Mexico City digital nomad guide: Americans are moving to Mexico City for a lower cost of living

Laura Bronner wrote this Mexico City digital nomad guide. She’s a full-time travel blogger and digital nomad who has lived in Mexico City for four years.

I have been a Mexico City digital nomad for over four years and have seen the digital nomad scene explode.

I came here because I knew it would be more affordable than where I lived before (Seoul, Sydney, and New York), but I still wanted a big city living.

I run a travel blog and YouTube channel that is all about life as an ex-pat with a heavy focus on life and travels around Mexico.

I spend most of my days working from home because the traffic in Mexico City can be unbearable.

So be sure to keep that in mind when you choose your neighborhood, as that’s likely where you’ll spend most of your week.

However, I also love heading to a nearby cafe to work or meeting friends at a coworking space. There are tons of both in Mexico City with new ones popping up every month to satisfy the demand.

I’ve made digital nomad friends here and am working in many different sectors.

Some run their own businesses, as I do, and others have full-time jobs back in the US or Canada, but they can do them remotely, so why not in the warmth of Mexico City, where you can still manage the time zones well?

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Quick Info: Mexico City Digital Nomad Guide

Is Mexico City good for digital nomads?

ABSOLUTELY! In the last few years, Mexico City has firmly planted itself on the list of the best places for digital nomads to live.

While Mexico City doesn’t offer the beaches of other popular Mexico digital nomad spots like Playa del Carmen or Tulum, what it lacks in sea and sand, it makes up for in so many ways.

Mexico City is home to not only some of the top restaurants in Mexico but some of the top restaurants in the world.

It’s a foodie paradise at a price most digital nomads would find incredibly affordable!

Is Mexico City safe for digital nomads?

If you plan to pursue being a Mexico City digital nomad, you’ll most likely stay in places that are safe for foreigners, or at least deemed safe by many.

So, in this case, safety is objective and personal. Safety in Mexico City depends on the neighborhoods.

I don’t think people realize how big Mexico City is but most digital nomads tend to flock the neighborhoods of Roma and Condesa, and are afraid to venture in other areas because of safety.

Sure, there are many sketchy neighborhoods but most digital nomad cities in the world have this, too. “Sketchy” and “unsafe” is not exclusive for Mexico City. Bad things happen everywhere.

However, with the popularity of Mexico City as a digital nomad destination, some locals are protesting. These days, you will see graffiti saying “Gringo, go home,” which sometimes rattles new digital nomads coming to Mexico City.

If you are not aware, many locals in Mexico City of them lost their homes because owners are renting it out for a more expensive price to foreigners.

This is also one of the reasons why I do not recommend Airbnb anymore in this blog. I have so many friends who are struggling to find housing.

None of us can control Mexico City being famous to digital nomads but there are many locals who are trying to fight it. It’s a looonnng conversation!

FYI, housing shortage for locals happens all over the world. Not just in Mexico City. And surely, this is not just because of digital nomads but also apply to short-term travelers.

OP-ED

Do Mexicans hate digital nomads?

Right now, the Mexican peso is at par with the US dollar so if you are hearing from friends that living in Mexico City is cheap, that isn’t the case anymore.

For example, when I was living in Mexico City in 2018, I sweeped the whole neighborhood because it’s really not easy to find one – you have to see all of it.

By having the grand tour of all the rentals, I had an idea of the prices and the average for decent housing is was as little as 10,000 Pesos (about $500 USD).

Now, you can’t even find something in this price anymore. Everything starts at $800 USD, even the smallest ones. If you are single, you can also opt to share with roommates.

Besides rent, living in Mexico City is incredibly affordable. You can buy all of your weekly groceries from local markets like Mercado Medellin or the Condesa farmer’s market on Tuesday mornings.

You’ll have plenty of change left over for a plate of tacos, which usually cost less than a dollar each.

Overall, rent is the only expensive thing when looking to move to Mexico City. Everything is still fairly priced (i.e. supermarkets, groceries, street food).

Connecting with digital nomads in Mexico City

Mexico City is a huge mix of people, just like any big city. There are people of varying ages as young as 18 or 19 who are studying online and living here as well as people in their 40s and 50s who have established online businesses that allow them to work from anywhere.

The majority of digital nomads that I’ve met in Mexico City are in their 20s and 30s. If you head to a cafe to work or sign up for a membership at a local coworking space, you’re likely to be surrounded mostly by people in that age bracket.

I’ve found the best way to network and meet fellow digital nomads through Facebook groups.

Whether you’re looking for coworking pals, hiking buddies, or just some friends to go out for Friday night drinks with, there’s a group for you.

