Moving to Mexico from New Mexico

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from New Mexico to Mexico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from New Mexico to Mexico, you would find that Mexico is 33.7% cheaper than New Mexico. A $75,000 salary in New Mexico would need to be roughly MX$910,778 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 64°F in Santa Fe, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Mexico and Mexico.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 MX$910,778

To maintain the same standard of living in Mexico

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 36.9% less

Groceries

pay 25.7% less

Transportation

pay 12.5% more

Housing

pay 58.8% less

Childcare

pay 75.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 46.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 17.54 MXN (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from New Mexico to Mexico.

Moved in 2023
7,656 ↑ 1% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Mexico · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Mexico?

Top countries of origin for Mexico's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Mexico compared to New Mexico.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

NM
32.2%
MX
28.9%

Mexico performs significantly better than New Mexico across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

NM
84.5%
MX
76.0%

New Mexico performs better than Mexico across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NM
4.2%
MX
2.8%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NM
$56,008
MX
$22,400

New Mexico generally does better on employment & economy, though Mexico leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

NM
74.5 yrs
MX
72.3 yrs

New Mexico 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.

Santa Fe Rain: 15.7 in/yr (399 mm)
64° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Mexico City Rain: 32.1 in/yr (816 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Santa Fe Mexico City
Jan–Mar 48°/22°F (9°/-5°C) 74°/45°F (23°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/43°F (23°/6°C) 79°/53°F (26°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/53°F (28°/12°C) 73°/53°F (23°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/28°F (12°/-2°C) 71°/47°F (22°/8°C)
View all months
Month Santa Fe Mexico City
Jan 43°/19°F (5.9°/-7.4°C) 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C)
Feb 47°/21°F (8.3°/-6.2°C) 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C)
Mar 54°/27°F (12.3°/-2.6°C) 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C)
Apr 63°/33°F (17.4°/0.6°C) 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C)
May 73°/43°F (22.6°/6.3°C) 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C)
Jun 83°/52°F (28.3°/11.2°C) 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C)
Jul 85°/56°F (29.6°/13.4°C) 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C)
Aug 83°/55°F (28.1°/12.8°C) 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (25.1°/9.1°C) 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C)
Oct 65°/38°F (18.6°/3.1°C) 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C)
Nov 53°/28°F (11.6°/-2.5°C) 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C)
Dec 43°/19°F (6.2°/-7.4°C) 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional 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

United States passport holder visiting Mexico

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Mexico without a visa.
Mexico passport

Mexico passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Mexico passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: 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 New Mexico?

On average Mexico is about 31% less expensive than New Mexico, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Mexico?

Budget about MX$227,694 for 3 months in Mexico (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Mexico?

From major Mexico cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in New Mexico and Mexico are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Mexico compared to New Mexico?

Mexico performs significantly better than New Mexico across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Mexico compared to New Mexico?

The average high temperature in Mexico City is 74°F, compared to 64°F in Santa Fe. Mexico City receives around 32.1 in of rainfall per year, while Santa Fe gets 15.7 in.

What language do they speak in Mexico?

The official language in Mexico is Spanish. In New Mexico, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

MX
Population 2,059,179 129,150,971
Currency United States Dollar ($) Mexican Peso (MX$)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +52
Time zones 11 3
Emergency number 911 911