The Best Place to Live as Expats & Snowbirds in Mexico | San Miguel de Allende

It is said and seen in the news that Mexico is dangerous, many drug cartels, many cartels, many robberies and murders, can you talk about security in Mexico? The truth is, dangers?And what is the economy like? Is it a cheap country or as expensive as Costa Rica?

There are no "expats", you are immigrants.

We’re planning a to San Miguel in the Spring, do you have any recommendations for Airbnb’s?

Great content! As expats living in Mexico for over 15 years, we love seeing resources like this that help others navigate life here. We specialize in expat health insurance tailored for Mexico and would love to explore a collaboration with you to bring even more value to your audience. Let us know if you’re interested in connecting!

welcome to San Miguel, but you are immigrants, don't try to change the reality, Expats is a joke word ahahaha immigration is for everyone not just for latinos.

Great intro to SMA as I hear about it constantly. It looks almost too perfect & I wonder how soon it will become flooded with expats & overtourism?

Go back to where you came from

I'm not sure what they mean by pedestrian friendly. It's got narrow, uneven sidewalks and cobblestone roads that are very uneven. If you ask any doctor at a hospital, they'll tell you the most common reason for visits to the hospital is people falling down. That said, I live here and love it, but not because it's pedestrian friendly. Ha, ha, Not exactly an objective video. It looks like a paid ad for San Miguel.😛

Gringoland in Mexico! Expensive!

Ustedes se llaman "expats", para nosotros son simples migrantes.

Sorry but we found it more expensive than the United States and the new government is very scary now. Be careful things are changing

I hate to rain on anyone’s parade, but with my perspective visiting San Miguel for over 50 years and living here for 30 years, I would advise taking a deep breath and consider current events and likely future developments before deciding to live here. Most of the positive things in this blog are true, but we’re also living in a time of great change.
Much of what made San Miguel so attractive is also leading to a much less desirable situation. Real estate speculation has doubled the price of homes in the last two years, starting at an already high priced level in comparison with much of the country. Small condos and small homes in desirable neighborhoods are 300,000. USD, this does not compare favorably with safe college towns in many areas of the U.S., for instance. The historic center exudes charm, but you have to double your housing allowance to live in the historic center. Meanwhile, one only has to walk 10 minutes outside of the center to experience visible lack of urban planning, traffic congestion, and blight that looks a lot like inner city blight in the U.S., with a worrisome lack of water resources and conservation.
But perhaps most important is the current political situation in Mexico. Reading the blog there is no mention of the political crisis and security crisis in the country. San Miguel used to be in a bubble of sorts, an artist colony in a historic village known to a few …..but the bubble is long gone, we’re part of the national economy and affected directly by everything that happens on a national level. Besides the political situation, the growing power and influence of cartels is very real, and it’s an illusion to think somehow San Miguel is an island unto itself. The perception of feeling safe is important, but when perception and reality diverge we’re in a different situation. Anyone who has lived here for a long time can recite the many instances of impunity that have affected friends and neighbors. Yes, it’s true that one can be a victim of crime in the U.S., the difference here is widespread impunity.
I have come to believe that the greatest challenge for foreigners to live here and do well is the lack of language skills, combined with a lack of knowledge about real political and social currents affecting the country and our locality. Enjoy the enticing blogs, but also read the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Forbes, and English language versions of El Financiero and other serious Mexican news sources. Mexico is a complex country with many challenges, and many issues of concern for foreign residents.

Thank you for this video. 
Spanish language is Mexico's language. 
Also you must pay taxes on your US income in Mexico.
Understanding Mexican culture is also very important.


I am retired, and prefer France over Mexico.

It’s not close enough to an international airport for me.

Hola excelente muy bonito el lugar gracias

Inmigrantes ❌
Expats ✅

Im in love with this town 🤩💟🤩🤩🤩🤩 everything its good 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

No, please do not come to Mexico, you guys make it incredibly expensive for us to live here

San Miguel de Allende is lit

Whatever you do, don't move to Costa Rica and waste savings on living.

Thanks for taking us along! We are really interested in learning more about this beautiful place! Your video was very informative!

Us Mexicans are being displaced from our land (again) by American refugees (expats). Gentrification has become a real problem for us. So I ask you politely, please, STOP promoting this type of content. Thank you.

My husband and I were just there a couple of months ago. Very beautiful but living there 6 full months? I think I would go bananas. I don't see that there is that much to do. What is there to do there?
Yes tons of beautiful restaurants (especially at night)all lit up!!!!⭐👍 but very expensive.
YES...They had an awesome humongous grocery store... never seen anything like this store. Right?? Happy travels 👣

It is so good to hear about the beautiful and positive aspects of Mexico and the popularity of this destination for Americans. What we hear globally is a lot of rhetoric about rapists and murders coming into the US from Mexico and other places. An alternate narrative is more than important.

