Choosing to live in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is often a financial consideration. Although life south of the border is much less expensive than the USA, not all cities or areas are equal in cost. Mexico is a vast country. Areas with more amenities, expatriates, and tourism tend to cost more than rural areas and impoverished tiny towns. However, the expense is also in the eye of the beholder. No place in Mexico costs anywhere near what you’d pay in the US. SMA, as it’s affectionately known, is more expensive than some regions, but it is by no means the most expensive place to live in Mexico. I’ll walk you through some price comparisons, so you understand how far your dollars will stretch.
Is San Miguel de Allende Expensive? San Miguel de Allende is not expensive. Especially by American standards, living in SMA is very cost-effective. That said, the area is upmarket compared to many towns, which means paying a little more, but the trade-off is living in a much nicer and safer city.
Cost to Retire in San Miguel de Allende
Retiring in San Miguel de Allende is an excellent way to live comfortably and safely in a truly stunning environment. Tropical summers and dry, salty beaches are fine, but for those who prefer a more temperate climate, SMA is a fantastic middle-ground. With warm weather, cold but not frigid winters, and welcoming people make this an ideal home.
Naturally, the cost of housing depends on your specific needs, such as a one-bedroom apartment versus a four-bedroom house. Typically purchasing a home in an area like SMA costs about half of what you’d pay for similar housing in the USA. Now is a great time to buy a house in San Miguel de Allende since property values are on the rise. You will likely get more than your money’s worth in the next few years.
According to Escape Artist, groceries for a week run around twenty-five dollars
. A lovely, high-end meal for two should run you no more than forty to fifty dollars. Moreover, utilities in Mexico tend to be thirty to fifty percent of what you’d pay for the same services in the US.
How Many Ex-Pats Live in San Miguel de Allende
Not all costs are financial. As we get older, it pays to consider our quality of life. Having friends with similar interests and lifestyles is vital. However, you’ll have no trouble finding others who speak your language, no pun intended, to share sunsets with when you live in San Miguel de Allende.
Roughly one in every ten residents of SMA is an expatriate. With a population of sixty to seventy thousand, that means you’ll find several thousand ex-pats like yourself. However, you’ll also find the local people friendly and inviting. Making friends in your area isn’t going to be difficult.
With a variety of neighborhoods to choose from, you may also where your home will be located within the city. The Centro District in the heart of the town is a vibrant and desirable area. However, you’ll also find many of the more spread out neighborhoods on hills are home to older people as well. Plus, the hilltop locations afford a gorgeous view of the setting sun over the city where you can hear the church bells ring across the city at the end of each day.
Expenses in SMA
When it comes to asking how expensive things are in San Miguel de Allende, people often wonder if there is a Walmart or Costco. The answer to both is no; however, there is a Bodega Aurrera, which is a Walmart Subsidiary. Moreover, there is a La Comer, which is similar to shopping at Target and possesses a considerable stock of grocery items.
You can find five Walmarts in nearby Celaya, Guanajuato, or Santiago de Querétaro. Similarly, these cities also each have a Costco. Like visiting Mexico City, you can easily take a bus or drive to these locations and home again in part of a day.
You will find some familiar brands in SMA. For example, there is both an Auto Zone and an Office Depot. Other well-known shops may be less familiar to Americans. Liverpool is a high-end department store more identifiable to European shoppers.
Finding places to shop for groceries is easy in San Miguel de Allende. Additionally, clothing, furniture, art to decorate your home, and virtually anything else you could wish for is readily available in town. No matter where you buy your house in San Miguel de Allende, the nearest shopping is bound to be moments away by taxi at most. In many locations, it’s only a few minutes walk down the street.
Medical Care
Another serious concern for people moving to San Miguel de Allende is medical care. As Americans, we have often heard of Mexican doctors making free with prescriptions to anyone who can pay. Although there is some (limited)truth to the claim, this is not entirely the case, and it makes Mexican medical care look bad, when in fact, it is both outstanding and inexpensive.
It is prevalent for antibiotics to be more available in Mexico. However, that doesn’t mean you can waltz into any doctor’s office and expect that all prescriptions are available for the asking. Like doctors anywhere, Mexican medical professionals are highly trained, well-schooled individuals with very high standards for patient care.
They use modern equipment and techniques at the hospitals. However, it is with noting that there are both public and private hospitals. Going to a private hospital will cost more, but either way, doctor visits, specialists, medicines, and treatment are all far less expensive than they are in the USA.
A stunning but straightforward comparison is the cost of dentures. Here in the US, you will pay five thousand dollars or more for a good set of fake teeth. In Mexico, the same service is five to six hundred dollars US. Not all services are a tenth of the cost, but you will almost always pay substantially less.
Property Taxes
Like any variable cost item, homeownership taxes will depend somewhat on how large your home is and the current value. However, taxes are very reasonable. Assuming that you budget for it monthly, an average property tax will cost you around twenty-two USD, or approximately two hundred and sixty-four dollars per year.
San Miguel de Allende Cost of Travel
Living in San Miguel de Allende is cost-effective, but you also need to consider your transportation costs. Because the city has relatively little parking, you’ll find that walking or taking a taxi is the most common form of transport, even for those who own cars. Luckily, Mexico has outstanding transportation.
Moving fees for international relocation can get quite pricey. However, this isn’t directly related to San Miguel de Allende but rather the cost of shipping and customs. Many ex-pats opt to sell off most of their old furniture and replace it when they move.
Similarly, the price for a plane ticket to a nearby airport is not set by SMA standards. The airlines control their own faires. If you fly out of LA or Las Vegas, the trip can run as little as two to three hundred dollars one way, and less if you book the cheap seats well in advance.
You will need to fly into Mexico City or Guanajuato airport since San Miguel de Allende doesn’t have direct flights. From there, a taxi ride is around ninety USD for up to three people. However, once you live in SMA, most people spend only around forty dollars US per month for taxis and bus rides to nearby cities.
Although you probably won’t do a whole lot of driving, gas for your car should be part of your budget. Last year the average price of a gallon of gas ranged from 18.33 pesos for inexpensive regular gas to around 20.78 pesos at most for premium in Mexico. At the current exchange rate, that means eighty-five to ninety-seven cents per gallon.
Although there is some fluctuation in exchange rates and the value of items, you can see that overall living in SMA is relatively inexpensive by US standards. If you are considering purchasing a home in San Miguel de Allende, it’s a smart move. You will certainly save money for a higher quality of life.
Final Thoughts
Life in San Miguel de Allende is exceptionally affordable for the average American. Although people from financially distressed areas of the world might disagree, we are fortunate enough to be in a position to save a lot of money by moving south. Moreover, the rich culture and plethora of available activities make for a good quality of life.
For those seeking to work from home or travel to work in SMA, there is plenty of work in the city itself. Additionally, you can take a bus or drive into Mexico city for even more opportunities. The proximity also gives you access to more shopping and services. Mexico City is one of the largest in the world, and you will find almost anything you could need in this nearby metropolis.
There are less expensive places to live in Mexico, but the value of your investment is incredible in San Miguel de Allende. Plus, the property values and city are growing all the time.