12 Things That Inspired Our Move to Merida, Mexico That Will Inspire You, Too

Dreaming of making a move to Merida, Mexico? Major inspo incoming!

Moving abroad is one of the most exciting and rewarding things you’ll ever do. I know – I’ve done it 5 times, and haven’t regretted it once!

As a single gal, I lived all over Europe. But making the move to Merida, Mexico — the vibrant capital of Yucatan — with a 6-year-old was definitely breaking new ground.

Fortunately, Merida turns out to be a pretty ideal place to raise children. Not only does my son love it here, but Merida’s lovely locals, rich culture, laid-back living, and so much more have exceeded our quality-of-life expectations. 

If you’re thinking of moving to Merida, read on to discover what inspired us to settle down in this beautiful city. Here’s to hoping it’ll inspire you to move to Merida, too!

Merida is Incredibly Safe 

If you want to live somewhere where both large-scale and petty crime are the last things you’re worried about, Merida is it. Merida’s reputation as the safest city in Mexico, and the second safest city on the continent of North America, precedes it.

As a family with a young child, Merida’s reputation for safety was the number one thing that inspired our move here. Coming from ungodly high crime rates in Los Angeles, it was important for us to raise our child in a place that didn’t require looking over our shoulder all of the time. Merida for the win!

Just how safe is Merida? Here are some stats:

• Merida is widely considered to be the safest city in Mexico. Additionally, it’s also the capital of the safest state in Mexico, Yucatan.

• The state of Yucatan is so safe that it had the honor of hosting the World Summit of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. 30 Nobel Peace Prize winners came together to honor Yucatan as a “State of Peace.”

• According to CEO World Magazine, Merida is the second safest city in all of North America, only behind Quebec in Canada. 

• In 2023, the National Urban Public Safety Survey in Mexico concluded the following:

“It should be noted that Merida stands out nationally for the absence of high impact crimes, such as kidnapping, bank robbery, ATM robberies, violent robberies, homicides or the presence of clashes between criminal groups.”

There’s no question that Mexico suffers from a concerning amount of crime and violence. But thanks to Yucatan’s diligent police force, strong laws, vigilant citizens, and location far away from the organized crime that afflicts Mexico’s most dangerous states, Merida continues to be one of the safest cities in the Western Hemisphere, year-after-year. 

Moving to Merida, Mexico Will Save You Mucho Dinero

If you move Merida, Mexico as an American, you’ll quickly discover how much further your money goes here. Mexico’s affordability compared to that of the U.S. isn’t some new or big secret. In fact, it’s the number one reason expats flock here.

For years, Mexico has been a hugely popular destination for retirees, many of whom live on fixed or lower incomes. Basics like rent, healthcare and groceries are much more affordable in Mexico than they are in the States. Once you move to Mexico and cut down on these sky high costs, you’ll be amazed at how quickly your quality of life levels up!

But it’s not just retirees moving to Merida. Our family is part of a burgeoning expat population here – American and Canadian families with young children who have moved to Merida with affordability in mind. 

Between childcare, tuition, medical care, extracurricular activities, and soaring food costs, raising children in the U.S. is a major wallet drain. In Los Angeles, a major HCOL city, I struggled with saving for my son’s college fund because I was constantly laying out ducats to cover his day-to-day expenses.

Living in Merida has brought some sweet relief. We went from squeaking by to becoming Mexpat super-savers. In fact, our financial fortunes have improved so much, that I wrote a whole post about it.

Merida Offers an Awesome Quality of Life    

Naturally, with all the moolah you’ll be saving after your move to Merida, Mexico, your quality of life will skyrocket! You’ll have more money to save, travel, eat well, and most importantly, go shopping! Not to mention that saving all that money means you’ll be saving all that stress!

You also won’t find much of a rat race mentality here. At least nothing along the lines of what those of us from frantic, workaholic cities know it to be. Merida, being a “small” big city, vibes more like a stop-and-smell-the-roses kinda town. Days here are meandering, and beg to be savored while you chill on the plaza watching the world float by. Partially, because it’s often too hot to do much else!

