Learn Spanish with me! Start speaking with native Spanish speakers and me: www.lakarencita.com/online-spanish-classes

I want to clarify a point, which I don't think was too clear in the video. I said that my husband works as a programmer in a US company. Almost all of his coworkers are Mexican programmers in Mexico. I wanted to say that the good jobs that are now available for remote work are benefitting many Mexican people. I think people assume that digital nomads are just people from rich countries but this is not the case. I was surprised at the amount of Colombians that I have met in Manizales who also work remotely as programmers in US companies. Latin American people can be digital nomads/remote workers too!

I was priced out of California 10 years ago and moved to Alabama. Now Alabama is getting expensive. I’m very lucky I bought a house just before the pandemic. I wouldn’t be able to afford the same house now.

I rent my apartment from a local Mexican person. SHE set the price and I paid it. The last Airbnb I stayed at was owned by a local Mexican. HE set the price and I paid it. Same with the Airbnb in the last city I visited, and the one before that. I didn't set any prices...

Where ever you are, rock on and keep making videos.

I live in a one-bedroom apartment in the U.S in an apartment that's about 70 square meters., and my landlord recently raised my rent to $2300USD per month. A lot of the people coming to Mexico from the U.S. are refugees, unable to afford the cost of living in the U.S..

Yes I think it's getting complicated for locals in Quérétaro right now when you see how the rents shot through the roof. Imagine that, we're paying north of 20k pesos for our apartment here as we wanted to be in the city center. But I don't think it's gentrification alone. I've seen rents shoot up all over the world since 2020, and even more so for in mid-level cities with a dynamic economy. First because it has become more and more difficult to actually buy your own place as cost of living rose and credits are getting more difficult to access. This put pressure on the renting market, giving to many landlords the option to raise their prices. Second, people are more and more searching for "all included" accommodations to stay more flexible and are less committed to stay at the same place for 5-10 years like we've seen in the past. Hence the growing number of Airbnbs and shared living spaces. And last, actual gentrification, as we're seeing the effect of remote work getting more widespread, people moving nationally and internationally and of course they usually go where they can improve their lifestyle on the same wages.

the cost of living only rises due to greedy landlords and food manufactures etc etc etc. raising the price to make more money. The cost of living should go down not up in a more populated area but everything in this world is ass backwards.

Gentrification is easy to blame as a cause of costs rising. And it is, to a limited degree. It would be absurd to insinuate that the approximately 1.6 million Americans living in Mexico, with a population of about 130 million, are the reason for the rise in cost of living. Gentrification is localized. I can see that Americans piling into La Condesa, Queretaro, Merida, San Miguel de Allende, etc. cause the cost of housing to rise in those locales, and cause local businesses to raise their prices. But the rise of prices of food and household necessities in a country as vast as Mexico can be attributed perhaps more fairly to the Bank of Mexico for printing too much money and the knock on effect all the way down to the neighborhood shops.

We have been living on Mexico for almost two years. It's a lot more affordable than the states. My wife is Mexican and I'm from Reno, Nevada. I'm able live easily on my retirement. I get NOTHING from the Mexican Government, neither does my wife. The Mexican people are wonderful, and have made me feel very welcome. Best move I've ever made! VIVA MEXICO 🇲🇽

Massive inflation is everywhere now and will cause lots of shifting living locations all over the world. I've traveled all over Mexico to as many places away from popular foreign tourist destinations. I'd say over 90% if the country is not visited by international tourists and certainly almost no foreigners from USA or Canada or Europe are living where I have gone. Those places cannot blame expats. I have only seen Mexicans traveling on weekends and holidays with only myself and construction workers as outsiders in these towns during the week. I couldn't speak English or find backpacker hostels in most towns. International tourism in Mexico is still mostly happening in a few isolated locations. Most of the European travelers seem to have taken more interest in Colombia lately. It's cheaper for now.

Great video Karen. Looking forward to your next one.

