A couple went to Mexico to give birth — and found a city to live in and also a resort
Sasha Balotsin lives and works in Mexico, where he received permanent residency after the birth of his daughter – thanks to the “law of the land”.
Sasha has been programming for 16 years, 10 of them in game development. Devby.io found out how much life costs in a Caribbean resort and whether the war with drug cartels is visible on the streets of Cancun – a Mexican city of a million people.
“Many big-name companies pay below market rate – you work for a line on your resume”
— I got into game dev thanks to a fortunate turn of events. In 2017, I moved to Kyiv, where I worked at Luxoft, which is like a Ukrainian EPAM. Six months later, an HR representative from Ubisoft's Kyiv office wrote to me: “We are looking for strong programmers, come join us.”
I was very surprised. It seemed that there must be some other way to get into such a well-known game development company. For a long time, I suffered from imposter syndrome. But there were many very cool Ukrainian specialists there, several heads above me — I learned a lot from them.
In game dev, salaries are usually lower. It seems to me that it's a kind of "joy tax" — "I'm in game dev, so I agree to earn less." I remember earning about $1500 at Luxoft, and at Ubisoft, it was already over $2000; at that time [since late 2017], that was good money.
Ubisoft Entertainment SA — a French video game developer and publisher with headquarters in the Paris suburb of Saint-Mandé and offices in the USA, Canada, Spain, Ukraine, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, China, and other countries. Among the company's most famous franchises are Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rayman, Prince of Persia, Tom Clancy’s. Recently, Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot died in a plane crash.
Ubisoft at that time seemed like a very cool place with cool guys; working with them was very interesting and fun. I worked there for almost four years.
However, I wasn't earning the money I wanted to. And when I approached my brand manager with this question, he offered an option I didn't like. Many big-name companies rely on a conveyor belt of talent and pay slightly below market rate — they believe people will come for an attractive line on their resume.
At some point, it became more difficult. When you work for a long time on enthusiasm, in a "charged" state, a critical moment eventually arrives – either your health gives out, or you're emotionally exhausted. I won't blame everything on Ubisoft, but perhaps this extra effort was expected; the company demanded additional efforts from the Kyiv office. And at such a moment, you need to have the courage to say "no." There were guys who did that. I eventually learned from them. But I still burned out.
It was there, at Ubisoft, literally at the workplace, that I met my first wife; she worked in QA. She was Romanian, and at some point, we decided to move from Ukraine to her homeland, Bucharest. We moved shortly before the war began.
— Bucharest was probably the cheapest city I lived in. A two-room apartment cost somewhere around 500-600 euros. With 2 – 2.5 thousand euros, you can live there alone and not particularly worry.
If anyone wants to live in Romania — I recommend it, an excellent place, but you will need to know the language, which is not very easy to learn. I lived there for four years, but I only know a few phrases.
“Our daughter was born a year ago, and she is Mexican”
— How did Mexico end up being your choice?
— One day I went to some Romanian festival, talked to people there, walked around, drank beer — did everything people do at festivals. At that time, I was working with Multiplayer Group and was divorcing my first wife. And at the festival, I met my future second wife. We were sitting with my new festival friends near a church, and my angel flew by.
We lived with her for some time in Romania, then in Serbia and Hungary. In Budapest, we got married at the local registry office. And, when my wife was already pregnant, we thought about where to go next.
We chose between Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. Argentina had some economic problems, and issues with legalization appeared. In Chile, I needed a visa that was lengthy to obtain.
And in Mexico, I got a visa in one day. It was the first time I went to an embassy, they looked at me, asked some trivial questions, took the necessary papers, and said: “Sit down, we’ll sort it out now.” Then they brought me my passport and said: “Here’s your visa.” And I was like: “Wow, that was possible!” I got a visa in two hours! Belarusians, perhaps, will understand my feelings.
— And in Mexico, like in Argentina, is there also "jus soli" (right of soil)?
— That's exactly why we're here, and that's how we got permanent residency. Our daughter was born a year ago, and she is Mexican. Although she also has an international Russian passport, for which we went to the embassy in Mexico City (my wife is Russian; she will also get a Belarusian passport someday if she wishes).
And we need to wait another year until we can apply for citizenship by family reunification.
— Will they check your Spanish proficiency for this?
— There will be an exam in Spanish, but it's not a language proficiency exam. They say basic Spanish is enough for it, at the level of everyday situations on the street or in a shop. To prepare, you need to learn 900 questions, most of which are not very difficult.
