A Remote Working Paradise: San Miguel de Allende

Published January 8, 2023

by Jeff Kimmel

San Miguel de Allende (SMA) is the most charming small town in Mexico. This nearly 500-year-old municipality, has been named, for the sixth time, the “Best Small City in the World” in the “Readers’ Choice Awards”, the oldest and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry, by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. It is close to two international airports (each a 1.5 hour drive) and close to a wonderful big city, Queretaro (45 minutes’ drive) that features the largest mall in Mexico (with every brand you can find in the USA), a Costco and pretty much anything that you could want of a big city. It also has reliable fiber optic, fast internet.

In short, SMA is a very special place in the world to visit and an even better place to live full time especially if you have the ability to work remotely.

Remote Working Benefits

For individuals or families whose main income providers have the ability to work remotely, SMA is a place to seriously consider for your home. As remote workers, you can continue earning the same income that you do in your home countries with the incredible buying power advantage that living in SMA provides. Remote working families can buy homes in SMA for a fraction of the price of a house of the same size and amenities in their home countries. Once you own your home, your cost of living will lower significantly, and the quality of your life will increase exponentially.

Lower Cost of Living

Property taxes for a million dollar house PER YEAR is under $2,000 USD. The cost of food,
particularly if one chooses to shop at neighborhood fruit and vegetable shops, meat markets etc. where the majority of Mexican families shop is a fraction of the price you pay in your home countries (think 1,200 pesos – $60 USD per week for two people*). Entertainment (like concerts, plays, lectures), going out to dinner, going to the movies are half to a third of the price in the USA. For example: two movie tickets at a multiplex facility with a large popcorn and two drinks total cost is less than $15 USD*).

Quality of Life

It is hard to explain how much easier it is to live in SMA with all of the help that is available by wonderful people that work for you doing the time-consuming things that most ex-pats must do for themselves on a daily basis. Imagine not having to clean your house, cook your meals, mow your lawn, keep your garden up, or go grocery shopping. Imagine not having to have a car or driving. Imagine how much time these tasks take up in your typical week… here in SMA, you can afford to hire gracious people to do these things for you at extraordinarily low costs. With this extra time, you can do much more than just work and survive; you can work and have time for many other hobbies and interests for you and your children.

Education System &Affordable Extra-Curricular Exposure

An additional growing trend is that families are arriving with their school-aged children, who will be participating in the education system in SMA. These children have accessibility to a variety of prestigious private schools, which they can enroll in for a fraction of the cost they would pay in your home countries. Living in Mexico encourages children to speak Spanish and become bi-cultural. Speaking multiple languages and living abroad has consistently distinguished students when it comes time to apply for university. Add to this the ability to expose your children to extra-curricular activities that are many times either too expensive or too time consuming to offer them in your home country. For example: equestrian training, professional tennis lessons, and every conceivable training of the arts. Here in SMA all of this is possible and affordable.

Low Crime

Miguel de Allende has one of the lowest crime rates in all of Mexico and much lower than many cities of all sizes in the country from where you are from. When you choose to migrate to SMA, you can rest easy knowing that you are living in a safe area that is known for its cultural charm and warm community.

Ideal Climate

Another reason why you can find a lot of ex-pats in San Miguel is because of its glorious climate. All year round, you can bask in the sunshine that is not too hot and not too cold, and never humid. This makes San Miguel the ideal place for anyone who is looking to live in an extraordinary environment.

Summing it Up

SMA is an extraordinary place to live as compared to any other place in the world. SMA

remains a great place to super-stretch your income and purchase a beautiful home at a fraction of the price that you would pay in your home country. Your cost of living will be reduced by 50 to 60% and your standard of living will increase markedly.  Considering all this, it’s easy to see why San Miguel de Allende has become such a hot spot for migration, especially for those that can work remotely.

*These costs are as of the date of this article.

Source […]

Jeff Kimmel is a lawyer and a member of the California bar since 1980. He became a partner of the Mexican law firm PORTILLA, RUY-DIAZ Y AGUILAR in 2017 (https://www.portilla.com.mx/attorneys). He is a licensed Mexican real estate broker in Guanajuato. He started KIMMEL REALTY GROUP in San Miguel de Allende in 2021 with the mission to help its clients take the risk out of buying real estate in Mexico

(https://www.krgsanmiguel.com/)