Hola Ruby. A well done video on a worrying subject. Inflation is a challenge for a lot of people. Things have changed a lot since my first visit to Mexico in 1967. At that time it was possible to find a hotel room (basic, not fancy) and get three meals for about USD $5. In 1974 I found a room in San Miguel de Allende for USD 25 cents. Mangos were USD 1 cent apiece. A very small hotel room in San Cristobal de las Casas was Mex $70 per week. 5 centavo coins were in circulation. Inflation has swept all of that into history's dustbin. Part of the problem is population growth and the ensuing financial pressures that are created from a rapidly expanding population. When I began visiting Mexico San Miguel de Allende had a population of about 12,000, Pto Vallarta had 15,000, Oaxaca and Mazatlan about 50,000, Queretaro 70.000, and Guadalajara had 1 million inhabitants. Places like Pto Escondido and Cancun barely existed. When there is rapid growth the number of upscale and much desired stores, restaurants, and all sorts of amenities seem to mushroom. These enhanced amenities draw people with money, and some locals have an opportunity to cash in on the business opportunities. They can afford to spend more and prices go up. If most of the expats settle on a few cities along the coast, plus Ajijic, San Miguel de Allende, Queretaro, a couple of neighborhoods in CDMX and maybe Oaxaca, the influence of outside money shouldn't affect most Mexicans. Other viewers have mentioned how expensive houses and apartments are in the US. Condos and houses in any major metropolitan area in California are practically nonexistent for less than USD $500,000, and USD $ 1 million would be a more realistic price. Most people need a 20% down payment to get a loan. Housing in other parts of the US is often cheaper but the tradeoff is often worse weather, poor schools, fewer high paying jobs, less accessible health care, and reduced or non-existent government services. It's no wonder some people living in the US choose to move to Mexico. I don't blame you for the number of expats living in Mexico. Just about every KZfaqr making videos in Mexico has touted how great Mexico is, with a lot of Emphasis on Queretaro. And there are a lot of KZfaqrs making videos about how great Mexico is as a place to live cheaply. Sometimes it seems as if half of the expats living in Mexico plan to support themselves by becoming successful KZfaqrs, extolling the virtues of their adopted home. Recently I read about a restaurant in New York City called Carbone. There is another one in Miami. They serve Italian cuisine. Their pasta must be amazing, because a meal costs USD $3,000 per person. You read that right. It isn't a typo. The food is supposed to be fantastic, the service and experience extraordinary, and some people eat there several times a week. We are talking billionaires, movie stars, sports stars, people with money to burn. Some of these people own homes in Mexico (Cancun, Cabo, Vallarta, CDMX, etc) and their infusion of cash can result in some inflationary pressure. Speaking of inflationary pressure a house you would love just came onto the market in San Miguel de Allende. Casa Palikao, in the center of the city. A mere USD $ 6.25 million. Over 1100 square meters (I forget the exact number) on a 1300+ square meter lot. Lots of bedrooms and bathrooms, and I should mention the multiple garages, pools and gardens. If you happen to stumble across an unattended suitcase full of drug money while in Colombia this old colonial, fully restored mansion might suddenly be within your budget :). As always, I'm looking forward to your next video.

Such an interesting and complex topic! Does it mean by moving to Columbia you're causing gentrification there? IMHO, I think people moving around is just the new normal given remote work and retiring early. Lots of people also go to the US to make money that they send back home to other countries too thereby "taking jobs" from locals so it goes both ways. I don't think there's a right answer! Thanks for being brave enough to talk about it. ❤️

The “invisible hand” of macro economics deals with this both in Mexico and in the US, for example. My uncles used to earn far higher wages as laborers in the 50’s and 60’s until the influx of central and South American workers came in masses for a better life. That ultimately drove the labor pay scales down because there were a lot of people who would do the same work they did for far less money. It was sad for my uncles, but the natural order of free and prosperous economies. Some will always fall through the cracks of progress. Gentrification opens other doors of opportunities.

looking forward to your next video! 😀

Welcome to the Unfortunate Real World. This is happening all over the World. The USA and the UK have both priced out the Average Life. Go to those countries if you want to see something.