Merida’s safety also makes it a super hospitable place for kids to just be kids. My mom friends and I routinely allow our kids to play in parks and play spaces without constantly hawking over them. We’re also comfortable with our kids making new friends without everyone’s guard being up.

Plus, there are endless things for children to do in and around Merida. Pools, parks, beaches, cenotes, dedicated play spaces everywhere from malls to restaurants, water parks, go-karts, Mayan ruins to scour, and so much more! Trust me when I say it’s hard to have a bored kid in Merida.

Merida’s languorous lifestyle, combined with its safety, affordability, rich culture, good food, access to a coastline full of splendid water activities, and the high standard of medical care (more on that below), make Merida a standout for offering residents a great quality of life.

Merida has a High Standard of Medical Care

Another ace in Merida’s pocket is the high standard of medical care. I had a few medical issues back in the States, so I was thrilled to learn that Merida’s doctors and hospitals had a great reputation. They even got an endorsement from my Stateside doc, who himself had previously visited Faro del Mayab, one of Merida’s top hospitals.

After our move to Merida, Mexico, I experienced the high quality of medical care first hand. Doctor appointments are super easy to schedule via WhatsApp, or the Doctoralia app, and there is usually plenty of availability. The longest I’ve waited to see a specialist here is about a week, although I can usually get in within a few days. Not only will more doctor’s spend 30 minutes with you plus during your appointment, but it’s not unusual for doctor’s to give you their personal phone number so you can message them anytime!

I’ve had everything from standard bloodwork to mammograms done here. Doctors and laboratory staff are extremely professional, and the equipment and technology I’ve experienced are top-notch. Results for lab tests are often available within a few hours to a week, and you’re given a code to directly access results online.

Compared to the States, doctor visits, labs and medicine are sooooo much more affordable here. I recently took my son to urgent care for a throat infection, and it cost the equivalent of $35 USD. Without insurance. I’ve never paid more than the equivalent of $40 USD for a consultation with a doctor. Again, this is without insurance. To read more about how much I’ve saved on healthcare in Merida, check out this post.

And bonus — many doctors speak English here. I’ve never had problems finding an English-speaking specialist. I’ve found that many doctors here have done some training in the States, and their primary training in large cities like Mexico City, where English is fairly common.

For me, coming from the States, Merida is kind of a health care paradise.

And while we’re still on the subject of healthcare… 

Merida Doctors and Veterinarians Make House Calls

Yep. You read that right. House calls are a thing in Merida. Why venture from your sick bed when you can dial up a doctor to pop over, stat! 

Obviously, I didn’t know doctor’s made house calls until we made our move to Merida, Mexico. So while it didn’t technically inspire my move, it inspires me to stay!

I’m not sure if house calls stem from the pandemic, or if they’ve long been the norm here. But either way, what a convenience! House calls are especially great when you have a sick kid at home, since we all know what a nightmare getting them to the doctor can sometimes be just for a routine checkup!

If you’ve got a sick pet, vets make house calls, too! I’m literally writing this 15-minutes after my veterinarian left. One of my cats needs a monthly shot for some health issues. Our amazing vet, Dr. Perez at Wags & Whiskers, insists on coming to our house rather than stress out with a car ride to the office. 

How first-class is that!

Merida is Gorgeous

With its verdant, tree-lined boulevards, colonial mansions and pastel-colored centro, Merida is a beautiful city. If you’re at home scrolling pics and wondering whether Merida really is that gorgeous, the answer is a resounding, yes!

Like many old, European cities I’ve lived in, Merida is an open air museum brimming with stunning architecture. Many facades around the city are evocative of Merida’s many iterations, from coloniak through modern times.

