Living in Merida, Mexico - Interview With an Expat

What is life in Merida like?

Merida is the capital of Yucatán. It’s a city with a rich history, attracting visitors from all over the world. But what is moving to and living in Merida like?

In this interview, Melissa shares her experiences and practical tips for anyone who is moving to Merida or is simply interested in what life in Merida is like.

This interview is part of the Ask an Expat series. In this series, I interview people living all over the world but outside of their home country. I try to help paint an honest picture of the ups and downs of life abroad, share tips about moving to the place the expat now calls home, and information about what to see and do here.

Life in Merida, Mexico

Name: Melissa Douglas
Age: 31
Home town: Nottingham, UK

Why Did You Move to Merida?

life in Merida — Life in Merida – picture by Sharon Hahn

”Honestly, my move to Merida was pretty accidental.

I had lived in Greece for 4.5 years up until the summer of 2021. During that time I had become pretty established as someone who writes travel guides and contributed to guidebooks on Greece. But in my final year I just felt ready for a change.

Various aspects of living in Greece (like the bureaucracy) were getting tiring, I had some personal life issues (including a stalker) and generally I just wanted a change.

I traveled while working remotely for a while.

I spent a few months in England and Scotland, a few months in Croatia and Serbia, and a month in the USA. While I enjoyed my time in these places, I didn’t see myself living there.

I randomly booked a flight from Atlanta Georgia to Cancun as I had been visiting friends in the USA. I stopped in Merida and really liked the city. So I extended my stay, and extended my stay again, and then decided to use it as a base for the entire duration of my 6-month tourist visa.

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do. I met my boyfriend in Merida and made a lot of great friends. So, I eventually decided I wanted to stay and made the decision to apply for residency.

Prior to moving to Merida I didn’t know an awful lot about the city at all. It was very much something I didn’t foresee.”

Also Read: Interview about Moving to and Living in Cancun, Mexico

What Do You Like About Living in Merida?

”The city center is gorgeous and many of the old colonial mansions have been converted into restaurants and coffee shops – perfect for remote workers!

You have everything you need here – home comforts, plenty of international and western stores/eateries for times you feel homesick or want something from your own country, as well as lots of excellent Yucatecan/Mexican restaurants and places to experience the culture.”

What Do You Dislike About Living in Merida?

” I am struggling to get used to the heat here, even as someone who spent years living in the Mediterranean. Even in spring, you can get days where the temperatures soar as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 ºF)!

In Greece I would walk everywhere all the time. Even for instance, if I went to a coworking space for the day I would walk 30-40 minutes across Athens with my laptop. In Mexico it is simply too hot. Even walking 10 minutes to the grocery store is a challenge.

I have learned that I need to run my errands very early in the morning and take the trips/little getaways I want to take around Mexico in the winter months (when it is still 28 ºC or more!)”

Is Merida Safe as a Place to Live?

”Merida is generally a very safe place – it is often referred to as being the safest city in Mexico.

It makes a great base for exploring the wider Yucatan region and you can easily catch flights from Merida airport to other parts of Mexico if you want to explore further – like Mexico Pueblos Magicos, Mexico City, Oaxaca, or San Cristobal de las Casas.

I often walk around Merida by myself and I feel very comfortable. Obviously, I use the same common sense as I would at home or anywhere in the world (i.e. not walking around by myself at night and being careful where I go).

But a lot of people associate Mexico with danger and the situation varies dramatically from one part of the country to another. Merida is a very safe place to live.

I drive to the nearby beach towns alone, work for hours in a coffee shop by myself, or run to the convenience store in the evening to grab something. I feel very comfortable and I never have to consciously think to myself ”oh my gosh I’m in Mexico and I need to be careful”.

What Is Your Favorite Thing to Do in Merida?

”I love going out for breakfast or brunch. Merida has a lot of cute breakfast places that serve traditional Mexican breakfasts like enchiladas or chilaquiles (fried corn tortillas) but there are also a lot of places that serve more contemporary international breakfasts (like say, eggs Benedict).

A good place to go is Wayan’e (Calle 15 x 18A y 20 Itzimna). This little place is little more than a taco truck and there is always a long queue that is snaked around the block (a testament to how great their food is!

