![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i255.photobucket.com\/albums\/hh138\/beatlo\/InPlayadelCarmenyoudonthavetolookfortheGringos_zpse60e7a3e.jpg\" "\\"In")
<\/p>\nIn any case, the point remains that while there are a few pockets of major, well-known \u00e2\u20ac\u0153expat communities\u00e2\u20ac\u009d throughout Mexico, there are also many, many Americans and Canadians living quietly in unsuspecting places blending in with the general population:<\/p>\n
Have you noticed recently that more and more of your neighbors are heading abroad, for extended vacations, retirement or to change residence permanently?<\/p>\n
Have you ever wondered where they’re all going?<\/p>\n
Numbers are really hard to pin down exactly, and even the U.S. government generally feels it can’t find very accurate information.\u00c2\u00a0 But already 10 years ago, the U.S. government estimated that nearly 4 million U.S. citizens were living abroad permanently.<\/p>\n
Of these, it was estimated that about a million were living in Mexico<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s over 25%, and by far the country with the most!<\/p>\n Of course, both numbers have probably increased drastically over the past decade.\u00c2\u00a0 Even counting for inaccuracies, the point is clear that most Gringos have been heading down south of the Rio Grande.<\/p>\n Other than the obvious point that Mexico is right next door, there are many, many motivations for us as Americans to choose this country as their new home, full-time or part-time.\u00c2\u00a0 These include the low cost of living, high-quality, modern services, and a rich history and culture.<\/p>\n But even within Mexico, we’re left with the question, where exactly are those 1 million?\u00c2\u00a0 Mexico is a big country.\u00c2\u00a0 Many of the tourist favorites are home to large expat populations.\u00c2\u00a0 Some very high numbers have been cited for places like Lake Chapala, with up to 60,000 Americans, Puerto Vallarta with 50,000, and Cancun and the Riviera Maya with a similar number.\u00c2\u00a0 Some people feel the numbers are lower, but as stated above, it’s difficult to confirm.\u00c2\u00a0 Many commentators base their opinions on what they have seen when visiting, which is inaccurate when it comes to pure statistics, as we will see below.<\/strong><\/p>\n Some places near the border, like Tijuana in the north-east, are also home to a large number because of proximity.\u00c2\u00a0 One estimate for Baja California and the Tijuana area totalled well over 100,000. (update:<\/strong> It’s in this case that we probably have to consider for Mexicans born in the U.S.!)<\/em><\/p>\n This still totals to less than 300,000, or 30%, counting very generously.\u00c2\u00a0 So, where are they all?<\/p>\n Estimates, again from 2001, counted about 450,000 in Mexico City and nearby areas, and some sources have cited as many as 600,000!\u00c2\u00a0 This now counts for a really big chunk of those who are left.\u00c2\u00a0 If this number is true, it would be the largest population of Americans outside the U.S. – about 15% of all American expats! (According to the very loose estimates we are working with here.)<\/p>\n But if you’ve ever been to Mexico City, you probably didn’t see many Americans around, if any at all.\u00c2\u00a0 One commentator doubted even a much lower estimate for this very reason \u00e2\u20ac\u201c he had lived in Mexico City for half a year and had not seen many Americans, “in the churches, the stores, on the street, etc.”\u00c2\u00a0 On the other hand, it’s important to remember that Mexico City is huge.\u00c2\u00a0 The metropolitan area is about 25 million, or about the population of Texas \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a bit less than that of Canada.\u00c2\u00a0 Even the very generous estimate of 600,000 would be only a bit more than 2% of the population; hardly a drop in the bucket.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s also possible that in Mexico City, there is less swelling by tourist arrivals, and therefore there would be considerably less visual presence.<\/p>\n This contrasts heavily to Puerto Vallarta<\/a>, for example, where 50,000 would be around 20% of the city and\u00c2\u00a0 the nearby tourist towns \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a sizable, and very visible presence, which is the reality of the situation when you visit there.\u00c2\u00a0 This is even more marked on Lake Chapala, where most of the expat population is in and around two small towns, with a substantially smaller population than Puerto Vallarta. (See listings for Lake Chapala <\/em>here<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n The other factor is that there is no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153expat community\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or expat bars, etc., within Mexico City where all the Americans cluster.\u00c2\u00a0 A similar case can be made for a city like Morelia.<\/p>\n So, to answer the question \u00e2\u20ac\u201c where are all the Gringos?\u00c2\u00a0 While the unofficial statistical answer is possibly Mexico City, in that city you really don’t feel like you are in an expat community \u00e2\u20ac\u201c which can be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preference.\u00c2\u00a0 If you want the atmosphere of being in a real expat community try places like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, etc.<\/p>\n —![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i255.photobucket.com\/albums\/hh138\/beatlo\/TheCanadianLegioninLakeChapala_zpsc0931317.jpg\" "\\"The")
\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>In these places there are enough Americans that you feel a presence, everywhere.\u00c2\u00a0 While this feeling is boosted by enormous waves of visitors in certain seasons, even during low seasons, you walk around and see Gringos everywhere.\u00c2\u00a0 You see Americans in the grocery store, you make American friends and hang out at bars where you find plenty of American regulars.\u00c2\u00a0 There are also many residents \u00e2\u20ac\u201c vacationers, retirees and others \u00e2\u20ac\u201c who own Mexico real estate<\/a> to enjoy on a full-time and part-time basis.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i255.photobucket.com\/albums\/hh138\/beatlo\/InMexicoCityitmightbehardtofindtheAmericans_zps5163fd2d.jpg\" "\\"In")
<\/p>\n
\nThomas Lloyd<\/strong> graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management\/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 16 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree <\/strong>and Mexico Professional Real Estate License<\/strong> S.E.P. #5978657. He is the president of Top Mexico Real Estate. Contact him at<\/em> (512) 879-6546<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
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