Moving to Mexico from Virginia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Virginia to Mexico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Virginia to Mexico, you would find that Mexico is 40.3% cheaper than Virginia. A $75,000 salary in Virginia would need to be roughly MX$784,117 in Mexico to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Virginia and Mexico.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → MX$784,117
To maintain the same standard of living in Mexico
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 43.9% less
Groceries
pay 35.3% less
Transportation
pay 1.5% less
Housing
pay 64.1% less
Childcare
pay 83.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 48.0% 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 37% less than cities in Virginia.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Virginia to Mexico.
people moved from United States to Mexico · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Mexico compared to Virginia.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Mexico performs significantly better than Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Virginia 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
Virginia generally does better on employment & economy, though Mexico leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Virginia 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 | Richmond | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/32°F (12°/0°C) | 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/19°C) | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
View all months
| Month | Richmond | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/28°F (8.6°/-2.1°C) | 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) |
| Feb | 51°/31°F (10.7°/-0.8°C) | 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) |
| Mar | 60°/37°F (15.6°/2.8°C) | 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) |
| Apr | 70°/46°F (21.3°/7.8°C) | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.5°/12.8°C) | 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) |
| Jun | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.1°C) | 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.1°/20.5°C) | 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (30.9°/19.7°C) | 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) |
| Sep | 81°/60°F (27.3°/15.6°C) | 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) |
| Oct | 71°/48°F (21.7°/9.1°C) | 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) |
| Nov | 61°/39°F (16.3°/4.1°C) | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) |
| Dec | 51°/31°F (10.4°/-0.3°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 Virginia?
On average Mexico is about 40% less expensive than Virginia, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Mexico?
Budget about MX$196,029 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 Virginia and Mexico are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Mexico compared to Virginia?
Mexico performs significantly better than Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Mexico compared to Virginia?
The average high temperature in Mexico City is 74°F, compared to 70°F in Richmond. Mexico City receives around 32.1 in of rainfall per year, while Richmond gets 43.6 in.
What language do they speak in Mexico?
The official language in Mexico is Spanish. In Virginia, the official language is English.
