The Pros And Cons of Living in Cozumel 

Wondering what are the pros and cons of living in Cozumel? Let’s find out on this post!

Who hasn’t dreamed of living on a Caribbean island? If now is the time to make your dream a reality, you have probably considered moving to Cozumel. It is indeed a beautiful place to live, a great mix of laid-back island vibes with plenty of modern conveniences.

Hey there! My name is Adrienne and I moved to Cozumel over 11 years ago. There are many great things about living here, but like everywhere, there are a few drawbacks too. Keep reading for my insider scoop on all the pros and cons of living in Cozumel! 

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The Pros of Living in Cozumel 

Cozumel is a special place. You can spend the day on a deserted stretch of beach and then go into town to shop at a fully-stocked supermarket. Depending on where you are it can feel remote and tropical, or modern and comfortable.

Some of the things that make you love Cozumel are the very same things that can be frustrating about living here. I will go over the great and not-so-great parts of island living, First, I will start with the best parts- these are the things that have kept me here longer than I ever expected:

👍 The Water

Probably one of the first things that draws visitors to Cozumel is the amazing water. The crystal clear water is different shades of blue and turquoise, each one more beautiful than the next.

Whether you love to scuba dive, snorkel, swim, or just relax on the shore, the water is one of the best parts of Cozumel. Cozumel’s main road, or Malecon, runs along the coast giving you mostly unblocked views of the ocean.

There are always locals and visitors sitting along the walkway or going for a stroll, and it seems almost impossible to spend a day in Cozumel without spending some time near the water.

The natural beauty of Cozumel is one of the first things that drew me here and always being close to the water, whether to go for a quick swim or just admire it, is one of my favorite parts of island life. 

👍 Quality of Life

Quality of life means different things to different people. Locals work hard in Cozumel.

During the high season, many people work double shifts or at least put in extra hours. Despite the hard work, there still seems to be a healthy work-life balance for most people here. Why? Well, to start, the air and water are clean. Because of infrastructure and lifestyle people spend lots of time outside, things are family-friendly, and there is not much traffic.

For me what this all amounts to is a place where yes, people work hard, but there is also a culture of spending quality time with your family and friends. 

👍 Family-Friendly

As I mentioned above, Cozumel is very family-friendly, and that can mean a lot of different things. People are very helpful and accommodating if you are traveling with old or young people.

Aside from some adult-only establishments (like cantinas), children are welcomed in most places- it is not rare to see servers in restaurants in Cozumel going out of their way to make fussy babies happy. If your family includes fur babies, there are a lot of pet-friendly places you can take them to too!

👍 Opportunities To Be Involved In The Community

If you want to give back to the community, Cozumel has plenty of opportunities to get involved. In the past, the island had a big problem with stray cats and dogs.

Thanks to years of work from dedicated organizations, staffed by many volunteers, this is no longer the case. Several organizations offer free spay and neuter campaigns, and they always need volunteers. Kan Cozumel, Salvando Amigos Y Dejando Huellas, and the Cozumel Humane Society are great places to get involved with their dog and cat rescue programs. 

In addition to the dog and cat rescue programs, there are charitable organizations that work with children, elderly people, and environmental causes. Cozumel hosts several sporting events each year, including the Ironman triathlon and Gran Fondo bike race. These races rely on volunteers in the medical tents and at hydration stations. 

If you are new to the island or on an extended visit, volunteering a bit of your time is a great way to have fun and meet new people. 

👍 Sporting Events

Over the last few years, Cozumel has worked to make a name for itself in the sports world. Cozumel hosts several triathlons, bike races, a marathon, and several family-friendly 5 and 10K walk and run events.

Whether you are a serious athlete or just want to watch, these events are the best things to do on the island. The main road is often full of spectators cheering on the athletes, and local children from a young age get involved in training camps that include swimming, running, and biking. 

The local government works hard to make the island a great place for athletes of all levels to train and compete. There is a well-maintained bike path that goes almost the entire way around the island, providing a safe and beautiful route for people to exercise on. There are several local bike groups, which are a fun place to get exercise and meet people. 

👍 Meeting People

Cozumel is a transient place. People move here from all over Mexico and different parts of the world. To me, this makes the people who live here more open to meeting new people and making new friends.

Many people who live in Cozumel have not lived here their whole life, and they are looking to build a social group. There are meet-up groups that go to different restaurants in town as well as meet-up snorkel groups. You can find these groups on social media and they are open to all! 

👍 Medical Facilities

If you are thinking about moving to Cozumel, you will be happy to know that there are several hospitals on the island. Mexico has a national healthcare system with public hospitals, as well as private hospitals.

To use the public healthcare system you must be registered with the government, so most visitors and foreigners living in Cozumel use the private hospitals.

Compared to the massive hospitals in many United States cities, these hospitals are much smaller. Despite their size, they have modern machinery,well-trained doctors, and great staff.  

Compared to medical costs in the states, the prices in Mexico, even at private hospitals, are much more affordable. You can get private insurance in Mexico, but most doctor visits and routine medical exams are cheaper than your insurance deductible and you pay them out of pocket.

