Mexico has seen a rapid increase in the number of Americans choosing to live in the country since the pandemic started a new trend of remote work.
about 1.6 million Americans According to the US State Department, he lives in Mexico. Many of them are digital nomads, calling destinations like Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan home. Because it’s a lot cheaper than living in America.
“I’m paying $600 for a one-bedroom apartment in the middle of town,” says Cody Anderson, who recently moved to Guadalajara from Los Angeles. ”
One would imagine that an influx of Americans migrating to Mexico with more purchasing power would benefit the economy, especially as the dollar remains strong against the peso. But for some Mexicans, the boon is a nightmare.
“It’s not simply that spending money here is good for the economy,” says Callian Garcia from Mexico City. “Foreigners drive up prices, and certain areas basically cater to foreigners rather than locals. Definitely a problem.”
She’s not the only one who feels that way. Speaking to some Mexico City natives, they say rents have skyrocketed since expats started moving to desirable neighborhoods like Roma Norte and La Condesa.
“Most Mexicans probably have Starbucks [drink] Twice in my life,” says David Alvarez, who works at Lavenderia, a laundromat in the city. “How are you expected to pay for the roof over your head with all the foreigners taking over?”
A surge in migration is driving up restaurant prices and turning local bodegas into cafés with free WiFi.
native vs. foreigner
The anger that natives of Mexico hold against Americans has finally reached boiling point against Americans who earn more in one month than in six months. Mexico City has crude signs telling foreigners to leave.
“New to the city? Working remotely? [expletive] Plague, and LOCALS [expletive] i hate you LEAVE” signs have since spread rapidly online.
But many foreigners plan to maintain the status quo. Asif Khan of India said, “If Mexicans are this angry about foreigners coming in, they should restrict their borders like any other country.
“Don’t bring money here!” Or you can start a business and take foreign money, ”says US businessman Kevin Hake. “The complainer gets angry and poor, and others are happy to raise the rent and serve sandwiches that the complainer can’t buy.”
Meanwhile, local governments don’t seem to have much of a problem with the surge in expats expelling Mexican residents. , announced that it had agreed to increase the number of digital nomads living and working there.
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Joe Gomez is an award-winning journalist who has worked globally for several major networks including CBS, CNN, FOX News and most recently NBC News Radio as a Washington-based national correspondent. He has covered catastrophes and worked as an investigative reporter in many danger zones.