Retiring in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca

Overview

Widely considered Mexico's best food city, with a serious arts and crafts scene.

Home Price

Homes in Oaxaca City typically range from $254k to $428k.

Source: Zillow Home Value Index. Estimates only — verify current pricing before making decisions.

Cost of Living

Oaxaca City's cost of living index is 46.3 compared to a U.S. national average of 100 (adjusted to a common basis so it can be compared directly with U.S. destinations).

Climate

Average summer highs around 78°F and winter daytime temperatures around 79°F, with med humidity and a “Endless spring” seasonal pattern.

Geography & Landscape

Healthcare

Healthcare access and quality index: 72.3/100 (Numbeo Health Care Index — a crowdsourced perception score, not a clinical outcomes measure).

Safety & Stability

Oaxaca City scores a safety index of 41.0/100 and a political stability score of 4.1/10, based on sourced crime and stability data.

Airport Access

About 13 minutes to the nearest major airport we could confirm.

Lifestyle & Activities

Outdoor activities:

• Hiking
• Tennis / racquet sports
• Gardening
• Nature / bird watching

Culture & lifestyle:

• Food culture
• Museums
• Farmers markets
• Shopping

Things to Consider

• Occasional local political demonstrations/road blockages
• Smaller international-standard healthcare network than Mérida

Visa & Residency Notes

Temporary Resident (economic solvency): ~$4,400/mo (≈680x UMA, varies by consulate). Confidence: Secondary (per WhereNext, checked 2026-06-25, source: Consulado General de México). Approximation, not a guaranteed bar — varies by consulate. Permanent Residency needs far more (~$7,400/mo).

Visa terms vary by nationality and change often — verify current requirements with the destination’s official immigration authority before making decisions.