Mexico

Mexico

Central America / Latin America

North America
30
Overall score
Limited overall · Penalty applied · 100% data coverage
Language
Spanish
Currency
MXN
Citizenship
5 years (2 if married/Latin American)
Personal tax
1.92–35%
Cost of living
$1,100 / mo (single)
Overall scoring rubric
54
Access

How easy it is to get in, stay, and build status.

17% of Overall
46Residence12%
72Citizenship and passport5%
67
Earning power

How far local income goes after prices.

25% of Overall
66Salary and work12%
67Buying power13%
51
Business and wealth

How friendly the country is for taxes, companies, and investing.

20% of Overall
56Taxes7%
52Business8%
43Investment5%
53
Daily life

How comfortable everyday life is for families and long stays.

25% of Overall
48Quality of life18%
66Education7%
43
Rights and institutions

How reliable freedoms and institutions are.

13% of Overall
60Freedom6%
28Rule of law7%

Penalty: Severe safety risk (17) cut the overall score from 55 to 30. Safety measures the homicide rate, political stability, and control of corruption.

Healthcare (64) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Environment (74) clears the 35 floor, so no penalty applies.

Rights and institutions (43) clears the 30 floor, so no penalty applies.

Overall score
Final weighted result
30

A huge, affordable Latin hub right on the US border: easy temporary residency by income, a thriving nomad scene and a 2-year citizenship clock for Latin Americans, with cartel-related safety caveats by region.

Pros

  • Easy income-based temporary residency
  • Low cost of living & great climate
  • USMCA access & US time zones

Cons

  • Regional security concerns
  • Spanish needed day-to-day
  • Bureaucracy can be slow

Best for

Remote workers & nomadsRetireesUS-adjacent founders

Score profile

Access
Residence
46
Citizenship
69
Passport
78
Earning power
Salary & work
66
Buying power
67
Cost of living
68
Economy
67
Business and wealth
Taxes
56
Personal tax
36
Corporate tax
14
Business
52
Investment
43
Wealth building
57
Daily life
Safety
17
Healthcare
64
Environment
74
Infrastructure
67
Education
66
HDI
79
Rights and institutions
Freedom
60
Rule of law
28

Access

Residence

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any residence / visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Openness to residents
Moderate
46
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines international migrant stock (40%), regulatory quality (20%), the breadth of named residence pathways (25%), and time to permanent residence (15%). Available indicators are reweighted.

Migrant stock1.3% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.20 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
Temporary residency (economic solvency)Permanent residencyFamilyWork permit
StudentStudent residency; work allowed with authorisation.
WorkEmployer-sponsored work permit tied to a job offer.
Self-employedRegister with SAT (RFC); freelancers commonly use temporary residency.
PermanentPermanent residency after 4 years (or directly by income/retiree status).
Citizenship

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any citizenship decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Citizenship accessibility
Good
69
Years required5 years of residency (2 for spouses of Mexicans & Latin Americans)
Dual allowedtrue
LanguageSpanish + Mexican history/culture exam
ResidenceLegal residency with limited absences before naturalisation
NotesTemporary residency is commonly obtained by proving sufficient income or savings (economic solvency).
Passport

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any travel or visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Passport power
Good
78

Passport-index style mobility for the Mexico passport. The score above is its world reach: the share of 198 destinations reachable without a prior visa.

154 / 198
Mobility
#28
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free104
  • On arrival46
  • eTA4
  • Visa required44

Passport Index style mobility data (2024–2025 estimate). Placeholder figures; verify current entry rules with each destination’s authority before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Good
66
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines output per worker (a proxy for wage potential at 40%), unemployment (35%) and labour-force participation (25%). Available indicators are reweighted; the curated profile fields remain below.

Output per worker$48,671 PPP (2024)
Unemployment2.7% (2025)
Participation61.6% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$457 · $751 PPP (2024)
Tech (IT & comms)$587 · $1,031 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceStrong nearshoring market for US clients
Job marketMexico City, Guadalajara ('Mexican Silicon Valley'), Monterrey hubs.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Good
67
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score estimates how far money goes for the typical person here. It combines GNI per capita at PPP (30%) and actual household consumption per person at PPP (15%) with a price-advantage term from the local price level (25%) that rewards lower prices, then adjusts for income equality via the Gini index (20%), so unequal economies don't ride a high average, plus price stability via consumer inflation (10%). Available indicators are reweighted; it is a comparison, not a personal budget estimate.

GNI / person$25,070 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$16,742 PPP (2024)
Price level59 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality42.6 Gini (2024)
Inflation3.8% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Good
68

Our 0–100 affordability score is derived from the local consumer price level (World Bank, US = 100): the cheaper everyday prices are, the higher it scores. Lower price level means your money goes further here.

Price level59 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent$500–1,000 (1BR major city)
Monthly$1,100
CitiesMexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Playa del Carmen
Economy
Economic strength
Good
67
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines income level (GDP and GNI per capita, output per worker), growth momentum (real GDP growth), price stability (inflation) and labour utilisation (unemployment). Available indicators are reweighted; the sector split and industry profile below are descriptive, not scored.

