What are the expats like in San Miguel de Allende?
Daniel Ortiz - Coldwell Banker SMART
The expats in San Miguel de Allende are amazing. The main reason why we are in this business is because of the people that we meet and the people that we work with. A lot of the expats that have chosen San Miguel to be their home are people who are in love with Mexico; people who are in love with San Miguel. This is not a perfect place to live but it is a colorful and authentic town, so the expats here are happy with that. They are looking for that authenticity that an old town and...The expats in San Miguel de Allende are amazing. The main reason why we are in this business is because of the people that we meet and the people that we work with. A lot of the expats that have chosen San Miguel to be their home are people who are in love with Mexico; people who are in love with San Miguel. This is not a perfect place to live but it is a colorful and authentic town, so the expats here are happy with that. They are looking for that authenticity that an old town and many generations of local people bring. There was a couple that moved down here from Indian Wells in California. The street that they were living at was in Guardiana. Two doors down from them was another couple that moved down from Indian Wells. They became very good friends while living here but they were neighbors in Indian Wells and never saw each other. The reason was that their lives in the US was consumed by traveling by car from point A to point B while a lot of your life here in San Miguel is walking. So here in San Miguel, you would walk by your neighbor’s house and have a chance to meet them.
The expat community here has a very lively vibe. A lot of expats provide free time to NGOs (Non-Governmental Agencies; charities) in San Miguel, which is really amazing and commendable. San Miguel has the largest number of NGOs throughout Mexico, considering the size of the city. Most of these NGOs are managed, operated, and funded by expats and the work that they do is highly commendable. As Mexicans, we appreciate how this expat community has impacted all of San Miguel de Allende. There are NGOs here whose mission is to feed the hungry like Patronato por Ninos. There are NGOs like Casita Linda that focuses on housing. San Miguel has about 90,000 people living within the city and about 90,000 living in and around San Miguel but the poverty level of these other 90,000 is very high, so there are a lot of opportunities to give back to the local community here. One thing that I really value about our expat community in San Miguel is their level of interest and commitment in helping this country and San Miguel.
Generally speaking, the expats here are living a slower pace of life. You can see that they are happy and enjoying life. It is not hard for them to meet new friends and to socialize.
(Patronato por Ninos, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted June 16, 2016
Maria Mazarro - Kika's Botique
Most of the expats in San Miguel de Allende are in their 60s and in the US would be considered middle class in the US. A lot of upper class Mexicans from Mexico City own houses here in San Miguel de Allende and they come during the weekends. A lot of tourists come here from other places in Mexico. Most of the expats that move here in San Miguel de Allende are looking a nice weather. A lot of expats from the northeastern side of the US and from Texas moved...
Most of the expats in San Miguel de Allende are in their 60s and in the US would be considered middle class in the US. A lot of upper class Mexicans from Mexico City own houses here in San Miguel de Allende and they come during the weekends. A lot of tourists come here from other places in Mexico. Most of the expats that move here in San Miguel de Allende are looking a nice weather. A lot of expats from the northeastern side of the US and from Texas moved here.
Most expats from the US and Canada who moved here live on their pension. They can have a better life here in Mexico with the pension money that they get from the States because the cost of living is cheaper here. Rent is cheap and you can get services like a maid or a gardener, which is not expensive either. Expats also love San Miguel de Allende because they can walk here, contrary to how most towns are in the States where you need to drive. Most expats love walking around town and going to the market, and they feel like they are home. Mexico, in general, is a country that makes you feel like you’re home.
(Art sold on the street in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted August 2, 2016
Ian T. Clement - Clement and Associates
.jpg)
People who leave their comfort zone tend to be adventurous people, adventurous people tend to be curious people, curious people tend to be intelligent people, and intelligent people tend to be educated people. In San Miguel de Allende, you get a demographic of people who are looking for something different, and looking to expand their experience. There certainly are some curmudgeon types that live in San Miguel de Allende because it’s less...
People who leave their comfort zone tend to be adventurous people, adventurous people tend to be curious people, curious people tend to be intelligent people, and intelligent people tend to be educated people. In San Miguel de Allende, you get a demographic of people who are looking for something different, and looking to expand their experience. There certainly are some curmudgeon types that live in San Miguel de Allende because it’s less expensive, and they can have servants and very self-serving needs, but the vast majority of people who come to live here in San Miguel de Allende want to be part of the community. They share their time and experience, usually get in to something philanthropic, and tend to be honest-to-goodness good people. My life is so much easier because the people I get to work with are quality human beings, and I don’t have to chase people for payment, or do all these things that other attorneys around the world have to do.
Granted I don’t practice criminal law, we are able to have a good business, a good profit, and I’ve made hundreds of friends through my work, so I really think that there’s been a wealth that I never knew I would accumulate, and it’s not a monetary wealth. It’s a network of good people whom I consider friends and clients, and who, at this point in my life, I couldn’t imagine living without.
