Living and working in Los Cabos are not two disparate concepts. Digital nomads and permanent remote workers are flocking to Mexico as technology allows many to work online from anywhere.
This remote working trend is reflected in the Los Cabos real estate boom post-lockdown, and what better place to achieve a true work/life balance than this Southern Baja paradise?
Boasting an average of 350 days of sunshine per year, and a near-perfect climate during winter months, there is no better place than Los Cabos to relocate your virtual office.
Whether you are looking to rent, purchase or invest in the Los Cabos real estate market, it’s one of the best places in Mexico for remote working. Rental properties also offer a high return on investment, so when you are not enjoying your vacation home you can make it work for you.
Many real estate options in Los Cabos offer beach and arch views right outside your home office window, and refreshing pools for a quick dip in between meetings.
If you need further convincing to make the leap, either for yourself, your family, your boss or your coworkers, here are a few talking points followed by the nitty gritty on making your Los Cabos remote working dream a reality.
1. What are the advantages of working remotely in Los Cabos?
2. What is the best place to live for remote working in Los Cabos?
3. Can I legally work remotely in Los Cabos?
4. What are the best Los Cabos internet providers?
5. What’s the best phone service for Mexico?
6. Do I need a VPN in Los Cabos?
7. Are there coworking spaces in Los Cabos?
8. Where do I get office supplies in Los Cabos?
9. How do I receive mail in Los Cabos?
1. What are the advantages of working remotely in Los Cabos?
● Inspiring Workspaces: Whether you dedicate a space in your Los Cabos home or condo to a virtual office or choose from an array of co-working spaces, remote work in Los Cabos brings scenic views, the charm of Mexican culture, and a more relaxed lifestyle that lends itself to increased productivity without the stress of an urban office setting found in other countries. With work/life balance becoming increasingly important, the Los Cabos lifestyle is simply ideal.
● High-Speed Internet: Several options are available for a reliable and rapid internet connection, allowing video calls, streaming and downloading at rates comparable, and in some cases better, than many North American cities.
● Cost of Living: Many services in Los Cabos are much more affordable than in the United States or Canada due to the low cost of labor. Yes, there are world-class restaurants with world-class prices, but there are also many affordable and delicious options. Car maintenance is extremely affordable, as is employing domestic help such as maids or gardeners to limit time spent on chores once the workday is done.
● Time Zone: Mexico abolished Daylight Savings time changes in 2022 for most of the country, including Los Cabos which is on Mexican Pacific Time, making working with teams in the western regions of the US and Canada extremely convenient. During Daylight Saving Time, Los Cabos is in the Pacific Time Zone, and otherwise, Los Cabos is in the Mountain Time Zone.
● Physical Proximity: If in-person meetings are a must, the Los Cabos airport offers direct flights to Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Portland, Phoenix San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Auston, Denver, Santa Ana, Seattle, Oakland, New York, Salt Lake City, Baltimore, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Sacramento, Las Vegas and other destinations in the US, with some routes being seasonal in winter months. Canadian direct flights from Los Cabos include Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Montreal, Ottawa, Kelowna and Toronto. Numerous destinations within Mexico are also just one plane ride away.
2. What is the best place to live for remote working in Los Cabos?
Nestled between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, Los Cabos is comprised of two towns, charming San Jose del Cabo and bustling Cabo San Lucas, each offering excellent options for working in harmony with the breathtaking natural beauty Los Cabos offers.
Your Los Cabos realtor can help you determine which neighborhoods and locations are right for you.
This resort destination hotspot has grown exponentially in recent years and boasts solid technological infrastructure as well as physical beauty, first-class amenities and activities.
Cabo San Lucas is renowned for arch views where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meet at land’s end, the iconic tip of the Baja Peninsula. Cabo San Lucas offers a faster-paced lifestyle with a plethora of bars, restaurants and activities designed for the young at heart.
Cabo San Lucas real estate opportunities include great options in the prestigious Pedregalneighborhood with amazing sunset views, and The Paraiso residences offer excellent shopping and dining for the lovers of the Marina area. There are also amazing communities in Quivira on the Pacific side of Cabo and Cabo Del Sol on the corridor just outside of Cabo San Lucas.
