Why Mexico Is Addictive
The Psychology of Lifestyle Inflation and Staying Too Long
You came for a three month “digital nomad” stint. You had a remote job paying in USD and a plan to save $2,000 a month while living “like a king” in Roma Norte or San Pedro.
Fast forward eighteen months. You’re still here. You haven’t saved a dime. In fact, your monthly burn has doubled. You have a “concierge” doctor, a private driver, a membership at a club you rarely use, and a social circle that thinks $15 cocktails are a “bargain.”
You have fallen into the Mexico Lifestyle Trap. It is the most comfortable, most seductive, and most dangerous psychological state an expat can inhabit.
“Relative Wealth” High
The addiction starts with the “Exchange Rate Ego.” When you arrive, every price in Pesos feels like a 70% discount.
You go to a 5-star restaurant and the bill is $60. In NYC, it would be $250. You feel like you’ve “beaten the system.”
Everything feels “cheap,” your internal “spending filter” turns off. You stop asking “Do I need this?” and start asking “Why not?”
Then you start living a lifestyle you could never afford in your home country. You become addicted to the Status that Mexico provides you, a status you haven’t actually earned through capital, but bought through currency arbitrage.
Time Dissolves
In Mexico, there is always a reason to celebrate. A Tuesday night mezcal tasting leads to a Wednesday lunch, which leads to a weekend trip to Valle de Bravo.
The friction of life in Mexico (traffic, bureaucracy, “mañana” culture) becomes a comfortable excuse for mediocrity. You stop pushing for that next big contract because, hey, your life is already 10x better than your friends back home.
You find yourself in a loop of hedonism that feels like “living your best life” but is actually a slow-motion career suicide.
Lifestyle Inflation:
How does the $1,500/month nomad become the $6,000/month “Elite Expat”? It happens in three stages:
Stage 1: The “Local” Phase (Months 1-4)
You eat at mercados, take the Metro, and live in a modest Airbnb. You are proud of your “low burn.” You feel authentic.
Stage 2: The “Convenience” Phase (Months 5-10)
The friction starts to grate. You stop taking the Metro and start taking Uber Black everywhere. You move into a “Luxury” building with a pool and a gym. You hire a cleaner because it’s only $30 a day. You stop cooking and start using Rappi for every meal.
