Retiring in the Riviera Maya
Residency, health insurance and the right home, for retirees from the United States and Canada.
Some retirees come for the winter, others move full time. This guide covers the three questions we hear first: how to stay legally, how to cover health care and what kind of home works for this stage of life.
Visitor, temporary or permanent resident
Visitor. You can come as a tourist and stay the number of days the immigration officer grants on arrival. It works for a winter season, but not for living here.
Temporary resident. For people who want to live here up to four years. You apply at a Mexican consulate in your home country and show income or savings. Each consulate publishes its own amounts. The Consulate in Las Vegas, for example, asks for monthly income above USD 4,630 for the last six months, or an average balance of USD 78,025 over the last twelve months (2026 requirements).
Permanent resident. The route for retirees with a pension. The same consulate asks for a pension income of at least USD 7,762 a month for the last six months, or savings of at least USD 312,169 over twelve months (May 2026).
Amounts are updated regularly, so check the page of the consulate where you will apply. After you arrive with the visa, you finish the process at the immigration office (INM) in Mexico.
Health care
Medicare. Medicare usually does not cover health care outside the United States, with a few exceptions. Many retirees here buy private international insurance or a local plan.
IMSS voluntary plan. Residents in Mexico without social security can apply to the Mexican social security health plan (Seguro de Salud para la Familia) with a yearly fee. From 1 March 2026 the fee is MXN 20,600 for ages 60 to 69, MXN 21,500 for 70 to 79 and MXN 22,150 for 80 and over. Ask IMSS which pre-existing conditions and waiting periods apply before you count on it.
Private hospitals. Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel have private hospitals; many retirees choose where to live by how far they are from one.
Where retirees live
- Playa del Carmen. A walkable center and gated communities such as Playacar, with shops and doctors close by. See Playa del Carmen.
- Puerto Morelos. A quiet fishing town between Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
- Cozumel. Island life with its own airport.
- Puerto Aventuras. A gated marina community. See living in Puerto Aventuras.
- Tulum. Newer homes in a smaller town, with its own airport since December 2023.
For a deeper look at each town, read our best places to live for retirees.
Choosing a home for retirement
- One level or an elevator. Stairs get harder with the years.
- Distance to a hospital and an airport. The area has two airports: Cancún (CUN) and Tulum (TQO). Check the drive from the home to both and to the closest hospital.
- Security and a working HOA. A gated community or a building with 24 hour staff makes it easier to lock and leave.
- Hurricane readiness. Ask about shutters, impact windows and the building’s plan. See hurricane season in the Riviera Maya.
- Try a season first. Many retirees rent one winter before they buy. Our snowbird guide helps plan it.
Costs to plan for
Buying: closing costs of 7 to 10% of the price. Owning: property tax (predial), HOA fees, the yearly bank trust fee for foreigners, insurance and maintenance. Ask for the last year of HOA statements before you buy. If you rent the home while you travel, results depend on who manages it and on the building’s rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need to retire in Mexico?
It depends on the consulate and the year. In 2026 the Consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas asks retirees for a pension of at least USD 7,762 a month for permanent residency, or USD 4,630 a month for temporary residency. Check your consulate’s page before you apply.
Can I buy a home before I have residency?
Yes. Residency and buying are separate. Foreigners buy near the coast through a fideicomiso (bank trust), with or without a residence card.
Does Medicare cover me in the Riviera Maya?
Usually not. Medicare covers very little outside the United States, so retirees buy private international insurance or join the IMSS voluntary plan once they are residents.
What is the best town to retire in the Riviera Maya?
It depends on what you need close by. Playa del Carmen and Cancún have the most services, Puerto Morelos and Puerto Aventuras are quieter, Cozumel is island life and Tulum is newer.
Should I rent before I buy?
It is a good idea. One season tells you a lot about the town, the summer heat and the building you like.
Sources: Temporary residency amounts · Permanent residency for retirees · Medicare outside the US · IMSS Seguro de Salud para la Familia, fees from 1 March 2026 · Tulum airport opening
Karina Sayed, licensed broker · Updated October 30, 2026
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Plan for closing costs of 7 to 10% of the purchase price. See the Closing Guide
Hola!Living in the Riviera Maya since 2001, founder of Playa Realtors in 2008. Our team helps buyers and sellers from Cancún to Tulum, with a deeper service for buyers who want independent representation.