(Parade in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted December 1, 2016
Suzie Osman
The expats in San Miguel de Allende are friendly. You could just walk down the street, and someone would stop and offer to help you. As an example, my friend and I were going some place, and we saw an Indian restaurant. There was this woman who was walking on the other side of the street coming toward us as we were going. As we were talking about the Indian restaurant, the woman stopped from across the street and said, “This place is great, you’ve got to try it,” and...The expats in San Miguel de Allende are friendly. You could just walk down the street, and someone would stop and offer to help you. As an example, my friend and I were going some place, and we saw an Indian restaurant. There was this woman who was walking on the other side of the street coming toward us as we were going. As we were talking about the Indian restaurant, the woman stopped from across the street and said, “This place is great, you’ve got to try it,” and this woman continues to walk along the street happily. Where else would that happen? In Acapulco, nobody stopped to help you. In Lanai, Hawaii, yes, people did stop to offer help. In Maui, you can always stop and ask somebody to help you and they will, but not necessarily will they stop unless it’s a car thing because in Hawaii, everybody stops to help everybody. In New York, this does not happen. This happened only in San Miguel de Allende.
(Pictured: Expats attend Susie and Barry Osman's 40th wedding anniversary in Rancho Los Labradores, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.)
Posted January 3, 2017
Jonathan Peters - Ventanas de San Miguel
The expats in San Miguel de Allende used to skew retirees but now that's not the case anymore. San Miguel de Allende has become a much more youthful place than it used to be. There are a lot more foreigners coming in to run businesses in San Miguel de Allende. There are chefs, people from the hotel industry, and even web designers. The expats are quite a mix in San Miguel de Allende. Generally speaking, people skew more liberal than they do in the States, which is...
The expats in San Miguel de Allende used to skew retirees but now that's not the case anymore. San Miguel de Allende has become a much more youthful place than it used to be. There are a lot more foreigners coming in to run businesses in San Miguel de Allende. There are chefs, people from the hotel industry, and even web designers. The expats are quite a mix in San Miguel de Allende. Generally speaking, people skew more liberal than they do in the States, which is obviously true because it's one thing to demonize people that are a long way away, but how are you going to demonize your neighbors or the lady that you see every day at her store? People are generally pretty open minded, as far as the foreign population goes, and these people are those who you could have a good conversation with. The foreigners are educated and intelligent people who are willing to think outside the box and they are not people who have something against where they're from.
We're close enough to the States but I don't go home any more frequently than I do just because I have other economic stuff I have to look at such as the cost of raising kids and other responsibilities. I’ve always kept one foot in the States and one foot here in San Miguel de Allende, just like how other people maintain close relations with their family. It's easy to get down here and it's easy to get home. There's no need to feel like you're stuck in the South Pacific and incommunicado. San Miguel de Allende is an awesome place and I love it.
(Three generations at Ventanas de San Miguel, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted February 17, 2017
Judy Newell - Perfect Journeys
The expats in San Miguel de Allende are very generous and interesting people. There are expats who have lived and traveled all over the world, but they fell for this magical city. Many expats have done what I did. I was here in San Miguel de Allende less than 24 hours before I bought a lot and contracted with someone to build me a house. I just said, "This is it. This is where I'm going to live." Many expats have the same story.
...The expats in San Miguel de Allende are very generous and interesting people. There are expats who have lived and traveled all over the world, but they fell for this magical city. Many expats have done what I did. I was here in San Miguel de Allende less than 24 hours before I bought a lot and contracted with someone to build me a house. I just said, "This is it. This is where I'm going to live." Many expats have the same story.
It's comfortable in San Miguel de Allende and you have a beautiful lifestyle. The expat environment is warm and welcoming. Most of the expats who are here appreciate their lives here so they do their best to give back to the community.
It is very easy to make friends with other expats in San Miguel de Allende.
There is an organization called the San Miguel Newcomers club. The newcomers and expats who live in San Miguel de Allende meet once a month to meet and greet other people and the newcomers are welcomed into the community. This is one popular way to meet new people.
There are multiple churches in San Miguel de Allende like the community church, the UU (Unitarian church), St. Paul's Church, and a Catholic church that has an English-speaking church service. Some expats become involved with the local churches and get to meet other people this way.
Other expats join clubs and organizations like the bridge club, the country club, even a pickleball group that meets every Sunday, a croquet club, and a kayaking group. The Audubon Society has a bird walk every Sunday. There's also the Rotary Club. All clubs and organizations in San Miguel de Allende are listed in the local weekly newspaper. Expats simply go out and join activities that they are interested in.
There are also different charities and non-profit groups in San Miguel de Allende that expats could get involved with. There is the Red Cross, S.P.A. (Sociedad Protectora de Animales), and Feed the Hungry San Miguel. If you can think of something that could possibly be a charity, it's in San Miguel de Allende.
(El Museo Casa Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted August 5, 2017
Greg Gunter - Dream Pro Homes
.jpg)
Hi, Readers, The old saying goes that retirees move to Florida to die, they move to San Miguel de Allende to live! Expats here are vivacious, explorative, adventurous, curious, fun-loving, life-filled, active people who often become very involved with the local community organizations, be it the numerous music, art or theater production companies, of any of the 120 NGO nonprofits that serve the local native community. If any of the above descries your...
Hi, Readers, The old saying goes that retirees move to Florida to die, they move to San Miguel de Allende to live! Expats here are vivacious, explorative, adventurous, curious, fun-loving, life-filled, active people who often become very involved with the local community organizations, be it the numerous music, art or theater production companies, of any of the 120 NGO nonprofits that serve the local native community. If any of the above descries your personality, you need to come and visit!
Posted November 12, 2017