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Moving to Mexico | Part 5 of 10 · An honest series by Dudy, creator of My Puerto Vallarta Daily
Dudy shares his family’s personal journey of moving to Mexico — the good, the challenging, the unexpected, and everything in between. In Part 5: cash, the Mexican bank account he never opened, and where the locals shop.
More cash than the last 15 years combined
One of the biggest adjustments for me was going back to using cash. Mexico still relies on it much more than I expected. It’s changing, and contactless payments are accepted in more places than ever, but plenty of businesses, even in tourist areas like Zona Romántica, are still cash only. During the past year, I’ve used more cash than I had in the previous 15 years combined. I was the guy who never carried cash. Now, stopping by the ATM has simply become part of my weekly routine.
We never opened a Mexican bank account
The interesting part isn’t really about cash. It’s about understanding what you actually need once you live here. Before moving, I assumed opening a Mexican bank account would be one of the first things I’d do. As it turned out, I was missing one document and couldn’t open the account. At first I was frustrated. Then I realized… I didn’t actually need one.
We pay with cash when needed, use our credit cards whenever possible, and transfer our rent to our landlord through Wise. A year later, we still haven’t opened a Mexican bank account, and we’ve never felt limited because of it.
Learn where the locals shop
One last piece of advice: learn where the locals shop. The price difference between tourist focused businesses and places where locals buy their groceries, medications, and household items can be surprisingly large.
Get to know your neighbors, not because you want something from them, but because building local connections is one of the best parts of living here. Along the way, ask for recommendations. You’ll discover better grocery stores, neighborhood pharmacies, local markets, and probably save money too. We even found that Mercado Libre often has better prices than Amazon.
Previous: Part 4 — The Weather Isn’t Always Paradise ← · Next: Part 6 — Learning Spanish Changes Everything →
About this series
Originally shared on My Around the World Daily. Adapted with permission. Dudy spent a year living in Puerto Vallarta, photographing it daily for thousands of followers — read his farewell interview with I Heart Vallarta: CLICK HERE
Planning the move yourself?
I Heart Vallarta is the local community waiting for you on the other side — vetted local businesses, honest recommendations, and the people who make this city home. Join at the founding rate and land connected.
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