The Moorish towers and Renaissance-architecture facade of San Ildefonso Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in the Americas, have towered over Merida’s Plaza Grande since its 1598 completion. The cathedral stands in stark contrast to the colonial mansions lining Paseo de Montejo. The 19th-century Palacio Canton, for example, is a confection built in the fantastical, French Beaux-Arts style. 

Beyond Merida’s unique, downtown architecture, the capital of Yucatan is surrounded by splendid, aristocratic haciendas, as well as breathtaking Mayan ruins that rise up from the sprawling jungle. And can we talk about beach? You can easily pass an entire afternoon hypnotized by the Gulf of Mexico’s beautiful, turquoise waters. 

Merida’s Locals are Awesome

Mexicans are warm and awesome. In my experience, they are quick to open their heart and home to you when they haven’t even known you for that long. 

You never know what you’ll get moving abroad. Finding great people and community in a foreign place is such a wildcard. But after we made the move to Merida, Mexico, I can tell you that of all the places I’ve lived in the world, I’ve never been embraced so quickly, and as warmly, as I have by Merida’s locals. 

Take my good friend Nic, for example. About a week after our move to Merida, Mexico, I took my son to a playground. Nic, a total stranger, noticed he was sad because he didn’t have friends to play with. So she sent her little boy over to cheer mine up.

Such a sweet, compassionate gesture at a time of big adjustment in our lives! It immediately gave me hope that Merida would be filled with good people.

My initial meeting with Nic is one of several experiences I’ve had kind that exemplify how friendly, helpful and genuine Merida’s locals are. Living among great people is one of the best things about life in Merida, hands down.

There’s Tons of Cool Stuff to Do in Merida, Mexico

A major inspiration for our move to Merida, Mexico was that the Yucatan Peninsula is teeming with things to do. As a super active family, we really appreciate that Merida makes a terrific base for exploring all the peninsula has to offer. 

The Yucatan Peninsula has loads of activities to satisfy the adventure palettes of adults and kids alike! The peninsula is famous for its beaches, cenotes, lagoons, and water parks where you can do all kinds of sports — swim, snorkel, jet ski, dive, sail, kite surf, parasail, and I’m sure much more! It’s also a treat to hit the fine, white sand with a good book to just, well, be. 

There’s plenty of trouble to get up to on land, as well. Exploring haciendas, birdwatching (there are 565 species of birds in the Yucatan Peninsula!), ziplining and riding ATVs through the jungle, discovering animal sanctuaries and biosphere reserves, following trails of street art, journeying through Pueblos Magicos, and of course, exploring Mayan ruins.

Mexico Boasts One of the Most Colorful Cultures on the Planet

Mexico is saturated in color. The country’s art, buildings, landscapes, festivals, and even its food are a technicolored homage to every color of the rainbow.

Mexico is famous the world over for its picturesque towns. On the Yucatan Peninsula, sunny-hued Izamal, Merida’s pastel-colored centro, and the elegant, colonial center of Campeche — among many other places — are a kaleidoscopic dream. 

Additionally, you’ll find that colorful fashions are a powerful, ever-present expression of Mexican culture. Frida Kahlo, Mexico’s most revered artist, was famous for wearing bright, colorful clothing honoring the incredible artisanal skills of her paisanos. Frida is frequently depicted wearing a rebozo, a large, bright, patterned shawl that can do everything from keep you warm, to becoming a sling for transporting your baby.

Today’s Mexican women still proudly don vivid clothing. In some areas of Mexico, you’ll even find men displaying eye-catching pieces, like the color-blocked, blanket-like shawl known as a serape. 

Mexico even celebrates death with color. Dia de los Muertos — Day of the Dead — isn’t defined by somber black. Instead, Mexicans honor their departed by ornamenting altars and skulls with what seems like every last one the 64 colors in a Crayola box! 

A Move to Merida, Mexico Will Improve Your Spanish

If you’re on the fence about a move to Merida, Mexico because your Spanish is non-existent, trust me – immersion is the best way to pick up a language. Sorry, Duolingo!

