Moving to Merida?
Here’s what you need to know, from information about doctors & hospitals. To the people, culture and fun things to do.
Truth be told about moving to Mérida
Check out Mérida before you decide on any other city, I was told. You will love the White City’s cultural events, food, and proximity to the Mayan ruins and Progreso. They (other expats I met while visiting Mérida) made it seem as if moving to Merida would be a never-ending delight. What they don’t tell me was that the weather in Mérida is as hot as a sauna during most of the year. The mosquitos can be pretty fierce too.
Now for all of the good reasons to move to Mérida…
It is the 12th largest city in Mexico and home to 4,000 plus expats, Mérida known for being the safest city in Mexico and the second safest city in the Americas just behind Quebec. People still take precautions by locking their doors and not leaving valuables out, however there is an extra level of safety comfort compared to other cities in Mexico. Merida also boasts an international airport with direct flights to Houston and Miami as well as flights to Vancouver, Quebec, Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary.
The city has been named American Capital of Culture twice, most recently in 2017. This award is based on Merida’s rich Mayan heritage, art, culture, and unique traditions. Merida has also become a gourmet food destination: from haciendas with fabulous restaurants to culinary festivals and competitions. Since 2019, Mérida has also formed part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
For those who like to keep it simple; Mérida’s street stands and family restaurants with fresh tacos, tamales, cochinita pibil, and panuchos abound.
Merida has fantastic museums, including:
Ruta Puuc – Road to the Mayan Ruins
Just 80 kilometers or 50 miles from Mérida, you will find the Puuc Route or Ruta Puuc as it is known in Spanish. The trip can be made in one day, although taking two days is optimal. Tours buses and packages are available through Mérida hotels and the Mérida Tourism Office. Renting a car is also a great option, because you will be able to stop and go along the way at your leisure. The Puuc Rout will take you to Mayan villages, archeological ruins, and cultural points of interest including:
Uxmal
Kabah
Sayil
X-Lapak
Oxkintok
Labná
Yaxcopoil museum
Ochil restaurant and museum
Lultún Caves
Temozón boutique hotel and restaurant
Calcehtok Caves
Cuzamá Cenote
Before making your trip, be sure to check the Mérida Tourism Office for maps, tips, and possible site closures.
Mérida Tourism Office Locations
#1 Roman Theatre Location
Address: Plaza Margarita Xirgú s/n
Phone: 924 330 722
From April 1 to September 30
Open Daily
Hours: 09:00am to 8:30pm
From October 1 to March 31
Open Daily
9:00am to 6:30pm
#2 Puerta de la Villa Location
Address: C/ Santa Eulalia, 62
Phone: 924 380 191
From April 1 to September 30
Open Daily
Hours: 9:00am to 8:45pm
From October 1 to March 31
Open Daily
Hours: 9:00am to 6:30pm
Yucatan history
For many years, the Yucatán was isolated from the rest of Mexico and it was even its own country once. Its cultural history has its roots in Cuba and Spain. Until the 1950s, it was customary to travel to La Havana more so than to the other cities in Mexico. The traditional guayabera, or men´s shirt, come from Cuba, and the typical tile flooring comes from Spain. The Spanish in the Yucatan used to import tiles for the hacenderos and plantations.
People in the Merida and the Yucatán are some of the friendliest people in Mexico
Mérida natives, or Yucatecos as they are known, are naturally joyful and easily engage in conversation. They create a magical sense of camaraderie that does not occur in other places. Go to a bar and they will invite you to dance and sing. Need help, all you have to do is say hello with a smile and tell them what you need. In my experience, they are some of the most honest and dependable people in Mexico.
Cost of living in Merida
Merida offers a lower cost of living compared to the US, Canada and Europe. The same holds true in terms of other cities in Mexico. Merida´s low cost of living is due to inexpensive labor costs, materials and supplies. Low wages and material costs drive the local economy.
There are homes for sale and rentals in Merida for every budget. The cost of homes and rentals in Merida will depend on the particular neighborhood, distance to the historic center, and size and age of the dwelling. Purchasing and refurbishing a colonial home can be a long-term project. Estimating a budget for a home restauration project can also be a challenge. These uncertainties stem from the difficulties with predicting labor time investments and material costs. Notwithstanding, many expats have enjoyed home restorations and have met with great success.