According to the 2020 census, foreign residents account for 1% of Mexico's population. Outside of one or two isolated cases, it beggars belief that Mexico's foreign residents are responsible for pricing Mexicans out of the market in an economy worth 1.27 trillion in US dollars. I was recently at the Antea mall in Queretaro. It is a monument to the purchasing power of Mexico's middle and upper classes. I would suggest Mexico's own growing prosperity as the main driver of gentrification.

Good Luck in Canada! I hope you and your husband succeed!

1:11 This meme with Peter Griffin isn't xenophobic, if anything it's just calling out colorism and racism. I say this as a Black American. Gentrification and racism / colorism affects people all over the world.

Actually, my family from Queretaro love nice foreigners but DO NOT enjoy having individualistic perceptions & racism & increase in housing. Native Queretaro individuals should be allowed to live there period. It’s about racism not about us being unwelcoming.

Unfortuanateley it's happening in a lot of countries all over the world.

I was looking forward to this video!

I love how you set-up the opening of the video - loads of emotion, loads of excitement! Nice.

Es cierto que los precios están subiendo por todo y en muchos lugares. La cercanía de México a EUA también tiene una influencia sobre los precios y los problemas que hemos tenido en cuanto a transporte, C-19, y muchas otras cosas nos han dejado con precios más altos en casi todo. Y en cualquier país, si vives en una ciudad grande y bonita, los precios serán mucho más altos que en los pueblos. 🤷‍♀️ Disfruta de Colombia porque creo que también los precios allá subirán tarde o temprano! 👋👋👋

Prices have risen everywhere. It’s terrible!

Its getting really expensive in the us too

You should migrate to America, specifically California. That's because now they're all leaving that state to gentrify new places in something they call the "California Exodus." In a year or so, when they all leave their state, it might get cheaper there. These coastal remote workers are also invading all the other US states, Portugal and Southeast Asia. I wish they would pick Iran or Afghanistan to go to. The locals there are armed and that's probably the only way to keep them from gentrifying. BTW, my friend is Mexican and she is great. Sorry to hear your plight!

I don't understand why people are so rooted to one place. If they move, they might have a chance to a better future, but they are so rooted to the same barrio, the same streets, the same lifestyle that when they are "forced" out they start calling it unfair. Cities like CDMX need more capitalinos that can have the affluence to invest back in the city instead of poor people who just take, want or demand.

¡El editing es muy padre!

This is something that I was worried about. With more and more Americans and Canadians not being able to afford to live in their own countries and more and more videos like this showing how nice Mexico is it to live in. This does make you want to move and leave America or Canada behind. The problem is that as more people move the prices get more expensive and so now when you thought you would get a bargain you aren't getting a bargain.

Prices have increased here in the US, so to be fair it might not be a gentrification thing. But if it is, there will always be people who actually benefit from it, and those who are hurt by it. How people react to this will determine if they too can ultimately benefit from this situation and come out stronger.

Prices have risen and are rising worldwide. So it stands that Mexico experiences this too. I do think some popular neighborhoods in Mexico have been impacted by nomads and airbnb. But there’s simply no way an increase in a few thousand immigrants from the north have driven up prices everywhere in this beautiful country with a population of around 130 million.

12,000,000 mexicanos en sector economico primario x 70,259 USD = 84,310,800,000 USD Importaciones de EUA = 168,197,000,000 USD Valor real de importaciones = Importaciones EUA - Produccion mexicana en EUA = 83, 886,200,000 USD - Exportaciones de Mexico ( 349,800,000,000 USD) = -265,913,800,000 USD / 1,600,000 gringos en Mexico = -166,196 USD por año. Cada gringo que camina por suelo mexicano debe 166,196 USD = $3,275,000 Corrige mis cifras, porfa...

