Hello Querétaro--anyone there?

[Retiring012]

Hello - my husband and I are planning to retire within the next few years to Mexico, due to climate and proximity to the USA. I heard and read great things about Queretaro, Guanajuato and Morelia. Of course, we would have to visit those place to be able to make up our minds, but would love to hear from someone in Queretaro about the good, the bad and the ugly... Don't hold back. Cost of living, safety, infrastructure anything you want to tell me is appreciated.
Thank you in advance,

[GringoCArlos]

Queretaro is not a bad city. It is on the Central Plateau, and in the summers it can be in the 90s, but the air is normally dry so it's not so bad. In the winters, it can dip down to 30 at night, but normally warms up to the 40s or 50s by the afternoon. Most of the year, think 50 at night and 75 in the daytime.

It is a World Heritage Site, and has many old buildings in the central part of the city. Population is about 600,000, and there are freeways through the city. Highway 57 runs past on its way from Mexico City to the north, and is as nice or nicer than any interstate in the US, but lots of truck traffic. Mexico City is only about 3 hours away.

Queretaro is mostly off the beaten path of the drug traffickers, so there seems to be less drug-related major crimes.

Queretaro can also have earthquakes.

It is definitely easier to live in Queretaro if one is fluent in Spanish. I have noticed that the locals in Queretaro have seen enough tourists that they sometimes have two tier pricing in effect, such as taxis, etc.

There is a large regional bus station where one can go anywhere in Mexico on several different lines, and buses in Mexico are the way to go - think of a Greyhound company with all new buses, almost-fully reclining seats, a restroom, movies during the trip, as well as a sack lunch, and all for about 20 bux or so to go 3 hours in any direction. Great for a long weekend to new country.

Queretaro also has a regional airport, and one can get flights to Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and to Mexico City. Fares are a bit pricier though.

Houses are relatively higher than outlying areas due to a large influx of people moving to Queretaro from Mexico City, and a nice 3 or 4 bedroom house goes for about US$150,000 and up. There are several areas around Queretaro, such as San Gil about 15 minutes south, which are developments with full security, lots of doctors living there, and full facilities, but the houses then are probably in the US$200k range.

In Queretaro they also have many of the US amenities for those who want or need them - Sams Club, Costco, McDonalds, Sears, Office Depot, etc. There are also great movie theaters, bullfighting, a professional soccer team, and museums for people to enjoy.

If you want the company of other North Americans, you can go to either San Miguel de Allende or Tequisquiapan and run into them. Guanajuato has fewer resident North Americans, but many come as tourists.

[Retiring012]

Originally Posted by GringoCArlos

Queretaro is not a bad city. It is on the Central Plateau, and in the summers it can be in the 90s, but the air is normally dry so it's not so bad. In the winters, it can dip down to 30 at night, but normally warms up to the 40s or 50s by the afternoon. Most of the year, think 50 at night and 75 in the daytime.

It is a World Heritage Site, and has many old buildings in the central part of the city. Population is about 600,000, and there are freeways through the city. Highway 57 runs past on its way from Mexico City to the north, and is as nice or nicer than any interstate in the US, but lots of truck traffic. Mexico City is only about 3 hours away.

Queretaro is mostly off the beaten path of the drug traffickers, so there seems to be less drug-related major crimes.

Queretaro can also have earthquakes.

It is definitely easier to live in Queretaro if one is fluent in Spanish. I have noticed that the locals in Queretaro have seen enough tourists that they sometimes have two tier pricing in effect, such as taxis, etc.

There is a large regional bus station where one can go anywhere in Mexico on several different lines, and buses in Mexico are the way to go - think of a Greyhound company with all new buses, almost-fully reclining seats, a restroom, movies during the trip, as well as a sack lunch, and all for about 20 bux or so to go 3 hours in any direction. Great for a long weekend to new country.

Queretaro also has a regional airport, and one can get flights to Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and to Mexico City. Fares are a bit pricier though.

Houses are relatively higher than outlying areas due to a large influx of people moving to Queretaro from Mexico City, and a nice 3 or 4 bedroom house goes for about US$150,000 and up. There are several areas around Queretaro, such as San Gil about 15 minutes south, which are developments with full security, lots of doctors living there, and full facilities, but the houses then are probably in the US$200k range.