For example, a visit with a general doctor or pediatrician usually costs between 600 and 1000 pesos per visit. Your insurance will kick in for larger medical needs, such as if you have an accident or need to have a large medical surgery or procedure. 

In general, it is easy and quick to get an appointment with a doctor. Most hospitals here have general practice doctors and emergency medical doctors readily available, and if you have a problem you will be quickly seen. Most of the hospitals in Cozumel have some specialists on staff such as cardiologists.

For more specialty, non-emergency, medical needs such as dermatologists and other specialists, many hospitals have doctors that come a few days a month from Cancun or Playa del Carmen to see patients. For these types of needs, you may need to wait longer to see a doctor or travel to the mainland. 

👍 Places to Hang Out

Cozumel has a lot of great places where locals and visitors hang out. There are constantly new coffee shops, restaurants, and bars to check out. There are also great public spaces where families take their kids and you can spend time relaxing.

Parque Benito Juarez is located across the street from the ferry dock. Locals take their children there to roller skate or play on their bicycles. There are often community events in the plaza, and the plaza is surrounded by small restaurants and shops.

You can go for a stroll there or sit and watch people on a bench under a tree. The Parque Municipal de Cozumel is a few blocks south of the ferry dock and in the evenings it has small events and food carts. 

👍 Bars and Restaurants

As a tourist destination, it is not surprising that Cozumel has lots of great bars and restaurants. There are constantly new bars and restaurants to visit, and in recent years the variety of food and drinks offered has expanded beyond traditional Mexican food. There is more focus on quality, in-house-made products. The Cozumel Roasting Company is located on the Benito Juarez Plaza and roasts its coffee.

The island has two micro-breweries, Cerveceria Punta Sur and Kusam, and Destileria Cozumel which makes its rum and gin.

K’ooben Laab is a small Italian-owned restaurant that makes affordable, homemade pasta and bread and Cozumel Dreaming has an incredible sushi chef! There are also several new vegan and vegetarian restaurants including Nutty Treesome which offers innovative vegan cuisine.

In addition to all the new places to visit on the island, there are still several classic Mexican restaurants that have been owned and operated here for generations. La Choza and Casa Mission offer great Mexican food with local specialties. Both also have great, affordable lunch specials and are favorites among locals! 

👍 Connectivity to Mainland

Living on an island, you often need (or want) to take a trip to the mainland. It takes about 40 minutes to cross from Cozumel to the mainland.

There are two main passenger ferries, Winjet and Ultramar, with rumors that a third company, Xcaret Sailing, will soon be operating too. The first ferry of the morning leaves Cozumel at 7:00 am, and the last ferry leaves Playa del Carmen at 10:00 pm.

Once you become a resident of the island, you are eligible for discounted ferry rates. The ferries have air-conditioned indoor and outdoor seating, and even have live music entertainment during the day. And while many island residents grumble anytime they have to take the ferry, the ferries are punctual, reliable, and a comfortable way to get to the mainland.

Once you get to the mainland you have access to great shopping, restaurants, cenotes, more medical facilities, and the Cancun airport, which often has cheaper flights than the Cozumel airport does. 

👍 Safety

Overall, Cozumel is a safe place to live. There is not much violent crime, and neighbors look out for one another. Local families feel comfortable letting their children hang out at neighborhood parks and the island still holds a ‘small-town’ feel.  

The Cons of Living in Cozumel 

As you can see, there are a lot of great parts about living in Cozumel. However, no place is perfect and Cozumel is not without its flaws. Here I will tell you some of the cons of living in Cozumel, so you can get a realistic view of what life is like here:

👎 Theft

I mentioned above that overall, Cozumel is safe; however, in recent years, theft has become a major issue. Thieves find creative ways to get into windows and break into homes while people are out, and steal small electronics, cash, and other valuables.

Unfortunately, local laws make it hard for police officers to punish thieves. Many neighborhoods have known thieves who have worked their way through different houses. Now many neighborhoods have informal neighborhood watches to help prevent theft, and homes need to have security bars on the windows.

If you live here, you should make sure to be careful to always lock windows and secure all valuables because thieves are looking for opportunities to get into houses. 

👎 Safety

I mentioned above that overall Cozumel is very safe, and that is true; however, there has been an increase in violent crime over the last two years. There have been a few murders over the past year, including one that took place in a popular taqueria.

The consensus is that these murders have all been drug-related; however, for a place that has always been considered free from the drug-related violence that haunts so much of Mexico, this is upsetting to both locals and visitors.

It is now, more than ever, important to not buy illegal drugs while in Cozumel, and be extra vigilant about your surroundings. 

👎 Cultural Opportunities

Cozumel lacks many cultural events and attractions that big cities have. The island has one small, but recently redone museum that has exhibits on the history of the island and native flora y fauna.

The museum often does rotating exhibits from local artists and photographers; however, the island does not have other art museums, hands-on museums, or science centers.

