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Cost-of-Living: Roughly Half
of U.S. National Average
Hacienda
de los Santos, former home of a wealthy silver baron. Photo
courtesy of Mexexperience.
Many seniors decide to retire
outside of the United States. Although the choice is not for
everyone, U.S. retirees who move to foreign destinations usually
do so to find a lower cost-of-living and a temperate
climate. One favorite foreign retirement spot is Mexico, and
a town to consider for a Mexican retirement
is Alamos, located in the state of Sonora, about 400 miles south
of the U.S. border (cross at Nogales, Arizona) and about 15 miles
east of Navajoa, off Highway 15, the main highway along the
western edge of Mexico. This small colonial city lies in the
foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental and was once a silver
boom town. It was founded in the 1500s and has a colorful
history of silver barons and conquistadors. By the 1700s,
the small town had grown into a city of 40,000 people, but the
good times ended in the 1930s with the Great Depression when the
price of silver dropped to rock bottom. Alamos became a
ghost town and was essentially forgotten until the 1950s when a
group of wealthy U.S. citizens revitalized the town by buying the
old mansions and restoring them.
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Today Alamos is considered a
national monument by the Mexican government, and as a result, no
modern buildings are are allowed and any architectural
restorations must adhere to strict standards. This is
definitely Old Mexico, with artists' shops nestled in behind the
old mansions that once belonged to wealthy merchants and mining
barons. The town has retained its Spanish romanticism and is
home to 6,000 people, about 3,000 of whom are expatriates. Of this population, it is estimated that roughly 300 are from the
U.S. and Canada. To reach Alamos, fly on
Aeromexico from Tucson to Ciudad Obegon and then hire a taxi for
the hour ride into town.
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Many of Alamos' retirees are
convinced that they have found the ideal place to retire. It
is easy to see why many consider it one of Mexico's best kept
secrets. The town is easily accessible from the United States and because of the
higher elevation, the summers are cool enough (temperatures in the
high 80s) that many expatriates live here year-round. The
sun shines nearly every day, and some spectacular thunderstorms
occur in the summer. While the English-speaking population
is is small, it is visible, organizing several community events,
including historic house tours, each year. If you do not
speak Spanish, there are enough people who do sprinkled throughout
town that the language barrier should not be a huge problem.
In a little time, you will also pick up some Spanish (there are
also conversational Spanish lessons available).
Known for its charm, Alamos is a
mellow, safe and friendly place that attracts winter
tourists. There are several restaurants and seven hotels and
B&Bs, as well as five RV parks. There are several Catholic
churches, a museum and a small hospital, although any significant
health problems should probably be addressed at a larger city
hospital, most likely in Hermosillo, 200 miles north. Alamos
presents festivals throughout the year, and the beaches of
Mazatlan are roughly 5 1/2 hours away by automobile. The Copper Canyon, Mexico's spectacular answer to the Grand
Canyon, is 2 1/2 hours to the southeast.
Rather than buy real estate, many
retirees live here in their RVs, although foreigners can certainly
purchase Mexican property. There are also rental homes
available, although these are usually intended for vacationers and
can be a little pricey for everyday living.
You won't find a public
transportation system in Alamos, but taxis are plentiful and very
inexpensive.
This restored colonial gem of
Alamos is a delightful, laid-back place to retire, but it is not
for everyone. If you are seeking hustle and bustle or the
conveniences that you have back home in the U.S. or Canada, then
Alamos is probably not the best retirement destination for
you. If you are looking for a quiet oasis not too far from
the States and one not overrun with tourists and
commercialization, then Alamos is worth a peek. It may also
be a place to consider living part-time if full-time living in
Mexico is not your cup of tea.
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