In Queretaro they also have many of the US amenities for those who want or need them - Sams Club, Costco, McDonalds, Sears, Office Depot, etc. There are also great movie theaters, bullfighting, a professional soccer team, and museums for people to enjoy.

If you want the company of other North Americans, you can go to either San Miguel de Allende or Tequisquiapan and run into them. Guanajuato has fewer resident North Americans, but many come as tourists.

Thank you for all the great info. I do appreciate. it...

[synthia]

Be sure to take a browse through the forum. I think there have been some other questions about Queretaro. And welcome to the forum.

[Iron Horse]

Here is the ugly part first, they have horrible football clubs there. ¡Arriba las Pumas de UNAM! The good part second, I do have friends from Guanajuato and they say it's wonderful, but I've never been. I've also worked with others from Morelia and they love the place too. Then again, everyone claims their hometown is numero uno. My apologies if there isn't enough information here, but I feel my biased football info is huge.

[halfmexi]

I know I am going to get some caca for this.......... but people need to hear the other or real side about Queretaro. I lived there for 6 years - escaped 8 months ago to Mexico's secret hidden oasis...

Queretaro is the cradle of Mexico politics, hense the underground tunnel system between most churches in Queretaro city and San Juan del Rio - shuffling the politicans, gold and priests to keep them from getting killed. Not to mention the excessive rules and laws, plus a fairly high cost of utilities.

Queretaro is trying to become the aviation industry headquarters of Mexico, which will bring tons more people and more pollution to the valley. I must admit they do have some pretty good doctors and hospitals (alot of specialists come through town on a regular basis). There is alot more that could be said, from personal experience... but information can be dangerous.

Let me just say... the only healthy place left in Queretaro is Tequisquiapan (about 25 minutes from Queretaro city), land of the opal mines, thermal waters and a nice peaceful European feel. The gringo enclaves of Jurica y Juriquilla on the highway to San Miguel de Allende are a really lonely feeling place - no views, but high prices, and in downtown a crumbling wall divides the Country Club crowd from the locals that have lived there, their entire lives - very sad - segregation.

Try Morelia or Michoacan... or if you don't mind the heat, an active volcano and earthquakes, come visit Colima!

[El Faro]

Originally Posted by halfmexi

I know I am going to get some caca for this.......... but people need to hear the other or real side about Queretaro. I lived there for 6 years - escaped 8 months ago to Mexico's secret hidden oasis...

Queretaro is the cradle of Mexico politics, hense the underground tunnel system between most churches in Queretaro city and San Juan del Rio - shuffling the politicans, gold and priests to keep them from getting killed. Not to mention the excessive rules and laws, plus a fairly high cost of utilities.

Queretaro is trying to become the aviation industry headquarters of Mexico, which will bring tons more people and more pollution to the valley. I must admit they do have some pretty good doctors and hospitals (alot of specialists come through town on a regular basis). There is alot more that could be said, from personal experience... but information can be dangerous.

Let me just say... the only healthy place left in Queretaro is Tequisquiapan (about 25 minutes from Queretaro city), land of the opal mines, thermal waters and a nice peaceful European feel. The gringo enclaves of Jurica y Juriquilla on the highway to San Miguel de Allende are a really lonely feeling place - no views, but high prices, and in downtown a crumbling wall divides the Country Club crowd from the locals that have lived there, their entire lives - very sad - segregation.

Try Morelia or Michoacan... or if you don't mind the heat, an active volcano and earthquakes, come visit Colima!

The reason you don't hear more about Queretaro is that it is Mexico's best kept secret.
The relatively few ex-pats here are scared to death that the rest of the world will find out about it. It is a fairly large city and growing but has a large Centro Historico which is the only area I personally would want to live.
In my opinion it is the cleanest and safest city in Mexico with many cultural events and activities, has an excellent year round climate, Colonial charm and architecture, and at the same time offers 21st century conveniences.
I would not settle anywhere else without first checking it out.

[PieGrande]

Over the years, Guadalajara has been the most common expat home. Local international airport; some of the best hospitals, not in Mexico, but in the world. Enough English you are not alone, but enough room in the city if you want to be away from other expats. (Some people like it that way, blush.)

Yes, some smog. But, really nice neighborhoods. For those willing to drive a ways, Chapala, and Ajijic, typically more expensive.

Still, different strokes for different folks.

