You've seen the headlines. Maybe your cousin just packed up a Sprinter van and headed for the Oaxacan coast, or your former coworker keeps posting Instagram stories of a $12 octopus dinner in Medellín. There is a massive shift happening. For decades, the conversation about the border was mostly one-directional—people moving North. But now? The tide has turned in a way that honestly catches most people off guard. Living south of the US isn't just for retirees anymore; it’s a full-blown economic and social movement.
It's complicated.
Between 2020 and 2024, the number of Americans living in Mexico alone jumped significantly, with the State Department estimating around 1.6 million US citizens now call it home. But "south of the US" is a big place. It’s not a monolith. You can’t compare the high-altitude, tech-heavy bustle of Mexico City to the slow-burn surf vibes of El Tunco in El Salvador or the sophisticated, European-style grids of Buenos Aires.
People are searching for something they feel they’ve lost in the States. Is it just the money? Kinda. But it's also about a pace of life that doesn't feel like a constant, grinding race to the finish line.
The Reality of the "Digital Nomad" Invasion
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: gentrification. When we talk about life south of the US, we have to talk about the friction. In neighborhoods like Roma Norte and Condesa in Mexico City, rents have skyrocketed. Locals are being pushed out. It’s a real, painful tension. You’ll see "Gringo Go Home" posters occasionally, and honestly, can you blame them? If someone moved into your neighborhood with five times your salary and doubled your rent, you’d be frustrated too.
But the economic impact isn't all negative. It’s a weird, messy balance. These expats bring "strong" currency that supports local businesses, from coffee shops to construction crews. In places like Medellín, Colombia, the influx of foreigners has helped transform the city's image from a dangerous "no-go" zone in the 90s to a global hub for innovation.
Did you know that Medellin won the "Innovative City of the Year" award from the Urban Land Institute? That wasn't an accident. It was a concerted effort to build public infrastructure, like the Metrocable, which connects lower-income hillside communities to the city center.
Breaking Down the Cost of Living (Without the Fluff)
Most people assume everything is "cheap." That’s a dangerous oversimplification.
- Electronics? Often more expensive than in the US due to import taxes.
- High-end sneakers? Good luck finding a deal.
- Fresh produce and labor? Dirt cheap.
If you want to live like an American—buying imported peanut butter, shopping at high-end malls, and driving a luxury SUV—you might actually spend more than you would in a mid-sized US city. The real savings happen when you lean into the local lifestyle. Go to the mercado. Eat the menú del día. Use the public transit systems, which are often lightyears ahead of what you’ll find in most American suburbs.
Safety, Perception, and the News Cycle
Safety is the first thing your mom asks about when you mention moving south of the US. The media portrays Latin America as a nonstop action movie, but the reality is more about "street smarts." If you wouldn't walk down a dark alley in South Side Chicago at 3 AM with your iPhone 15 out, don't do it in Bogotá.
The data shows a nuanced picture. According to the Global Peace Index, some countries in the region are remarkably stable. Costa Rica, for example, famously has no standing army. It pours that money into education and environmental protection instead. Meanwhile, places like El Salvador have seen a drastic, controversial drop in homicide rates under President Nayib Bukele. Whether you agree with his methods or not—and many human rights organizations don't—the "on the ground" feeling for tourists and residents has shifted from fear to a cautious, new normal.
But risks exist. Cartel violence in certain Mexican states is real. Political instability in Peru can lead to sudden protests and airport closures. You have to be an active consumer of news, not just a passive vacationer.
The Healthcare Surprise
This is where it gets interesting.
Many Americans head south of the US specifically for medical procedures. It’s called medical tourism, but for residents, it’s just... life. Places like Panama and Costa Rica have world-class private hospitals (think CIMA or Punta Pacifica) that are often affiliated with US institutions like Johns Hopkins.
You can get an MRI for a few hundred dollars. Dental implants that cost $5,000 in Florida might be $1,200 in San José. And the care? It’s often more personal. Doctors actually spend time talking to you. It's a shocking contrast to the 15-minute "in and out" appointments common in the US healthcare system.
🔗 Read more: Snow in Saudi Arabia: Why the Internet Always Freaks Out About It
Why the "Lifestyle" Tag Isn't Just Marketing
There is a concept in many cultures south of the US called convivencia. It’s basically the art of living together. It’s the Sunday family dinner that lasts six hours. It's the fact that people say "good morning" to everyone on the elevator.
