When my wife and I decided to move our family from Vancouver to Mérida, Mexico, we had plenty of questions and more than a few concerns. Would our teenagers adjust? Could we find quality healthcare? What about their education? Now, after twelve months of living in Mexico's cultural capital, I can tell you that the reality has been different from what we expected, in mostly positive ways, with a few surprises we didn't anticipate.

This isn't a rose-colored account of expat life. It's a practical breakdown of what we've learned about raising a family in Mérida: the logistics, the costs, the challenges, and the unexpected benefits that have made this one of the best decisions we've made as a family.

Before committing to Mérida, we spent several months researching Mexican cities that were suitable for families. We looked at San Miguel de Allende, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, and Oaxaca. Each had appeal, but Mérida checked the most important boxes for us.

First, safety. Mérida consistently ranks among the safest cities in Mexico and Latin America. We wanted our kids to have independence, to walk to a friend's house or grab tacos without us hovering over them. That's possible here in ways it wouldn't be in many North American cities.

Second, culture without the tourist overwhelm. Mérida boasts authentic Yucatecan culture, colonial architecture, and incredible food, yet it hasn't been overrun by tourism like coastal towns have. Our kids are learning Spanish naturally, not just ordering from English menus.

Third, the cost of living. We're not wealthy, but we wanted a better quality of life than Vancouver could offer on a remote developer's salary. Mérida delivered. Our three-bedroom house in a good neighborhood costs less per month than our one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver.

Fourth, the expat community. We weren't looking to live in an expat bubble, but having other families who'd made the same move provided invaluable support during our transition. Mérida has a growing community of international families without being dominated by them.

Let me break down our actual monthly expenses because this was the biggest factor in our decision to move. These numbers are based on a comfortable middle-class lifestyle; not living on a shoestring, but not splurging either.

Housing

We rent a three-bedroom house with a small pool in the Santiago neighborhood for 18,000 pesos per month (approximately $1,050 USD). This is on the higher end for Mérida. You can find decent family homes for 12,000 to 15,000 pesos in safe neighborhoods like Francisco de Montejo or Montes de Amé. If you're willing to live farther from the centro, prices drop even more.

Our utilities cost approximately 2,500 pesos ($145 USD) per month, covering electricity, water, gas, and internet. The electricity bill spikes during hot months when we run the air conditioning, sometimes hitting 3,500 pesos. The internet is reliable; I work remotely as a software developer and rarely have connectivity issues.

Food and Groceries

We spend approximately 8,000 pesos ($470 USD) on groceries each month for our family of four. We shop at a mix of local markets and supermarkets, such as Soriana and City Market. Local markets offer incredible produce prices—mangoes for 10 pesos, avocados for 15 pesos—but imported items at supermarkets can cost as much as or more than in Canada.

Eating out is remarkably affordable. A family dinner at a local restaurant costs 400 to 600 pesos ($24 to $35 USD). Street tacos? About 15 pesos each. We eat out two to three times per week, and it barely impacts our budget compared to Vancouver, where a family meal could easily run $100 to $200 CAD.

Healthcare

We pay 25,000 pesos annually ($1,470 USD) for private health insurance through GNP Seguros for all four of us. This covers doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital stays. The policy includes coverage at Star Médica, one of Mérida's best private hospitals.

Even without insurance, healthcare costs are manageable. A private doctor consultation runs 500 to 800 pesos ($30 to $47 USD). When my daughter sprained her ankle, the emergency room visit, X-rays, and consultation cost 2,200 pesos ($130 USD) out of pocket. In Vancouver, that would have meant hours in a crowded ER.

Dental care is exceptional and affordable. My son needed braces, something we'd been putting off in Canada due to the cost. Here, the full treatment costs 35,000 pesos ($2,050 USD) compared to $6,000 to $8,000 CAD back home. We got it done immediately.

Education

Our kids attend a private bilingual school. Tuition is 6,000 pesos per child per month ($350 USD), or 12,000 pesos per month for both children. This includes transportation, meals, and most extracurricular activities. The school follows an international curriculum, and most teachers are bilingual. Elite international schools, such as The Doyle Academy or San José School, charge more, ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 pesos per student per month. Still, our school provides an excellent education at a reasonable price.

Transportation

We own a used car that we purchased for 150,000 pesos ($8,800 USD). Gas costs approximately 2,000 pesos ($117 USD) per month for moderate use. Car insurance runs 8,000 pesos annually ($470 USD). Many families here use bikes, taxis, or Uber for daily transportation. Uber rides within the city center rarely exceed 100 pesos ($6 USD).

