Is Mexico a Good Place to Live? Discover the 10 Most Secure Cities With Affordable Costs

When considering whether Mexico is a good place to live, safety and affordability emerge as the two most critical factors for expats, retirees, and remote workers. The answer is yes—but with an important caveat: you need to choose your location wisely. While Mexico does face documented challenges with crime, numerous cities throughout the country offer both security and reasonable living expenses, making them viable options for those seeking a high-quality lifestyle abroad.

Understanding Mexico’s Appeal

Mexico attracts thousands of international residents annually, thanks to its favorable climate, cultural richness, and significantly lower cost of living compared to the United States and Canada. The combination of warm weather, diverse landscapes, affordable real estate taxes, and vibrant communities creates an appealing environment. However, prospective residents must acknowledge that safety concerns exist in certain regions, which is why identifying the right cities becomes paramount.

The Top 10 Safest Cities: A Comprehensive Breakdown

To answer the question “is Mexico a good place to live,” we examined crime statistics from the Mexico Peace Index and cross-referenced them with real estate and living cost data. Here’s what the research reveals about Mexico’s most secure communities:

Tier 1: The Safest Options (Safety Score Below 0.87)

Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas stands as one of Mexico’s safest urban centers with a safety score of 0.86560. Monthly living expenses for an individual run approximately 11,717 MXN ($700 USD) excluding rent, while a four-person family should budget around 28,908 MXN ($1,727 USD) monthly. Food expenses range from 4,720 to 12,336 MXN ($282–$737 USD) depending on household composition.

Tampico, Tamaulipas shares an identical safety profile with Ciudad Madero. Single residents typically spend 11,985 MXN ($716 USD) monthly (excluding accommodation), with food costs averaging 5,038 MXN ($301 USD) per person. Property prices hover around 14,806 MXN ($884 USD) per square meter, making this an exceptionally affordable option for those asking if Mexico is a good place to live.

Altamira, Tamaulipas hosts approximately 212,000 residents and combines affordability with elevated security rankings. Home prices range substantially from 950,000 to 3,545,000 MXN ($56,730–$211,694 USD), accommodating various budget levels.

Tier 2: Strong Safety With Enhanced Amenities (Safety Score 1.00)

Mérida, Yucatán achieves a safety score of 1.00767, representing an excellent balance between security and modern amenities. Housing options span from 10,043 to 334,784 MXN ($600–$2,000 USD) monthly for rentals, or approximately 3,097,813 MXN ($185,063 USD) for purchase. Monthly food costs per individual average 5,021 MXN ($300 USD).

Guadalajara, Jalisco offers urban sophistication with comparable safety metrics (1.00919). A family of four should allocate roughly 41,102 MXN ($2,457 USD) monthly for general expenses plus utilities (approximately 821 MXN/$49 USD). Three-bedroom apartments outside the central zone rent for about 14,823.53 MXN ($885 USD) monthly.

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco attracts numerous expatriates seeking coastal living with reliability. Monthly family expenses (excluding rent) total 38,646 MXN ($2,310 USD), with utilities at 1,351 MXN ($80 USD). Downtown three-bedroom apartments command 34,571.62 MXN ($2,065 USD), though peripheral locations offer roughly 50% savings.

Ocotlán, Jalisco provides an alternative for those seeking smaller-town charm. Three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes sell for approximately 1,100,000 MXN ($65,714 USD), while rentals span 6,511–13,391 MXN ($389–$800 USD) monthly.

Tier 3: Moderate Safety With Lower Costs (Safety Score 1.11–1.22)

Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes demonstrates strong value with a 1.11689 safety score. One-bedroom apartments rent for 4,700 MXN ($280 USD), while three-bedroom units cost 9,712.50 MXN ($580 USD). Typical homes average 892,205 MXN ($53,300 USD), and monthly food expenses per person total 3,448 MXN ($206 USD)—among the lowest in this survey.

Puebla, Puebla offers cultural heritage alongside affordability (safety score: 1.21452). Single-bedroom rentals in the city center average 7,485.71 MXN ($447 USD), with property purchases at 1,219.34 MXN ($72.84 USD) per square foot. Average home prices reach 1,155,664 MXN ($69,039.38 USD).

Mazatlán, Sinaloa serves approximately 502,000 residents with a safety score of 1.22012. One-bedroom apartments in the center cost 10,333.33 MXN ($617 USD) monthly, while property purchases average 2,615.32 MXN ($156 USD) per square foot. A family of four should budget 37,596 MXN ($2,246 USD) monthly including rent.

Breaking Down the Safety Metrics

Each city’s security profile incorporates multiple factors: homicide rates, violent crime incidents, firearm-related activity, organized crime presence, and detention without sentencing. The safest locations demonstrate significantly lower scores across all categories, particularly in homicide and violent crime metrics.

Is Mexico a Good Place to Live? The Verdict

For those asking whether Mexico represents a viable relocation destination, the data suggests a nuanced answer. Specific cities—particularly those in Tamaulipas, Yucatán, and Jalisco—successfully combine reasonable security, modern infrastructure, and exceptionally low living costs. A family of four can comfortably live in many of these locations for $2,000–$2,500 USD monthly, substantially less than comparable North American cities.

The key to answering “is Mexico a good place to live” lies in thorough location research before committing to relocation. By selecting from this verified list of safer municipalities, potential residents can access Mexico’s considerable lifestyle benefits while mitigating security concerns through informed decision-making.

Methodology Note: This analysis compiled crime data from the Mexico Peace Index alongside cost-of-living information from multiple sources including real estate databases and residential cost aggregators. All figures reflect data current as of mid-2023. The evaluation prioritized cities with documented popularity among international relocators while maintaining robust local services and amenities.