day, Guanajuato
The 2026 Cervantino wraps up Sunday with a full final day of performances across Guanajuato, including music, dance, and the official closing program at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas.
📅 October 18–November 8 — Monumental Alebrijes exhibit, Paseo de la Reforma, CDMX
After the October 17 parade, the giant painted alebrije sculptures stay on display along Reforma through November 8. It’s a free, walkable art show and one of the first big signs of Day of the Dead season in the capital.
📅 October 18 — Festival Flores de Cempasúchil Begins, Mexico City
Paseo de la Reforma begins filling with cempasúchil as local growers offer the iconic Día de Muertos flower between the Ángel de la Independencia and the Ahuehuete. The festival and flower market run through November 1.
📅 October 19 — Día Nacional por la Igualdad y No Discriminación, Nationwide
Mexico marks the National Day for Equality and Non-Discrimination, a date tied to Miguel Hidalgo’s 1810 abolition of slavery and the broader fight against discrimination.
📅 October 20 — Día Nacional del Mezcal
Mexico marks National Mezcal Day, a date Oaxaca promoted starting in 2017 to support small producers. Many mezcalerías run tastings and specials this week.
📅 October 24 — Festival de las Ánimas Begins, Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida begins its 2026 Festival de las Ánimas, running through November 2 with Día de Muertos and Hanal Pixán traditions including the Paseo de las Ánimas, Catrina parade, Feria del Mukbilpollo, and cemetery activities.
COMMUNITY WISDOM
💬 Here’s what our Facebook community shared this week:
📌 TOP 5 Community Wisdom Comments
Expect things to take longer because patience is part of the adjustment, especially with appointments, banking, utilities, and getting things done.
Give yourself time to learn Spanish because becoming comfortable and fluent usually takes much longer than expected.
Plan carefully for healthcare and insurance because affordable coverage can be difficult to find, especially with age or pre-existing conditions.
Choose your moving company carefully because shipping delays, mix-ups, and poor service can make the physical move much harder than expected.
Prepare for a real cultural adjustment because daily life, expectations, and social norms in Mexico can be very different from the U.S.
See the full post + comments:
👉 IMWG Facebook Group post
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Send them this newsletter and help them get real information instead of guessing their way through the process. Refer 3 friends and earn a free 45-minute 1:1 consult with me. Capped at 2 consults per month. First come, first served.
⭐ Helpful Tools & Resources
🚀 Language Learning: Rocket Languages
🛡️ Health Insurance: SafetyWing
📱 eSIM: Saily
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.