Moving to Mexico from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to Mexico — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to Mexico, you would find that Mexico is 30.7% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly MX$1,019,600 in Mexico to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Mexico City averages 74°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iowa to Mexico.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → MX$1,019,600
To maintain the same standard of living in Mexico
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 35.9% less
Groceries
pay 15.9% less
Transportation
pay 13.2% more
Housing
pay 52.9% less
Childcare
pay 75.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 46.1% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Mexico cost about 23% less than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Mexico
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Iowa to Mexico, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Mexico · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iowa to Mexico.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Mexico performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Mexico across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Mexico leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Mexico across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Mexico. To live, work, or study long-term in Mexico, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Mexico's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Mexico
Visa Free
Mexico passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Mexico than Iowa?
Yes — Mexico is on average about 22% cheaper than Iowa. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Mexico?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly MX$254,900 in Mexico on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Mexico?
Usually fine from major cities in Mexico. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Mexico compared to Iowa?
Mexico performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Mexico compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Mexico City is 74°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Mexico City receives around 32.1 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Mexico?
The official language in Mexico is Spanish. In Iowa, the official language is English.
