• Home
  • ZorkFest
    • ZorkFest 2018 Thank You
    • ZorkFest Social Wall
    • ZorkFest Info
    • ZorkFest Schedule 2018 Las Vegas
    • Podcasters After Dark
  • ZorkCast
  • SHOP
    • ZorkFest – Register Today!
    • TravelZork Store
    • My Cart
    • My Account
    • TravelZork Store Terms & Conditions
  • DEALS
    • Travel Deals
    • FoundersCard | Limited Promotion | Founders Card
    • USA | Miles+Points Credit Card Offers
  • Vegas & Casino
    • Hotel Reviews (Casino)
    • Casino Trip Reports & Narratives
    • Casino Loyalty, Casino Gaming and Gambling
    • Casino News
    • Strip Resort/Parking Fees
    • Non-Strip Resort/Parking Fees
  • Airlines
    • KLM
    • Delta
    • Air France
    • American Airlines
    • Southwest Airlines
  • Hotels
    • Hotel Reviews (non-casino)
    • Hotel Reviews (casino)
  • Tourism
  • Dining
  • About
    • Team
      • Meet The TravelZork Team
      • Join Our Team – Be a TravelZork
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • CART
  • Home
  • ZorkFest
    • ZorkFest 2018 Thank You
    • ZorkFest Social Wall
    • ZorkFest Info
    • ZorkFest Schedule 2018 Las Vegas
    • Podcasters After Dark
  • ZorkCast
  • SHOP
    • ZorkFest – Register Today!
    • TravelZork Store
    • My Cart
    • My Account
    • TravelZork Store Terms & Conditions
  • DEALS
    • Travel Deals
    • FoundersCard | Limited Promotion | Founders Card
    • USA | Miles+Points Credit Card Offers
  • Vegas & Casino
    • Hotel Reviews (Casino)
    • Casino Trip Reports & Narratives
    • Casino Loyalty, Casino Gaming and Gambling
    • Casino News
    • Strip Resort/Parking Fees
    • Non-Strip Resort/Parking Fees
  • Airlines
    • KLM
    • Delta
    • Air France
    • American Airlines
    • Southwest Airlines
  • Hotels
    • Hotel Reviews (non-casino)
    • Hotel Reviews (casino)
  • Tourism
  • Dining
  • About
    • Team
      • Meet The TravelZork Team
      • Join Our Team – Be a TravelZork
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • CART
Previous Next

Expat Guide To Living La Vida Loca – Part 2

Posted by: Fern Coll , September 15, 2016

Also read: Expat Guide To Living La Vida Loca – Part 1

There has to be a reason why Mexico is quickly becoming one of the most popular Expat locations on the planet. With over 2 million Expats already living in this amazing country we all want to know, “what’s the secret?”. Well, in part 2 of my Expat Guide to Living La Vida Loca, I will be sharing with you the lowdown on jobs, housing and medical care in Mexico, so you too can make your move.

Job Opportunities

Contrary to popular belief, Mexico has one of the strongest economies in the whole of Latin America! It is a place for budding entrepreneurs, artists, and the business minded to create successful companies and careers. That said, entering this growing economy isn’t always easy for a foreign person, and it usually goes hand in hand with a lot of strenuous, frustrating visa applications.

To live and work in Mexico you need to have the correct visa. Although there are many foreigners working in Mexico illegally for ‘cash-in-hand’, the consequences of being thrown out of the country, and banned for 10 years, aren’t worth the associated risk. However, with a little planning and research one can get their foot in the door without any issues.

mexico-city-expat-work
Photograph ©2016 thesaltyfern.com

1. Being Sent Over To Mexico By Your Current Employer

Does your company have a branch office in the country? This is probably the most common and easiest route to a job in Mexico. Your current employer will usually pay for, and fill out the necessary documentation, so all you have to do is grab your visa, hop on a plane, and enjoy your new life in Mexico.

2. Working In Hospitality

Mexico being the beautiful country it is, there are many tourist zones throughout the entire country. This means that there are an abundance of hospitality jobs, such as; bar work, reception, waiter, hotel staff, and entertainment. If you are snapped up by a hotel, then they will usually pay for and arrange your work visa for the duration of your contract.

3. Skills Otherwise Not Found In Mexico

As the country is still developing in terms of it’s economy, there are still areas of industry that lack expertise. If you’re a skilled professional in areas such as engineering, communication or roles in the technical sector, you may be able to secure an invitation from a Mexican company. You are also going to need to be conversant in Spanish for these kind of  roles.

4. Starting Your Own Business

This option is probably one of the most difficult, but the most profitable. The difficulties come from the outrageously long and confusing application process to acquire the necessary documentation. A way to overcome this obstacle, which a lot of Expats now do, is to retain the services of a local attorney or business person skilled in these matters.

5. Being A Creative Soul

Believe it or not, there is actually a lot of work, and a dedicated visa, for anyone wanting to come to Mexico to work with their art-form. Be it a musician, a painter, a singer or a poet, there is a visa that can help you live and work in Mexico, so long as you are bringing something new and profitable to the country. So all you aspiring rockstars don’t need to hang up those leather pants just yet.

Housing

Housing in Mexico is fairly cheap compared to most other countries, be that for renting or buying. In Cancun for example you can get a nice, newly built, 2 bed apartment for $100,000. However, the quality of housing available, and the cost vary dramatically depending on the city, or even the neighbourhood you choose to live in. This is the same for crime rate and cleanliness. It all depends on the area you choose. I would recommend speaking to other Expats who live in the city you want to move to, or even to local real estate agents, to find the right neighbourhood for you.

