🇲🇽 México

Ciudad de México

One of the liveliest cities on earth: museums, tacos at any hour, leafy neighbourhoods like Roma and Condesa, and a time zone that lines up perfectly with the US.

7.9Zabel scoreHow we score →

$1,300–2,000/month200–500 Mbps fiberHighland mild: 12–26 °C

Score breakdown

Cost of living

7.5

Good value, though Roma and Condesa have risen sharply.

Weight 25%

Internet & work

8.5

Fast, cheap fiber in central areas.

Weight 20%

Nomad community

9.0

Huge international community with daily events.

Weight 15%

Safety

6.0

Safe by area, but requires constant judgment.

Weight 15%

Weather

8.5

Mild year-round; summer afternoon rains.

Weight 15%

Paperwork & visa

7.5

Up to 180 tourist days, at the officer's discretion.

Weight 10%

What it really costs

Prices checked on the ground by Zabelers. Each line shows when it was last verified.

1-bedroom apartment (Roma/Condesa)

18.000–30.000 MXN/mes

Furnished, flexible contract.

2026-09 · Inmuebles24

Set lunch

90–150 MXN

Soup, main course, and fresh water.

2026-09 · Precios locales

Taco (each)

15–25 MXN

Al pastor, suadero, or canasta.

2026-09 · Precios en puesto

Coworking (monthly)

150–250 $

Público or WeWork, full access.

2026-09 · Webs de coworking

200 Mbps fiber

500–700 MXN/mes

Totalplay or Izzi.

2026-09 · Totalplay/Izzi

Metro (single ride)

5 MXN

One of the cheapest transit systems in the world.

2026-09 · STC Metro CDMX

Where to live

Roma Norte

20.000–30.000 MXN/mes

Good for: Those wanting cafés, galleries, and everything on foot.

The catch: The priciest, most touristed area.

Condesa

18.000–28.000 MXN/mes

Good for: Parks, terraces, and relaxed nightlife.

The catch: Bar noise at weekends.

Juárez

15.000–25.000 MXN/mes

Good for: Central, well connected, and a bit cheaper.

The catch: Uneven blocks: see the flat before signing.

Coyoacán

14.000–22.000 MXN/mes

Good for: A historic, calm, family-friendly feel.

The catch: Far from downtown with weaker transit.

Where to work

Coworkings

Público Coworking~200 $/mes
Thoughtful design and a creative community in Roma.
WeWork Reforma~250 $/mes
Solid infrastructure and meeting rooms.

Cafés with wifi

Blend StationCafé ~60 MXN
The laptop classic in Condesa.
AlmanegraCafé ~65 MXN
Top-tier Mexican specialty coffee.

Time zone: CST (UTC-6). Almost full overlap with the US; afternoons with Europe.

What living here is really like

Editorial synthesis of public experiences

The consensus among those who live here a while is that the cultural and food scene is unmatched in Latin America: museums, concerts, and memorable tacos for under 100 pesos. The recurring caveat is nomads' impact on Roma and Condesa rents, a very live local debate.

Síntesis editorial · Based on public experiences

Best part:: Culture and food at a level that is hard to match.
Worst part:: Rents in Roma and Condesa have shot up.

Sources: Nomads.com — Ciudad de México · Instituto Nacional de Migración

Editorial synthesis of public experiences

On safety, accounts largely agree: living in Roma, Condesa, Juárez, or Coyoacán and using ride apps, daily life is calm. Problems usually come from dropping your guard with a phone on the street or the metro.

Síntesis editorial · Based on public experiences

Best part:: Comfortable, walkable central neighbourhoods.
Worst part:: You need to mind your phone on the street and metro.

Sources: Nomads.com — Ciudad de México · Metro CDMX

Day to day

Internet: 200–500 Mbps fiber for 500–700 MXN/month with Totalplay or Izzi; good 5G coverage in central areas.
Safety: Roma, Condesa, Juárez, and Coyoacán are safe day and night with common sense. Avoid street taxis, use apps, and don\u0027t flash your phone on the metro.
Healthcare: Excellent private hospitals (ABC, Médica Sur) at a fraction of US prices. Health insurance recommended.
SIM / eSIM: Telcel: 20–40 GB for 300–500 MXN/month; the country\u0027s best coverage.
Best season: March–May: dry and mild. June–September brings almost daily afternoon rain; December–February is cool and dry.
Community: A huge international community since 2021, concentrated in Roma and Condesa, with almost daily events. There is also local debate about nomads\u0027 impact on rents.

Living here legally

Visa

Many passports get up to 180 days as a tourist (at the officer\u0027s discretion). For long stays there is temporary residency based on financial solvency, applied for at a consulate.

Check your visa →

Tax

Tax residency applies if Mexico is your centre of vital interests or you cross SAT thresholds; tourists with foreign income normally do not pay. Confirm your case before long stays.

Flights & connections

MEX and NLU airports: direct flights across the Americas and to Europe; the US from ~$200 round trip.

Lisbon vs. similar cities

City	Zabel score	Monthly budget	In short
Ciudad de México	7.9	1.300–2.000 $	The most complete city in Latin America.
Medellín	8.0	1.000–1.600 $	Cheaper with better weather; less culture.
Buenos Aires	7.7	1.000–1.600 $	European feel and cheap; a shakier economy.

Transparency

Last checked: 2026-09-12

Official sources

Prices are checked against the dated sources shown. Editorial experience summaries cite their public sources; verified Zabeler accounts are identified separately. Official procedures always take precedence.