When I told people we were moving to Mexico for a year, everyone had the same reaction: “Oh, you’re going to love it! It’s going to feel like a vacation!”
Well, let me tell you – one month into living in León, Guanajuato, and I can confidently say this is NOT a vacation. Not even close.
Don’t get me wrong – I love being here. But the transition has been nothing short of a complete life restart, complete with logistics nightmares, cultural adjustments, and some pretty humbling moments that have made me question everything I thought I knew about my heritage.
Alex and I sat down while the kids were sleeping (because that’s the only time we can have an uninterrupted conversation these days) to talk about the five most unexpected things we’ve encountered in our first month. Here’s the real, unfiltered truth:
1. Healthcare is Mind-Blowingly Advanced (And Affordable)
I had no idea what to expect from Mexican healthcare, but it certainly wasn’t THIS. When the kids needed blood work for school enrollment – which, by the way, is required here and completely caught us off guard – we paid 79 pesos each. That’s it. And the technology? They used an infrared camera to see the veins in their arms. I’ve NEVER seen that in the States, where they usually just poke around until they find something.
But here’s the embarrassing part that perfectly illustrates my point: I went to get a pedicure, and the nail tech literally refused to do my feet. Why? Because she noticed I had a fungal infection that needed medical treatment first. She referred me to a specialized foot clinic – not a podiatrist, but like a medical spa specifically for foot health. I had my first appointment, paid $50 for the consultation, and started a five-month treatment plan. They do everything on-site – I don’t even have to apply anything myself.
In the US, I would’ve needed a referral from my primary care physician, waited weeks for an appointment with a podiatrist, gotten a prescription, and been responsible for treating it myself. Here? It’s handled, affordable, and nobody blinked an eye.
2. Private Schools Are a Whole Different World
Both our boys are in private school here, and the difference is stark. There’s a seriousness about education that I haven’t experienced in the States. Kids wear uniforms (which I now have to iron – a new skill I’m developing), and almost every single parent shows up for school meetings. At Diego’s PTA in Chicago, we’d have maybe four or five parents. Here? The room was PACKED.
But the most significant difference? My kids don’t have to practice lockdown drills. They don’t have to worry about active shooters. The only drill Diego mentioned was a fire drill. That alone makes every peso we spend on tuition worth it. The peace of mind is invaluable.
3. Mexico is Expensive… Just Not in the Ways You’d Expect
Everyone told us Mexico would be cheap. And yes, housing is more affordable, and we can eat out more often than we ever could in Chicago. But then Alex went to Walmart for car maintenance and nearly had a heart attack – a single quart of oil costs $25 pesos! In the US, it’s like $10-12 for synthetic.
Name-brand clothing? Expensive. Nikes? Forget about it. Gas? We don’t leave Costco without dropping $100 to fill our SUV, compared to about $60 in the States.
The trick we’ve learned is shopping at Mercado Abastos – where local restaurants buy their supplies – instead of chain grocery stores. Our friend here (who’s also from the US, married to a local) showed us the ropes. The savings are incredible, but you have to know where to look.
It’s not dirt cheap like everyone imagines, but our money definitely goes further when we’re strategic about where we spend it.
4. Work-Life Balance is Actually Integrated, Not Separated
This one has been eye-opening. In the US, we talk about work-life balance like it’s about carving out separate time for family after work. Here, it’s integrated into daily life. Businesses close from 1-6 PM for comida – family meal time. Parents in professional attire drop off and pick up their kids during work hours without the guilt or scrambling we experienced in Chicago.
Alex is still stuck working his US remote job (poor guy, still living that American hustle), but seeing how locals integrate their personal and professional lives is inspiring. It’s not about finding balance – it’s about making them work together seamlessly.
5. We’re Outsiders… And It Shows
This one stings a bit. We’re both fluent Spanish speakers – my parents only spoke Spanish at home growing up. But apparently, I have an accent that screams “American.” The dermatologist called me out. The maintenance guy mentioned it. Even at the gym today, when I asked if the kettlebells were in pounds or kilograms, I got that look – “Ah, we know where you’re from.”
The language barrier isn’t about speaking Spanish; it’s about speaking it “correctly” by local standards. My grandma, who’s lived here for 20+ years, still sometimes struggles with vocabulary. She once asked for “Crazy Glue” at a store, not knowing the local term was “Kola Loka.”
And our Chicago license plates? Dead giveaway. Everyone knows we’re outsiders just by looking at our truck.
The Reality Check
Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this – moving to Mexico with a family isn’t a permanent vacation. We’re hustling just as hard as we did in the US. Alex is still working his 9-to-5 remote job. I’m building my business and taking on freelance work. We’re dealing with difficult landlords, navigating legal contracts (we needed my grandpa as a co-signer because we don’t own property in Mexico), and constantly translating measurements from feet to meters and pounds to kilograms.
But here’s what I want you to know: if you’ve been thinking about making a move like this, just do it. We get messages from people who say they wish they had done this years ago, and now they’re living vicariously through us. Don’t let that be you.
Life is too short to wonder “what if.” It’s better to know what IS rather than what could have been.
We’re planning to create more content about our life here – the good, the challenging, and the completely unexpected. Because if our experience can inspire even one family to take that leap they’ve been dreaming about, then sharing our messy, imperfect transition is worth it.
Are you considering a move to Mexico? What’s holding you back? Send me your questions on Instagram – I’m answering every single DM because this journey isn’t just about us. It’s about showing what’s possible when you’re brave enough to restart your life in a new country.
Show Notes
In this episode of the “Living in Mexico” series, I’m joined by my husband Alex as we reflect on our first month living in Mexico.
We discuss the unexpected challenges and surprises we’ve encountered during the first month of living abroad as second-generation Mexican Americans. Plus, we unpack five key surprises that have reshaped our perspective on life in Mexico.
Join us as we navigate this new chapter and offer insights for anyone considering a big move abroad.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Why healthcare in Mexico completely shocked us (in the best way possible)
- The truth about Mexican private schools and why I’ve never felt more comfortable dropping my kids off
- How Mexico is both cheaper AND more expensive than we expected
- The work-life balance revelation that’s changing how I think about integrating family and career
- Moments when we feel like complete outsiders, despite being fluent Spanish speakers and looking like we belong
About Jessica Cuevas
Jessica is the founder and creator of Viva la Mami, LLC a community centered around Latina motherhood. Jessica created this platform after not finding empowering stories about experiences of Latina moms. She realized that there was a lack of representation in this space and felt there was a need for mamis to share their stories and to learn more about the nuances about motherhood through a cultural lens.
Viva la Mami’s mission is to empower the modern Latina mom to redefine the meaning of madrehood through education, story-telling, and cultural relevance all while bringing comunidad together.