If you want somewhere more international and contemporary, you can try Artemia (calle 39 numero 140 por 26 y 28, Montes de Amé) or Te Extraño Extraño (Calle 56 #426 x 47 y 49, Centro, 97000).”

What Is Your Favorite Place to Hang Out in Merida?

”La Negrita Cantina (Calle 62 esquina, C. 49 415, Centro, 97000) is a great place to go on Friday or Saturday nights. It’s quite a popular hangout for expats living in Merida so that might not be everyone’s thing but it is a great, social place to meet people.

A lot of Yucatecans will hang out here too so it doesn’t feel inauthentic. The bar almost always has live music and salsa dancing events.”

What Is the Expat / International Community Like in Merida?

”There are a lot of expats in Merida (I think I read that there are 11,000 American and Canadian expats here alone!) and it is easy to meet people – both other expats and locals living in Merida.

Some expat areas in Mexico have become quite gentrified or lost their authentic Mexican feel (like Tulum and to an extent, Playa del Carmen). Merida isn’t like that at all.”

Any Tips for Moving To / Living in Merida?

”I think it is a good idea to always give somewhere a trial run before you commit to moving there permanently. The great thing about Mexico is that the country offers a 180-day tourist visa for people of most nationalities.

So it is very easy to enter as a tourist, spend a couple of months basing yourself in different neighborhoods (and even other cities if you are unsure). Then, you can see if Merida is the city for you.

A lot of people struggle with the heat here as this is one of the hottest parts of Mexico. So it is important to be aware of how hot/humid it can get here – particularly during the summer months when you can expect monsoon-like rains and hurricane warnings.”

Any Resources You Found Useful During the Process of Moving to and Building a New Life in Merida?

”Facebook groups are the best way to do anything in Merida.

There are not many events organized or communities via Meetup or Couchsurfing, which are popular platforms in other countries and cities.

Facebook is even the best way to find apartments and other rentals in Merida. Most Mexicans will use the Facebook marketplace and you can get contracts with durations as short as three months.

If you want to check information related to moving to Mexico, get advice on where to find products and services, or meet other expats, you can simply create a post on Facebook.

These are the names of some Merida Facebook groups I’d recommend:

Expats living in Merida
Expats in Merida and the Yucatan
Digital Nomads in Merida
Merida Mexico Expat Community
Merida Casitas for Rent (good group for searching for accommodation)
Mérida women’s support & social circle
Merida Food Hunt (good group to ask about groceries especially international products or if you have specific dietary requirements)
Merida Yucatan jobs for English speakers
Merida Art, Music & Culture Scene MID CityBeat

Also Read: What to Know Before Going to Mexico

Is There Something You Just Have to See or Do When You Are in Merida?

”On a Sunday morning, the main promenade (Paseo Montejo) is closed off so that people can walk and cycle along it. You will see lots of locals and expats running, walking their dogs, meeting their friends for a chat and a stroll, etc.

The most popular thing though, is to rent bicycles on a Sunday and cycle along Paseo Montejo and around its nearby parks. It is recommended to either reserve a bike in advance or stop by as early as possible as there are just a few small shops that offer rentals and they often sell out early.

Lots of street vendors come out to line Paseo Montejo and sell everything from traditional Mexican snacks to arts, crafts, and artisanal goods.”

About Melissa

Melissa Douglas is a British travel writer who manages multiple travel websites and makes a living through advertising and affiliate marketing on these websites. Prior to living in Merida, she lived in Greece for 4.5 years and before that, in Italy and South Korea.”

She has been featured in a number of high-profile publications across the globe and shares her experiences living and traveling in Mexico at Mexicotravelsecrets.com

About Merida, Mexico

Merida is the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the largest city on the Yucatán Peninsula. The city is located in the northwest part of the state, approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Merida is a cultural center, featuring multiple museums, art galleries, and movie theatres, with music and dancing playing an important part in day-to-day life.

Merida still has a lot of colonial buildings but at the same time is a modern city with a range of shopping malls, auto dealerships, hotels, restaurants, and leisure facilities.

The city has been a popular location for investment which has allowed the Yucatán economy to grow at three times the rate of the national average.

Merida’s climate is hot and its humidity is moderate to high, depending on the time of year. It is generally a few degrees hotter in the city than in coastal areas because of its inland location and low elevation. The rainy season runs from June through October.

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Living in Merida, Mexico – Interview With an Expat