Gentrification forced me out of Vancouver in 1987. The apartment that I rented for $750 month then is more than $5000 month now. The AVERAGE house price is now $1,111,400, and requires the lifetime earnings of both husband and wife to pay off the mortgage. People in Singapore, Paris, and many other places, have similar stories. It is the new reality.

It depends on where in Mexico and can even come down to a colonia or neighborhood. I live in PdC and there are a lot of Mexicans from other states who come for work and complain about the prices ('tacos here are 30 pesos, I can get 3 of them for that price in Hidalgo!') Even here where prices are high, both sides of the highway have different prices. The world is flattening but with it comes waves of imbalance. On the same concept of expats causing prices to rise in an area, people outside the US can take advantage of the higher wages in the US by working online disrupting things even more.

These real state agencies are netting 100-1000% returns on these properties! This should absolutely not be allowed, this can create "hyperinflation" and can cause the housing market to artificially spike then crash. That same thing that is happening here in the USA, with prices being artificially spiked due to GREED. There needs to be regulation to where properties are appraised to their real net value and not some artificial price created by the inmuebles. It's a huge problem when inmueblerias see gringos come to mexico, they capitalize on that by tripling prices on them then causing the people already leaving there to leave, creating a gentry. The government needs to intervene immediately. Sorry for typing this in enlgish. I could not put the words in spanish.

Obviously the ones that are complaining are not the business owners and landlords (incld mx gobierno) that profit from the gentrification myth. Given the fact that even cities/towns that have almost no to low number of foreigners (or the same number as before like beach/tourist locations) are also experiencing this increase

That's cheap You should see the prices for an apartment to rent in USA It's ridiculous

Mexico for the Mexicans. Mexico First! Make Mexico Great Again! 🇲🇽😎

I personally think these foreigners are the ones who are responsible for the housing and rent increases in specific parts of Mexico such as México city and Querétaro. Some may say it's the landlords fault which is also true but they bringing their American dollars to Mexico is causing landlords to increase their rents it makes sense for them to do so. I think this is a problem that needs to be addressed with regulations before it gets out of control. These foreigns are pushing the locals away and destroying communities and traditions just so that they can live a comfortable life with their U.S dollars. No way a Mexican can compete with an American earning dollars no way. This is a good thing for most Americans because they are the ones benefitting from it.

I live in Asheville and the locals have been saying the same thing about people who relocate here.

People are LEAVING the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, etc. for more affordable living because of the rising (un- affordable) COSTS... as well as "the politics," and interrelated STRESSES... in general. People relocating isn't the MAIN issue... it's the UN and people BEHIND the 'fiat' money (leading to "inflation") due to gross overspending on things that benefit almost NOONE, except for the Top .000001%. (i.e. "Paper" Billion to Trillionaires.) This is the 'reverse' (or more precisely: "one HALF") of what has occurred in the US, Canada and much of the Western plus world...) since not only have costs and taxes, etc. steady RISEN to the point of complete non- afford and sustainability (by de$ign...) but our JOBS have also been steadily EXPORTED and also concurrently "outsourced' (within our own country/ ies!) to "cheaper labor" providers, who do "as they are told..." for FAR less! (Never mind the resulting cultural, religious "subversion..." which is a primary and already long- standing GOAL... of the uber "elites," for the last 250 plus years, in particular.)

Puebla is also less expensive than Queretero. Puebla and Manizales both appear to be fine places to live.

New subscriber really appreciate your videos very informative I was thinking of selling my house in San Diego and moving to Mexico for my retirement . I would receive about $2084.00 in social security each month. I'm Italian and have visited Mexico many times I love the food the culture and the people are so friendly. I don't want to buy there just rent and live a nice life.

the Mexican peso is strong because people want it, demand. And the Mexican gov hasn't printed too many pesos supply. The demand is for food, tourism and manufactured products. Remittances from Mexicans working abroad are a a huge demand for pesos $50 billion a year. Not sure how much money foreigners living in mexico bring to mexico. Tourism brings in $10 billion a year.

