Mexico City Blog Posts

Get Mexican license: temporary first (1 yr, 600-800 pesos, CURP, medical cert, Spanish test), then permanent (5 yrs, 1,200-1,500 pesos). No US reciprocity.

Sarah Mitchell

24

After 10 years in Mexico City: visa bureaucracy requires 10-20+ office visits, infrastructure fails regularly with 3-day water outages, air pollution exceeds WHO guidelines during dry season. The honest truth nobody shares.

Sarah Mitchell

26

Mexico City expat FAQs: Safe in Roma/Condesa with precautions. $2,000-3,500/month average cost. Temp residency needs $2,700/month income. Healthcare $30-50 doctor visits.

Sarah Mitchell

25

"Passport Bros" leverage economic disparity for dating advantage, creating transactional relationships that harm individuals and the expat community. Here's why this approach fails.

Sarah Mitchell

29

Mexico's loophole economy: institutional gaps where agencies lack enforcement capacity (don't communicate, vary by jurisdiction). Work with accountants understanding actual vs. theoretical rules.

Sarah Mitchell

27

Día de Muertos (Nov 1-2) isn't ancient—it's syncretic (Catholic + pre-Hispanic), government-standardized post-1934 Revolution. La Catrina = 1890s political satire, not spiritual symbol. Mexico City parade invented 2016 after James Bond film. Real celebration = intimate families in homes/cemeteries.

Sarah Mitchell

21

Permanent residency: live/work indefinitely (~$400-500, weeks). Citizenship: 5-10 years residency + Spanish/civics exams but grants voting, passport, coastal property (6-12 months).

Sarah Mitchell

21

US expats in Mexico can legally pay zero US tax using FEIE (excludes $130K earned income if 330 days outside US or bona fide resident), Housing Exclusion ($15K-$30K+), Foreign Tax Credits. Must file Form 1040, 2555, FBAR, FATCA. Penalties 25-50% for non-filing.

Sarah Mitchell

22

Mexico has invisible class system based on family, surnames, phenotype - not just income. Expats miss it due to "tourist glow" effect.

Sarah Mitchell

27