Everyone is welcome to Mexico just as long they don't change our culture and traditions and they need to keep in mind that noise and music is 24/7
and loud so if you want your silence Mexico isn't for you, now another thing you need to tell your audience that obviously it's cheaper here in Mexico for any foreigner but it's unfair for locals because these same foreigners are making it hard for locals to buy or rent and they are being pushed out because they can't afford it so then only foreigners are the ones that can afford it also the cost of food for locals is getting expensive
, so that's why Many locals are very unhappy specially in Merida, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta ( in Puerto Vallarta these retired foreigners bought a home next to a restaurant that’s been there for 35 years it’s called Gabby’s just sued this place because of their live music Mariachi and got it closed, this is so frustrating and many are upset Mexicans are welcoming and nice but once you interfere with bringing in money for their survival and that’s why many are putting murals “ Gringos go home”)and many foreigners don't even make an effort to speak Spanish so please when you are encouraging people to retire here please comment this situation because we are getting tired of this situation

Gang activity in the last few years has increased substantially. I know expats with homes there that are not returning till things improve. Use caution.

Wonderful video! San Miguel looks amazing! Thank you for sharing!
😁👍🏼

Nice video, thanks! I must be missing something. The prices of rentals and real estate you link to are very expensive. Am I missing something? Thanks

We visited San Miguel for a wedding last summer and absolutely fell with it. It reminded us a lot of the vibe of Santa Fe, New Mexico. I agree hundred percent we felt very safe walking around and locals were extremely friendly and welcoming will definitely go back!

Hello Bev and John! I was hoping you would visit our beloved SMA...but when we were there! We also found it is a wonderful town with a rich cultural heritage! We love the town center with its friendly locals & many family centered events, markets with fresh produce (Chinaberry Farm). Next time you visit (see what I did there?), you must visit the pyramids, the colorful ceramics of Delores de Hildago and the hot spring/ spas!!! Happy Travels indeed! Jean- not- so -mean

Quit using the word expats... your immigrants who should practice what you preach and renounce your USA citizenship. Nothing more than a colonizers and gentrifier who look their noses down at the indigenous people. "We're expats"blah blah..were Americans yts We're not Mexicans

That looks like a beautiful place! I had never heard of it. I learn so much by watching your videos! It was a bit surprising that it is 6200' in altitude. Thank you for sharing the information you learned.

Thanks so much for your beautiful video... It should be noted that immigration at airports is not an automatic 6 months tourist visa...all the Best in your next adventure

Very touristy and 10% of the population are expats. Good if you don't want to speak Spanish.

Mexico City not far away is in the middle of a water crisis. What is the water situation in San Miguel De Allende?

Love your channel. I have spent 3 months in San Miguel in 2012. Over run with expats. Too many Gringos and it'a expensive...Not my kind of experience abroad. The whole reason is to enjoy the culture. When there are too many expats it's not the best experience. Cheers. Gina in Upstate New York USA moving to Italy/Portugal

Beautiful location. 😊

Are you thinking about moving there?

The retirement visa is too expensive for the majority of expats at this time. Currently you have to prove that you have $4600.00 guaranteed income per month.

ok then. your vote for "if we were ready to live as full-time expats" is the thing that gives me confidence to consider this city.

Bev, you look beautiful, so vibrant. Mexico agrees with you! 💕

thanks for the video. If you become a permanent resident, I assume you're still a US citizen and get to keep your passport?

What's your best strategy to book repositioning cruise?

Thanks for your great video about San Miguel! My husband and I have made SMA our homebase for the last three years. I think your video does a good job of accurately portraying our lovely city. But I do think your video and most other current videos about SMA underestimate the cost of living here. It is definitely significantly less than most places in the United States – we think we’re living on less than half of what it cost us to live in Washington, DC. But prices are rising. And if someone moves here wanting to have all of the comforts of a home in the US, that is going to cost a lot more per month than $1500-2500. Grocery prices are also on the rise. I would never want to dissuade someone from considering this wonderful magical place. But I’ve seen too many people arrive here with unrealistic expectations of what it would cost to live here.

Beautiful! I've never heard of this town. I'll have to give it a visit!

Hi guys. Another excellent video! 🥇

Uh ... I live in SMA. April & May 2024 were at 93-98 degrees every single day.

I heard that San Miguel has deep holes in the walkways and lots of people break legs and bones. I had actually signed up for an art workshop but cancelled it because I did not want to be returning home in cast. No problem? And I heard there are very few banisters to go up and down stairs.. True?

Thank you so much for visiting us! Your video and explanation of our beautiful town is amazing and accurate.
Hope to see you soon and for a longer visit.