For a lot of people moving from the US, this is the biggest culture shock. Not the language, but the social expectations. In the US, we value efficiency. In Latin America, people value the relationship. If you try to rush a business meeting or a dinner order, you’re the one who looks like you’re doing it wrong.
The Residency Maze
Moving isn't as simple as just buying a plane ticket. Each country has its own "vibe" when it comes to red tape.
- Mexico: Relatively easy. The Temporary Resident visa is a favorite for remote workers who can prove a certain monthly income.
- Panama: The "Friendly Nations Visa" used to be the gold standard, though they’ve tightened the requirements recently. It’s still one of the most pro-business environments in the world.
- Portugal? Wait, that’s Europe. But many people looking at Latin America also look at Portugal because the "D7" visa felt similar. However, as Portugal cracks down, the eyes are turning back to the Americas.
Infrastructure and the "Starlink" Effect
Five years ago, working remotely from a beach in Nicaragua was a pipe dream because the internet was, frankly, terrible. Then came Starlink. Elon Musk’s satellite internet has been a total game-changer for the region south of the US.
You can now be in a remote mountain cabin in the Andes and have 150 Mbps download speeds. This has opened up "Tier 2" and "Tier 3" cities that were previously ignored by the digital nomad crowd. It's not just Playa del Carmen anymore. Now it's Cuenca, Ecuador. It's Antigua, Guatemala. It's even the Sacred Valley in Peru.
The infrastructure isn't just digital, though. Look at the "Tren Maya" project in Mexico. Despite massive environmental concerns and protests from activists, it’s a multi-billion dollar bet on connecting the Yucatan peninsula in a way that will fundamentally change how people move through the region.
The Environment: A Double-Edged Sword
We can't ignore the climate. The geography south of the US is breathtaking—we're talking about the Amazon rainforest, the Patagonian glaciers, and the Mesoamerican Reef. But it's also on the front lines of climate change.
Central America is increasingly hit by more intense hurricane seasons. The "Dry Corridor" is seeing historic droughts, which, ironically, is a primary driver of people moving North while Americans move South. It’s a strange paradox. One group is fleeing environmental and economic collapse, while another is arriving with laptops to enjoy the "eternal spring" climate of the highlands.
Realities Most People Get Wrong
People think they’ll move to a tropical paradise and suddenly be happy. But as the saying goes, "wherever you go, there you are."
- The Noise: Latin America is loud. Fireworks at 2 AM for a saint's day? Common. Gas trucks playing a loud jingle? Every morning. Roosters in the city? Absolutely.
- The Bureaucracy: You will spend hours in a government building for a piece of paper that seems meaningless.
- The Language: You can get by with English in the tourist bubbles, but you’ll always be an outsider. To truly live south of the US, you need Spanish (or Portuguese for Brazil). Without it, you’re just a long-term tourist paying "Gringo prices."
Actionable Steps for Exploring the South
If you’re serious about spending more time or even moving south of the US, don't just wing it.
✨ Don't miss: Ancient Egyptian Physician Tomb Discovery: What Most People Get Wrong
- Do a "Lease Run": Don't buy property. AirBnB is fine for a week, but try to find a "sublet" or a 3-month rental in a residential neighborhood (not the tourist center). See if you can handle the local grocery store and the commute.
- Audit Your Taxes: Moving abroad doesn't exempt you from US taxes. The US is one of the few countries that taxes based on citizenship, not just residency. Look up the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and talk to a CPA who specializes in expats.
- Join Local Groups (Not Just Expat Ones): Facebook groups like "Expats in [City]" are great for finding a plumber, but they can also be echo chambers of complaining. Join local hobby groups—hiking, photography, or even CrossFit—where you’ll meet locals.
- Check the Water: It sounds basic, but "can I drink the tap water?" changes city by city. In Cuenca, Ecuador, yes. In most of Mexico, no. This affects your daily life more than you think.
- Health Insurance: Get a global policy. "Cigna Global" or "GeoBlue" are popular. Don't rely on your US-based health insurance; it usually won't cover you once you cross the border.
The region south of the US is undergoing its most significant transformation in a generation. It is no longer just a "backyard" for vacationers; it is becoming a primary hub for a new global workforce. Whether that's a good thing for the local populations remains a point of intense debate, but for the individual traveler or expat, the opportunities for a different kind of life have never been more accessible.