Despite the increasing prevalence of electronic payment options, cash is still king in Mexico, accounting for more than 90% of all transactions according to the Dallas Federal Reserve. Paying for everyday items like taxis, tacos from street vendors, and a bus ride requires efectivo, with small bills strongly preferred.
I’m super thrilled to share that foreign residents (and Mexican citizens) can now apply for an RFC number online and save themselves a trip to their local SAT office. For readers who are unfamiliar, RFC is the acronym for “Registro Federal de Contribuyentes” which translates to “Federal Taxpayer Registry” in English.
It’s no secret that a heap of Americans are looking to expatriate in 2025. One of the key considerations for any hopeful Mexpat (besides meeting the financial qualifications for residency) is … How much does it cost to live in Mexico right now? Below I’ll take a closer look at
There may come a time when you need to see a doctor in a hurry. In Mexico, one excellent option is the in-house doctor at a local pharmacy. This will sound like an alien concept to many expats, especially Americans, who are accustomed to heading to an emergency room for
Living in the heart of Tequila country, I am fortunate to have super premium tequilas I’d never even heard of before moving to Mexico readily available in local restaurants, stores, and bars. While artisanal brands like Los Abuelos (Fortaleza in the U.S.) and Tequila Ocho are produced in limited quantities
Everyone who owns real estate in Mexico (house, condo, or a piece of land) owes property taxes to their state government, aka the “impuesto predial.” These taxes are paid annually, during the first quarter of each year. The predial is separate from the property acquisition tax, known by the acronym ISAI, which
Following a busy weekend in which the U.S. slapped 25% tariffs on Colombia for refusing to accept military planes packed with deported immigrants (and then reversed it following Colombia’s capitulation yesterday), it looks like Trump’s attention is now turning to Mexico and Canada. According to the Wall Street Journal, the
If you read my post last November explaining how the Mexican government sets the financial requirements for foreigners seeking residency visas, you know it’s based on the national minimum wage. My previous article estimated the likely thresholds foreign applicants would be expected to meet next year because the minimum wage
Back in February, I tried to open a BBVA debit account called Libretón Premium, which offers unrestricted deposits and minimal charges if a minimum balance of $4,000 MXN pesos is maintained in the account. Despite meeting all of the qualifications posted on bbva.com, I was denied this product by the banker
Last week I wrote about the best ways to seek help if you have an emergency in Mexico. Beyond the basics of learning how to use emergency services in Mexico lies a mountain of government data. This data shows the myriad reasons residents of Mexico call 911 for help, as
