Move to the Riviera Maya with someone in your corner.
Residency, healthcare, schools, neighbourhoods and a move plan, from the first call to the day you get your resident card. Included when you buy with me.
The part most agents stop at is where I keep going.
Buying the home is one step of a move. I've made this move myself: I'm Canadian, I hold Mexican permanent residency, and I've lived here for more than 13 years.
- Town and neighbourhood matchingWhere you'll actually be happy, based on schools, commute, noise and budget.
- Residency introductionsFacilitators I trust, and a checklist so your consulate appointment goes right the first time.
- Schools, healthcare and insuranceThe schools my clients' families use, English-speaking doctors, and brokers for coverage.
- After the keysUtilities, internet, bank account, property management and contractors.
Six towns, six personalities
The right town matters more than the right building. Pick the one that fits how you'll live, then pick the property.
| Town | Best for | Vibe | Airport access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playa del Carmen | Full-time living, rentals, families | Walkable, established, international | About 45 to 60 min to Cancun (CUN) |
| Tulum | Lifestyle buyers, design-led villas | Boho, jungle, beach clubs | Tulum (TQO) about 25 to 35 min |
| Cancun | Year-round living, value, healthcare | A real city with a hotel zone | 15 to 30 min to CUN |
| Puerto Morelos | Quiet coastal living, retirees, families | Small fishing town, reef, low-rise | About 20 min to CUN |
| Akumal and Tankah | Beach-house buyers, nature lovers | Turtles, cenotes, gated beach communities | Under 30 min to TQO |
| Bacalar | Lake living, long-term land | Lagoon of seven colours, slow pace | Chetumal (CTM) about 30 to 40 min |
Drive times are approximate and depend on traffic and exact location.
Playa del Carmen
Centro, Playacar, Coco Beach and gated communities west of the highway.
Market page →Tulum
Aldea Zama, Region 15, La Veleta and the beach.
Market page →Cancun
Hotel Zone, Puerto Cancun and residential neighbourhoods.
Market page →Bacalar
Freshwater lagoon living, about four hours south of Cancun.
Market page →Temporary or permanent?
You don't need residency to buy. If you'll spend more than 180 days a year here, open local accounts or register a car, you'll want it. The process starts at a Mexican consulate at home and finishes at immigration (INM) here.
| Temporary resident | Permanent resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year, renewable for up to 3 more (4 total) | Indefinite, no renewals |
| Who qualifies | Most people who meet the solvency test | Retirees with pension income or large savings; Mexican family ties; after 4 years as a temporary resident |
| Working in Mexico | Requires a separate work permit | Generally allowed after notifying INM |
| Foreign-plated car | Can keep a temporary import permit | Must nationalise or remove it |
Financial solvency, 2026 Approximate
Thresholds are tied to Mexico's minimum wage or UMA, and each consulate publishes its own figures. Two examples:
- Houston: temporary residency at about US$4,394 net monthly income, or about US$73,235 average savings over 12 months.
- Washington: temporary at MXN 83,640 net monthly; permanent (retiree) at MXN 139,400 net monthly pension.
- Some consulates accept Mexican property worth roughly MXN 12.6 million as solvency for temporary residency. Ask yours.
The process
- Book a consulate appointment in the US or Canada. Waits range from days to months.
- Interview with passport, form, photo and original bank or pension statements.
- Receive a visa sticker valid for 180 days, then enter Mexico as a resident ("canje"), not as a tourist.
- Within 30 days, file at INM in Playa del Carmen, Cancun or Chetumal for your resident card.
Not immigration advice. Consulates apply the rules with discretion and thresholds update yearly. Check your consulate's current page.
Healthcare, schools and cost of living
Easier than most people expect. You'll still want a plan before you land.
Cancun has the region's largest private hospitals; Playa and Tulum have private hospitals and clinics with English-speaking doctors. Many expats pay routine care out of pocket and insure for the big events.
Residents can join IMSS voluntarily for MXN 20,538.59 a year (2026). Medicare does not cover care in Mexico.
Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Tulum have private bilingual and international schools, some with IB or US-style programmes. Waitlists are real in Playa and Cancun, so talk to schools before choosing a neighbourhood. I'll share the schools my clients' families use.
A couple can live modestly for far less than at home, or spend like Miami. The big variables: air conditioning (electricity jumps on the high-use tariff), imported goods, and private insurance. Local life, services and healthcare cost much less.
My advice: a 1 to 3 month trial stay, including part of the low season.
A typical 12-month relocation timeline
Timing varies with consulate wait times and how you buy. This is how I'd plan it with you.
- 112 to 9 months out
Discovery call and town shortlist
Goals, budget, school and healthcare needs. I send a shortlist and market data before you fly down.
- 29 to 6 months out
Trial stay
One to three months in a rental, including low season. Track your real spending and commute.
- 36 to 4 months out
Residency paperwork
Gather original, bank-stamped statements; apostille and translate family documents; book the consulate.
- 44 to 3 months out
Scouting trip and offer
Three to five days of neighbourhoods and properties. Offer, escrow deposit and due diligence begin.
- 53 to 1 months out
Consulate interview
Visa sticker issued, valid 180 days. Enrol at school, arrange insurance, plan shipping and your car.
- 6Move week
Arrive as a resident
Enter Mexico on your visa and make sure immigration records a resident entry, not a tourist one.
- 7First 30 days
Resident card and setup
File at INM, get a Mexican SIM, open a bank account, and move utilities and predial into your name or the trust's.
- 8Year one and beyond
Settle in
Notify INM of changes within 90 days. Renew yearly; after 4 temporary years you can switch to permanent.
Relocation questions
Do I need residency to buy property?
Is the relocation help really free?
Can I bring my car?
Is healthcare good enough?
What about hurricanes?
Does residency make me a Mexican tax resident?
Let's map out your move.
A 30-minute call about your goals, timeline and family. No pressure, no pitch.