Tech to Set Up Before Moving to Mexico: Apps, Internet and Privacy
Updated: Sep 21
When we moved to Mexico in 2019, I didn't realize how much technology would become part of everyday life here.
I'm not talking about complicated technology.
I'm talking about the apps you use to make an appointment, communicate with a repair person, exchange money, translate a message, get directions, keep your internet running and protect your connection when you're working remotely.
I originally wrote an article about the apps we used shortly after moving to Mexico. Years later, some of those recommendations have changed.
More importantly, I've learned that the right technology setup isn't really about having a list of apps.
It's about making daily life easier and making sure you can still communicate, access your money and stay connected when something doesn't work the way you expected.
Here are the tools I would set up before moving to Mexico today.
1. WhatsApp
If you're moving from the United States, WhatsApp may not currently be one of the most important apps on your phone.
That can change very quickly in Mexico.
I use WhatsApp to communicate with businesses, schedule appointments, contact service providers and stay connected with local groups.
It is common for me to message someone rather than call them.
That's especially useful when you're still learning Spanish because written communication gives you time to understand the message and formulate a response.
WhatsApp groups can also become an important part of building your local network. We've used groups for everything from community information to finding services and connecting with other families.
My recommendation is simple:
Install WhatsApp before you move and start getting comfortable with it.
2. A Translation or AI Assistant
When we first moved, Google Translate was one of the applications I used constantly.
I still think having a translation tool available is useful, but my own workflow has changed.
Today I also use AI tools such as ChatGPT to help me understand Spanish, translate everyday messages and practice conversations.
One advantage is that I can ask why someone used a particular word or phrase instead of simply getting a literal translation.
That has helped me understand how people actually communicate.
There is an important distinction, though.
I use these tools for everyday communication and learning. I would not rely solely on an AI translation for an important legal, medical, immigration or contractual decision.
Technology can help you understand the language.
It doesn't replace qualified professional advice when the consequences matter.
3. A Way to Manage Dollars and Pesos
If your income, savings or retirement money remains in the United States while you're spending pesos in Mexico, you need a reliable way to move and exchange money.
I've used Wise for years for this purpose.
It allows me to hold different currencies and convert dollars to pesos when I need them.
The exact financial setup that makes sense for you may be different from mine, especially once you establish Mexican banking relationships.
The important point is that you should think through the money flow before you move.
How will you access your U.S. accounts?
How will you get pesos?
How will you pay rent or local bills?
What happens if one card stops working?
Those are relocation-planning questions, not just banking questions.
I have a separate guide explaining more about how I use Wise when transferring money in Mexico.
4. Reliable Internet — and a Backup Plan
For most people, internet access is convenient.
For a remote worker, it may determine whether the house you're renting actually works for your life.
I've worked with people who found a house they liked and then discovered that the available internet wasn't adequate for their job.
That is why I recommend checking internet availability before signing a lease, not afterward.
At my own home in Mérida, I normally use fiber internet.
I've also tested Starlink as a backup connection.
That doesn't mean everyone moving to Mexico needs Starlink. It means your connectivity plan should match your actual requirements.
If losing internet for several hours would simply be annoying, your solution can be simple.
If losing internet means you can't work, your backup plan needs to be stronger.
5. A Personal VPN and Travel Router When Your Situation Requires It
If you work remotely, travel frequently or want greater control over where your internet traffic exits, a travel router and Personal VPN can become another part of your technology setup.
The important thing to understand is that the router itself is only one component.
A Personal VPN system can include:
internet at your home location,
your VPN server or router,
the internet connection where you're physically located,
your travel router,
and the encrypted connection between those locations.
I've installed and supported these systems for remote workers for several years, and one of the lessons I've learned is that reliability comes from understanding the entire system—not simply buying a router.
I explain the architecture in more detail in Personal VPN for Remote Work Abroad: How the Setup Actually Works.
A Personal VPN can help you maintain location privacy and control your connection, but it shouldn't be treated as a guarantee about what another organization can or cannot determine about your activity or location.
6. Power Backup for the Technology You Depend On
Internet doesn't help very much if your modem, router and computer don't have power.
Living in Yucatán has taught me to think about connectivity and electricity together.
If your ability to work depends on staying online, consider what actually needs to remain powered during a short outage.
That might include:
your modem or internet equipment,
your router,
your travel router,
your laptop,
and your phone.
Your solution doesn't necessarily need to be elaborate.
The important part is identifying the equipment that keeps your connection alive and planning accordingly.
I've written separately about staying connected during power outages and rainy-season disruptions in Mexico.
7. Don't Install Every Local App Before You Arrive
This is one thing I would do differently from my original list.
Ride-sharing, delivery, shopping and local-service apps can vary depending on where you live.
Instead of downloading a huge collection of apps before moving, I would install the tools that solve the universal problems first:
communication, translation, money, internet, privacy and backup.
Then add local applications after you understand how people actually do things in your city.
That's more useful than copying somebody else's list.
Technology Should Support Your Mexico Plan
The technology is only one part of moving to Mexico.
Your internet affects where you can live.
Your job affects the type of connectivity you need.
Your banking affects how you pay expenses.
Your language skills affect how you communicate.
Your housing affects the internet and electrical infrastructure available to you.
Those decisions are connected.
That's why I don't think moving to Mexico should be approached as a collection of unrelated checklists.
The better question is whether all of the pieces of your plan actually work together.
If you're planning your move and want to identify the gaps before they become expensive surprises, start with the free evaluation at RoadMaptoExpat.com.
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