If you are retired, almost all people of experience recommend renting for a year or two. It is easy to be attracted on vacation, but when actually living there expats have become disenchanted within days, then if they bought property, can feel trapped for a very long time while trying to sell property.

[verdeva]

Originally Posted by PieGrande

Over the years, Guadalajara has been the most common expat home. Local international airport; some of the best hospitals, not in Mexico, but in the world. Enough English you are not alone, but enough room in the city if you want to be away from other expats. (Some people like it that way, blush.)

Yes, some smog. But, really nice neighborhoods. For those willing to drive a ways, Chapala, and Ajijic, typically more expensive.

Still, different strokes for different folks.

If you are retired, almost all people of experience recommend renting for a year or two. It is easy to be attracted on vacation, but when actually living there expats have become disenchanted within days, then if they bought property, can feel trapped for a very long time while trying to sell property.

I realize that the OP's primary question was about Queretaro, but as he/she is open to other areas, I provide the following.

I am using PieGrande's post as the "Reply To", as BigFoot makes some really important points. Trust me when I say that you can be happy darn near anywhere in Mexico and just as easily you can be unhappy. Read the forums and see this theme over and over again. One person's paradise is another's living hell.

The best piece of information we got (and followed) was to spend time in each area you find interesting. Renting is cheap insurance. We've known several folks who thought they'd found heaven along the shores of lake Chapala, found the perfect house and 3 months later the house was up for sale and the owners back in the States/Canada. If you think selling a house in the U.S. is difficult... oh boy.

Our research led us to Lake Chapala and the heavily Gringo area around Ajijic. A year later we had it with the traffic, rude Gringos, the Snowbirds, and "blue eye tax." The BET is the higher cost of living in a predominately Gringo area. Another poster, halfmexi, referred to it in his post. After catching our breath from the move and learning enough Spanish to get by (14 months) we moved to the west end of Lake Chapala to Jocotepec. If we'd decided to buy a house in the Ajijic area it would have been virtually impossible to find our special place just 20 miles away. Same gorgeous weather, just a slower pace and fewer folks who speak English.

If you'd like the same weather (rated 1st or 2nd depending on who has the best promoter), but prefer city life, there is Guadalajara.

My only other comment is, if you're the gotta get it done yesterday type, then Mexico probably isn't for you. If on the other hand you can adapt to the "mañana" way of life here you'll have a better chance of success.

Best to you and may your dreams of Mexico come true.

[PieGrande]

Originally Posted by verdeva

I realize that the OP's primary question was about Queretaro, but as he/she is open to other areas, I provide the following.

I am using PieGrande's post as the "Reply To", as BigFoot makes some really important points. Trust me when I say that you can be happy darn near anywhere in Mexico and just as easily you can be unhappy. Read the forums and see this theme over and over again. One person's paradise is another's living hell.

The best piece of information we got (and followed) was to spend time in each area you find interesting. Renting is cheap insurance. We've known several folks who thought they'd found heaven along the shores of lake Chapala, found the perfect house and 3 months later the house was up for sale and the owners back in the States/Canada. If you think selling a house in the U.S. is difficult... oh boy.

Our research led us to Lake Chapala and the heavily Gringo area around Ajijic. A year later we had it with the traffic, rude Gringos, the Snowbirds, and "blue eye tax." The BET is the higher cost of living in a predominately Gringo area. Another poster, halfmexi, referred to it in his post. After catching our breath from the move and learning enough Spanish to get by (14 months) we moved to the west end of Lake Chapala to Jocotepec. If we'd decided to buy a house in the Ajijic area it would have been virtually impossible to find our special place just 20 miles away. Same gorgeous weather, just a slower pace and fewer folks who speak English.

If you'd like the same weather (rated 1st or 2nd depending on who has the best promoter), but prefer city life, there is Guadalajara.

My only other comment is, if you're the gotta get it done yesterday type, then Mexico probably isn't for you. If on the other hand you can adapt to the "mañana" way of life here you'll have a better chance of success.

Best to you and may your dreams of Mexico come true.

Good posting! Thanks for demonstrating my point. You did good in your move!

I am one who prefers to live among Mexicans. As far as I can tell I am the only North American in several thousand square miles, where I live. I figure if I wanted to among other NA, I'd stay in the States. I try to always remember they are always watching me, and they are assuming I am an example of NA, so I do my best to make a good example of myself. So far, I think I am successful.

I joke if another NA moves in, I need to move again.