What is it like living in La Paz, Mexico? Would it be practical for an American to live there?

Question

What is it like living in La Paz, Mexico? Would it be practical for an American to live there?

Answer 1

In La Paz...lots of gringos and  hotter than Hades.  Now if you are wealthy or if you are retired with a pension, you may live there.  If you are young and will need to work...it is not practical.  You cannot work in Mexico without a work visa and work in Mexico pays dirt.  To get a work visa you must find an employer to hire you and write a letter to immigration  stating he cannot find a Mexican national for that job. He must sponsor your work visa...a long, expensive difficult thing to do.  Then your work visa is tied to that specific job.  Not many people will do that unless you have a greatly needed skill.  Then, even professional jobs pay a fraction of what they pay in the  U.S.

Answer 2

Hola.  I've actually lived there.   It is okay.  Very hot during the summer, and I find the traffic drives me up the wall.  There is a little tourist seaside malecon with a few touristy shops, but for the most part its a working city.  Dusty, noisy, but overall I like the people and find it easy to navigate.  Lots of big mall shopping now, so the little downtown shopping area is fading into oblivion.  Rarely anyone speaks English, other than the tourist area.  There are some really nice beaches outside of town, and its easy access to the mainland by overnight ferry.

Why are going there?  Retirement?  Student?  To Work?   You might be able to find a cheaper property than Cabo there...they do have several new subdivisions going in all over.