From Airport to Apartment: An Expat’s Guide to Your First 24 Hours in Merida

Visa Requirements For Mexico

The simple visa programs are key reasons Mexico is consistently one of the world’s top retirement destinations. Citizens of 65 countries and permanent residents of 34 countries can stay in Mexico as tourists for up to 180 days without a visa. These lucky foreigners can stroll up and enter the country without any application forms or paperwork before arrival. And spoiler alert, the US and most European countries are on that list.

INSIDER TIP: Maximizing Your Tourist Visa- There’s no guarantee you’ll get the full 180 days allowed. The immigration officer stamping your passport has the final say on how long you can stay here.

So, when you arrive at immigration, the officer will ask you how long you intend to stay and the return date of your flight. To maximize your stay, confidently state that the exit date is just slightly under the 180-day limit.

This increases your chances of getting the entire duration. Trust us. You don’t want to stumble through this conversation and risk a shorter stay.

Phasing Out of Paper FMM Forms

FMM (Forma Migratoria Multiple) is Mexico’s visitor permit, though most describe it as a tourist visa. You’ll commonly read older blog posts or watch YouTube videos about filling out an FMM form when arriving at the airport.

Mexico has begun phasing out the use of paper FMM forms in 2022. Don’t panic if you arrive at immigration and haven’t been given a form to fill out. Many ports of entry across Mexico no longer use them. However, the immigration rules and procedures, including the maximum 180-day limit, remain unchanged.

New FMM Visa Process

Instead of issuing paper FMM forms, immigration officials are now placing stamps in passports. This stamp serves the same purpose as the paper FMM and indicates how many days you are granted to stay as a visitor.

Specific Airport Information

As of the time of this writing, you no longer need to fill out the FMM when flying in and out of certain major airports including Cancun, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City.

However, there are exceptions:

• Non-visitors (e.g., permanent residents) need to follow normal arrival procedures.
• If flying to/from other airports not listed, you may still need to fill out the form manually.
• Visitors from countries requiring a visa still need to fill out the form.

Long-term Visa and Residency

We are hearing more expats complain about getting less than the full 180 days, especially after frequent visa runs. Expats dreaming of a full-time move or retiring to Mexico should consider long-term visa options. But plan ahead. Long-term residency starts with applying for a temporary resident permit from outside Mexico and comes with minimum financial requirements.

Arriving At The Merida Airport

Merida has it’s own International Airport, however, it’s not super well connected. You can currently catch direct flights to Merida from 21 international cities in the US, Canada, Guatemala, or Cuba.

Merida Airport Customs and Immigration

Mexico customs and immigration can sometimes be infuriating. Expats and locals alike get frustrated by the inconsistent, and sometimes arbitrary enforcement of rules. Two key examples are the importation of personal electronics and the departure ticket requirement.

While immigration officers don’t always ask for a return ticket, the Mexican embassy website recommends it. You can “rent” a departure reservation for just $16– it’s gonna be better safe than sorry.

Duty-Free Import of Laptop and Similar Personal Computing Devices- Anone entering Mexico is only allowed to bring one portable computing device duty-free. Technically, if you have one laptop and one iPad, you can be charged between 20% to 200% of the item’s estimated value. Not only is this limit laughably low, but the customs agent gets to decided the category of the electronics.

• Is a kindle or similar ebook reader a tablet? They decide.
• What if you bring in one of those new foldable phones? Is that equal to an Android tablet? Maybe.
• What if the new laptop is for work and the older notebook is for personal use? Doesn’t matter. Only one one laptop is exempt from import fees.
• Also, the agent determines that value. A 5 year old phone getting the same value as a brand new iPhone is not uncommon.
• Additionally, you are only allowed to bring in three cell phones, two cameras, and one GPS device.

Airport to Merida City Center Transportation

Airport Taxis, Uber Drivers, and Didi

The Merida airport is small and convenient and it’s only about a 20 minute car ride away from the city center. And you’ll find taxis waiting right outside. But here’s where it gets a little bit interesting.

