Mexico has quietly become the top destination for Americans living abroad. Estimates put the total number of U.S. citizens in the country somewhere around 1,300 000.
A large share of them are retirees or long-term snowbirds who discovered they could stretch their savings, enjoy better weather, and still stay close enough to fly home for holidays or family visits.
Exact “retiree-only” headcounts are rarely published, so the figures below are the best available estimates of full-time or long-term American (and often Canadian) residents. Numbers climb noticeably every winter when the snowbirds arrive.
Start at the edge of Mexico’s largest lake and you find the single biggest concentration of North American retirees in the country.
Ajijic and the surrounding Lake Chapala villages offer a mild “eternal spring” climate, walkable streets, and a dense network of English-speaking clubs, doctors, and services. Roughly 15,000 to 20,000 full-time U.S. and Canadian retirees call this area home—the largest such community in Mexico. Guadalajara’s international airport sits an easy drive away.
A few hours east, San Miguel de Allende rises on a highland plateau. Its colonial streets, year-round arts scene, and highly social English-friendly population have made it a magnet for Americans. Somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 U.S. citizens live here, giving the city one of the highest percentages of foreign residents in Mexico. Prices run higher than Ajijic, yet they remain well below comparable U.S. costs.
On the Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta offers the classic beach lifestyle with strong hospitals and frequent direct flights from many U.S. cities.
Several thousand Americans live there full-time; older census data began at a little over 3,000, but the broader Riviera Nayarit corridor grows substantially when seasonal residents are counted. Beachfront living carries a clear rent premium.
Farther south and east, Mérida stands out as one of Mexico’s safest large cities. Its colonial center, lively cultural calendar, and proximity to Gulf beaches and cenotes draw a steady stream of retirees.
Estimates put the U.S. and Canadian community at 5,000 to more than 10,000, many of them retirees. Private healthcare here is excellent and widely used by foreigners.
Back on the Pacific, Mazatlán blends a historic city center with long stretches of beach. It feels more like everyday Mexico than a pure resort town, which many retirees prefer.
Older estimates placed the combined American and Canadian population between 5,000 and 8,000; the community has continued to expand.
At the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas and the greater Los Cabos area offer an upscale desert-meets-sea setting with golf, sport fishing, and polished resorts. More than 10,000 Americans live in the region. The cost of living runs higher than most other popular retirement spots.
On the Caribbean side, Playa del Carmen mixes white-sand beaches with the energetic, walkable vibe of Fifth Avenue.
The foreign population is more mixed—retirees share the town with digital nomads and seasonal visitors—but several thousand Americans still make it a longer-term base, with easy access to cenotes and Cozumel.
In the central highlands, Querétaro provides a clean, modern, and notably safe city with strong infrastructure.
Its retiree community remains smaller than the big-name destinations, still in the low thousands, but it is growing. Many residents are professionals or people who want city amenities while staying close to San Miguel de Allende.
Oaxaca City attracts a different kind of newcomer. Food markets, indigenous culture, and a mild highland climate draw people who prefer authenticity over large English-speaking bubbles.
The longer-term foreign community is modest—ranging from a few hundred to low thousands.
Finally, La Paz offers a quieter, more affordable Baja alternative to Cabo.
Set on the Sea of Cortez, it appeals to those who want outdoor living without the flash. A growing community of several thousand Americans has settled into its relaxed rhythm.
Across these places, highland towns and certain Yucatán and Baja locations consistently rank among the safer options for retirees.
Major international airports in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos keep the United States within easy reach.
Rents for typical long-term one- and two-bedroom homes in the neighborhoods favored by expats generally fall in the ranges shown in the accompanying table (2025–2026 data).
Actual prices shift with neighborhood, season, furnishings, and whether utilities are included.
The smartest approach remains the same: check current local listings and spend time on the ground before deciding.
