Mexico City (DF), Mexico
20 January 2010
My route to Panama has become quite slow and roundabout thanks to a bit of bad weather, and the fact that I gave up my seat on an oversold fight to accommodate a lady who was rushing home for a family emergency.
I am optimistic about this series of events, though, because I have the opportunity to once again put my boots on the ground in one of Mexico’s “most dangerous places.”
Ask a foreigner about Mexico City and you’ll get the “Good God don’t go there!” speech. After all, that’s where they filmed that kidnapping movie with Denzel (Man on Fire).
It’s funny how Hollywood and a few negative media reports can cause completely irrational levels of fear. The general public is a willing participant in spreading misinformation (thank you, Wikipedia) as most people who render an opinion about ‘dangerous’ countries usually speak out of total ignorance.
To put it plainly, stories of chaos and violence in Mexico are substantially overrated, just like Colombia. Mexico City, where I am presently, has the worst reputation in the country, but again, this is mostly hearsay and manufactured sensationalism.
Yes, kidnappings, drug trafficking, and violent crime occur in Mexico… just like they do in the US, UK, and Japan. But Mexicans are no more cast in the throes of criminal violence than the average Italian who goes his entire life without ever once seeing a mafia henchman.
Oh, and lest I forget, the ’swine flu’ started here as well, further stirring the pot of falsehoods and misconceptions.
Here’s the bottom line– Mexico is one of the largest economies in the world and has an established, stable middle class. People do not hide in their houses from drug gangs; daily “OK-Corral style” shootouts do not occur; and there is no H1N1 pandemic.
My friend Jeff who lives on Mexico’s pacific coast recently had this to say in an email to me:
“You know, Simon, things in Mexico are definitely not how they appear in the American media. Mexico is a huge country and is as diverse as the US, so to paint the entire country with one brush is simply an exercise in futility.
Honestly I would think that Americans and Canadians are safer here than in their home country. I’ve lived in Acapulco for 2 years and haven’t personally seen or heard of ANY crime, including basic theft or anything.
When I lived in Vancouver it seemed that about once every month or two I’d have to scatter out of a nightclub with my head down as rival drug gangs shot it out… not to mention having my car broken into on nearly a monthly basis!”
Simon again. If you can get past the stigma, Mexico may be a viable option for you to plant a residency flag. Personally, there’s no way that I could live here in Mexico City– the endless urban sprawl grates heavily against my DNA, and a country this size has hundreds of better options to choose from.
Regardless of your preference, though, the benefits to Mexico are plentiful, particularly if you are from North America:
First, it’s close to home and has an established infrastructure. You can drive back and forth (yes, it’s safe), or choose to fly to/from several of destinations– Acapulco, Guadelajara, Oxaca, Cancun, etc.
It’s so close that when I used to live in Texas, I would even fly from time-to-time down to Monterrey just to have dinner; my favorite steak house in the world is located there, and the flight would only take about 35 minutes.
Second, the cost of living is reasonable. It’s not eye-poppingly cheap (go to Ecuador or Thailand), but you can do quite well in most cities for less than $2,000 (US) per month.
If you want to go high-end, premium properties on the coast list in the range of $3,500 to $6,000 per square meter– so a tier-1 ocean-view condo can set you back between $400,000 and $1.2 million.
Third, Mexico is already accustomed to a bit of social and political instability… whatever negative consequences shall occur down the road as a result of dwindling oil output and rising inflation will not cause a systemic failure– instability and economic challenge are nothing new here.
Contrast that with wealthier countries which have yet to undergo a widespread panic and collapse of confidence in its modern history. As strange as it sounds, you might find yourself better off in a society that has experience dealing with turmoil.
I’m often asked to compare Mexico to Panama, which frankly is a great question… I will save that for a future letter, but suffice it to say that they are different options for different desires. More to follow.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I,for some reason,have the impression (stereotype?) that Sovereign Man readers alread know this about Mexico…that it’s largely safe and very diverse? It’s been a standard retirement destination for years,and San Miguel is one of those almost european,almost american,a little bit of mexican still…kinds of places. In fact,the cost of living being no longer dirt cheap,is a sign of how discovered it’s become. From Guanajuato to Meridia….old colonial homes have been bought and refinished. Still,I think there’s alot of room for more expats-and still alot of places relatively undiscovered.
Thanks,Simon. Great piece,again.
Is this the same Jeff living in Acapulco who left Vancouver that was interviewed in this month’s Casey Report expat special?
I don’t want to say where I lived for almost three years in México – I hope your article will encourage people to go there and buy property we have for sale – but it was nowhere as big as Acapulco.
We didn’t feel fear directly, but we didn’t think it a good idea to hang around until we felt threatened. Our son already was.
One day I arrived by car on a scene downtown where ten minutes before the mayor had been machine gunned to death in broad daylight. I was diverted down a side road and the ambulance followed me out.
The day before we returned from our second trip to Uruguay, an early morning attack on the police station a mile from our house left it riddled with bullet holes and abandoned to the Army. That attack (before 8 AM) involved a few hand grenades as well, and several cars were destroyed.
Recently I received from one of the more gung-ho, less easily fazed expats (he casually commented that the grenade attack reminded him of ‘Nam) a bulletin advising people driving to the border to travel in convoys of several vehicles.
One of our friends who has driven back and forth numerous times in the last few years says that her most recent trip, after being hit up by phony police along the way, will in fact be her last.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I could go on.
We also saw an influx of recently unemployed ‘Americanized’ Mexicans. While the Mexicans are generally lovely people, the young males who come back from the States have a distinctly unpleasant aura about them. Even the locals don’t like it. And they don’t want to do eight hours of hard work for $15.