Uber and it’s sometimes a cheaper Latin American cousin called Didi aren’t allowed to pick you up at the airport. We learned this the fun way when we were the Didi, only to have the Didi driver jump out and give me a hug. And I first thought people in Mexico are really friendly. But then he whispered in my ear that one of us needs to sit up front to make it look like we’re friends and that he’s not a DiDi driver. Turns out that it’s illegal for rideshares to pick you up at the airport.

Uber and Didi drivers prefer you walk about 0.4 miles (roughly 700 meters) off of airport property to get picked up. Here is a a link to that unofficial Uber pickup point xxx. Rides are only gonna cost you about $5 to $12. It’s all dependent on the time of day, how busy they are and the weather conditions.

Merida Airport Buses and Public Transporation

There are also new air conditioned buses called Va-y-Ven allowed on airport property. You can’t miss these bright blue buses parked right outside the arrival section off to the far right. Tickets are available at the ADO counter in the arrivals hall. Just 45 pesos or roughly $2.50.

INSIDER TIP: Airport Pick Up Service- Do you really wanna deal with translating, converting, and hoping you don’t get scammed or pay a foreigner price? When you want a stress free way to get to your destination, we partnered with the best, most convenient, 5 star airport transportation companies to pick you up from the airport and get you to your destination in town safely and hassle free.

Our partners have earned excellent user reviews for offering a trustworthy and safe experience. They offer local English speaking drivers who know their directions and how to get around, who charge a flat prepaid fee with no hidden surprise charges. And since you pay online using your credit card, no worries about exchanging cash.

These drivers are on time and even monitor your flights for any delays. Plus, you get access to 247 customer support and free cancellation. Just click on the link below to book a hassle-free airport pickup service.

Driving in Merida

One of the key benefits to living in Merida is being super close to dozens of cenotes, gorgeous beaches, and even pre-hispanic ruins. Many of these attractions are just a few hours drive outside of the city. You can take a bus there, but if you want more freedom to explore, renting a car is your best option. Good news if you are an American or Canadian, you can just use your current drivers license to drive a car. However, if you are from a different country, an International Drivers License, also referred to as an International Driving Permit or IDP for short, may also be required. An IDP is an internationally recognized document that translates your current valid driver’s license and allows you to legally drive in over 170 countries. You can pick up an IDP valid in Mexico using this link.  

Best Time To Visit Merida

It’s crazy hot in Merida. Locals like to joke that there are 2 weeks of spring and 50 weeks of summer heat. I’m no stranger to heat. I’ve lived in Vietnam, Egypt, Morocco, and I born in the Philippines. I’m no stranger to tropical heat and humidity. Yet, I still SUFFERED in Merida’s blistering sun.

There is laughably very little shade in the city. Unlike the towering 10 story buildings we’re used to in Buenaventes, most of the buildings here are typically only 1 or 2 stories. And you combine the short buildings with the lack of trees and green, and there is no shade whatsoever to help you escape from the overwhelming heat.

April-June is particularly hot. There was a stretch where we had constant temperatures of over 110 Fahrenheit. That’s 43 Celsius for you European folks. That was like that every day over the course of roughly 2 months. I mean, even the street signs were literally melting.

The best time to come to Merida is November to Early March when we enjoy a balmy 72° – 90° Fahrenheit (23° – 33° Celsius).

However, note that everyone has the same idea. All the snowbirds from the US and Canada migrate to Mexico during this peak tourist season. Prices for everything, especially housing, are higher during these months.

Exchanging Money and Getting Pesos

Next, let’s talk money. In Merida, you can use your credit card in many, but not all places. A fancy restaurant? Yep. But rancheras, fondos, or many of the charming little local restaurants and daquerias are gonna be cash only. And coming from Buenos Aires, where getting cash from the ATM is a no go, it was a breath of fresh air to simply be able to walk up to an ATM, slide in my card and get cash.

We did some bank hopping to find the best withdrawal fees for you. Citibankamex came out on top with a fee of roughly 30 pesos to get your money out. That’s only roughly a dollar 70. Sultando was close at 38 pesos, but Sotia Bank charges a whopping 100 pesos, which is roughly $5.50. So go to Citibankamex or Sultander to withdraw cash, and you can save those extra pesos to buy 3 extra tacos and think of me while that salsa is dripping down your chin. Bonus tip, there is ATMs at the airport if you need cash ASAP.

