I'm Much Happier Living In Mexico City Than In The U.S. - Here's How Much It Costs

Adalia Aborisade, 48, quit her teaching job in the U.S. and now lives in Mexico City making $38,000 a year. She runs her own business, "Picky Girl Travels the World," where she offers individualized financial coaching, relocation assistance and retreats.

This is a Gen X episode of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

Producer & Camera: Tasia Jensen
Managing Producer & Camera: Beatriz Bajuelos
Supervising Producer: Jessica Leibowitz
Reporter: Cheyenne DeVon
Editor: Marisa Forziati
Animator: Elham Ataeiazar

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I'm Much Happier Living In Mexico City Than In America - Here's How Much It Costs

[sudl]

I love how instead of getting depressed after a divorce she was able to move on and live the life she wanted and deserves wherever she wants, You go girl !

[BHeru-wqkv]

she's sharing the juice. as someone that lived in Mexico for almost a year, it was the first time in my life where I felt like I was living versus just surviving.

[r.p.]

“It’s not about accumulating wealth, but having more control over my time” I felt this to my soul. I have what many would consider a great job that pays well, I own a home, but I AM ALWAYS TIRED. I dream of doing something like this, hopefully one day I’ll be as brave as her!

[MoorishBrooklyn]

Man! She is for ahead than most people in the U.S. and in the world. She has retirement savings and she took a bet on herself for her own happiness and sanity. Congratulations to her.

[georgesvak]

Adalia you made the smartest choice. It's better to make less money but live with much less stress and happy life.

[tcgtpl]

She went from being a teacher to running her own business, so from having no control over her schedule & dealing with bratty kids to having complete control of her schedule & doing what she wants. Add in a much lower cost of living being in Mexico compared to a typical US city. Sounds like a dream come true.

[theozchannel]

As a Mexican who used to live abroad I totally get this lady: I grew up sort of looking up to America since I was a child and when you grow up in a chaotic busy bustling city like Mexico City you crave the opposite: order, cookie-cutter wooden houses, small town life etc ..then at age 27 I went to live to Canada which is not the US but it is something very close in terms of lifestyle, then I got to experience small town, quiet suburban life in a nice neighbourhood and realized it was nothing like I imagined: it was boring, there was hardly anyone on the street so no friends or socializing, everyone was busy working too hard to be able to pay their $3000 mortgage and all their toys, I understood finally how the way Americans and Canadians build their neighbourhoods is so wrong because it makes life miserable: boring, no walkable streets, you need a car to even go to the 7/11 also food is so limited and tasteless ....after a few years in Canada I couldn't handle it anymore and I came back, some people thought I was crazy, they would say: how are you gonna leave the first world to go the 3rd? I said man those things are in your head and are relative: you can live in Canada and live in the "3rd world" if your life is sh11ty and you can live in Mexico in the 1st world if you live in a nice neighbourhood ...I came back to Mexico City in 2018 and I´ve been the happiest I ever been...I finally appreciated the awesomeness of my city and after traveling to other cities in the US, Canada and Europe can say that Mexico City doesn't have anything to envy at all

[oshigalife]

As someone who is from Nigeria, I agree with her. Back home, there is no such thing as first, second or third shift. Everyone works 8am-4pm and weekends are strictly for parties, wedding or enjoyment. There will be a point where people will start choosing a better quality of life and peace of mind over money.

[yssj]

She works 15 hours a week, while I’m working 15 hours a day. I’m obviously doing something wrong 😑

[jvlixn]

as a Mexican whose parents emigrated to the US I'm trying to move back lol

[smegheadish]

Absolutely having control over your time is the biggest gift you can give yourself

[cultureclique]

Isnt that shocking that an American says “I can afford to go to the dentist in Mexico but in the US I couldn’t”? What does it tell ya about the greatest country on this planet?

[Investinyourselfdarling]

Its amazing how stress free people look living outside of the US❤

[nobodyspecial]

Hey lady,
I’m a USMC infantry veteran with C-PTSD and living in the US literally makes me sick. Each time I go to Mexico my physical and mental health do a complete 180 and I feel the best I ever have. My wife and kids won’t move south of the border so now I’m going solo on extended visits.
There is much truth to your observations in this video.
Thank you!

[Anime_Empire_.]

I was born in Mexico City and lived there till I was11 years old, was brought to the USA and even thou I learned many things, got everything I want and met wonderful people here in the USA, it has always been on the back of my mind to someday go back home, I miss everything the food, the culture, the people, and the fact that life in Mexico is so much different from USA.

[piperanks]

I have been living in mexico for 15 years now. Work 8 weeks in the states and go back for 3 weeks to mexico sometimes i take 5 weeks off. Living Alone enjoying life and self comfort. No anxiety i am basically living my dream. I love my life.

[candisham]

Lots of people are catching onto this trend and are actually pushing natives out of the area. $750 a month for a 2 bedroom apartment isn’t going to last long. Prices are steadily increasing in the area and it’s all going to even out eventually.

[nataliarodarte]

As someone who lives in Mexico, Gentrification is making local’s life harder. Thousands have already been forced to move. While it is awesome that people find their way of living better here, please be conscious of other people. A dollar here will give you more, but the local’s salaries cannot keep up with it! Also, please do learn Spanish! Many vendors are struggling to accommodate you but it should be the other way around, especially when you are in a foreign country.

[wo]

I'm happy for her. I def understand where she is coming. The US is a double edge sword; it is the place to make money but same time it is a debt trap when it comes to education, healthcare, buying a house, etc. I've been abroad and no city outside the US seems to do this.

[josemanuelmanrique]

As a Mexican living in Mexico City, if you're planning to move to Mexico, please get a local job, pay your taxes, contribute to the local economy. Mexicans moving to the US, get hard labor working jobs, US citizens moving to Mexico, get their remote US job and come here for the "cheapness".