That said, I was pleasantly surprised by Mexico City – some really lovely places there. But no, it doesn’t have the worst reputation in the country. That award now goes to the border towns, and Sinaloa, and and and…. About the only place I haven’t heard of directly affected by the war on (some) drugs is San Miguel de Allende, a spendy and gringo-infested place.
Don’t forget 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. That too has potential to be *interesting*.
I love Mexico, and have been going there for 25 years or so (many different places).
But I do have to say that it is the ONLY place where I have been the victim of crime.
1. One block off the Zocalo Plaza in Mexico City, my wife and old friend who lived in the city, were robbed at gunpoint. Also had a cab driver purposely try to scare us to death with his driving. It was no joke.
2. In Rosarita Beach, we interrupted car thieves that had my iginition taken apart, and were 2 seconds away from driving it away. I had to finish the job and start my car with a screwdriver to get home.
3. Bribed my way of a traffic ticket (that was no big deal, and no real threat though) in Cabo San Lucas. Cabo is no threat,and still will go there without hesitation.
I’ll still go back, but am much more careful.
Simon,
If you’re headed for Panama come visit us in Boquete. If you haven’t been here you’ll love it!
Ted
Simon, I enjoyed your Mexico article. We have had a second home in Mexico for about 12 years and absolutly love it. We have not been exposed to any of the problems discussed.
I do have one concern. I worry about the economy relative to the oil depletion and therefore reduced income for the country and the problems this could cause in Mexico.
I have 2 very large properties on the West coast and worry what effect a significant loss of oil revenue would cause.
Any thoughts?
I agree that parts of Mexico, especially near the US border, are more dangerous than others. In San Miguel de Allende, where I live, it’s basically safe and an easy place to live with many services especially for expats who choose not to learn to speak spanish. Yes, there are incidents of a few people getting mugged, and that happens everywhere (except maybe Saudi or China where you pay with your life if you’re found guilty).
Simon – How do you see things playing out in Mexico in the future?
Can you comment on Gerald Celente’s statement/prediction for 2012: “Mexico, once the US resort/retirement retreat, is as dangerous as the Congo, and its government – what’s left of it – is equally ruthless.”
And also on the Russian Prof Panarin’s view where he sees MExico taking over the SW USA – I know, very outlandish prediction!
Ultimately, my position is that whatever reality one holds within is the external reality one experiences. Crisis is a great opportunity to evolve. No one can really predict the future because the Universe works in mysterious ways and it is way bigger than what man can conceive. Having said that, one also has to watch and listen to the signs and move as one is guided.
As a full time resident for 12 yrs. in Mexico, I couldn’t be happier since I’ve seen nothing to equal it on the planet.
Nice article.
I was very happy to see this article. We have been spending a great deal of time in Mexico over the past 3 years in order to learn Spanish. In Cuernavaca, we feel very safe. We also spent a little time in Puebla–what a beautiful city.
But I would NOT let my daughter go to Acapulco, nor would we ever in a million years drive through the border states.
In Mexico, the federales use the military as a police force. In 2004? was it, there was a meeting with Calderone and Baby Bush where the oh so generous USG committed to something like $400M in “aide” for Mexico to crack down on the drug trade. So they beefed up the military and you now have the outright war in the border areas. Apparently, some drug gang or other was seriously defeated, leaving a vacuum for the other gangs. I wonder if Calderone doesn’t have his fingers in the drug trade and put the money behind his boys… Anyway, I have been told by many Mexicans that there is not a serious drug addiction problem in Mexico and I suspect that is true. It’s the CIA et al running drugs into the US and the ineffably futile drug war here that is damaging Mexico so much. And I blame the gov’t schools in the US for creating whole generations of antisocial people and for establishing their marketplaces for recreational drugs. Everybody knows that’s the best place to get ‘em.
Hi Simon, I have lived in Mexico City all my life, with a few years spend in Europe studying. I can tell you it’s a crazy city in both in a good and a bad way, some people love it, some people hate it, it’s definitely not a place to live a quiet and boring life. Safety is definitely an issue, but if you know a few tips (don’t take street cabs, don’t walk at night in downtonwn, etc.) the odds are drasticaly reduced. On the other hand mexican economy is very dinamic, specialy foreginers are wellcomed everywhere and there is no such thing as xenophoby anywhere. It’s easy to get a residence or work permit and if you are a well educated person you have high chances to earn good money. I would recomend for anyone who has interest in the country to come and see for themselves, avoid border towns and in general border states (it’s crazy in those places), the rest of the country should be fine. Regards! Pablo.
I live in Yucatan, and also spend a lot of time in Guadalajara, and certainly feel much safer at home in Merida than anywhere else. Even in a big city like Guadalajara, I feel at least as safe as I would feel in London or Paris. The US media loves to hate Mexico, and has scared a lot of people away. Even in the border cities crime largely affects those involved in the drug trade, politicians and law enforcement.
Did you see your article was noticed?
http://www.thedailycrux.com/content/3961/Mexico/eml
just back from Colombia. i was amazed by the price of the housing market,and restaurants, hotels.etc… were not that cheap.
had not been for 25 years, it has change a lot.i m not sure i could call living there good value. the food was always fresh and very good. much higher standard then in Europe.
I have only been two a couple of places in Mexico on vacation, but Merida impressed and seemed both a safe and suitable place for an expat to live. Cabo was also nice…but seemed more luxurious and expensive.
My wife is from Mexico, Cuernavaca, and the weather is just beautiful all year. No problem with crime or killings.
San Miguel is an excellent to live. Presently we are living in Jacksonville,FL. but in one year we will be looking at MX. to live
There are many great places to see in the USA also.