If you already have a remote working job, you probably understand the challenges of working from home, but does it matter where that home is located? You could move to Mexico, and it wouldn’t change what you know about your job or how your computer works. As a very tech-focussed country, Mexico is an easy place to get internet, both at home and when you are out in cafes and other public places. Choosing to move to another country is a big step, but there are plenty of ways to take your job with you so that you don’t need to hunt for work when you get there. I will walk you through different ways to access the internet when you’re in Mexico, so you don’t have to let such a simple thing hold you back.
Can I work remotely from Mexico? You can efficiently work remotely from Mexico. Although living in Mexico is a bit of an adjustment, getting the internet is incredibly easy because it’s available almost everywhere. Anything you can do online, you can do it in Mexico once you know how to connect.
Remote Work in Mexico
When you want to work remotely in Mexico, there are many questions to tackle, not the least of which is whether you can even do so legally. The simple answer to this is a resounding yes. However, it would help if you looked at other concerns as well.
You should always ask whether it is safe to work in a country before you begin making plans. Similarly, remote workers need ready access to the internet. Time zone changes can interfere with due dates if you are too far from the company that employs you. Finally, you need to look at the relative expense for living and to reach your destination.
Is it Safe to Work in Mexico
If you ask this question, then I have to assume that one of the following is true. Either you have never been to Mexico, you only visited Tijuana, you had an awful experience, or you are a very nervous person who doesn’t handle culture shock well. The good news is that only one of those things is a real issue.
To work abroad, you do need to be adaptable. Moreover, life in Mexico is very laid back. Being highly strung will not help you to adjust for experience south of the border.
The American idea that all of Mexico is poverty riddled and filled with armed gangsters transporting drugs is frankly ridiculous. Please don’t mistake my meaning. There are poor areas and those where the cartels hold more sway. Fortunately, unless you plan to join a gang, purchase illegal drugs, or live in the worst slum you can find, then you should be just fine.
Most cities in Mexico are as safe or safer than American cities. While the culture and laws are different, you’re not walking into a war zone. Internet and modern services are available in most places. The most significant differences are that you won’t find much air conditioning, and the people are openly friendly to strangers.
Time Zones
Mexico is huge. While the land mass doesn’t rival the US for size, it’s still a vast and varied country with many different environments, weather, and time zones
. Luckily, when you’re coming from the US, the change isn’t much.
At most, you’ll be three or four hours from your home time zone. Moreover, if you plan carefully, you can change the time zone to your advantage. Being a couple of hours ahead of your company means you get more leeway n the day for assignments that are due.
Cost of Living
There are a handful of luxury goods that are more expensive in Mexico than they are here, and all of them are imported. Similarly, you will have a hard time finding some familiar things, like Dr. Pepper. However, for the most part, everything else is far less expensive.
Food won’t set you back very much, even if you eat out regularly. A good meal costs four to twelve dollars, including a drink. Rent is usually half the cost of a US apartment or house, and utilities are even less.
If you’re looking to collect your American paycheck and save more or stretch it further, then remote work in Mexico is one of your best options nearby. In Canada, you would pay more for everything, and your dollars would have less value. Meanwhile, further south in Columbia, for example, the safety risks are more significant.
Where Can You Get Internet
There are numerous simple ways to access the internet as a remote worker in Mexico. Internet cafes are still typical, and many other public spaces offer free wifi. However, you can quickly get access at home as well. Whether you opt for a hard-line, wifi, satellite, or even microwave internet, you can access your job efficiently.
Co-working cafes offer a ready place to work in the company of others if you prefer a crowd. For obvious reasons, both these and regular internet cafes have changed due to COVID19, but you can still find them in most cities and even large towns.
Acquiring the internet for your home means you need to speak enough Spanish to negotiate with a provider. However, you can also opt to engage a translator to help you work out your utilities. You’ll find that English is widely spoken in Mexico, and you shouldn’t have much trouble finding someone willing to help you so you can get to work as soon as possible.
Microwave internet is connected by radio. Although it can sometimes be subject to weather interference, there are ways around that issue as well. Also known as wireless internet, radio shot, WiMAX, wifi link, or IVM (Internet Via Microwave), this unique solution has the added advantage of not needing any additional equipment. If you have power, you can get microwave internet.
Satellite internet is another superb way to get your internet access in Mexico. Companies like HughesNet and Viasat offer services south of the border. Even if you choose to stay in a rural area, you can still get reliable internet service through a satellite link.
Additionally, satellite internet offers a very reliable connection. If you’re concerned about outages because of the area you wish to travel to or live, then this may be the best option for your work and even social media.
Taxes for Remote Workers in Mexico
The final major concern for US workers who want to work remotely from Mexico is taxes. If you plan to maintain your US citizenship, then it may surprise you to learn that you can collect social security in Mexico. However, you also have to pay into the system.
For those who are not retired, remote work means you still have to pay your taxes. Naturally, how much you owe will vary depending on where you work and whether you are freelance or employed by a company. If you work for someone else, then taxes may come out of your paycheck already.
Self-employed remote workers will want to engage a tax preparer to help handle their yearly or quarterly income. However, when you work for a US company remotely, you probably won’t owe taxes in Mexico. Particularly if you are abroad for six months or less in a given year, it is essentially the same as staying in the states all year.
For those who wish to run their own business in Mexico as a remote worker, the business license is no more difficult than getting your utilities turned on. There’s paperwork in Spanish, but there’s not much more to it. Better still, the tax policy for businesses in Mexico is more than generous.
Foreign businesses typically get a hundred percent tax break the first year in Mexico. Every year after that, it goes up by ten percent until you finally owe full taxes. However, it is also notable that dual citizens get the same tax break for starting a business, whether it’s remote or not.
It’s important to remember that it does not matter where you work; you do have to pay taxes. Even when you choose to stay permanently, your tax debt on wages earned doesn’t end until you stop working. If you give up your US citizenship eventually, then your situation would change, but otherwise, make sure you file on time.
Final Thoughts
Remote working in Mexico is comfortable. Once you have your internet connection and a couple of backup locations like internet cafes, if the power goes out where you live, you’ll find it is enjoyable and straightforward. Saving money by choosing to live in a cost-effective place like Mexico is a smart idea.
You will need a basic understanding of Spanish to negotiate things like internet service and other utilities for your home. However, if you genuinely want to learn through immersion, you can also find a good translator to help you start sooner. There are more bilingual people in Mexico than in the US.
There’s no reason to worry about doing remote work from a lovely casita in Mexico. Getting set up to work will take a bit of effort, but once that’s done, you can rest easy and relax in your new south of the border home without worrying over whether you can still work.