The proof is in the pudding. Our family was at negative Spanish when we moved to Merida. But two-and-a-half years later, my 8-year-old speaks Spanish like it’s his mother tongue! In fact, his Spanish is so developed that my Mexican friends tell me all the time that he speaks like a Yucateco, with all the subtle, regional nuances down.

This is really incredible, because one of our top reasons for moving here was for our son to grasp a second language. Mission accomplished!

As for me, I’d call my own Spanish something of a trabajo en progreso – a work in progress. My Mexican friends always tell me how impressed they are with my Spanish now. I mean, I literally knew little more than how to say gracias, por favor and taco when we moved here, so it couldn’t have gotten much worse! But you know how it is — you’re always your own worst critic!

A Move to Merida, Mexico Will Enrich Your Family Bond

Moving abroad is an incredible way to enrich your family bond!

We were definitely inspired to move to Merida, Mexico for all the reasons listed above. But honestly, moving anywhere in the world with the ones you love presents an exciting opportunity for new experiences, discoveries and challenges that will bring you closer together.

Once we decided on Merida, even the lead up to the move brought us closer together. We used to drive down to San Diego, close to the Mexico border, and show our son how our new country was only a stone’s throw away. It stoked so much curiosity in him, and so much anticipation in all of us! It gave us an infinite supply of things to look forward to, and to plan and discuss.

Once our move to Merida, Mexico was complete, the real fun began! We were in the deep end of learning a new language, along with figuring out how to navigate an unfamiliar culture, while simultaneously trying to adapt and fit in. Together we dealt with all the foreign bureaucracy – paperwork, paperwork, paperwork! – that comes along with emigrating. We had to get used to new streets, food, schools, doctors, living standards, weather, driving habits, attitudes – it was a lot!

It’s been a wild and exciting ride that’s nowhere near being over. We’re such a stronger unit, and I’m so proud of us! 

Fiesta! Fiesta! Fiesta!

Ever met a Mexican that didn’t love to party?

Of course you haven’t. That unicorn doesn’t exist! 

I grew up in Los Angeles, which has a huge Mexican population. I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect on the fiesta front once we moved to Merida, Mexico. But nothing could’ve prepared me for the level of partying awaiting me in Merida.

There is somewhere to be and something to celebrate every night of the week. Parties for every reason, parties for no reason. Parties that start when the sun goes down, parties that may, or may not, be over by the time it comes back up. Beach parties, boat parties, palapa parties, hacienda parties, house parties, island parties, backyard parties, party in the park parties… parties, parties, parties!

I haven’t even touched on the slew of fiestas that overtake Merida for days and weeks at a time. There’s no end of events for celebrations and holidays like Noche Blanca (White Night), Mexico’s Independence Day, Day of the Dead, and loads of others that I won’t get into here. But nothing tops Christmas season in Merida. The final month of the year brings a litany of holiday parties, known as posadas. Last December, I attended 8 of these. The party never ends!

So if you move to Merida, prepare to party! I mean, I’ve been to a kid’s birthday party with 80 people in attendance that lasted 9 whole hours. Miraculously, it never ran out of tequila or beer. 

Viva Mexico!

The Wrap

If this doesn’t inspire you to make the move to Merida, Mexico, I don’t know what will! It was such a great decision for our family, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

I know how daunting it can be to make the decision to finally pull the trigger on an international move — I’ve done it 5 times! So if you’re on the fence, I hope this article has given you a bit of insight and inspo about what moved us, and what you can expect once you get here. Come with an open heart and mind, and remember all the things I listed above that will improve your quality of life!

If you want to know more about how moving to Mexico from the States saved our family thousands of dollars (which of course you do, because moving to Mexico can potentially save you big, too!), have a peek at my article, 10 Ways Our Family Saved Thousands of Dollars by Moving to Mexico.

I’m always happy to help you out by answering any of your questions about moving to Merida. If there’s anything you’d like to know, shoot me a line in the comments below!

As always, inspired travels Friend! 💜

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