A Detailed Look at Moving to Mexico on Social Security

In this video, I answer several questions that American retirees have about moving to Mexico:
Can I live on social security in Mexico?
Can I collect Social Security living in Mexico?
Will Mexico tax my social security benefits?
What are the requirements to get Mexican residency?
....and many more

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0:00 Introduction
1:06 Income Study
4:21 Housing
7:50 SS Abroad
8:53 Taxes
9:48 Residency Requirements

[qroo]

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[Susanhartman.]

The thought of retirement makes me cry. My apologies to everyone who have retired and filing social security during this time after putting in all those years of work just to lose everything to a problem you weren't to blame for.it's especially difficult for people who are retired.

[alohakamaaina]

Best move My Mom and I ever made..she's 73 I'm 54..We moved just outside of Ajijic.

[Mexicobeanpole]

My husband was approved in April 2023 for temporary residency with a social security payment of $2595. That was in Orlando.
I wasn’t on social security yet, and without selling our home in Florida we wouldn’t have meet the savings/investment requirements of $52, 000.
So, I came into Mexico with him as a tourist and we paid an immigration lawyer to apply for me under the Family Unification program. It cost more than my husband’s residency did, but I didn’t have to show any proof of financial solvency.
So, now we’re happily living in Mexico with our 4 year temporary cards.
And, I’ve since started collecting social security!!!
We’ve rented out our Florida house and intend to sell it when the lease ends.
After that we have to decide whether to hold onto that cash and rent, or to buy a house in our area, that we totally have fallen in love with.
We unfortunately had a week long hospital stay within months of being here. The care was phenomenal!!
We would not have been able to retire if we stayed were we were. Probably would die before that happened.
So, life is good here in Mexico!!!

[Davidvictor]

I came across your channel through this video—case studies are incredibly valuable, and I'm eager to see more in the future! Building wealth involves establishing routines, like consistently setting aside funds at regular intervals for smart investments.

[russellbarnes]

I did, three years ago! It's been awesome. Don't care about living at the beach, or concerned about expat communities. I just love Mexico, because it's Mexico. My SS easily handles everything. My wife is a Mexican citizen and I'm from Reno, Nevada. She has no income due to her age. It's a beautiful existence...

[JoanOfArgghh]

We went the longer route of getting temporary residency for a year, renewing it for three more years, and then we qualified for permanent residency in our fifth year. We barely qualified for the first year! But now we have our permanent resident status which opens up other opportunities for us here in Mexico. And yes, private health care is very good!

[margaretslater]

My bubble just got busted when you said the required monthly income

[mygypseasoul]

The regularization program is still going on in Baja California Sur. I just got mine. 4 year temporary residency with no financial requirements and everything done in Mexico. Entire process only took 2 days!!! I also got my RFC and work permit.

[bobfuhr]

I moved to mexico 50 year's ago. I live on the edge of a little village oon the coast of gro no property taxes or insurance needed. I live like a poor mexican and love it.

[christopherbranski]

I collect SSDI while living in Mexico City, and in terms of collecting Social Security disability benefits, it depends on what benefits you collect: in sum SSDI you can collect in Mexico, SSI as you mentioned is a no; and I assume the few state disability programs are a no as well.

My suggestion also regarding finding an apartment/home is to calculate 27% or less of your income as exchange rates fluctuate for the most bizarre reasons. As for my affording to live here on $1520 USD per month, I do so decently but I live in an average neighborhood and don’t have a car. It’s certainly possible to live here solely on Social Security benefits nicely, but you nonetheless have to be prudent

[mypphh]

Dual citizen here. It depends what city you live in and the SS benefit. Most Americans I know that live in Mexico pick tourist destinations. Big mistake. You won’t make it on SS alone. I already own a house there but rent where I live it’s $300 to $500 a month. On medical info, pharmacies now run MD’s that only charge $50 mexican pesos per consultation. I was pleasantly surprised to find out cause I got sick and I didn’t have to spend a fortune to take care of myself. Thanks for your info. It helps me keep up with latest laws and regulation changes.