Output & income
GDP$1.8T (2025)
GDP / person$13,889 (2025)
GNI / person$25,070 PPP (2025)
GDP growth1.4% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation3.8% / yr (2025)
Unemployment2.7% (2025)
Output per worker$48,671 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture3.9% of GDP (2025)
Industry30.6% of GDP (2025)
Services58.9% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Automotive & manufacturingElectronicsOil & gasAgricultureTourism
Top exports
Vehicles & partsElectronics & computersCrude oilAgricultural products
TypeUpper-middle-income, manufacturing- and export-led
Key sectorsAuto & aerospace manufacturing (nearshoring), Electronics assembly, Tourism
SummaryA major manufacturing exporter to the US, increasingly favoured for nearshoring across autos and electronics.
CurrencyMexican peso

Business and wealth

Taxes

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Tax friendliness
Moderate
56
Personal1.92–35% progressive
Corporate30%
Capital gains10% on listed shares; otherwise up to 35%
Dividends10% withholding
Exit taxNone for individuals
Foreign cosREFIPRES (CFC-style) rules on low-taxed foreign income
Personal tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Personal tax
Limited
36
Personal1.92–35% progressive
FreelanceRFC registration; RESICO simplified regime for small earners
Capital gains10% on listed shares; otherwise up to 35%
Dividends10% withholding
Exit taxNone for individuals
Corporate tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Corporate tax
Low
14
Corporate30%
Capital gains10% on listed shares; otherwise up to 35%
Dividends10% withholding
Foreign cosREFIPRES (CFC-style) rules on low-taxed foreign income
Business
Business friendliness
Moderate
52
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures the operating environment without counting tax a second time: company formation and ownership rules contribute 40%, regulatory quality 30%, and government effectiveness 30%. Available indicators are reweighted; the values are shown below.

Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.20 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-0.22 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign co.Yes: foreigners may own Mexican companies
Local co.S.A. de C.V. or S. de R.L.; notary required
FreelanceRFC registration; RESICO simplified regime for small earners
Investment

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any investment / tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Investing environment
Limited
43
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures market access without counting tax a second time: broker availability contributes 50%, equity-market depth 30%, and private credit depth 20%. Available indicators are reweighted.

Market cap31% of GDP (2025)
Private credit36% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains10% on listed shares; foreign brokers widely used
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxNone
BrokersGrowing: GBM, local banks, Interactive Brokers
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax / investment decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Wealth accumulation
Moderate
57
How this score is calculated

How favourable Mexico is for building wealth: earnings and business/investment upside, tax drag, and how much a typical income keeps after living costs. Estimated from the factors below.

Salary & work
Good
66
Business
Moderate
52
Investment
Limited
43
Tax friendliness
Moderate
56
Cost of living
Good
68

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Low
17
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines personal safety (intentional homicide rate at 50%), political stability and absence of violence (30%), and control of corruption (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below. Always check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Personal safety
Homicide rate24.9 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-0.94 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.72 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Moderate
64
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines health outcomes (life expectancy at 25% and under-5 mortality at 20%) with system capacity (physicians at 20% and hospital beds at 15% per 1,000 people) and health spending per capita (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below.

Outcomes
Life expectancy75.3 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality13.1 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians2.59 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds1.01 per 1,000 (2022)
Health spending$1,368 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic (IMSS) + affordable private
InsurancePublic for contributors; private insurance cheap and common
Avg costPrivate cover from ~$1,000–2,500 / yr
Environment
Environment score
Good
74
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure at 60% with freshwater stress at 40%. Lower exposure and lower water stress score better. Air quality alone can produce a score because it covers most countries; water stress alone cannot.

Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure16.6 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress44.9% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Good
67
How this score is calculated

The score combines digital access, resilience and download performance (30%), electricity access and network losses (30%), and transport infrastructure covering rail, logistics and aviation (40%). Available inputs are reweighted, but a country needs both digital and transport data to receive a score.

Digital infrastructure
Internet use83.1% (2024)
Internet resilience51 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed76 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed57 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access99.7% (2023)
Grid losses11.1% of output (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality2.80 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity4,220 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Good
66
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines attainment (expected schooling at 30% and mean schooling at 25%) with participation (tertiary enrolment at 25%) and public investment (government education spending at 20%). Available indicators are reweighted; tuition and study rules remain separate profile fields below.

Attainment
Expected schooling14.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling9.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment48% gross (2024)
Education spending4.1% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$3,000–10,000 / yr (private); low public
Public uniUNAM and public universities very low for residents
LanguagesSpanish, English (some programs)
Student workWork permitted with appropriate authorisation
HDI
Human development score
Good
79
How this score is calculated

The UN Human Development Index is the geometric mean of three dimension indices (a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), shown on a 0–100 map scale (HDI × 100). The 2023 UNDP inputs behind each dimension are listed below.

HDI0.789 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy75.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling14.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling9.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$21,813 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Moderate
60
How this score is calculated

The score weights Freedom House’s 0–100 Freedom in the World score at 60% and its Freedom on the Net score at 40%. If either report does not cover a country, the available score is used alone. Scores of 70 and above are rated “Free”, 40–69 “Partly free”, and below 40 “Not free”.

Freedom in the World60 / 100 (Partly free)
Freedom on the Net61 / 100 (Partly free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Low
28
How this score is calculated

The World Bank’s Rule of Law indicator captures how well contracts are enforced and how independent and effective the courts, police and property-rights regime are. We show its 0–100 percentile rank, where higher means stronger, more predictable institutions.

Rule of Law percentile28 / 100
Resources

Mock data for demonstration only. Not legal or tax advice.