Public transportation is cheap but not particularly convenient for families. Buses cost 8 to 10 pesos per ride, but navigating routes with kids can be challenging.

Total Monthly Budget

Our total monthly expenses average about 55,000 pesos ($3,235 USD). This includes rent, utilities, food, healthcare, education, transportation, entertainment, and miscellaneous expenses. For comparison, we spent roughly $6,500 CAD monthly in Vancouver for a far more cramped lifestyle.

The savings allow us to travel within Mexico, build an emergency fund, and actually enjoy life rather than just surviving paycheck to paycheck. That shift in financial stress has been transformative for our family dynamics.

Choosing a school was our biggest concern before moving. We wanted quality education, English instruction to maintain their proficiency, and an environment where they'd make friends. We visited six schools before deciding.

Here's what we learned about schooling options in Mérida:

Public Schools

Free, but instruction is entirely in Spanish, and class sizes are large. Few expat families choose this route unless their children are already fluent Spanish speakers. Some public schools have good reputations among locals, but the curriculum may not align with international standards if you plan to eventually return to your home country.

Private Bilingual Schools

These are the most popular choices for expat families. Schools such as Instituto Mérida, the American School of Mérida, and Colegio Esperanza offer bilingual instruction, smaller class sizes, and curricula that blend Mexican and international standards. Costs range from 4,000 to 8,000 pesos per month. Our kids' school teaches morning classes in English and afternoon classes in Spanish, which has accelerated their language learning.

Elite International Schools

Top-tier schools, such as The Doyle Academy, follow Cambridge or International Baccalaureate programs and charge between 15,000 and 25,000 pesos per month. They're excellent, but unnecessary unless you require specific international certifications or plan to relocate to another country in the near future. For most families settling in Mexico for the long term, mid-tier private schools offer an excellent education at a fraction of the cost.

Homeschooling

Mexico is homeschool-friendly, and we've met several expat families who educate their children at home. The flexibility appeals to some, especially digital nomads, but our kids wanted the social experience of school. Mérida has a supportive homeschooling community with co-ops and group activities.

The first three months were rough. My son, who was 14 when we moved, struggled with the language barrier and missed his friends back home. My daughter (16) adapted faster, possibly because teenage social dynamics are similar everywhere, and she's naturally more outgoing.

What helped: their school paired each of them with a Spanish-speaking buddy for the first semester. Extracurricular activities: my son joined the soccer team, and my daughter got involved in theater. This provided them with social connections outside of academics. By month six, both were functionally conversational in Spanish. By month nine, they stopped asking when we were moving back to Canada.

The academic standards surprised us. We expected education to be significantly behind Canadian schools, but that hasn't been the case. The curriculum is rigorous, and our kids actually receive more personalized attention due to smaller class sizes. Their school emphasized critical thinking and project-based learning more than rote memorization, which we appreciated.

Healthcare quality was another major concern, especially for parents. We've been pleasantly surprised. The medical care in Mérida's private hospitals rivals what we experienced in Canada, often with better service and virtually no wait times.

Private Healthcare System

Most expats opt for private healthcare, which is both affordable and of high quality. Star Médica and Clínica de Mérida are the two major private hospitals in the area. Both have modern equipment, English-speaking staff, and specialists in every field. We've had experiences with pediatricians, orthopedists, and dentists, all of whom have been professional and competent.

One major difference from Canada: the doctor-patient relationship is more personal. Our family doctor's office responds to WhatsApp messages. When my daughter had a fever at 10 PM, our pediatrician called us back within 20 minutes to discuss whether she needed to be seen immediately or could wait until morning. That level of accessibility would be unthinkable in Canada's overburdened system.

Pharmacies and Prescriptions

Pharmacies are everywhere in Mérida—literally on every corner. Most medications that require a prescription in the US or Canada are available over-the-counter in this country. Antibiotics, inhalers, birth control, and many other drugs can be purchased directly from pharmacists who often provide basic medical advice. This accessibility is convenient, but it requires personal responsibility regarding the use of medication.

Dental and Specialty Care

Medical tourism is huge in Mexico for good reason. The quality of dental care here is exceptional. We've found dentists trained in the US who charge a third of North American prices. My wife needed a root canal and crown—the total cost was 8,000 pesos ($470 USD). That procedure would have been $2,000 to $3,000 in Vancouver.