That’s the beauty of a city with over 20 million residents. I recommend starting with these Facebook groups to see when people are having meetups or coworking sessions:

Internet speed in Mexico City

Mexico City has the best internet that I’ve experienced in all of Mexico. There are several different options available if you plan to rent long-term and want to set up your own internet.

The two companies in Mexico City that currently offer high-speed fiber-optic internet are Izzi and Infinitum.

Both cost roughly 500 Pesos per month (about $25 USD) and usually include a phone line and sometimes cable TV as well, depending on what offer they’re running at the time of signup.

If you go to a coworking space or a cafe that is well known for coworking then you can be sure that you’ll be using pretty high-speed internet.

Mexico SIM cards are relatively easy to get. Simply head to an Oxxo or 7-11, both are very popular convenience stores, where you can buy SIM cards and have them activated while you’re there.

My personal favorite service provider for Mexico City is Telcel.

They have the best coverage and for about 200 Pesos ($12 USD) per month, you can get unlimited calls and unlimited use of apps like Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

You only use your data when you go on a web browser or an app different from these other two. You can top up your phone at any local corner store that has a Telcel sign outside.

Alternatively, you can also opt for an E-SIM that works in Mexico to avoid the hassle of switching SIM cards.

Mexico digital nomad visa

Mexico offers a visa waiver of 180 days to most passport holders. The full list of countries that do not require a visa before entering Mexico can be found here.

This means that if you are on that list, you can enter Mexico and stay for up to six months as a digital nomad without paying for anything other than your flights in and out of the country.

If you are flying from the US, you usually need to show proof of onward travel from Mexico in order to check into your flight.

For digital nomads who wish to reside in Mexico, you can read the post, Mexico digital nomad visa explained.

Mexico City Digital Nomad Coffee Shops

There are so many great cafes in Mexico City with strong WiFi and strong coffee, you’ll have trouble choosing which to work from on a day-to-day basis.

Here are the best coffee shops in Mexico City where you can work freely as a digital nomad:

Boicot Cafe (Roma and Condesa)

📍 Roma Norte | Condesa | Polanco

Cold-brew lovers won’t want to miss grabbing their morning coffee here while they work. There are two locations in the city, but I find the Roma location a little bit more spacious and better for work. It’s packed with outlets around every table and the service is great.

Their ciabatta sandwiches are affordable and filling at only 69 Pesos or roughly $3.50 USD. However, it’s their desserts that really bring me back for an afternoon work session.

The date pie, the rich chocolate brownie topped with melted marshmallow, and any of their muffins go really well with a cup of coffee.

Blend Station

📍 Condesa | Roma Norte

Blend Station is my favorite place to work and it’s my favorite cup of coffee in the entire city. No one does a better flat white than the baristas at blend station.

A cup of coffee will set you back about $3, but you can sit and type away on your computer with that empty cup at your side all day if you want and no one will kick you out.

The food here is fantastic, especially the salads and toasted sandwiches. They also have a few nice sweet desserts on offer as well as a huge selection of tea and perfectly made macha lattes.

Freims

📍 Amsterdam 62B, Hipódromo

You’ll have to wait for the morning breakfast rush to subside at this cafe, but by 10 am, you’ll be able to grab a table here and work with a coffee and a salad for a fair few hours before the afternoon rush arrives again.

This is a nice cafe for working in Condesa if you live around the tree-lined street in Amsterdam and don’t want to travel too far for a good cafe and good WiFi.

Co-working spaces in Mexico City

There is an insane number of coworking spaces in Mexico City, especially in Roma Norte, Condesa, and Polanco.

Some, like WeWork, require you to have a monthly membership, but if you are looking for a place to make phone calls, you have things you need to print, or you love having a cold beer as you finish up the workday, it’s pretty well worth the price of just over $200 a month for a desk.

Coffice

📍 Pl. Villa de Madrid 9, Roma Norte
📞 +52 55 5514 8416

This is one of the easiest places to head if you are only here for a short time and you don’t want to invest in a monthly membership.

Coffice is basically a cafe, but you don’t pay for your coffee, you pay for your time. You can pay by the hour or you can pay for a full day, which costs 200 Pesos or about $10 USD.

No matter what amount of time you spend here, a cup of coffee or tea is included. However, if you want to have a latte or something to eat, you’ll have to pay extra.

WeWork Reforma Latino

📍 Av. Paseo de la Reforma 26
📞 +52 55 4770 7728

There are a lot of WeWork locations in Mexico City, but none have a view quite like the WeWork on Paseo de La Reforma overlooking the Angel of Independence monument.

The offices are located on the 40th floor, so you get a pretty spectacular view of the whole downtown area of Mexico City as well as access to free water, soda, coffee, beer, and a fridge to put your food.

There is also a cafe where you can buy lattes, sandwiches, cakes, and cookies.

