Why I'm writing Settle Mexico

I've lived in Mexico for more than ten years, and I love it here. It's a country with an enormous amount to offer. Part of its charm, though, is that things are rarely as obvious or as easy as they would be somewhere else.

The bureaucracy is hard even for Mexicans. For foreigners it can be infuriating. Residency is the first wall most people hit. I went through the process myself, and ResidencyMexico is the tool I wished had existed, starting with what each consulate actually asks for. But residency is far from the only wall. Many everyday processes here work very differently from the US or Europe: renting without a Mexican guarantor, an electricity bill that suddenly triples, the tax document every landlord asks for. And solid explanations online are hard to find.

I've also watched many foreigners regret where they settled: the wrong part of Mexico City, or the wrong city altogether. That's an expensive mistake to undo, and better information before you commit makes it less likely.

Then there's the good part. Over the years I've learned how to make the most of living here: where to go on holiday within Mexico and how to get there, which services are worth it, the restaurants and places worth knowing. Those are the things that make life here so good, and they're what I most want to share.

What you'll get

• Practical guides, each with its sources and the date it was last checked. Start here, or browse every guide by topic.
• Help choosing where to live, with honest side-by-side comparisons. The first is Mérida vs Querétaro.
• The good part: travel within Mexico, services and places that make everyday life better.

The one thing I'll always tell you

I run ResidencyMexico, which is a business. When residency is the honest answer to something, I'll point you there and say so. Everything else here is free.

Hit reply and tell me where you are in Mexico, or where you're thinking of going. I read every reply.

Roger