Doctors and Hospitals in Merida
With a population of over 1 million people, Mérida has some of the best hospitals and medical services in Mexico. Mérida attracts over 3,000 million dollars annually in medical tourism. Patients travel from other cities in Mexico and Central America to seek world-class medical and hospital services in Mérida. to meet the needs of its residents, foreigners, expats, and tourists.
Three levels of Mérida Mexico hospitals
In Mexico and other Latin American countries, the type of hospital care delivered is categorized by levels:
Level One Hospitals: Hospitales de Primer Nivel
Level Two Hospitals: Hospitales de Segundo Nivel
Level Three Hospitals: Hospitales de Tercer Nivel
Level one care is provided at hospitals and clinics that provide non-emergency outpatient urgent care services for minor accidents, injuries and illnesses. Patients that need surgery or advanced interventions need to go to level two or three hospitals.
Level two hospitals provide inpatient, outpatient and emergency medical services for the majority of medical specialties such as maternity care, gynecology, pediatrics, internal medicine, and general surgery.
Level three hospitals are those that offer specialized medical care such as: cancer care, cardiovascular surgery, hemodialysis, neurosurgery, highly complex laboratory tests, trauma care, coronary angiography, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine study.
Important things to know about hospitals in Mérida:
Level two hospitals in Mérida provide services for multiple inpatient and outpatient medical specialties.
Level three hospitals in Mérida offer the most advanced medical care, laboratory services, and diagnostic testing equipment
If you have a pre-planned surgery in Mérida, explore several options.
Doctors in Mérida are normally credentialed at several hospitals and clinics. If you ask, they will be able to provide you with hospitalization quotes from different facilities in Mérida. For example, if you need gallbladder surgery, your doctor may be able to provide you with a quote for surgery at Star Médica Mérida, Faro de Mayab Hospital, or the Mérida Clinic.
The best private hospitals and clinics in Mérida
Star Médica Hospital Mérida – Hospital Star Médica Mérida
Address: Calle 26 # 199, at 15 y 7, Col. Altabrisa, Mérida
Phone: 999-930-2880
Directions to Star Médica
The Mérida Clinic – Clínica de Mérida
Address: Av. Itzáes No. 242, Colonia García Ginerés, Mérida
Phone: 999-942-1800
How to get to the Mérida Clinic
Medical Center of the Americas – CEMA - Centro Médico de las Americas
Address: Calle 54 365, Zona Paseo Montejo, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico
Phone: 999-926-2111
How to get to CEMA - Medical Center of the Americas
Southeast Specialty Medical Center - CEM Centro de Especialidades Médicas del Sureste
Address: C. 60 329A, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán
Phone: 999-920-4040
How to get to the Southeast Specialty Medical Center CEM
The Mérida Clinic – Clínica de Mérida
Phone: 999-942-1800
Address: C. 32 No. 242, García Ginerés, 97070 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico
How to get to the Mérida Clinic
Public hospitals in Mérida
IMSS General Hospital – Level I
Ignacio García Tellez
Address: Calle 34 x 41, Ex Terrenos “El Fénix”, Mérida, Yucatán
IMSS General Hospital – Level I
Benito Juárez General Hospital
Address: Av. Itzáes x Av, Colón sin número, Colonia García Ginerés, Mérida, Yucatán
University Hospital – Level I
Dr. Agustín O’Horan
Address: Av. Itzáes por Av. Jacinto Canek sin número, Colonia Centro, Mérida, Yucatán
High Specialty Regional Hospital – Level III
Address: Calle 7, No. 433 por 20 y 22, Fracc. Altabrisa, Mérida, Yucatán
Korea-Mexico Friendship Hospital – Specialty Hospital
Boys and girls hospital.
Address: Calle 60 Sur sin número, San José Tecoh x Anillo Periférico, San José Tecoh
Red Cross Anti-Cancer Center – Specialty Hospital
Red Cross Cancer hospital
Address: Calle 59 N / A x Avenida Itzáes, Mérida, Yucatán
Located in front of the zoo
More Information
The Benefactor Hope Clinic – Specialty Clinic
Specializing in Maternity Care.
Address: Calle 76 # 446 x 45, Colonia Centro, Mérida
More Information
Red Cross Orthopedic Hospital – Specialty Hospital
Address: Calle 65 # 104, Colonia San José Vergel, Mérida, Yucatán
More Information