Summary: Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the whole world, very busy and full of activity. Located in the central part of the country, the zone is totally surrounded by huge mountains. With over 22 Million people living in Mexico City, it is really one very populated city.
Mexico City is more than 2000 meters above sea level, and the weather there almost all year is fresh or cold, we do not have many hot months and the rainy season starts in April and ends in October. From December to February is usually very cold with temperatures around 3° celsius.
The environment is never calm in Mexico City, being one of the largest cities in the world, the vibe around is in a hurry all the time, and the traffic is something you have to be prepared for. If you need to go somewhere by car consider at least 1.5 hr in advance, that bad is the traffic sometimes. Yes, so many cars.
The environment in Mexico City is busy, everyone is minding their own business, thinking about the things of the day, and usually running in a hurry somewhere.
I don’t really know what you have heard about living in Mexico City but it is not easy actually, the overpopulation, the traffic and the pollution make it really hard for someone who has been living here –like me for 40 years– a real struggle.
A place with everything
Mexico City for me can be described as the best option to live in but is actually very convenient, if you are looking for a place such a big city that can offer you as many options as you can imagine. If you really think you can deal with all I did mention above, go for it! a lot to do, a lot to see.
In the past year, after the pandemic started relaxing the restrictions and the borders were opened again, started a big flood of tech nomads, retirees, and many others from Canada and the USA, looking for a more affordable lifestyle in the USA and Canada, everything is much more expensive.
Talking about numbers: in the past 6 months the number of foreigners moving to Mexico City increased by 121% in comparison with 2021 and the number is growing as we speak. Mexico City is of the top 5 main cities worldwide chosen by digital nomads and retirees, especially from the USA.
Many of these foreigners are from the USA, now moving to Mexico in record numbers in comparison with the past 5 years. Some think of Mexico as a permanent option and many others as a short break, working here remotely with a tourist visa.
In México: Mexico city is the top choice to live in for foreigners, and Puerto Vallarta is the number two choice., after we have Guadalajara, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, San Miguel de Allende, and Guanajuato.
In the current situation, in the past 6 months, many foreigners are looking for permanent residency, numbers that increased by over 50% in 2022 in comparison with past years. Many foreigners enter Mexico with tourist visas but once inside are doing all possible to stay here by all means. Some others are using the granted 6 monthly tourist visa, then back to the USA for a while to re-enter Mexico again. For another 6 months…
In the current situation, the housing demand is increasing exponentially at the same level, and with this the cost of living in Mexico City. The truth is in some popular zones for foreigners like: La Colonia Roma, La Condesa, La Colonia del Valle, and Polanco, the rents in the past 8 months are increasing in some cases by 100%, this is affecting enormously locals and also foreigners who were looking for a different result while searching for affordable rents. You need to have all this information in consideration if you are considering moving here.
In comparison with other small towns, Mexico city can offer you a palette of options as cheap or as expensive and exclusive as the lifestyle you are looking for.
Talking about safe living in Mexico city, let me tell you I have seen so many blogs and articles written by foreigners saying it is so cool and so safe living here omg no, don’t go for this idea. I was born in Mexico City and I lived there for 42 years.
Mexico City: all the advantages and disadvantages of a huge metropolis
How safe is to live in Mexico City?: Mexico City has a real safety issue, don’t go for the idea you can walk freely as nothing happens, look, I can not write an article only showing what is so cool to live in Mexico City if I lived there looking bit over my shoulder my whole life, and still, couple stuff happened to me. Actually, for those who are distracted– it does happen and a lot more, if you are not aware of your surroundings such: as a phone in hand, lost or taking a stroll at night, or even traveling in the subway with a wallet in your pocket or your purse without attention. All these I mention are the main opportunity crimes in Mexico City. Please be safe, and take care of yourself.
If you take care of yourself and take precautions, I can assure you, your stay in Mexico City can be more pleasant.
What do I have around living in Mexico City?: Local traditional Markets and big supermarkets, to do your groceries, parks, an infinite amount of malls, incredible zones to visit like Coyoacan, and nearby, about 1 hr in the car ride, the Great Pyramids of Teotihuacan, Towns like Puebla, Hidalgo, Querétaro Tepoztlan, Cuernavaca only 1.5hrs from the city, perfect to spend a weekend.
What about transport and food options? An infinite number of lines and options in public transport for a minimal cost. Tianguis almost all over Mexico City Over, the most delicious tacos almost on every corner, an overwhelming offer of food also on every corner too and very cheap!, also convenience stores all over, omg the options are infinite, for whoever is visiting Mexico City for the first time, YOU WILL LOVE IT.
I hope this Introduction guide of how is to live in Mexico City is useful for you, if your plan is to consider this very interesting and full of life place, as an option to live in.