Specialist care is equally affordable and accessible. We've seen dermatologists, ophthalmologists, and orthopedists without the months-long wait times common in Canada's public system. Most specialists charge 600 to 1,000 pesos ($35 to $60 USD) for consultations.

What About Emergencies?

We haven't had any major medical emergencies, but we know expat families who have. The consensus is that Mérida's private hospitals handle emergencies well. Response times are quick, and the quality of emergency care is high. For extremely serious or complex cases, some people choose to return to their home countries or fly to Houston, which is only a few hours away.

Safety was our number one concern when we told friends we were moving to Mexico. The news coverage of violence in other parts of the country had everyone worried. But Mérida is not representative of that Mexico. It's genuinely one of the safest cities in North America, not just Mexico.

Day-to-Day Safety

We walk around the centro histórico at night. My teenage daughter takes evening dance classes and walks home with friends afterward. My son rides his bike to football practice. These are things we wouldn't have felt comfortable doing in parts of Vancouver.

The most common safety concern is petty theft, such as pickpocketing in crowded markets or items stolen from unlocked cars. We haven't experienced this personally, but we take reasonable precautions to ensure our safety. We don't leave valuables visible in our car, we keep a close eye on our belongings in crowded places, and we refrain from displaying expensive jewelry or electronics unnecessarily.

Violent crime exists, but it is rare and typically doesn't involve foreigners. The Yucatan Peninsula has historically been insulated from the cartel violence affecting other regions. That could change, but for now, Mérida feels safer than many North American cities.

Teaching Kids Street Smarts

We've taught our kids the same urban awareness they'd need in any city: be aware of your surroundings, don't flash valuables, trust your instincts, and know how to get help if needed. They carry small amounts of cash and keep their phones in their pockets, rather than holding them in their hands. These are basic precautions, not fear-based restrictions.

Natural Hazards

The bigger safety consideration is the weather. Hurricane season runs from June through November, and Mérida occasionally experiences tropical storms. Our house has hurricane shutters, and we keep emergency supplies on hand. We've had one serious storm in our year here, characterized by heavy rain and wind, but fortunately, no damage to our property. The city has good drainage systems and infrastructure to handle weather events.

Moving to Mexico isn't just about logistics and costs. There's a cultural adaptation process that takes time, especially for kids.

Language Barrier

This was the biggest challenge for all of us. We arrived with basic Spanish, enough to order food and ask directions, but nowhere near conversational fluency. Daily tasks felt exhausting at first. Banking, phone contracts, and dealing with service providers required more effort and often led to misunderstandings.

Our kids progressed faster than we did, thanks to school immersion. My wife and I hired a tutor for twice-weekly lessons and practiced with language apps. After a year, we're conversationally fluent but still learning. The effort is worth it; speaking Spanish opens doors to deeper cultural experiences and relationships beyond the expat bubble.

Different Social Norms

Mexican social culture is warmer and more informal than Canadian culture. People greet friends with kisses and hugs. Personal space is smaller. Conversations are more direct in some ways and more indirect in others. Our kids initially found the physical affection overwhelming; everyone hugs everyone, but they've adapted.

Family-centered culture is strong here. Multi-generational gatherings are normal. Sundays are for family. This has been positive for us; it's reminded us to prioritize time together and embrace a slower pace of life.

Mañana Time

The concept of time is more fluid in Mexico. When someone says something will be ready tomorrow, it might mean tomorrow or it might mean next week. This was frustrating at first, especially for someone like me who works with deadlines. I've learned to build in buffer time for everything and confirm details multiple times. It's less stressful once you accept that efficiency and urgency aren't universally valued traits.

Building a social network as a family was essential to feeling at home. We approached this strategically.

Making Friends as Kids

The school provided the primary friend group for our kids. They've formed close friendships with both Mexican and expat classmates. Birthday parties, study groups, and team sports helped them integrate. Mexican teenagers are welcoming and curious about other cultures, which made the transition easier.

Our kids now have a bilingual friend group that spans cultures. They celebrate Mexican holidays like Día de Muertos with their local friends and Canadian Thanksgiving with expat families. That cross-cultural experience is something they never would have gained back home.

Expat Community

Mérida has a substantial expat community, though it's less dominated by retirees than places like Ajijic or San Miguel de Allende. We've connected with other expat families through school events and local meetups. These friendships have been invaluable, as they involve people who understand the challenges of raising kids in a foreign country and can share practical advice.

We've intentionally avoided living in an expat bubble. Most of our neighbors are Mexican, and we make an effort to participate in local community events. This balance, which involves having expat friends for shared experiences while building relationships with locals for cultural immersion, has been crucial for our family's integration.