— How many states are in Mexico? Which state are you in? Which states are nearby? I have a map of Mexico hanging on my wall, I'm reading it. If I spread this learning over a year, I'll have time to prepare: three questions a day, I think, is manageable.
— The people at the embassy probably understood perfectly why you were going to Mexico?
— Only I needed a paper visa. And my Russian wife — only an electronic one.
When we arrived, no one particularly looked at her. She was wearing a loose hoodie, and it was evident she wasn't skinny at the time. But no one bothered with it. Given how many people come here to give birth, I don't think that at the moment we were doing this, the authorities had any prejudiced attitude towards it. I think if a family sets such a goal and prepares — they will succeed.
— And what does "prepare" mean?
— For this, you need money. It is assumed that if you are going with such a goal, then you most likely have money. For the birth alone — we probably spent $15,000. And if you add all related expenses, including accommodation, a car, and other things — it all cost around $40,000.
— Is your wife currently on maternity leave?
— No, she works. She recovered and returned to work literally within a couple of weeks. It was her choice. Perhaps she was afraid of losing clients.
“Huge jeeps with armed national guardsmen drive around, security is very serious”
— Why Cancun?
— We chose the location assuming we would live here for at least a couple of years. The main criteria were climate (in Hungary, we were cold and sick, and in Mexico City, it's also cold in winter) and security.
We also looked at Tulum, Playa del Carmen (resort towns near Cancun in the same state of Quintana Roo). All these cities are well-known locations among expats. Many of our neighbors are Russians, Ukrainians. There is one Belarusian, but I haven't met him yet.
In all the time we've lived here, the temperature has never dropped below +20 degrees Celsius, which is very cool; in a year and a half, I haven't bought any warm clothes (or even new sneakers).
Cancun is marked with a red dot, Google.maps
— What is Cancun like? How safe is it?
— Cancun, in its current form, is only about 50 years old. It has changed dramatically during this time. If someone types "Cancun" into a search engine, they will see the Zona Hotelera in the results, which is the hotel district. It's a very cool location, everything is polished there; people from all over the world fly there — Americans, Europeans, Asians. You won't see "suspicious" people there; there are beaches for locals, but they are in the minority there.
The Hotel Zone is very well protected. There are several National Guard cars and police at the entrances. Incoming cars are not searched, but when you pass through this cordon, you understand that everything further on will probably be safe. At the entrance to the city itself, outside the Hotel Zone, there are also such checkpoints where drivers usually slow down. They look at you — and you drive on.
Photo: Fei Fang / Getty Images
There's a lot of National Guard in Cancun; huge jeeps with armed guardsmen drive around, security is very serious. In all the time I've been here, the only serious incident I can recall is when a store was set on fire here.
— How does the eternal Mexican struggle against drug cartels affect Cancun? The last serious escalation was literally at the beginning of 2026.
— The state of Quintana Roo, by my standards, is very safe. We traveled around the state, reached Merida in neighboring Yucatan to the west, and also went further north. If not for the quality of the roads, which is sometimes poor, it would be very good here.
— Have you seen cartel guys in Cancun, those stereotypical characters with tattoos and shiny suits, like in the series "Breaking Bad"?
— You see, it's a style. There are such guys here, but if you see them, you won't understand if he's just a fashionista or actually works for a cartel. In Cancun, there's probably some crime, but it's very inconspicuous. And there are all sorts of guys here. Everyone is very colorful, different.
Everyone has tattoos. Our nanny is tattooed; she's 46, but she's already a grandmother.
You go to the hairdresser — and he's completely tattooed. You go to the doctor — and the doctor has a tattoo. You go to the Hotel Zone, stop to ask the cops something — and the cops will have tattoos all over their necks. By tattoos, you definitely won't guess if a person is connected to the criminal underworld.
— You have many tattoos. On your arms, it seems, there are some with Mexican motifs. Where is it more expensive to get a tattoo, in Belarus or in Mexico?
— No, all my tattoos are Belarusian. But I know they are inexpensive here. I think an average tattoo the size of two cigarette packs costs $150-200 here.
— Can you live in Cancun without a car?
— Probably, you can get by with taxis; they are very cheap here. But if you have the opportunity to buy transport — that would be a significant step towards comfort.
Cars here are mostly beaten up; you buy a good car at your own risk. We have a 2019 Toyota Camry, and that's probably the best I'd want to have here. Because when you look at how cars are treated here — it breaks your heart.
Locals love to ride mopeds and motorcycles. They ride poorly. Not in full helmets, but in such helmet-caps; they are hard but cover only the very top of the head. At night — they often ride without any lights at all. It seems they have a simpler attitude towards life, and their attitude towards death is completely different — as something that opens life to them from another side.