The reality now living in Mexico City
If you are considering Mexico City to live in, you need to first determine your needs: Do you need to go out often? Are you having a car? Do you work from home? Do you like to have everything near you? Etc… Because Mexico city has anything you may need, you need to consider something very important: the traffic and also that the public transport, despite being everywhere with all the possible options you need, is always very crowded.
Mexico City has been growing non-stop in the past 30 years, with thousands of activities and places to visit, with an incredible gastronomic offset in both: restaurants and on the streets. This magnificent busy city is a touristic place ready to welcome everyone who wants to visit, or to stay…
We all have had difficult times lately, and after things relaxed a bit this did open the eyes of many foreigners who have placed their eyes on Mexico City as a very agreeable and affordable option to move and start a new life.
As I see many are looking for a property in Mexico to live in. Also many are looking for rental options and many others are looking to buy. But how affordable is this?
What are the best zones of more convenient to live in Mexico City? Also, where can I be safe right? All those are questions that come to your head the moment you think of Mexico City as an option to live in.
Are there a lot of foreigners living in Mexico?: The answer is Yes, many foreigners live here and the number has been increasing in the past months, it is a mix of everything: people who come here looking for a job, retirees and even people who have a home office.
The ages are also very diverse, you can find very young people looking for a new life and job and also, mid-age workers and retirees, Mexico City is more of a mix of everything.
And talking about nationalities: Mostly people from South America, but as I mentioned before, now after the lockout, many people from the USA and Canada are looking at Mexico City as an option to live. The reasons? Because living here is more affordable and many are also fleeing from the high cost of living now in their countries.
Mexico City, as I mentioned before, is a very busy city to move around because of the traffic now. That is why many foreign communities are gathering in very specific zones, which have easy access to other popular zones nearby and main avenues, as well as markets and big stores, zones, where the prices are also affordable in rentals.
Mexico City in comparison with other destinations ONLY talking about the popular zones is not so cheap anymore if you want to rent and less if you want to buy. Many who come to Mexico City take the option of renting a place before they decide what zone they want to live in or after deciding on buying a property.
The quality of air is complicated, as a big developed city and with a lot of traffic around is of course very common to be walking and to feel the smell of smog from trucks and other vehicles, be prepared to get some itchy throat.
Pros to live in Mexico City
- Mexico City is a very convenient place to live, with incredible zones inside the city to live or to visit, a lot of activities to do, with hundreds of small towns around to spend weekends, and options, prices according to each pocket.
- Mexico City is a perfect place for foreigners looking for a more affordable price of living: you may find the rental you need according to your pocket, as big the city as big are the options to look for the price range you need. Always remember if you want a popular zone, the price may be higher. Talking about the essentials, food and such stuff, yes it is very cheap.
- Mexico City has fresh weather most of the year: It is fresh most of the year, and very cold from December to February. Only a couple of months are very hot and it is around May and June. But the rest of the year is very fresh, if you like to wear warm outfits this is your place lol. One of the reasons I fled Mexico City was because it is cold most of the year and I hated that. But who knows you may love it!
- Close to a lot of interesting towns: No matter where you may live, every direction can guide you to a new interesting place to spend a wonderful weekend! We love to do it to escape the chaos of the city at least from time to time: Tepotzotlan, Tepoztlán, Cuautla, Cuernavaca, Puebla, Tulancingo, Actopan (to eat the most delicious mole), Queretaro, Tlaxcala, Bernal uff!! And more!!! Or even the delicious experience of going to have a weekend breakfast at La Marquesa, with a plate of delicious handmade quesadillas? Oh yes!
- Food/essentials & services: Very cheap, you can do your groceries for an affordable amount, a lot of convenience stores all over a lot of restaurant options, and affordable prices for services such as gas, light, and water.
- Delicious affordable places to eat: Living in Mexico city develops in you another vision tourists do not have, you can locate the best restaurants, and with the street food, you will have everything you need!! right on your hand if you live here. Mexico City is famous for its wide range of street food options as well as the incredible delicious flavors!
- A lot of activities and places nearby to Visit: I will make a full post about places to visit close to Mexico City to abound more on this topic, but yes, you live here? Perfect, what about going to the Coyoacan on the weekend? You want a tour–you have the turibus! And a lot of incredible places such as the Teotihuacan Pyramids are only 40 min away by bus! Inside the city, you have museums, incredible huge parks like Chapultepec, Tons and tons of huge incredible malls, and even archeological places all around the city ready for you to visit! Yes! Inside the city! Like Templo mayor downtown, in Mixcoac, Tlatelolco, and Cuicuilco! All in your hand!
- Variety living options: Do you want something in a popular-centric zone? Maybe more traditional looking? Something quieter? A house? Or a condo? Yes, you can find whatever you are looking for.
- Variety in public transportation options: Huge subway infrastructure that can help you to move to every corner of the city. An infinite amount of buses, Metrobus developed lines to almost every place, street taxis, uber taxis, and even a cableway! You definitely won’t find any trouble moving anywhere.
