Buenos días Reader ☀️

We have shared a handful of videos about the cost of living in Mexico.

But what about the cost of moving? Nobody ever pays much attention to how much money you'll need to move your life south of the border.

There are a variety of costs that quickly make moving a pretty substantial expense. Some of these expenses are obvious - like the cost of flights and visa fees, but others might fly under the radar for many people considering a move to Mexico.

Here are the primary expenses to consider when moving here 🇲🇽

1. Visas, Immigration Fees & Travel Expenses

• The costs for processing your visa at a US consulate and finalizing residency once you’re in Mexico.
• Many opt for immigration facilitators to help navigate the paperwork, which adds to the expense.
• Most people schedule a short trip to Mexico to complete their residency application. Costs like flights, accommodation and local transportation quickly add up. We avoided this cost by timing our move with the date of our immigration appointment.

2. Moving You & Your Belongings

• Travel expenses for your official move to Mexico.
• Bringing your personal items could mean paying for extra checked bags, paying import duties on items you bring with you, or even paying the incredibly steep fees for shipping your belongings to Mexico.
• Many find it more cost effective to sell or leave bulky items behind and buy new once in Mexico.

3. Costs to Settle In

• We recommend renting short-term (think Airbnbs) for a few months so you can get a feel for your new city and neighborhood before committing to a long-term rental or purchase.
• Beyond housing, factor in potential deposits or other upfront rental fees if choosing to rent in Mexico.

Curious how all these elements come together in real life? Check out our new video featuring an imaginary couple’s journey from the US to Mexico. We're sharing an actual $$$ estimate of what it costs to move to Mexico!

Before you dive into your move, remember that each of the categories discussed above can vary depending on your personal situation. But thinking about your move in these buckets can help you create a realistic budget that won't sneak up on you.

Also, special shoutout to HolaFly, who was the sponsor of our new video 👏

​HolaFly is an eSIM company that helps you stay connected when traveling. It's much more affordable than roaming or international data plans, the connectivity is fantastic, and their eSIMs are super easy to install.

So if you're heading to Mexico (or over 200 destinations worldwide) stay connected to internet the reliable & easy way with an HolaFly eSIM card! Use code WAYSOFTHEWORLD for 5% off your order 😉

FYI - sponsors help us to keep producing this content that we hope supports your goals of building an exciting new chapter of life in Mexico. If you are planning to travel soon, and having an eSIM sounds like something you could use, please remember to use our link and travel to Mexico with the peace of mind of being connected.​

Life in Mérida, Mexico 🇲🇽

We had an eventful week!

On Wednesday we went for a nice little massage to help us relax after a couple of busy months on the job. We followed up that blissful experience by checking out a Peruvian restaurant and having a relaxed afternoon.

And Thursday we checked out the tennis tournament hosted at a nearby country club. It was a Men's amateur tournament - but they were amazing! We saw some really great tennis, and even caught some games from a local Mérida kid who's ranked about 200 in the world.

We didn’t stay for that one—we had to respect our work-week bedtime 🙃

You can relax, the giant beverage above is not a margarita! It's a 'chelada' - a refreshing beer cocktail with lime juice & salt 🍻

And last night there was a little beer fest showcasing the top Yucatecan beers. We went out with a couple we know through friends, and we had a wonderful night with live music and the first IPAs I've had in three months.

Even though the tennis & beer fest don't exactly compare to something you'd find in a bigger US city, we love that these types of events are available to enjoy.

One of the biggest positives of living in a bigger city has been the access to different sporting events, cultural activities, and, yes - the beer fest!

What's next?

On Monday we're filming our interview with a healthcare expert. So last chance to send over your healthcare and insurance questions our way!

And besides for that, we don't really have any major plans. We'll just take it day-by-day and see what life has in store for us.

Que tengas un feliz fin de semana 😎 (have a great weekend)

Aimara y Gordon

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