Todos Santos, Mexico

Tourism dominates the economy now, though agriculture (avocados, chilies, mangoes) and fishing still matter. Hotels, restaurants, and surf shops are the main employers for locals and expats alike. The paving of Highway 19 in the 1980s transformed this from a sleepy agricultural town into a destination, and property values have climbed accordingly. Most expats here either run tourism businesses, freelance remotely, or live off savings—traditional employment is thin.

Rent for a one-bedroom in town runs $668/month, but that's climbing fast as foreign investment accelerates. Water is a real problem: the aquifer is over-extracted with saltwater intrusion, and the system regularly fails. Blackouts happen frequently because the electrical grid runs over capacity. Spanish helps but isn't mandatory in tourist areas. Getting residency requires patience with Mexican bureaucracy, though it's doable. Cabo is 1 hour south by car if you need bigger-city services.

Winters are warm and dry; summers are hot and humid. The food scene revolves around fresh seafood and farm produce, with a growing number of expat-run restaurants. Surfing is the main weekend activity—the Pacific breaks here are legitimate. The expat community is visible but not overwhelming; you'll find digital nomads and retirees mixed with long-term residents. This suits people who want beach life and creative community without Cancún's chaos, but only if you can tolerate infrastructure headaches and rising costs.