Mexico has taken the top spot again in InterNations' 2023 annual survey of the best places in the world to live, and it's not a one-off. The country has featured in the survey's top five every year since 2014, based on feedback from expats worldwide — including those already settled in Mexico.

The survey measures criteria that matter to anyone contemplating a life abroad: quality of life, ease of settling in, and cost of living. Mexico scores well across all of them, which helps explain its enduring appeal to foreign residents.

But the team at Mexexperience urges would-be movers to look past the glossy 'living the dream' content that floods social media. Their advice is refreshingly grounded: take a mindful pause and define your lifestyle intentions before you commit. Moving overseas is a major investment of time, money, energy and emotion — not just for you, but for a partner or family coming along. They suggest writing down what genuinely matters to you, checking it honestly against what Mexico offers, and thinking hard about the compromises you'll inevitably make.

That last point is the one most people skip. No destination delivers everything. The certainty you build now about your core intentions becomes an anchor during the inevitable wobbles of the first months in a new country — the bureaucracy hurdles, the language gaps, the moments when you wonder why you left home.

Practically speaking, Mexico offers genuine depth for foreign residents. Residency routes exist for retirees, remote workers and investors, and popular expat bases range from lakeside towns like Ajijic to coastal hubs such as Puerto Vallarta, Mérida and Mexico City itself. Day-to-day costs can be dramatically lower than in the US or Europe, healthcare is affordable and well-regarded in the private sector, and the sheer size of the country means you can pick a climate and pace to suit — colonial highlands, Caribbean coast, Pacific surf towns or big-city convenience.

Mexperience also points newcomers toward support that smooths the move: immigration help with residency permits, insurance for health, home and vehicles, legal and property advice, Spanish tuition, and even custom tours for leisure time once you've settled in. Their broader message is that a successful relocation is planned, not improvised — form a clear picture of what you want, build a plan around it, and expect the process to take patience.

For holiday travellers, this matters too. Many people's first taste of Mexico as a long-stay visitor — a slow month in Oaxaca or a winter on the Riviera Maya — is what turns into a residency application later. If Mexico has been flickering on your radar, whether for a season or a permanent base, the time to do the unglamorous thinking is before you book anything.