During major island celebrations such as Mexican Independence Day and Carnaval, the island brings in musicians. These are often well-known pop musicians or Latin singers.

Apart from this, there are very few music festivals or concerts. Occasionally there are small community theatre productions, but overall, there are not a lot of cultural opportunities in Cozumel. 

👎 Losing Public Beaches

The island of Cozumel is made of limestone, and there are many areas of rocky shoreline. This makes for great off-shore snorkeling, with marine life living in the cracks and crevices.

There are several small areas of white sandy beach on the west side of Cozumel where the town and most of the businesses and hotels are located, with bigger stretches of beach on the east side of the island.

Unfortunately, since I have lived here I have seen several of the beautiful public beaches that are near town be transformed into beach clubs or other developments.

Locals continue to lose access to these areas, and now the few sandy beaches that are easily accessible from town are often crowded on weekends and in the evening. There are still many sandy public beaches on the east side of the island, but you need transportation to get over there. 

👎 Lack Of Shopping

Cozumel has several large United States-style supermarkets that have everything from fresh produce to clothing to electronics. It also has a store called Coppel which is a nationwide department store that sells furniture, clothing, and electronics.

Apart from this, there are some clothing and sunglasses shops in the tourist areas and lots of souvenir shops. Apart from this, there is not much shopping. It can be hard for locals to find high-quality tennis shoes and clothing at affordable prices on the island.

Locals hold bazaars where they sell used clothing items, but those who can afford it often cross to the mainland occasionally for shopping needs.

Cancun and Playa del Carmen have much more variety in clothing, shoes, and furniture, and often have lower prices than you can get on the island. While this is not a major problem, it can be an inconvenience if you need something and cannot find it on the island.

👎 Connectivity To The Mainland

I mentioned above that some of the great things about Cozumel are also some of the frustrating things. Getting from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen and vice versa is quite easy. There are plenty of passenger ferries that connect the island with the mainland. However, there are times when crossing can be complicated.

The ferries rarely have to cancel due to weather; however, there are times when the harbor master determines that it is not safe for the boats to dock and load and unload passengers.

This means that until the wind dies down and the conditions improve, you are essentially stuck where you are.

There is a small airplane that offers flights between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel when the ferry is canceled- but it’s quite expensive. The flight charges over $100 per person for the 15-minute flight, and the flights fill up fast with people urgently needing to cross. 

There is a car ferry that transports large supply trucks as well as personal vehicles from the mainland to Cozumel. Compared to the passenger ferry the car ferry has a much more limited schedule, with only a few crossings each day.

If you need to cross your car you will need to get in line at least a few hours before the departure time as the ferries fill up. The crossing takes about one hour, with additional time needed for loading and unloading.

For many locals it is sometimes necessary to take the car ferry; however, if you can, I recommend avoiding it because of the long wait times. 

If you are a visitor to Cozumel and you can, I recommend flying directly into the island. Unfortunately, compared to flights to Cancun, there are not as many flight options that bring you directly to Cozumel.

For many people, flying into Cozumel is too expensive or there are no good flight options. For them, the best time to visit Cozumel is to fly into Cancun and then take the ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. If you are flying into Cancun keep an eye on the weather.

Extreme weather events can result in canceled ferries, and in that case, it is a good idea to have a backup plan in Cancun or Playa del Carmen. 

👎 Litter

Cozumel is a gorgeous place, but unfortunately, people do not take great care of it and leave their trash all over. From parks in town to the beach to the rocky areas where people go to watch the sunset litter is a problem.

Some people will tell you that the reason there is so much litter is a lack of trash bins around town and at public beaches, but even in areas with trash bins many people leave their food and drink containers behind.

It is sad and frustrating to see, especially when there are so many groups on the island who are working hard to make it a cleaner place to live. 

👎 Bureaucracy 

Whether it is to get your Mexican residency, buy a house, or get license plates for your car, Mexican paperwork and bureaucracy can be slow and frustrating. Ask any local and they will agree- government paperwork in Cozumel can be a pain!

Many of the agencies do not take appointments, so when you need to do something you need to get in line and wait your turn- no matter how long that takes!

If you come from a place where most paperwork can be done online, this can feel especially painful! After a while living here though you learn to pack a book, snack, and patience whenever you need to get paperwork done. 

👎 Medical Facilities

I mentioned above that there are great hospitals and doctors in Cozumel, and that is true. However, if you have a complicated health issue that needs surgery or treatment, you will probably need to travel off the island to find the correct specialist.

Wrapping It Up: The Pros And Cons Of Living In Cozumel

As you can see, there are a lot of great things about living in Cozumel, but it is not for everyone. While the island is great for a visit, some people prefer to have more cultural attractions, the ability to hop in their car and take off if they want (without having to plan around ferry schedules), and in general live in a bigger city.

If you are considering making the move to Cozumel I suggest before buying property here or planning any permanent moves you can stay for an extended period.

You might decide Cozumel is a great vacation spot for you, but not where you want to live. Or, you might find that like me, the island puts you under its charm and you end up staying longer than you ever expected.