Best Beach Towns on Mexico’s Riviera Maya for Expats Named

A report on the best beach towns for all budgets on Mexico’s Riviera Maya—an area with First-World services and amenities and a laidback Caribbean lifestyle has just been released.

“On Mexico’s Riviera Maya, there’s something for every type of person and lifestyle,” says InternationalLiving.com editor Jason Holland.

The Riviera Maya, which runs from Cancun to Tulum on the Yucatán Peninsula’s east coast, boasts dramatic scenery of white-sand beaches, blue Caribbean waters, and thick jungle. There’s deep local reverence for Maya culture and history. The weather is warm here year-round. And the cost of living, while modest, offers great bang for your buck.

“You’ll enjoy some of Mexico’s ?nest quality of living for a fraction of what you’d pay in the U.S. or Canada,” Holland says.

“All told, a couple can comfortably call this paradise home for around $2,500 to $3,000 a month.”

Simple meals in local restaurants cost $5 or less. In stores, prices are similar to those in the U.S. for imported foods, but fresh produce is a bargain. Rent on a two-bedroom condo close to the beach can run less than $700 a month. And expats enjoy big savings on property taxes and healthcare, too, when compared to what they cost in the States.

Government investment in tourism along this coast began in Cancun in the 1970s and continued—working its way south—over the last 30 years. The resulting regional prosperity is reflected in the strong infrastructure—roads and medical services are top-notch. The feel on the Riviera Maya is First World, with a vibrant, distinctly Mexican culture.

“All this translates to a comfortable and pleasant place to live for expats—and an easy transition, too,” Holland reports.

Scottie and Jim Watson have lived in the town of Playa del Carmen for six years and watched it boom over that time. Roads have been paved, restaurants and shops have opened, property values have raised, but the town’s guiding spirit of “fun in the sun” remains strong.

“All of our friends are very active. We walk the beach, swim in the ocean, swim laps in the pool. We have a catamaran, too,” says Jim. “Everyone is well-dosed with vitamin D.”

“We indulge ourselves. We have a cleaning lady, which I wouldn’t have in the States. And foods that are good for you, like fruits and vegetables, are cheap,” Scottie says.

Despite the town’s popularity, real estate deals can still be found. The farther from the beach you go—but still a reasonable walk or quick bike ride—the better the deals are. Recently a two-bedroom condo next to the beach listed for $199,000. Several blocks inland from the water, a two-bedroom unit listed for $109,000.

Down the coast from Playa is the bohemian town of Tulum, where white-sand beaches and turquoise waters are complemented by low-scale development.

“Tulum used to be a favorite stop on the hippie backpacker trail. But these days it’s the province of more well-heeled and fashionably-dressed visitors,” Holland says.

The old town center, inland, is where business is done: grocery shopping (there are several large, well-stocked supermarkets), hardware stores, gas stations, and more. There are also cafés and restaurants.

“Most people live around town or north of it,” Holland says. “But the beach side—about two miles from ‘downtown’—is where they play.”

Real estate prices are reasonable here, too. In Tulum itself, a two-bedroom town home a few blocks from downtown recently listed for $97,000. In the same area, a three-bedroom house listed for $192,000.

“About 20 minutes south of Cancun, Puerto Morelos is a town that’s as close to traditional Mexico as you’ll ?nd on this coast,” Holland reports.

This quiet ?shing village is home to a core group of permanent expats and is a part-time haven for many snowbirds. There are some resorts and hotels—but a fraction of what you have just up the road. It has a small-town feel.

Canadians Sharon and Les Webb have lived in Puerto Morelos for ?ve years and rent a two-bedroom home one street off the beach for $570 a month. “We can live here on much less than in Canada. If you have a pension or Social Security, you could live well. People are friendly and there are good people in this town. You can’t help but wake up with a smile in this sunshine,” Sharon says.