There are two ways to find housing in Mexico; using a real estate agent, and going it alone. The first is more expensive, but using a real estate agent will allow you to find the best areas to live quickly and easily, and they will be able to speak Spanish on your behalf. However, I believe the best option is to do the search yourself. This could mean walking the streets and making phone calls, searching online, or looking through the local newspaper. For this option you will need to have a good grasp of Spanish, or know someone who does, but the result will save you money.

Expat Guide
©2016 The Salty Fern

A few things to remember when looking for housing in Mexico are:

  • The rental market in Mexico is largely unregulated, meaning your landlord can raise the rent at the drop of a hat, and the tenants will have to pay it, or be kicked out. I’m talking things out on the pavement and locks changed.
  • Each person with a Visa to live/work in Mexico can only bring household items into the country on a duty-free basis once. So be sure to choose the things you want to move with very carefully.
  • Contracts are usually in both Spanish and English, however, in court only the Spanish version will be considered binding. Be sure to double check this version, and make sure it matches up exactly to the English one.

Healthcare

One of the most important things to consider when moving to a new country is the level of healthcare, and luckily, in most cases the levels in Mexico are very good. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of back room doctors, dentists and surgeons, who have little to no training, but they are very easily spotted, and avoided.

Most doctors and dentists in Mexico actually completed part of their training in the U.S, and many American doctors have studied in the larger cities of Mexico, such as; Monterey, Guadalajara and Mexico City. Every notable city in Mexico will have at least one, if not two, first-rate hospitals, and they will usually be much cheaper than in your home country.

There is an option in Mexico to pay for health insurance, and some jobs will come with this benefit. However, most of the prescriptions in Mexico will be around half the price of your home country, and a general trip to the doctor will only set you back around 400 pesos.

medica-facility-expat-mexico
Photograph ©2016 tulesion.com

If you missed part one of my Expat Guide to Living La Vida Loca, you can see it here, and find out about the language, cost of living and weather in Mexico.

TRAVEL DEALS

Click==> Top Flight Deals Updated Daily

IHG Members save up to 25% during Cyber Sale

Hilton Vegas Deals
Check Out Las Vegas Hilton Properties and Promotions

Nike NFL Fan Shop, Shop Nike.com

GoPro – Hero7 Black : US + INTL – H7 Black + $30 OFF. Offer Valid 11/24 – 12/26.

cash back credit card discover it
Some Great Credit Card Deals for December 2019     Learn more: Earn 5% Cash Back

Advertisement - Privacy and Cookie Policy Disclosure

Tags: Advice for Travelers, budget traveler, Budgeting, expat guide, Expat life, Expat Travel, expats, local tips, Mexican Expats, Mexico, travel guide, Travel Hacking, travel hacks, Travel Tips, Travel Zork, traveltheworld

Fern Coll

About the author

Fern is a travel blogger from England, who packed up her entire life into one suitcase, and moved to sunny Mexico. If she’s not exploring secluded beaches, or hopping on a plane to a nearby country, you will find her under the waves trying to make friends with the local marine life. Fern’s motto is to travel slowly. She takes time to really get to know a country, immerse herself in its culture, pick up the language, and of course, stuff herself with all the local delicacies!

Popular
Recent
Comments
  • KLM Upgrade

    KLM Upgrade Bidding “Upgrade Yourself”

    April 11, 2015
    Living the Mlife: An Introduction

    Living the Mlife: An Introduction – MGM M life Rewards Loyalty Program

    February 11, 2019
    FoundersCard Benefits

    FoundersCard Caesars Benefit | Caesars Total Rewards Diamond Status

    April 29, 2016
  • Vegas News 15 December 2019 | Quickly Hitting Everything Happening In Las Vegas

    Vegas News | Quickly Hitting Everything Happening ...

    December 15, 2019
    Circa Las Vegas

    Halfway To Circa Las Vegas | On Time and On Budget

    December 10, 2019
    Vegas News 8 December 2019 | Rio and Circus Circus Redux, Rodeo, and Residency Rumors

    Vegas News | Rio and Circus Circus Redux, Rodeo, a ...

    December 8, 2019
  • […] January we previewed plans for Circa Las ...

    December 10, 2019

    […] January we previewed plans for Circa Las ...

    December 10, 2019

    […] guest won the $2.3 million progressive j ...

    December 8, 2019

Tag Cloud

atlantic city atlantic city casinos atlantic city events atlantic city promotions Atlantic City shows borgata borgata atlantic city borgata hotel Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Caesars Caesars Entertainment Caesars Palace casino CASINO GAMING Casino Hotel casino loyalty Casino news Casinos Cosmopolitan DOAC downtown las vegas downtown vegas DTLV Entertainment Fremont Street Fremont Street Vegas Gambling gaming Golden Nugget Las Vegas lasvegas Las Vegas News Las Vegas Strip mgm MGM Resorts MGM Resorts International The Vegas total rewards travel TravelZork vegas Vegas News Vegas Strip Vegas Strip Casino Wynn

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Copyright © 2014 - 2019 TravelZork
Designed and Developed by fdMobile
Hosted by Powder Cloud Corporation
  • Home
  • Team
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Accept Privacy Policy


Privacy & Cookies Policy

Necessary Always Enabled