7 Mexican Cities on $1,800/Month - #4 Surprised Us

$1,800 a month. Seven Mexican cities. What it rents, what it powers, what it leaves over — every number checked against the actual rule. And one thing almost nobody will tell you: on the average Social Security check, Mexico will not give you residency. Not because you can't afford it, but because of what you have to prove. In this video: the number, the three doors around it, and the ranking of seven cities from Mazatlán to Puebla. ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 $1,800 a month in Mexico – the question 00:35 #7 Mazatlán, Sinaloa 02:15 #6 Querétaro 06:39 #5 Ensenada, Baja California 11:43 #4 Mérida, Yucatán 18:42 #3 Oaxaca de Juárez 21:03 #2 Guanajuato 23:02 #1 Puebla 25:13 Final thoughts 📌 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why the residency income test jumped, and what changed with the UMA in July 2025 The temporary residency requirement in 2026: about $4,200–$4,600 a month, depending on the consulate The three other doors: savings, property, and the four-year route to permanent residency Why tourist-permit living is not a retirement plan How Mexican electricity tariffs really work, and why the trap is in the temperate cities, not the hot ones What IMSS costs, what it excludes, and where private insurance stops Why Medicare does not go with you, and what Part B really costs abroad Real rents, electricity bills, safety levels and doctor density for all seven cities 🏙 THE RANKING 7. Mazatlán – great numbers, but Sinaloa is Level 4 6. Querétaro – safe and successful, but the most expensive 5. Ensenada – San Diego's climate, two very different rental markets 4. Mérida – the surprise: Level 1 and cheap electricity 3. Oaxaca – the life is extraordinary, the water is a problem 2. Guanajuato – cheap on the surveys, but thin data 1. Puebla – where $1,800 goes furthest 💬 Live in Mexico on Social Security? Tell us in the comments which of these numbers matches what you actually pay: the rent, the electricity, the IMSS premium. If you want the next country checked against the actual rule, subscribe. ⚠️ This video is general information, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. Rules, exchange rates, travel advisories and prices change. Confirm current requirements with your Mexican consulate, IMSS, CFE, the Social Security Administration and a qualified advisor before making decisions. Sources referenced: U.S. State Department travel advisories, Mexican consulate solvency guidelines (July 2025), CFE residential tariff schedules, IMSS regulation (Articles 82–84), U.S.–Mexico tax treaty. #RetireInMexico #SocialSecurity #MexicoResidency