Where to Live in Mexico City as a Digital Nomad

The heart of nomad Mexico City: early 20th-century mansions, leafy streets and plazas such as Plaza Río de Janeiro and Plaza Luis Cabrera, and more cafes, restaurants, bars, galleries and coworking spaces than anywhere else in the city. Álvaro Obregón, Colima, Orizaba and Córdoba are the main streets.

It is the easiest place to start and the most social, but also the most expensive and the most gentrified, and parts are noisy at night.

• Good for: first-timers, cafe workers, food lovers, nightlife
• Work nearby: PÚBLICO Roma, Impact Hub, Colony Spaces, Co-Madre, Café Toscano, Buna
• Watch out for: bar noise on Álvaro Obregón and Colima at weekends, and high rents

Next door to Roma, Condesa is built around two beautiful parks, Parque México and Parque España, with art deco buildings, dog walkers and runners, and the tree-lined oval of Avenida Amsterdam. It feels a little calmer and more residential than Roma, with excellent restaurants and cafes.

Rents are as high as Roma’s, and Condesa’s bars on Tamaulipas and Michoacán get busy at weekends.

• Good for: runners, dog lovers, couples, people who want parks
• Work nearby: Blend Station, Quentin, PÚBLICO Condesa, coworking in Roma a short walk away
• Watch out for: weekend nightlife on Tamaulipas, and older buildings with no lift

North of Roma, between Avenida Chapultepec and Paseo de la Reforma, Juárez has become one of the city’s most interesting neighbourhoods: design shops, bakeries, Korean restaurants in the Zona Rosa, cocktail bars and new apartment buildings, all close to the business towers of Reforma.

It is a little cheaper than Roma, and very central, though some blocks near the Zona Rosa are busy and rough at night.

• Good for: value close to Roma, people who work near Reforma
• Work nearby: WeWork and other coworking on Reforma, cafes along Havre and Marsella
• Watch out for: late-night crowds around the Zona Rosa

North of Chapultepec Park, Polanco is Mexico City’s most upmarket neighbourhood: embassies, luxury shopping on Masaryk, top restaurants, modern apartment buildings and very visible security. It is calm, clean and safe, and close to the museums in the park.

It is the most expensive area, less bohemian than Roma and Condesa, and further from most coworking spaces nomads use.

• Good for: comfort and safety, fine dining, families
• Work nearby: WeWork Polanco, Colony Spaces Polanco, Co-Madre Polanco
• Watch out for: high rents and a more corporate feel

South of Roma and Condesa, these middle-class residential colonias have tree-lined streets, local markets, excellent taco stands and lower rents. They are quieter, more Mexican and well connected by Metro and Metrobús along Insurgentes and Eje Central.

There is less nightlife and fewer nomads, but they are a smart choice for a long stay, and Roma is 10 to 20 minutes away.

• Good for: long stays on a budget, local life
• Work nearby: local coworking spaces in Narvarte, cafes along Insurgentes Sur
• Watch out for: busy avenues that are hard to cross on foot

In the south of the city, Coyoacán has colonial plazas, cobbled streets, the Frida Kahlo museum, a famous market and a relaxed, village-like feel, especially on weekdays. It is popular with academics, artists and families.

It is a long ride from Roma at rush hour, so it suits people who are happy to stay local.

• Good for: couples, culture lovers, quiet stays
• Work nearby: cafes around the central plazas and in Coyoacán’s back streets
• Watch out for: weekend crowds, and long commutes to Roma

The historic centre has the Zócalo, the cathedral, palaces, museums and some of the most beautiful buildings in the Americas, with cheap rents in converted old buildings. It is very busy by day and much quieter at night.

Safety varies block by block after dark, so it suits people who know the city or stay near the main streets.

• Good for: history lovers, budget stays, photographers
• Work nearby: a few coworking spaces and cafes near Madero and Regina streets
• Watch out for: quiet, poorly lit streets at night and street noise by day

• Furnished monthly rentals through Airbnb, local agencies or the expat and nomad Facebook groups are what most nomads use. Expect to pay more for short stays.
• Long leases of a year are cheaper, but Mexican landlords usually want a guarantor who owns property in the city (an aval) or a rental insurance policy (póliza jurídica), plus a deposit.
• Rooms in shared flats are the budget option and an easy way to meet people.
• Coliving exists in Roma, Condesa and Juárez, and suits a first month when you want instant housemates.

1. Book a week or two in Roma or Condesa first, then view places in person.
2. Search the groups and platforms: Airbnb monthly stays, Facebook groups for Roma, Condesa and Mexico City housing, and property sites such as Inmuebles24 and Lamudi.
3. Visit at night, to hear the street noise and see how the block feels after dark.
4. Check the essentials before paying: the Wi-Fi speed, water pressure and tank (some areas have water cuts), gas and hot water, whether the building is earthquake-safe (newer or reinforced), natural light, and security at the door.

• Deposit: usually one month’s rent, sometimes two, plus the first month in advance.
• Guarantor: long leases often require an aval or a póliza jurídica; monthly furnished rentals usually don’t.
• Bills: monthly rentals usually include utilities and internet; long leases often don’t.
• Payment: many landlords want a Mexican bank transfer; Wise and similar services can send pesos.
• Inventory: photograph everything on day one.
• Scams: don’t pay a deposit for a flat you haven’t seen, and be wary of prices far below the area’s average.