Mexico
Central America / Latin America
North America
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.
30
Overall score
Limited · Penalty applied · 100% data coverage
Language
SpanishCurrency
MXNCitizenship
5 years (2 if married/Latin American)Personal tax
1.92–35%Cost of living
$1,100 / mo (single)Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.
Score breakdown
54
Access
17%46Residence12%
72Citizenship and passport5%
67
Earning power
25%66Salary and work12%
67Buying power13%
51
Business and wealth
20%56Taxes7%
52Business8%
43Investment5%
53
Daily life
25%48Quality of life18%
66Education7%
43
Rights and institutions
13%60Freedom6%
28Rule of law7%
Severe safety risk (17) cut the overall score from 55 to 30.
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
Openness to residents
46Moderate
Migrant stock1.3% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.20 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Main pathways
Temporary residency (economic solvency)Permanent residencyFamilyWork permit
| Student | Student residency; work allowed with authorisation. |
|---|---|
| Work | Employer-sponsored work permit tied to a job offer. |
| Self-employed | Register with SAT (RFC); freelancers commonly use temporary residency. |
| Permanent | Permanent residency after 4 years (or directly by income/retiree status). |
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
69Good
| Years required | 5 years of residency (2 for spouses of Mexicans & Latin Americans) |
|---|---|
| Dual allowed | Yes |
| Language | Spanish + Mexican history/culture exam |
| Residence | Legal residency with limited absences before naturalisation |
| Notes | Temporary residency is commonly obtained by proving sufficient income or savings (economic solvency). |
Passport
Passport power
78Good
154 / 198
Mobility
#28
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
- Visa-free104
- On arrival46
- eTA4
- Visa required44
Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.
Earning power
Salary & work
Labour-market strength
66Good
Output per worker$48,671 PPP (2024)
Unemployment2.7% (2025)
Participation61.6% of 15+ (2025)
Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$457 · $751 PPP (2024)
Tech (IT & comms)$587 · $1,031 PPP (2024)
| Freelance | Strong nearshoring market for US clients |
|---|---|
| Job market | Mexico City, Guadalajara ('Mexican Silicon Valley'), Monterrey hubs. |
Buying power
Purchasing power score
67Good
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)
Cost of living
Affordability
68Good
Price level59 (US = 100) (2025)
| Rent | $500–1,000 (1BR major city) |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,100 |
| Cities | Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Playa del Carmen |
Economy
Economic strength
67Good
Output & income
GDP$1.8T (2025)
GDP / person$13,889 (2025)
GNI / person$25,070 PPP (2025)
GDP growth1.4% / yr (2024)
Stability & labour
Inflation3.8% / yr (2025)
Unemployment2.7% (2025)
Output per worker$48,671 PPP (2024)
Sector composition
Agriculture3.9% of GDP (2025)
Industry30.6% of GDP (2025)
Services58.9% of GDP (2025)
Main industries
Automotive & manufacturingElectronicsOil & gasAgricultureTourism
Top exports
Vehicles & partsElectronics & computersCrude oilAgricultural products
| Type | Upper-middle-income, manufacturing- and export-led |
|---|---|
| Key sectors | Auto & aerospace manufacturing (nearshoring), Electronics assembly, Tourism |
| Summary | A major manufacturing exporter to the US, increasingly favoured for nearshoring across autos and electronics. |
| Currency | Mexican peso |
Business and wealth
Taxes
Tax friendliness
56Moderate
| Personal | 1.92–35% progressive |
|---|---|
| Corporate | 30% |
| Capital gains | 10% on listed shares; otherwise up to 35% |
| Dividends | 10% withholding |
| Exit tax | None for individuals |
| Foreign companies | REFIPRES (CFC-style) rules on low-taxed foreign income |
Personal tax
Personal tax
36Limited
| Personal | 1.92–35% progressive |
|---|---|
| Freelance | RFC registration; RESICO simplified regime for small earners |
| Capital gains | 10% on listed shares; otherwise up to 35% |
| Dividends | 10% withholding |
| Exit tax | None for individuals |
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
14Low
| Corporate | 30% |
|---|---|
| Capital gains | 10% on listed shares; otherwise up to 35% |
| Dividends | 10% withholding |
| Foreign companies | REFIPRES (CFC-style) rules on low-taxed foreign income |
Business
Business friendliness
52Moderate
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.20 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-0.22 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Operating rules
| Foreign company | Yes: foreigners may own Mexican companies |
|---|---|
| Local company | S.A. de C.V. or S. de R.L.; notary required |
| Freelance | RFC registration; RESICO simplified regime for small earners |
Investment
Investing environment
43Limited
Market cap31% of GDP (2025)
Private credit36% of GDP (2025)
| Capital gains | 10% on listed shares; foreign brokers widely used |
|---|---|
| Dividends | Data not available yet |
| ETFs & funds | Data not available yet |
| Wealth tax | None |
| Brokers | Growing: GBM, local banks, Interactive Brokers |
| Foreign access | Data not available yet |
| Tax-advantaged | Data not available yet |
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
57Moderate
Salary & work
66Good
Business
52Moderate
Investment
43Limited
Tax friendliness
56Moderate
Cost of living
68Good
Daily life
Safety
Safety & stability
17Low
Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-0.94 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.72 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.
Healthcare
Healthcare score
64Moderate
Outcomes
Life expectancy75.3 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality13.1 per 1,000 births (2024)
Capacity & resourcing
Physicians2.59 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds1.01 per 1,000 (2022)
Health spending$1,368 PPP / person (2023)
System & costs
| System | Public (IMSS) + affordable private |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Public for contributors; private insurance cheap and common |
| Average cost | Private cover from ~$1,000–2,500 / yr |
Environment
Environment score
74Good
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure16.6 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress44.9% (2022)
Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
67Good
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)
Transport
Transport quality2.80 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity4,220 departures / million people (2023)
Education
Education score
66Good
Attainment
Expected schooling14.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling9.3 years (2023)
Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment48% gross (2024)
Education spending4.1% of GDP (2022)
| Tuition | $3,000–10,000 / yr (private); low public |
|---|---|
| Public university | UNAM and public universities very low for residents |
| Languages | Spanish, English (some programs) |
| Student work | Work permitted with appropriate authorisation |
HDI
Human development score
79Good
HDI0.789 (2023)
Knowledge
Expected schooling14.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling9.3 years (2023)
Rights and institutions
Freedom
Freedom score
60Moderate
| Freedom in the World | 60 / 100 (Partly free) |
|---|---|
| Freedom on the Net | 61 / 100 (Partly free) |
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
28Low
| Rule of Law percentile | 28 / 100 |
|---|
Sources
Resources
Official references
Instituto Nacional de Migracióngob.mxSAT: Tax administrationsat.gob.mxUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.orgILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)ilostat.ilo.org
Quick links
Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.