I live in middle America (USA) - the cheaper area - and Mexico doesn't appear to be the bargain it used to be. --- Now - it's Colombia looking cheap ! Or Ecuador maybe ? Or Cambodia !

Do you think this is just a temporary thing? Like the foreigners will eventually move back to their home countries? The same thing happened to me in my hometown in the US. It got so expensive that I can’t live there comfortably.

Gentrification leads to more money for people who already have money, and less money for those who are less privileged and less able. The money an immigrant spends goes to people selling homes, and home goods.

Inflation seems a bit contrived since it is happening world-wide. It's why I'm looking at relocating to either Colombia or ecuador, although Mexico is the first country I ever visited, back when I only had to show them my drivers license to walk accross the border.

Hi I'm colombian American, I think people are tired of visiting other countries and now that colombia is safer, people have discovered the beauty of colombia and also the cost of living is more affordable than USA and Me'xico and that's why they are moving to our beautiful colombia, greetings from USA 🇺🇸 🙏🇨🇴❤️✌️

Nice video, I have been to Hidalgo, it is a beautiful state. I am premiering a video about Tula and I am also making a video about Tulancingo. Inflation is an an interesting topic. I often wonder what it means for the USA, will there be a point when it just gets cheaper to stay in the USA?

The inflation isn’t only in Mexico it i around the world 🌎

Anywhere when you see gringos prices goes up, specially in the Brown Black communitys, in States my neighborhood was aforable rents prices as soon they heard rent were cheaper in this communitys the starting moving in a the rents started to skyrocketed, and that not only in the place that's in Mexico, South and Central America, Portugal, Africa it's everywhere in the universe.

Sounds hypocritical to enter into the US by the thousands but complain when people from the US return the favor on a much smaller scale.

I honestly think it's less about the city or state or country's individual economy. I think all of the economies are affecting each other. It's a WORLD economy thing...cuz, baby, inflation is high EVERYWHERE. Lol! The US's inflation isn't even the highest. It's absolutely mad.

🤔 strange topic / point of view here on this channel - my experiences in MX coming from Europe, since nearly 1.5 years living in a small town not that far from CDMX within a very Mexican community (hardly any foreigners here): For example tortillas went up from $19/kg to $24/kg within this time (mentioned the increase of the ingredients), 2 ltr Peñafiel from $20 to $26, paying rent same as the Mexicans living here before (staying same), gasoline staying same price, electricity as well. Other groceries might be slightly higher since the year before. Surely there’s none of influence by foreigners here causing inflation! Increasing demand is causing increase of prices on limited goods. Economical base lessons. As soon as a special area of a city is „flooded“ because it’s „in“ to live there, it will impact heavily anyone not being part of that game. It’s an internationally known effect that rich people in gated communities are well influencing the surroundings by hiring staff though the income level increases with all consequences. It’s like a snowball effect causing people to change places, exactly what „the rich“ are looking for (pushing out please leave us alone). Mexicans better be aware that Mexico is none of an exemption. Actually Mexicos economy is in the winning position when tourists are leaving their foreign money in the country, same as retirees spending their foreign pensions and funds in MX - just have a look at the requirements how high these numbers are to be proven when applying for residency in MX. This putting foreigners on the same level as upper class Mexicans - just their mindset is different 😉 Blaming foreigners for own problems is a way of fascism and nationalism sorry to be confronted with on this channel.

yep

Inflation is a global issue..supply issues and staffing will continue to be a global issue for decades . combined with plunging birth rates..globally... we all have adapt.. globally..all the best to you

Como México no hay dos

never come to Toronto, it's insanely pricey.