San Jose del Cabo, founded in 1730 by Jesuit missionaries, is ideal for families or those seeking a slower-paced lifestyle. With farm-to-table dining, a Thursday night Art Walk and historic architecture, San Jose is resplendent with charm. Tortuga Bay or Las Mañanitas are great options for digital nomads in San Jose del Cabo.
Looking to catch a few waves on your lunch hour? Los Cabos is a world-famous surf destination with vibrant real estate options close to surf breaks. Querencia, Palmilla and other San Jose beachfront communities allow you have toes in the sand at the drop of a hat.
Or how about a round of golf on one of Los Cabos’ world-class golf courses after work in place of a grueling commute? Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson have all designed golf courses in Los Cabos. Savor life on the links at Puerto Los Cabos, Cabo Del Sol, Club Campestre,Palmilla, Quivira Golf Club, Diamante, and Rancho San Lucas.
Is deep sea fishing your passion? Los Cabos is home to the Bisbee’s Black and Blue tournament, the most lucrative fishing tournament in the world. In 2023 a 501-lb black marlin brought home a $3.6 million US payday for the lucky anglers. Puerto Los Cabos, Hacienda Beach Club and the Waldorf Astoria communities put you just minutes away from the water.
Whatever your taste, it’s all here. Where you find your home depends on what you are looking for. There are no bad options and no bad days.
3. Can I legally work remotely from Los Cabos?
As far as the Mexican government is concerned, yes, you can work remotely from Mexico.
And what’s not to like about earning in dollars and spending in pesos? As long as you don’t work for a Mexican company or receive payment in a Mexican bank account, your federal tax responsibility lies in the country where you receive payment.
You can work remotely in Mexico on a tourist visa for short periods of time, however, the maximum number of days you can stay is 180, and whereas a six-month stay used to be the norm for tourists when entering Mexico, that is no longer always the case.
A better option for homeowners in Los Cabos is applying for a temporary or permanent resident visa, which is a fairly simple process with a few key requirements.
● Temporary Resident Visa (Residente Temporal): This visa is typically issued for up to four years and can be renewed. It is often used by retirees, employees, or people with family ties in Mexico. To apply for a temporary resident visa, you will generally need to demonstrate a minimum income or show that you have a job or family ties in Mexico. You'll also need to provide certain documentation, including financial statements.
● Permanent Resident Visa (Residente Permanente): This visa allows you to live in Mexico permanently. You may be eligible for permanent residency if you have held temporary resident status for several years, have family ties to Mexican citizens or residents, or meet specific financial criteria. The financial requirements for permanent residency are usually higher than those for temporary residency. Permanent residency never expires and does not need to be renewed.
There’s paperwork involved, and consulting with an immigration attorney or specialist is advised unless you are familiar with bureaucratic processes in Mexico and have a good command of Spanish.
4. What are the best Los Cabos internet providers?
If you are going to be working remotely in Los Cabos, high-speed internet is a non-negotiable feature. The good news is, Los Cabos' internet speeds are for the most part rapid and reliable. The top two internet providers in Los Cabos are Telmex and Starlink.
Telmex (Telefonos de Mexico) is the telephone company previously owned by the Mexican government but was privatized in 1990 and is owned by Carlos Slim, one of the wealthiest men in the world. In addition to traditional landlines, Telmex offers Infinitum internet in several packages. If your home has fiber optic cable wired in, this is a good option. There are several internet packages available at varying speeds and price points
Starlink, powered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellites, is becoming increasingly popular in Baja California Sur, and is a slightly pricier but very effective option with download speeds in excess of 150 mb. You must purchase the equipment online ($8,300 pesos/$460 USD at the time of publication, plus shipping and handling) and it often arrives much sooner than the two-week delivery time listed on the website.
Starlink operates a constellation of thousands of small satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These satellites communicate with user terminals on the ground to provide internet access.
It requires a clear view of the sky, which is fairly easy to achieve in Los Cabos due to the scarcity of forests and high-rise buildings and can be installed in 15 minutes or so requiring no technical expertise. Monthly standard plans are 1,100 pesos (around $61 USD at the time of publication). Mounting brackets and other accessories are available on the Starlink website for purchase.
Customers in Mexico receive a user terminal kit from Starlink including a sleek satellite dish (also known as a phased-array antenna) and a modem.
