One Canadian shares how she traded Toronto for Mexico due to the cost of living and uses social media to encourage others to do the same.
Although most of her posts are about travel, Tara Marie Murphy often shares practical advice on finance, remote work, and relocation. Whether viewers are living vicariously through her or looking for advice, Murphy’s content resonates with a large audience. She has almost 60,000 followers on her TikTok channel, @tmariemurphy, and 38,000 followers on Instagram.
Murphy, a finance professional, and her boyfriend, a professional golfer, moved south four years ago and now split their time between Mexico and Canada.
“I grew up in Canada and had a great childhood, but Canada has changed a lot since I was a kid,” she admitted. “I hate the cold, despise traffic, and the cost of living is now unbearable in cities like Toronto, so the whole package was not a fit for me to be my happiest self at all.”
Finance, freedom, and flexibility
@taramariemurphy/Instagram
When asked about her job, Murphy said she wears “many hats.” She worked in investment banking for over seven years and still consults with the company.
“I took that experience, and now I day trade, dabble in crypto, created an investing course and taught hundreds of students about learning to invest and manage their finances,” she explained.
She also has a digital marketing agency, and after buying properties at a young age, she manages several Airbnb properties — businesses that she manages remotely.
Making the move
@tmariemurphy Replying to @charlottegilmour.fit Part 1 of Leaving Canada: Why & Where. We chose Playa Del Carmen because it was the perfect choice for us. That’s not to say it’s the perfect choice for everyone, and this is not me telling everyone to move to Mexico – but it just really worked for us! #canadiantoktok #fyp #wherewemoved #movingoutofcanada #costoflivingcanada #faqs #leavingcanada #movingabroad #remotework #remoteworklife #torontotiktok #canadatomexico ♬ original sound – Tara Murphy
After considering several locations, Murphy and her boyfriend decided to live in Playa del Carmen, a coastal city known for its resorts and beaches.
“We settled on Playa because it is close to the airport, Tulum, and lots of golf courses — my boyfriend plays pro golf for a living, so that was important,” said Murphy. “It is the perfect destination because everything is within walking distance in town, unlike Tulum.”
Although they had initially decided to stay for four months as a trial period, the pair fell in love with the city.
“Four years later, here we are, can’t get rid of us,” shares Murphy in a TikTok clip. “Honestly, Playa just truly became our safe and happy place. We fell in love with the place, people, culture, and language.”
Once they had decided on their new home base, the couple rented out their properties in Toronto, stored their things, and hopped on a plane. They also once drove from Toronto to Playa del Carmen, a 56-hour road trip.
As for travelling to Mexico, Murphy said that visitors get a 180-day visa upon arrival.
“Then you can leave the country and come back, and the days reset,” she explained.
The couple has also met like-minded people, including expats from Argentina, the US, Canada, Kazakhstan, Hungary, and Italy, who have found homes in Mexico.
“We pay taxes in Mexico now, we volunteer, we foster animals when we can, and now we’re looking to purchase property,” Murphy stated.
“It’s the best country in the world”
@taramariemurphy/Instagram
Like any move, life in Mexico requires many adjustments. For Murphy, the main one was the language barrier.
“I had some basic knowledge [of Spanish] prior, but now I can understand fully most of the time. I am usually better after a glass of wine or five,” she quipped.
She called the stigmas about Mexico “ridiculous” and said she hears worse stories about Toronto than about her current home. She also said she’s never felt unsafe in the 16 cities she’s visited in Mexico.
“The pros are endless. Did I mention it’s sunny all year long? No snow, no traffic,” asked Murphy.
“Cost of living is affordable, which is a huge pro. My boyfriend can work and train all year; I can work all year [digitally]. The people, the community aspect, the food — all pros. There is so much to do and see here, in this region, and all over Mexico. I think it’s the best country in the world.”
Breaking down the cost of living
@tmariemurphy So many canadians and americans wonder about dental and healthcare in places like mexico – good healthcare is still so accessible! Not everywhere, all the time, and you do have to pay, but you can still get all same testing done here! 🙏 #healthyliving #healthcare #healthcareinamerica #healthcareindustry #healthcareincanada #canadianhealthcare #americanhealthcare #mexicanhealthcare #americanhealthcaresystem #healthcaresystem #bloodwork #bloodworkresults #healthtok #foruu #fyp #fypシ #fypage #canadiansabroad #livingabroad #mexicoliving #healthcarecomparison #costoflivingcrisis #costoflivingcanada #costoflivingusa #costoflivingmexico #dailylife #livinginmexicobelike #torontogirl #torontohealthcare ♬ original sound – Tara Murphy
So, how much does it cost to live in a slice of paradise?
“Of course, costs are more if you are a tourist (hotel, all-inclusive, airport transfers), but for locals or expats, costs are really low,” shares Murphy.
According to Rentals.ca, the average cost to rent a one-bedroom condo in Canada is $2,014, while it is $2,372 to rent a one-bedroom unit in Toronto. The couple rents a one-bedroom penthouse near the beach in Mexico.
Tara Marie Murphy
Below, Murphy shares some of her regular expenses:
Rent: $2,100. “Our rent is in pesos, so it varies based on how the peso does, but it works out to about $2,100 for a two-story penthouse loft with an ocean view,” said Murphy. “It has one bedroom and two bathrooms [and is located] in Centro Playa, the center area of the city.”
Parking: Free
Groceries: $300 for “a big Costco or Sam’s Club run.”
Dining out: $50 per person. “[That’s] for a meal with friends, appetizers, drinks, alcohol, and dessert.”
Dental cleaning: $55 for complete dental cleaning
Healthcare: Bloodwork costs $100 or less, and a consultation with a specialist costs $50. Murphy said her healthcare experiences in Mexico have been better than in Canada.
“You don’t have to limit to ‘one topic per visit’ for a doctor’s appointment,” she shares. “I have my doctor’s number on WhatsApp. I can make appointments, send voice notes, and I can ask questions. There is nothing like that in Canada.”
Haircut: $55. “For a cut and blowout with my amazing Italian stylist here.”
Basic manicure: $20
Massage at home for 1.5 hours: $70
Travel: $100. “Domestic flight to Mexico City from Cancun is less than $100 roundtrip if booked in advance (Viva Aerobus or Volaris),” said Murphy.
Phone bill: $30 monthly. “It’s so much cheaper than Bell or Rogers or any Canadian service,” said Murphy.
The trade-offs
Tara Marie Murphy
For Murphy, there are very few downsides to living in Mexico.
“[Some of the] cons are only that my family isn’t here, so we either have to travel to visit people or they have to travel to visit us. But like I said, we aren’t in Mexico all year long, so that makes it okay, and we can see family when we want to,” she explained.
Access to things is also not the same as in Canada.
“You don’t have Amazon overnight deliveries, you don’t have 400 grocery stores or fast food,” Murphy shares. “You have to work with what you have down here, so it’s not for everyone, but I don’t mind that at all.”
But for those thinking of moving, she suggests simply going for it.
“Go out there and get after what you want. Your job is not remote? No problem. You can change that,” she said. “You want a beach escape? No problem. You can find that. Anything you want, it’s all there, just a flight away.”
Murphy admitted that she no longer sees herself living in Canada full-time and said that besides family and friends, there’s not much she misses about it.
“Maybe Swiss Chalet,” she said. “I would kill for some Swiss Chalet in Mexico.”