In news that will come as no surprise to retirees in Mexico, International Living has rated the country as one of the best places in the world to retire.
Mexico ranked fourth in the world among retirement destinations, according to the Global Retirement Index 2025.
The report, conducted by research company Mercer, analyzed over 40 countries to determine which offer the best retirement conditions. Mexico stands out as a country combining a low cost of living, good access to health care, a pleasant climate and ease of integration into local communities.
“Mexico is a vibrant and diverse retirement destination,” the report says. “The country combines affordability, culture, and warm communities, making it a perennial favorite for North American expats.”
The Index draws from first-hand experiences of Mercer’s correspondents and contributors who have lived in these retirement destinations for years. “They’re not tourists or casual observers,” the report says. “They’re embedded in the communities they report on.”
The results are based on 43 indicators grouped into four major categories:
- Financial security, which considers access to pensions, social security and savings capacity.
- Health, which includes quality of medical care, life expectancy and healthcare infrastructure.
- Quality of life, which looks into the environment, basic services and water and air quality.
- Personal well-being, which involves happiness, satisfaction, access to community and social life.
Mexico’s results highlight the wide array of destinations for expats to choose from. The report mentions destinations like the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende, the cities of Guanajuato and Querétaro, both up-and-coming wine and gourmet destinations, the sandy beaches of the Riviera Maya, or the towns around Lake Chapala.
Addressing safety concerns, Mexico correspondent Bel Woodhouse said the country is a safe and rewarding retirement destination “provided you use common sense.”
For Woodhouse, Mexico has allowed her to live her dream life.
“Overall, Mexico ticks all the boxes for me. The abundant natural beauty, warm and friendly people, amazing food, healthier lifestyle, and low cost of living allow me to live the life I always dreamed of,” Woodhouse said.
Besides Mexico, the top 10 of the best countries to retire include Panamá (No. 1) Portugal (No. 2), Costa Rica (No. 3), Francia (No. 5), Spain (No. 6) Malaysia (No. 7), Greece (No. 8), Italy (No. 9) and Thailand (No. 10).
Mexico News Daily
Oh no, more people coming.🤯 Go to the beach towns. Too many people in Mexico City!
Oh no…go to thr central part of MX…to many people in Baja Sur!?!?
Go to Baja, just like California but it’s in Mexico
No more at Lake Chapala please…way too many now and the infrastructure us suffering greatly, water, roads etc. Go somewhere else please….
Control freak gringos. Biggest reason not to go to gringo land.
Love the welcoming comments! 😆 Maybe International Living got it wrong.
Social security doesn’t work in Mexico and private health insurance beyond age 62 is generally not available. Retirement in Mexico without health insurance is a not a good idea. Imagine yourself sick in a Mexican hospital and they’re demanding cash payment upfront to treat you.
Get your permanent residency and healthcare is free. Just hire a translator.
social security works in Mexico – where did you get that idea?
Maybe you meant Medicare? Social Security works fine for retirees and disabled people all over the world. It’s only Medicare that requires presence in the US. And there are lots of alternatives. Medical care in Mexico often costs about the same as co-pays in the US, for the simplest solution – you can just pay cash. Other than higher rents in high-demand locations, especially “Pueblos Magicos,” which seems to be a license for jacking up rents, the cost of living in Mexico is so much lower, people can actually afford to retire on Social Security! What a concept!
Those people with disabilities getting SSI cannot leave the US for more than 30 days. People with disabilities getting SSDI can.
I highly recommend it, but stay away from snobbby enclaves. Too many whiners.
Mexico is a magical place but Americans need to learn about courtesy from the wonderful Mexicans here. Lovely laid-back culture teaches one to slow down and appreciate every moment. I could never go back to the USA.
GREAT PLACE FOR EXPATS AS LONG AS YOUR INCOME IS USA or CANADIAN.