The dish is designed to automatically align itself with the satellites overhead and the antenna can adjust its orientation to maintain a connection as the satellites move across the sky.
Keep in mind that most homes in Mexico have cement walls which tend to block Wi-Fi signals. Investing in a good mesh system to ensure connectivity throughout your home is suggested.
5. What’s the best phone service for Mexico?
Some US/Canadian carriers have coverage throughout North America which includes Mexico. Others charge a premium for international coverage, so check your own plan for the best option.
That said, cell phone service in Mexico is quite inexpensive, and if you purchase an unlocked phone with dual SIM cards you can keep your old number while using a local number for calling friends and businesses in Los Cabos.
And, if you’re not already using WhatsApp, you might want to download the app as most Mexicans use this for voice calls and texting.
Also, consider getting a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service such as Google Voice, which allows you to make and receive calls over the Internet. Google Voice and other similar apps also record calls and transcribe voice messages, which can be handy when participating in important meetings or for more detailed voice mails.
6. Do I need a VPN in Los Cabos?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) offers numerous advantages, the least of which being that not everyone you interact with online needs to know you’re working from Cabo. VPNs are relatively inexpensive and can allow access to certain sites that block users in Mexico. They also offer peace of mind and increased security. Some advantages to consider are:
● Encryption: VPNs encrypt your internet connection, which helps protect your data from potential threats.
● Access to Restricted Content: VPNs allow you to access content that is geographically restricted, such as many of the streaming services available in the US and Canada, websites, and online platforms. You can connect to servers in different countries to access content that might be blocked in Mexico. For example, Netflix and Amazon Prime have different programming in Mexico, and streaming services like Hulu and Peacock are not available in Mexico at all. Yet add a VPN app to your smart TV and you’ll have access to a greater variety of content.
● Public Wi-Fi Security: Public Wi-Fi networks are notoriously insecure, and using a VPN on these networks can help protect your data from potential eavesdropping and attacks. Almost all restaurants, cafes and supermarkets in Los Cabos have wifi available with or without a password, thus a VPN adds an extra layer of security if you are out and about and need to get online.
● Multiple Device Support: Many VPN services allow you to use a single account on multiple devices, ensuring privacy and security across various platforms and operating systems.
7. Are there coworking spaces in Los Cabos?
Whether you need to hold meetings or just miss being around others as you work remotely in Los Cabos, there are several options for coworking spaces with flexible layouts. If you need a boardroom or just a desk, a smile and some air conditioning, coworking in Los Cabos has you covered.
● Coworking at Los Cabos has been around since 2020, and is located along the highway to Todos Santos in Cabo San Lucas.
● Colab offers coworking spaces in San Jose del Cabo and La Playa/Puerto Los Cabos.
● Biznest on one of Cabo San Lucas’ main drags, Leona Vicario, has been functioning as a virtual office and coworking space since 2015.
● Koral Desk, located along the corridor between San Jose and Cabo San Lucas, offers Sea of Cortez views from its office.
Most coworking spaces in Los Cabos offer free coffee and water, blazing-fast internet speeds, have bilingual receptionists and fully-equipped presentation rooms, but maybe the best part about having a remote office space outside of your home is avoiding distraction when working on important projects. That and working around other people for those times when you are fed up wearing pajama bottoms while staring at a computer screen. Plus coworking is great for networking and making new friends.
8. Where do I get office supplies in Los Cabos?
Office supplies are most conveniently purchased at big box stores you will recognize from home: OfficeMax, Office Depot and Costco have just about everything you could need. Do take note that most computers purchased in Mexico have a Spanish keyboard to accommodate accent marks.
With the fluctuating power grid, brownouts and electrical outages can happen, especially during rare storms. Invest in a backup charger for your cell phone and a surge protector for electronics.
9. How do I receive mail in Los Cabos?
Using the Mexican postal service is not recommended, but there are courier services that can deliver documents, such as Federal Express and DHL, although service takes longer and is costly.
Mail Boxes Cabo, with locations in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo provides you with a California address and ships several times a week. They also take care of the 28 percent duty paid on most packages and can even help with things like car delivery from the US and relocation services.
Conclusion
Remote working in Los Cabos offers a unique work/life balance and a plethora of housing options making a Cabo real estate purchase ideal for those seeking to live — and work — in paradise.