Mexico Is Safer Than You Think. Here’s Proof.
Mexico Is Safer Than You Think. Here’s Proof.
Why do Americans think Mexico is so dangerous? Despite the fact that 126 million people live there mostly without incident, Americans seem to picture a violent landscape where no one is safe. Media coverage tends to focus heavily on cartel activity, even though most cartel violence affects only members.
For example, a recent study pointed out that Mexican cartels have about 175,000 members, making them the 5th-largest employer in the country. Seems ominous, right? What wasn’t mentioned: American gangs have 1,000,000 members. By the same logic, they’d be our 3rd-largest employer. Take that, Mexico.
FarHomes.com, who helps Americans find housing in Mexico, compiled the following data to challenge our preconceived notions.
Crime is Declining
Photo Credit: FarHomes.com.
Mexico’s crime rate has been steadily decreasing since 2016, with a brief uptick during the pandemic. However, rates have since returned to pre-pandemic levels. Conversely, violent crimes in the United States have been rising since 2015.
Homicides Are Exceptionally Low for Americans in Mexico
Photo Credit: FarHomes.com.
The rates in the charts above are annual homicides per 100,000 residents. As we’ve pointed out before, our home city of Birmingham, Alabama has a homicide rate of 77.7 homicides per 100,000. It is far more dangerous than any of these popular tourist destinations, and we still feel perfectly safe here.
Many American Cities Have Higher Homicide Rates
Photo Credit: FarHomes.com.
Here are some examples of the homicide rates in major U.S. cities, not including much more dangerous towns like Birmingham, Memphis, New Orleans, or St. Louis.
Safest City #1: Guadalajara
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Guadalajara is a large urban center in central Mexico with a metro population of 5.4 million people. American expats love living on nearby Lake Chapala.
Safest City #2: Puerto Vallarta
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Immigrant love living in safe, sunny Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast.
Safest City #3: Mexico City
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Mexico City is a world-class destination for arts, food, and culture. Home to more than 22 million people, the CDMX metro is one of the most vibrant cities on Earth.
Safest City #4: Cabo San Lucas
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Expats move to Cabo San Lucas to live every day like they’re on vacation. Located at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, the city is home to dozens of resorts.
Safest City #5: Merida
We’re headed to Merida ourselves in 2024, one of the safest cities in Mexico. Just off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, this friendly city has a million residents.
Travel Advisories
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
The United States offers travel advisories to keep Americans safe abroad, and ranks countries as well as regions and states according to this scale:
- Exercise normal precautions
- Exercise increased caution
- Reconsider travel
- Do not travel
You can see the ratings here for states in Mexico. For more up-to-date info, use Facebook groups like On the Road in Mexico to ask about crime or unrest.
The Most Dangerous Cities on Earth (7 are in the United States)
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
The following cities had the highest homicide rates in 2022, not including cities at war.
➤ The Most Dangerous Cities on Earth
The 7 Safest Cities in Mexico, According to Expats
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
➤ The 7 Safest Cities in Mexico, According to Expats
Americans in Mexico Are Happier With Their Healthcare. Here’s Why
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Whether they’re full-time expats or medical tourists, Americans are much happier with the healthcare they receive in Mexico.
Here are some of the reasons Americans would rather get care south of the border.
Jen is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans move abroad. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?
Jen is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans move abroad. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?