Impact Hub

📍 Av. Álvaro Obregón 213, Roma Norte
📞 +52 55 6388 0811

This is my personal favorite coworking space in Mexico City. It’s on the main street of Roma Norte, Alvaro Obregon, so it’s close to great restaurants, cafes, taco stands, and the Metrobus.

But as soon as you come inside you feel like you’ve walked into a quiet haven perfect for working.

The internet speed here is one of the best on the list and the staff are incredibly friendly. You can either pay for a daily, weekly, or monthly membership with a daily rate starting at 200 Pesos (about $10 USD).

Mexico City Apartments for rent

Please note that as of the moment, it is very hard to find apartments for rent in Mexico City. Many locals have been kicked out of their homes because of the digital nomad trend and it has greatly affected the local economy.

Below are some apartments that I can recommend that are for digital nomads (short and long stays). All these apartments are in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City.

Miraflores Roomy Flat

Miraflores Roomy Flat is located in Cordoba Street with ample bars and restaurants around. Oh no, don’t worry, it’s not too loud!

What I love the most about this apartment is there’s a lot of light coming in from the big windows. You can even watch the sunset from the living room!

It doesn’t have its private terrace but you can stay at the rooftop for sunset viewing or even working. They have separate wifi on the rooftop!

Alebrije Stylish Retreat

Most accommodations in Mexico City are already Instagram worthy but the Alebrije Stylish Retreat is 100 times more instagrammable!

Popping hues of Mexican blue, teal and yellow envelope the whole apartment. The terrace doors are massive which allows enough light to come in.

Light is really important for me in terms of working from home so this one is upvoted! The terrace is the best place to go people watching.

Américas Comfy Retreat

Starting at $50 USD a night, Américas Comfy Retreat is a one-bedroom apartment unit with an open layout. It could look really small in the photos but it’s definitely spacious for two people.

I recommend this for couples because the bedroom doesn’t have a door. But that really makes this a liveable space and easy to move around.

👍🏽 Pros of living in Mexico City

Cheaper cost of living than the US

You can live comfortably in Mexico City for $2,500 USD. This is already a great budget for having a good apartment in Condesa or Roma areas (which are the most expensive areas in Mexico City).

Eating out can cost up to $7 USD per meal and that is already in a nice restaurant in the fancy neighborhoods. Mexico City is also a walkable city so you don’t have to always pay for transportation.

Great transportation

Local transportation in Mexico City is great with subways, trains, busses, and everything you need to go around the city. Uber is also very cheap! You can go from point A to B for under $8 USD.

Getting to anywhere you wish in Mexico by bus is also very efficient. Mexican busses are convenient and comfortable! Visit nearby cities like Queretaro, Puebla, Guanajuato, and San Miguel de Allende from Mexico City easily.

Mexico City is the food capital!

Whatever you want to eat, Mexico City has it! It is also home to the best bars and restaurants in the world including the world-famous Puyol by Chef Enrique Olvera. A tasting meal costs $150 USD (9 course).

For those who want to live in Mexico City on a budget, you will be very impressed with the street food scene in Mexico City which you can get for as low as dollar.

Convenient flights

All flights within Mexico stop in Mexico City so you will find all direct flights access from the capital. If you plan to live in Mexico City as a digital nomad and visit other destinations in Mexico, you can opt for a monthly pass on the budget airlines like Volaris (from $25 USD per month subscription).

With this subscription, you can fly for free to any destination from Mexico City (one free flight per month).

Great nightlife

Mexico City has a lot of young expats and locals. This is one of the biggest cities in Latin America so expect to see speakeasy bars and cocktail bars that are ranked best in the world.

This city is alive 24/7 so you’ll also find street taco joints in the wee hours of the morning! To be honest, I feel like all the best tacos in Mexico City only open by 12:00 AM – 5:00 AM.

These are the ones I go to because late-night eats are always better in CDMX!

Easy to make friends

Every nationality is in Mexico City! This is the easiest I’ve made friends in every city I lived in and it’s such a vibrant community to belong to!

You can move to Mexico City without worrying about making friends but that is if you put a little effort. The Facebook expat groups in CDMX does weekly hang outs – do that as a start!

👎🏽 Cons of living in Mexico City

Heavy traffic all the time

If you are only in the Condesa and Roma areas, you don’t even have to take a taxi so you probably won’t experience this crazy Mexico City traffic.

However, if you are going out of these two via Uber, expect bumper to bumper traffic. If you are not used to living in a big city, this may be unbearable to you.

Rent is getting expensive

Sure, the cost of living in Mexico City is cheaper than the US or Canada but the rent prices are getting ridiculous because of the digital nomad trends.

In 2018, I rented an apartment in Roma Norte for $650 USD and that same apartment is now for rent for $1,000 USD!