'ola Mija!...la verdad está nublada por el deseo. la verdad es que todo el mundo está experimentando una inflación drástica. vivimos en una economía internacional... todos estamos afectados. tendremos que cambiar y ajustar... en comparación, en algunos países, ¡américa es considerada pobre! Eres muy rica... eres joven hermosa, casada Realmente disfruto todos tus videos... te pareces a la hermana menor de mi novia y me haces sentir "swishy"... 😂😂😂

Now we’re getting closer to the truth!

you could just move to a smaller / non tourist city in Mexico and find cheaper prices...

¿Me pregunto si muchos nómadas digitales en México aprenden a hablar en español?

arent you a digital nomad? moving to find a cheaper deal? working online? the hypocrisy is OFF THE CHAIN.

Now that you are moving to another country, are you causing gentrification in another country as Mexican?

The rich digital nomad starter pack was hilarious but so accurate. I’m Mexican American and brought a friend I went to college with to Mexico City and he recommended these very places listed. It’s TripAdvisor, Al white people use it to find places to eat or visit. Hilarious!

The foreigners in Mexico are only 2% at the most. Gentrification is occurring from the emerging middle class of the Mexican citizens.

You're in a relationship with a foreigner correct? He seems British. Hmmmmm...

Karencita, your channel was so successful that so many foreigners saw it and moved to Queretaro that they priced you out! In economics that's called unforseen consequences.

That is USA's plan.

The recession is world wide, here in USA, here right now everything is very expensive, eggs now for a dozen costs about 5 dollars, you go to different countries items are more expensive than Mexico, you lucky your husband makes good money, you go to different countries to make videos and you make good money too, if you and your husband don't make good money you can't travel and you will be better living in Mexico, so you are very wrong about your video, you should see here in USA people can't afford to pay rent or to buy food because the recession is world wide and if travel you have money.

American gentrification in Mexico City? Naaa, it’s to early to say that, but maybe in Baja California it’s a true story

Sad reality Karen, cost of living is increasing all over the world. They call Vancouver Hongcouver !!!! Toronto is also very very expansive. i feel sorry for low income new comers - they will be slave to work just to pay the rent. Actually i don't understand why on earth they think life is better here. Sorry you have to leave Queretaro.

mexico is unregulated. end of gentrificaiton story. join a civic organisation that motivates for housing rights, rent caps and regulations, stop spitting at foreigners in the street. ive literally been bodyslammed in the street and told to go back to the US. (i am not from the US). "rents are doubled" is naive. "landlords are raising rents" is realistic. "mexican landlords are gouging renters" you're getting somewhere closer to the problem.

You talk about people being able to move wherever they want as being such a great thing, and from what it sounds like, you are saying it is a sacrifice worth making for the gentrification and high prices in beautiful/thriving areas. I disagree. Gentrification displaces communities that have lived in areas for generations. If you price these people out, you lose not just the people, but also a lot of the culture they created to make it the wonderful place it became in the first place

no, mexican landlords forced you out of mexico.

Ahora sabes como se siente cuando personas vienen a tu pais que no estan bienvenidos ... al menos vienen con una visa legal ahi en México y no estan tomando beneficios del gubierno

girl i like your videos but these cheesy click bait titles and thumbnails, just says to me, you needed "content" to put out. Id take you more serious if you didnt have the clickbait titles and make those faces in thumbnails.

to be fair there is global inflation so the cost of living is going up everywhere but the fact that americans are now moving into mexico and it bothers mexicans is hilarious to me

Karencita, you are kind. You want to share your passion for your country, but Mexico is not ready yet for a neoinvasion. It hasn't dealt with the indigenous rights from its colonial past, so there are no social justice in place for the poor and this is likely the brown natives. So, any publicity can attract good and bad visitors. But it's hard most every where in the north like US and even in Europe. They want to go where their money can go farther. So in this sense, a only a few Mexicans that were already doing good aka the Spanish descents are benefiting in the process.

Tu nombre de deberia ser La Malinche, en lugar de La Karencita