Cons of Living in Mexico City:
- Is already very crowded: If you want a house well lol, good luck! This option is impossible or very expensive. Or better a condo in a popular zone? Well, be prepared to pay a lot more nowadays with the huge exodus of foreigners. This is because everyone wants to live in the popular zones there and that increases the cost of living, in some cases with a 100% increase in rents in popular zones.
- People are already moving to other areas, because of the lack of options or the prices that are sometimes crazy for a privileged zone or view. If you have enough money, go for it!
- Pollution: The pollution is terrible in Mexico City. throat itches, eyes are sore all time, and you may feel very tired after just a couple minutes of walking outside. If you go to the city on a vacation plan this can be tolerable..but believe me, living there constantly under these conditions is very hard.
- Rent is becoming very expensive in the most popular areas: Yes, it is getting crazy expensive. I moved 2 years ago during the pandemic, and the prices were still affordable because, you know, traveling was limited. But now to rent in one of the main more popular areas, the demand of foreigners for a place is even putting locals in trouble because of the crazy increase in prices, now in some areas, it is very expensive, I will abound about this more ahead too.
- Buying a property is also becoming expensive: Well yes, to buy a property there is expensive, living there for 42 years, I can tell you some properties houses or condos almost increased 40% of the value they had 2 years ago, now to buy a condo in Mexico City is not cheap at all, talking about a centric or popular area.
- Bad conditions and it is very crowded in most public transportation: The offer of public transportation in Mexico City is really wide, you won’t have any problem moving wherever you want to go, and the prices are very affordable. What is not cool is the millions and millions of people who move every day every hour and that makes a huge mission impossible kind- an odyssey to try to ride a bus, or the subway in the morning or the evening…maybe now any time lol, this also considering the terrible conditions of the subways in Mexico City, make a non-pleasant experience to consider it as an option. If you take a street taxi, it is ok, but I need to warn you to be aware because there always exists a person who sees the opportunity in trying to take advantage of a foreigner. But we also have Uber, right?
- Safety issues: I won’t be very specific on this point because I don’t want to scare you lol. But yes it is complicated this topic in Mexico City: yes you have to check your surroundings constantly, never carry jewelry, never talk too loud to show you are a foreigner because you become a target, never show you are lost, and never talk to anyone randomly in the streets, never have your phone in your hand while walking somewhere, never walk alone at night, never put your wallet or phone in your pocket when you take the subway…well, please be safe, the situation there is rough now. It is much better to have in this city always heads up believe me.
How much Can You Spend Living in Mexico City:
Food and Essentials: Mexico City, no matter where you live, has an option for you, to buy your groceries and essentials, and yes, in comparison with the prices in the USA and Canada, it is much more affordable.
Big grocery stores are all over, you can find Walmart, Soriana, and Chedraui, as big chains to do your groceries. Also, you can find everywhere Costco, also Home Depot, Sam’s Club, and Bed Bath and Beyond! Restaurants like Chilis, Applebees, Cheesecake Factory, and IHOP are also in the main zones! For those from the USA, it feels a bit like home right?
Also, you still have another option, the convenience stores, these are all over, every corner has one, if you need a fast emergency food or essentials purchase, yes, you can trust your always useful and affordable, neighborhood convenience store.
Not talking still in-depth about real estate yet…, in general, the cost of living in Mexico City talking about food, essentials, services, and fun is very affordable. You can find different options in stores, restaurants, and services, and the variety is amazing.
I will provide you an example of how much is the average spend in a month living in Mexico City for 2 people living in Mexico City:
- Rent: around 800 USD / the price may vary depend the zone and property amenities
- Electricity: 25 USD
- Gas: 40 usd
- Water: 20 USD
- Groceries and Essential Household items: 400 USD
- Cell Phones: 40 USD (I have ATT)
- Internet: 40 USD
- Leisure & Dining Out: 300 USD
- Public Transport: may depend how often you may use it: 100 to 150 USD monthly /Taxi / Bus/ Subway
→TOTAL: 1,765 USD MONTLY*
As you see, the food and essentials for 2 people for 30 days are affordable being that you may spend much less if it’s only one person. Also, I plan what I want to eat for 2 weeks and I buy all I need to prepare my meals at home.
Having a meal in a restaurant, how much does it cost? This will depend on what you want to eat and what kind of place you choose, but you can find living in Mexico City, full meals for only 5 USD called “Comida Corrida” is a very affordable daily option and this kind of place is almost everywhere and most are good, ask your local fellas to find one. and also you can eat in a decent restaurant for around 20 to 30 USD per person. This may vary depending on the zone, be aware if you choose to eat in a very tourist or expensive area such as Polanco, prices may increase.
Mexico City is a desirable place to move in, but to live in here now has its considerations, stay safe and I will keep posting more useful information about how is to live in Mexico City, Stay tuned!
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