In general, rules in this region of the world work in their own way.
For example, we live in a small neighborhood with a few streets. And we have local rules here that only work here. In the city, no matter how you drive, you most likely won't get a ticket for a violation.
But in our little neighborhood, they want to live more civilly and keep an eye on things. When I slightly violated traffic rules here, they told me: pay 500 pesos. And what could I do? I paid, I won't violate again.
— Those weren't police?
— No, it's the administration of our neighborhood. It's gated, there's a barrier at the entrance, and everything is surrounded by walls. It's very calm here. There are many such walled neighborhoods in Cancun. You don't see that in Europe.
Tax – 2%, a large house – can be $1000. “IT specialists have a reason to come here”
— Where do you work now?
— At Companion Group remotely, I'm working on a game. It's currently under embargo, meaning I can't show it, but I can talk about it. It's Gears of War: E-Day. Gears of War is a shooter, more popular in the USA and Mexico. For a long time, it was an Xbox exclusive; it's not as popular in Europe.
— What kind of housing did you rent?
— My wife also works remotely, and we immediately looked for a house where it would be comfortable to work, with separate spaces for that.
Photo: Arthyr Gonoretzky / Getty Images
We probably have the largest house in our neighborhood, three stories high. We pay $1070 just for rent. Of the rest, the most expensive is electricity, about $100. In the hottest month, probably $200, because there are air conditioners in every room. In total, all housing expenses are about $1500.
— How much does housing rent generally cost in Cancun in different areas?
— This information will become outdated very quickly, but let's try. In the center, you can expect to pay $2,000 - $3,000 for a house. That's a good place where everything will be within walking distance. You can also find something simpler there, for example, a two-room apartment for $1,000. Of course, we're not talking about the Hotel Zone; housing there can be $4,000-$5,000.
On the outskirts, you can find two-room apartments for $500-700; in our neighborhood, such an apartment costs $700 — but we don't live on the very edge and are in the southern part, here it's a newer city, everything is a bit more expensive. In the north, I think you can rent an apartment for $350, but it will be something poor, run-down, with only super basic shops.
— What about taxes?
— There are tax benefits here to attract specialists.
— It makes sense for IT specialists to come here. My situation is this: I have a Georgian sole proprietorship, but I'm going to open a Mexican one. In Georgia, the tax is 1%; here, it will be 2%. The state attracts technology, and the state wants more people with technological knowledge. And they are attracted by such simplified taxation programs.
— But besides taxes, are there any other payments? Does the Mexican Social Security Fund take anything from you?
— Not like the Belarusian one.
Social security here is arranged quite differently. With permanent residency, we cannot yet get national health insurance. We have insurance for visitors. It's not bad, but only for emergencies, like if you broke your arm. For regular things like check-ups or tests, it's easier to go to a doctor and pay $50. He'll check everything needed, prescribe everything needed — and will even be grateful to you.
Overall, there's a limited number of doctors here, and if you want to see a good specialist, you need to book in advance. With insurance, things aren't quite as we're used to in Minsk or Kyiv: here, if you need a specific doctor, you have to wait two to three weeks. Before that, you do various tests, and then you go to him with all the results so that this long-awaited visit is as effective as possible.
By the way, if you pay local taxes and have a passport, you get access to a mortgage with low interest rates.
— How much does life in Cancun cost in general?
With small trips and restaurants — the total amount of expenses is somewhere around $3500-4000 per month, plus fuel (more than a dollar per liter). And that's with us trying not to spend too much.
We work from home, and a nanny — a Mexican woman — sits with the child during this time, and she receives $250 per week.
— From the perspective of a Cancun resident, how fair is the stereotype about Mexico as a third-world country?
— Mexico is very diverse. There are states where shootings periodically occur, where cities almost declare independence — in the sense that they will defend themselves against cartels as they wish, not as the state has decided. Central Mexico is a region I would probably not want to go to.
Cancun itself is different, but also diverse. There are "bad," meaning poorer, neighborhoods here. But even there — ordinary people who simply want to live, send their child to school, put food on the table, just like everyone else.
They simply live in less spacious apartments, and the areas around these buildings are not always well-maintained. That's because people don't have time for it: people get up early in the morning, go to work, and work until late in the evening. A very familiar situation for our people.
The Hotel Zone is an ideal area, yet there is almost nothing Mexican in the Hotel Zone, except perhaps restaurants serving Mexican food.