Activities for Families

Mérida offers plenty of family activities. We spend our weekends exploring cenotes, visiting Mayan ruins, and enjoying the Sunday market at Paseo de Montejo, as well as visiting museums. The proximity to the beach, just 30 minutes to Progreso, means regular weekend beach trips. Cultural events are frequent and often free, including outdoor concerts, art exhibitions, and festivals. This active lifestyle has drawn us closer as a family compared to our screen-heavy routine in Canada.

Life in Mérida isn't perfect. Here are the ongoing challenges we face:

The Heat

Mérida is hot. March through September are brutally hot, with temperatures regularly exceeding 35°C (95°F) and high humidity. Air conditioning is essential, which drives up electricity costs. We've adjusted our schedules to avoid midday heat, but it's still a factor. Northern expats accustomed to cool climates take time to adapt.

Bureaucracy

Mexican bureaucracy is complex and often inefficient. Obtaining residency visas, registering vehicles, opening bank accounts—everything requires multiple visits, stacks of paperwork, and patience. We hired a gestor (a bureaucratic facilitator) to help with some processes, which saved time and frustration. Budget for professional help if you value your sanity.

Missing Family and Friends

This is the hardest part. Our kids miss their grandparents. We miss spontaneous dinners with old friends. Video calls help, but they're not the same. We fly back to Vancouver twice a year, and our family visits us here, but the distance remains challenging. This is the trade-off for the lifestyle we've gained, one we knew we'd face but still struggle with emotionally.

Limited Product Selection

Certain products aren't available or are prohibitively expensive. Electronics, specific brands, and specialty foods - we've learned to adapt or stock up when visiting Canada. Amazon Mexico exists, but it has a smaller selection and slower shipping than we are used to.

After a year in Mérida, here's what I'd tell families considering a similar move:

Visit First

Spend at least two weeks here, ideally a month, before committing. Stay in different neighborhoods. Visit schools. Experience the heat. Talk to expat families. We conducted a month-long trial run before making a decision, which gave us realistic expectations.

Budget More Than You Think

Mexico is affordable, but startup costs add up. Initial deposits, furniture, visa processing, international school enrollment fees, we spent roughly $10,000 USD in the first three months beyond our normal living expenses. Have a financial cushion.

Involve Your Kids

This move affects them most. We involved our kids in the decision-making process. They researched schools, explored neighborhoods online, and had veto power if they were truly opposed to a particular school. Their buy-in made the transition smoother. Forcing a resistant teenager to move abroad is a recipe for resentment.

Learn Spanish Before You Arrive

Even basic Spanish makes a huge difference. Start learning six months before your move. Use apps, take classes, and practice with native speakers online. The effort you put in beforehand will reduce stress exponentially during your first months here.

Embrace the Transition Period

The first three months were hard. We questioned our decision multiple times. Adjustment takes time. Give yourself and your kids grace during this period. Don't expect to feel at home immediately. By month six, things felt more normal. By month nine, we couldn't imagine going back.

Join the Expat Community, But Don't Live in It

Connect with other expat families for support and practical advice, but also make an effort to integrate into Mexican culture. Learn the language, celebrate local traditions, and build relationships with neighbors. The richest expat experience comes from cultural immersion, not isolation.

Absolutely. Moving our family to Mérida has been one of the best decisions we've made. Our kids are thriving academically and socially. Our financial stress has decreased dramatically. Our quality of life, time together, cultural experiences, health, and wellness have improved in ways we didn't anticipate.

Is it for everyone? No. It requires flexibility, patience, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. If you need everything to be exactly as it was back home, Mexico will frustrate you. But if you're open to new experiences and willing to adapt, raising a family in Mérida offers opportunities that would be impossible to access in most North American cities.

Our kids are growing up bilingual, culturally aware, and with a broader worldview than they would have gained in Vancouver. They're learning that there are multiple ways to live a good life. That perspective is invaluable.

One year in, we're not just surviving—we're thriving. And we're excited to see what the next year brings.

Written by Mark Benson

Mark, a remote software developer from Vancouver, lives in Mérida with his wife and teenage kids. He writes about practical family relocation—covering schools, healthcare, and safety in Mexico. With his balanced approach, Mark’s articles guide families toward a smoother transition and a more affordable, family-focused lifestyle abroad.

📍 From Vancouver, now in Mérida
Mark’s practical insights guide families through relocation, schooling, and family life abroad. His balanced writing helps readers find stability under the Mexican sun.
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