Queretaro, Mexico.
One of the fastest growing cities in Mexico. A charming city about 200 km away from Mexico City.
Mexicans here enjoy a higher standard of living compared to most of the country due to a huge expansion of industry that has taken place over the last ten years. Although industry has brought a lot of foreigners into the area, they generally live in the suburbs and the center of Queretaro still feels very authentic. The city has grown into the second most populous city in the Bajío Region, after León ahead of Morelia. Queretaro is one of the best places to do business in Latin America.
POPULATION: 1,800,000 (figure includes surrounding areas).
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NIGHTLIFE IN QUERETARO
6/10
Still a million times better than where I come from, but for Mexico, nothing to write home about. There are a ton of universities around, and a ton of young people walking the streets. To be fair I didn’t make much of an effort to get under the surface of the nightlife in Queretaro, so it may be better than I’m giving it credit for.
I recommend: La Encrucijada. Especially if you like live rock music, but even if you don’t. Usually I don’t like live music because it diminishes the opportunity for mingling, but I liked this spot. Not too naco (low class). However, I hear it’s not nearly as popular as it used to be. As always, there are a few huge fresa (rich girl) nightclubs around but I didn’t go to any here. They’re easy enough to seek out.
Taurine Selva – Classic Mexican cantina with the free snacks when ordering drinks. Multiple locations around the city and very popular with young people.
La Culpable Centro – Standard Mexican nightclub (reggaeton, dancing) located right in centro so good logistics for tourists as they are likely staying in centro.
Cervecera Hercules
RENT AN APARTMENT IN QUERETARO
Anywhere from $300.00 should allow you to be in a basic apartment in Queretaro. The good thing about Queretaro is that, even though people here have money, rent prices aren’t too high. This makes it an ideal city for an extended stay. You’ll want at least $400 if you plan on renting through Airbnb.
COST OF LIVING IN QUERETARO
The following data is from Expatistan, a crowdsourced database of prices and cost of living around the world. In our experience, the data tends to underestimate cost of living, so take the following as the minimum you might need to live here.
*Figures are listed in USD
You’ll need a minimum of $1071 USD/month to live in Queretaro, Mexico

IS QUERETARO SAFE?
Incredibly safe. Queretaro has a raging economy and has been more or less untouched by drug violence. There are still desperate people who migrated here during the boom times to try and find work, but crime is low and the streets are heavily patrolled.
HOW TO GET TO QUERETARO
Queretaro is a very well located city. From Queretaro you are very central to the rest of the country. You can take a 4 hour drive to Guadalajara.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN QUERETARO
Yes. Many large corporations have a strong presence here, like: Bombardier, Kellogg’s, Samsung, and Nestle to name a few. Quite a presence of foreign workers in the city. There seems to be a demand for educated workers, but of course you’d need an FM-3 and some Espanol. There are teaching opportunities in Queretaro as well that you could swing under the table.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A good place to live, find a wife, and raise a family. That’s the impression I get from Queretaro. Nightlife isn’t too bumpin’ and the women aren’t easy, but it’s safe, picturesque and offers a high standard of living.
Thanks to Latam Capitalist for the updates! Be sure to Check Out His Site Here.
OVERALL RATING: 7/10
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