ATM Cash Withdrawal Fees in Merida:

• Citibanamex: ~MXN 30 = ~$1.70 USD
• Santander: MXN 35 = ~$2 USD
• HSBC: ~MXN 75 = ~$4.10 USD
• Scotiabank: MXN 100 = ~$5.50 USD

Money Transfers In Mexico

If you haven’t already signed up for Wise, this used to be formally called Transferwise, you should do that today. Wise has the lowest rates I could find to send Mexican pesos to our landlords for rent. For example, Wise charged us roughly $10 to convert and transfer the equivalent of 1,050 US dollars in Mexican pesos. That’s less than 1%. And if you use my link below, you’ll get your first transfer free.

INSIDER TIP: Common ATM Scam- This ATM scam isn’t exclusive to Mexico, but really any country when you use a foreign bank card. If you’re offered the option to convert this transaction from pesos to USD, always, always, always decline. When you’re withdrawing pesos from an ATM in Mexico using your overseas bank card, you may get a confusing screen that sneakily tries to get you to accept a currency exchange rate set by the ATM machine.

If you accept the conversion, the bank will use a terrible, absolutely ridiculously bad exchange rate, and you’re going to get less pesos for your money. For example, here’s a close-up of the ATM transaction I was making.

You can see the Santander, which is a local popular bank. You’ll see ATMs around here everywhere for them. They’re trying to convert my 5,000 peso using a 15.52 exchange rate. Now the actual exchange rate on that day was 16.59 pesos to 1 US dollar.

Santander was trying to tack on a 6.5% markup fee just to convert my money. I would have lost nearly 20 dollars on this scam if I hit accept.

Health Insurance In Mexico

It’s no surprise that healthcare in Mexico is cheaper than in the US. Expats have been preaching for years about the high quality of care, affordable costs, and accessible services here. I paid just xxx for an advanced platelet-rich injection treatment for my torn patella, and a simple checkup can be as cheap as xxx.

There are several world-class hospitals and medical facilities in Mérida. In fact, the Secretary of Tourism in Yucatan state has initiatives to position Mérida as a top medical tourism destination in Mexico. 

And if you become a legal resident, you get access to Mexico’s inexpensive local health insurance (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social or IMSS) for as low as $40 per month.

However, if you want a more comprehensive international expat insurance plan, you can check here for a policy that covers you anywhere in the world.

Cost of Living

One of the biggest draws for expats moving to Mérida is its affordable cost of living. You’ll find your money stretches much further here than in most US cities. It’s like getting a financial breather, allowing you to live comfortably without breaking the bank.

However, the days of Merida being Vietnam-levels of cheap are gone. Inflation and peso volatility are jacking up prices all over Mexico. Combine those rising prices with the increased immigration from both Mexicans and foreigners into Merida and you get prices that are 50% higher from just a few years ago.

I have an updated Merida cost of living article that gives you all the details, so check it out for the latest prices.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

1. Monthly budget: $1,350 for one person
2. Rent: $778 for a one-bedroom in the historic center
3. Food: $350 when eating out roughly 50% of the time.
4. Transportation: $30 a month using mostly public transportation

Even with rising prices, Mérida is a whopping 70% less expensive than a medium-cost city in the US.

Safety in Mérida

Mérida’s reputation as a safe haven is well-deserved. You’ll breathe easier knowing that this Mexican gem ranks among North America’s safest cities. It’s not just talk; in 2024, CEOWorld magazine placed Mérida second on the continent for safety, coming in second only to Quebec City up in Canada. That’s huge!

Merida is the capital of the Yucatan state, which has a crime rate 90% lower than the country’s average. The US State department ranks the Yucatan as the safest state in the country.

If you have ever lived in Medellin, Buenos Aires, or even Mexico City, you’ll know what it’s like to keep your cell phone clutched tight and that anxious feeling you get when using your cell phone on a crowded street. Not here. Pickpocketing is rare, and violent crime is practically unheard of.

But don’t just take my word for it. Chat with locals, join expat groups, and do your homework. You’ll find countless stories of people feeling secure in their neighborhoods. In contrast to the scary media headlines about cartels in Mexico, Merida is a great story.