Looking to move to Mazatlan mexico, I'm retired military and have $2000.00 a month, Can I do it?

Question

Looking to move to Mazatlan mexico, I'm retired military and have $2000.00 a month, Can I do it?

Answer 1

you probably don't want to move to Mazatlan.

only if your looking for trouble!

its the one of the highest crime rate.

plus it is quite scary.

its very beautiful though.

Puerto Viarta is the prettyest.

In Mazatlan they grabbed my arm and pulled my back into there store. And talked about me in Spanish.

Make sure you know spanish pretty well when you go!

Answer 2

My ex moved to Puerto Vallarta. Built a 3b, 2 bath house, total expense (labor and parts) $25,000.00.

Has a maid that cooks and cleans daily.

$2,000.00 a month will afford you comfort you will not be able to afford here in California. Of course if you want to live in a villa...and date pretty señoritas, well, then I don't know how much you can stretch a peso. Two of my female retired friends moved to Mexico because they cannot afford living in the US with their little Social Security checks; they love it over there, and say they are not coming back!

Answer 3

You just need to show $1200 a month income to get an FM-3 visa.  If you buy a house, you only have to show half that much.  With $2000, you can have a nice house, a maid and a gardener.

You can come down for 180 days on an FM-T (tourist) visa and test it out.  You may not like the summer heat.  Or if you have a spouse, they may not like something.  It is not uncommon for a couple to buy a house in their excitement and then sell it in a year or two.

Are you sure Mazatlan is the only place you want to consider?  Lake Chapala area has a better climate year round and many gringos retire to San Miguel de Allende.

Answer 4

You have some great answer's here .........All I could add is you need to come down and visit the city your thinkin' about moving too. I'd say take a week , 2 is better,. and poke around. Look at it from a residents point of view , take off the tourist glasses and see if it's for you. Mexico is completely different than other place's I've travelled too. It's not for everybody. As the other person stated some people move in a year or two. Make sure that its a good fit for you.

Im in Acapulco. Yes its beautiful but once you leave the main drag along the beach and get up in the mountains , you get in the real Acapulco. The streets are trashed ! Houses are not what your used to in the states. Chickens waking you up at all hours, Buses and horns honking , dogs barking. Its just different. I spend a great deal of my time about 20 minutes north in a place called Pie de la Cuesta. Georgeous , deserted beach that goes for as far as the eye can see. Flat , laid back , no taxi, no buses. Quiet peaceful just paradise for me. I'm kickin' myself that I didnt find it when I came down on my " investigation " tour. I saw and fell in love with Acapulco and bought a house and find myself everyday j commuting out to Pie de la Cuesta to spend my day on the beach , my boat and jet skii. Had I known I probably would not be listening to the d**n chicken like I am right now.

I live like a king on $2400 down here. My house is paid for so I really only have water , and electricity to pay for month to month. To be honest alot of months I dont even spend it all.

Your eyes are glazed over with excitment right now I bet. But again the noise pollution , the trash on the street , the walking up 60 degree mtns. are things I didnt really think about when I made the decision. I also dont think I would have gotten the true picture even off Yahoo answers - its just something you have to feel out on your own.

I didnt learn spanish before I came down. Its comming to me and Im learning but wish I would have learned before I came down. I have a few guys I hang out with at Pie de la Cuesta and I cant fully express myself when discussing politics , women , life. Sure my point gets across but I like to fully express my thoughts , so thats a regret. In my neighborhood there were a few little senoritas I'd sure like to get to know better but my lack of spanish ( fluent ) kept me from asking them out. Im dating 2 now though :):). The guy at the store would bark out the price of whatever I was buying and I just handed him the $$$ , and counted the change to figure out what beer , eggs , milk cost. Id buy one beer , one day and then figure out what the price was by counting the change :)

Yes it can be done on your income but just make sure its a good fit for you. Its not for everyone.................

Answer 5

I have been to Mazatlan.  Everywhere you go they mob you to buy a condo.  Hated it.  There are lots of nice places in Mexico that are not so commercial.  Quaymas is nice.  Don't be in a hurry to pick a place, okay?  Take your time and visit along the coast.  Bus service is good although pretty spartan and you can get off whereever you like.

And $2000 is plenty to live in Mexico.  

You'll like it.  The people are nice if you don't think you are better than they are.

Answer 6

Hello, I'm from Mazatlan.

$2000.00 US Dollars? sure you can. Mazatlan is not expensive and most people understands english, of course if you speak spanish it would make things a lot easier.

Is dangerous as any other city, and of course you cannot trust in someone you just met.

Because of the drug cartel people might think that you see people shooting people the moment you go out of your house, I've been living 23 years in many cities here in Sinaloa (Mazatlan, Culiacan, Guasave) and I've never been robbed or seen a shooting what so ever.

But I have to tell you that lately has been more violence specially in Culiacan (2.5 hours north from Mazatlan).

If you come here you'll find A LOT of people from the US and Canada who are retired as well and live here, some has a property and stay just for the winter.