Moving to Mexico from Washington
What to Expect
Considering a move from Washington to Mexico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Washington to Mexico, you would find that Mexico is 41.4% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly MX$799,092 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 Olympia, 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Washington and Mexico.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → MX$799,092
To maintain the same standard of living in Mexico
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 44.2% less
Groceries
pay 31.1% less
Transportation
pay 14.7% less
Housing
pay 65.4% less
Childcare
pay 82.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 50.5% 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 43% less than cities in Washington.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Mexico
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Washington 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 Washington.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Mexico performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Washington 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
Washington generally does better on employment & economy, though Mexico leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Washington 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 | Olympia | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) | 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
View all months
| Month | Olympia | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) | 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) |
| Feb | 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) | 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) |
| Mar | 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) | 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) |
| Apr | 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) |
| May | 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) | 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) |
| Jun | 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) | 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) |
| Jul | 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) | 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) |
| Aug | 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) | 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) |
| Sep | 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) | 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) | 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) |
| Nov | 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) |
| Dec | 44°/33°F (6.8°/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 Washington?
On average Mexico is about 39% less expensive than Washington, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Mexico?
Budget about MX$199,773 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 Washington and Mexico are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Mexico compared to Washington?
Mexico performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Mexico compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in Mexico City is 74°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Mexico City receives around 32.1 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in Mexico?
The official language in Mexico is Spanish. In Washington, the official language is English.