Beyond the Hotel Zone, the city begins. In the city, there is already Mexican life, which, by the way, noticeably differs from stereotypical rural Mexico.
The Hotel Zone, which the author refers to, is located in the easternmost part of the city: it's a narrow strip separated by a lagoon, Google.maps
It is still a city with a million inhabitants. However, there's very little in terms of culture. Festivals sometimes occur as one-off events. There are restaurants, cinemas, and one theater, which we've never been to because everything there is in Spanish. We are learning, but theatrical performances are still difficult for our level.
“That Belarus, which I remember, I took with me in a suitcase”
— Do you mostly talk to expats?
— Of course, it makes sense to talk to expats. Experienced expats know a lot about services and can offer advice. But if you limit your social circle to only Russian-speaking expats, you have to be prepared to pay more. For example, if you want to hire a Russian-speaking nanny, she will be noticeably more expensive than local ones.
— How do Mexicans treat immigrants? Have you encountered anything resembling xenophobia?
— No. Mexicans, if they see you have a white face, will first think you are American. If they realize that's not the case, they'll ask where you're from. I tell everyone I'm from Poland. My grandmother is actually Polish. They know Poland, they know that Poles, like them, are Catholics. And they know nothing about Belarus at all; you have to explain it. Why is this necessary? It looks something like this: "Not American? Where are you from? Poland? Oh, great. How do you like Mexico? Everything okay?"
— Why is it important to them whether you are American or not?
— Americans have a lot of money relative to everyone else. And they try to earn from Americans — they will squeeze, squeeze, and squeeze. I think that's because Americans allow it themselves. What is $50 for an American? But for a Mexican, it's almost 1000 pesos, money!
— What are Mexicans like compared to Belarusians?
— If in Belarus you try to talk to a stranger, walk down the street and smile — they might think you're on drugs. But here you walk, you can sing songs to yourself, easily strike up a conversation with a stranger — there's a simpler attitude towards all of this.
They are very family-oriented, but also very temperamental. For example, there's a different attitude towards male infidelity here; it's not that it's welcomed, but it's not particularly condemned either.
They are not particularly obliging. I'm currently going to the dentist; you arrive at the doctor's, stand outside the office for 5-10 minutes — and then she arrives: "Oh, good, you're already here! Well, let's go." I never considered myself overly punctual, but here, the attitude towards it is completely different.
They are also very undemanding. Perhaps that's why their cars are beaten up. For us, a car is an asset; a car must be taken care of. For them, a car is a tool; in this sense, they resemble the French.
What else? Mexicans have a very simple attitude towards money. They love children very much, probably even more than in Europe. For them, it's normal to approach you in a cafe and exclaim: "Oh, what a cute, beautiful girl!"
The most interesting thing is a completely different attitude towards death. They grieve, of course, but they view death as a part of life, celebrating El Día de Muertos — the Day of the Dead — with great enthusiasm.
— Is there anything from Belarus that you miss?
— At first, I wanted to say that I miss the Minsk bar "Zakon Buterbroda" (Sandwich Law) — I have many pleasant memories associated with it. But, it seems, that's just nostalgia; it's unlikely I truly miss it.
In reality, I miss relatives and friends. Back in Romania, I had two dogs, Miniature Pinschers; I still love them very much. Before flying to Mexico, I had to make a choice, so I left them with my parents in Belarus. And I miss them too. We call them periodically, and I see that my parents have overfed them.
I probably already feel comfortable wherever I am. Now I'll stray a bit from your question into philosophy. We Belarusians, in general, are very few. There were 9.5 million in Belarus; now, probably fewer. And, as they say on Belarusian TV, "no one is waiting for you anywhere." That's true. No one is waiting for anyone anywhere. But a person's value is not in being awaited somewhere, but in being able to appear somewhere and bring themselves, what they know, and their human energy there. We are neither better nor worse than others. One must understand this and treat oneself well in any situation.
Yes, I miss loved ones and relatives. But you can find good people everywhere. We talk to very pleasant, kind people here too. You are open to them — and they are open to you.
I was in Belarus a couple of years ago. It feels like the Belarus I remember, I took with me and carried in a suitcase. I returned to a different Belarus. I went into the same shops I used to frequent in my school years — and recognized nothing. It seemed to me that none of it was real, that it was some kind of falseness. A very strange feeling, like a looking-glass world. The Belarus I remember is no longer there. The one that exists — is not quite it.
And Latin America is a whole world that awaits Belarusians with open arms. Everything here seems familiar — but a little different. And that, perhaps, is the coolest part.