[l.h.]

I retired in Central Mexico 4 months ago. Basic food…raw chicken/fruits/vegetables etc are dirt cheap. Prepared food…frozen pizza/chicken nuggets/dinty moore stew etc are much more expensive. People here either cook from scratch or eat out. Domestic (made in Mexico) products tend to be inexpensive. Imported things are more expensive. Non luxury imported items (blender, airfryer, flat screen tv etc) are equal or slightly more expensive than a US Walmart. “Luxury “ items like imported high end makeup, designer clothes, weight loss protein drinks are very expensive, like twice what you would pay in the US. So you can live cheaply here easily. But if you live off Scottish smoked salmon and have to wear brand new Dior and Jimmy Choos, and eat out in high end restaurants, it is going to get expensive. In is important to check prices before you throw something in your shopping cart. Somethings are crazy expensive. For instance: i was shopping for plain white towels at a Walmart in Mexico. 2 similar towels: one was $3.00 US, the other was $27.00! A simple dish drying rack that would have cost $12.00 US in the States was over $90.00 US! And prices vary considerably at different stores. So take a small note pad and keep track of who charges what. Overall, my standard of living is much, much higher here. You can remodel your house for a fraction of what it costs in the US. There is a saying here: “In Mexico, anything is possible.” I have found healthcare, especially dentistry, to be far, far superior to that in the United States. And I am a medical professional. Cuidate!

[sarahmabal]

Hola Paul! Thank you for bringing up the topic of "perpetual tourist". Many people cannot afford the Temp and Perm Residency requirements. But, they still come here to MX and spend money and help the economy. They are not taking advantage of anybody. I am a legal resident here, but I know several people that live here w/o residency.

[donk.]

Very well organized. Thank you, for no chatter, just the facts ! Love it. I was subscribed 1' into this video. Enough said! Thank you, I look forward to other videos by you. Cheers, Dk.

[pensamientocriticodecolonial]

Mexico is a great choice for anyone looking for a more affordable and enjoyable way of life. With much lower costs for housing, healthcare, and daily needs, it’s a perfect option for retirees, families, or anyone feeling the pinch of high expenses in the U.S. For example, renting a nice apartment in Mexico City can cost just $500 a month, much less than in cities like New York. Healthcare is also affordable and easy to access—a doctor’s visit might cost only $30, and medicines are much cheaper too.

But it’s not just about saving money. Mexico’s colorful culture, friendly people, and slower pace of life make it a place where many find real happiness and balance. Cities like Mérida, San Miguel de Allende, and Cancún are safe, welcoming, and filled with expat communities that help newcomers settle in. If you’re planning to stay long-term, Mexico makes it easy to get residency or citizenship, which opens doors to healthcare, banking, and even visa-free travel to over 150 countries. Choosing to move to Mexico isn’t just about cutting costs—it’s about finding a better, more fulfilling life.

[nowaylaowai]

Thanks so much for answering my questions. I'm currently living in China, but will have to leave when I am 60. I know I will still have to work. Considering online teaching jobs, or whatever I can find when I decide to return to the states. But the way things are, Mexico is looking like a better place to be.

[alexiscrzt]

Hi Paul, great video as always! Just a quick note regarding number comparisons: when dealing with micro-economic calculations and comparisons, it's often more accurate to use the median instead of the average. This is particularly important for both the US and Mexico due to significant wealth distribution disparities, and also to avoid distortions caused by extreme outliers.

[RobinWilkinson]

Hey Paul, thanks for the info. I can attest to the 180 day tourist card number. Last year my wife and I went to Cozumel. At that time we were still filling out the cards and specifying our length of stay. We ended up staying longer than what we had marked on the cards, and were concerned. When we later looked more closely at the tourist card, we noticed that the immigration officer had, thankfully, disregarded what we had written and marked in 180 days before he stamped it.

[larrypicard]

Raleigh, NC was the cheapest consulate I saw with regards to amount of income needed for residency.