Mexico · City guide

Living in Mexico City, Mexico: a guide for newcomers

What living in Mexico City is really like: the altitude, costs, weather, safety, neighbourhoods and day-to-day practicalities.

Source-checked103 sourcesChecked 13 Nov 2026Residents' reports labelledHow we check

ContributorJohn Robinson

Paseo de la Reforma skyline, Mexico City

Mexico City in brief

Altitude: About 7,350 ft
DenverMexico CityAirport
Population: 9.2 million
Currency: $1 = 18.6 pesos
$100 = MXN 1,855
Rent, 1 bedroom: $1,450–1,550 a month
Weather: Days 72–82 °F, nights 47–57 °F
NightsDays
US travel advisory: Level 2: increased caution
Home internet: About 120 Mbps
Typical 120
Airport: MEX, about 4 miles out
Time zone: Same as Chicago in winter

Best for

Remote workers: walkable Roma, Condesa and Juárez, plenty of coworking, US working hours.
Easy trips home: non-stop flights to more than 25 US cities.
Families: IB, British, French and German schools, mostly in the west.
Food and culture lovers: museums, markets and street food are the big draws.

Think twice if

Altitude or air pollution bothers you: pollution peaks in the dry winter months.
Your budget uses old rent figures: central 1-beds now ask about $1,150–1,900.
Earthquakes worry you: the city sits in a seismic zone.
You want quiet, car-free suburbs: the calm areas are far from the Metro.

Where to live

Most newcomers start in Roma Norte or Condesa. Tap a neighbourhood for rents, safety and what residents say.

★ Stars show how often newcomers' accounts and guides name it: 5 most, 2 none.

Not covered yet: Roma Sur, Santa Fe, San Ángel and Centro Histórico.

Things to do

DataIncludes residents' reports

Start with the historic centre and the museums in Chapultepec Park. Check opening hours and ticket prices before you go.

The baroque façade and bell towers of the Catedral Metropolitana — **Zócalo**Main square and the Aztec temple

The Palacio de Bellas Artes and its domes, with the Torre Latinoamericana behind — **Bellas Artes**Palace and concert hall on the Alameda

The courtyard of the Museo Nacional de Antropología under its huge umbrella roof — **Museo de Antropología**National museum in Chapultepec Park

Chapultepec Castle on its wooded hill, seen from the air — **Castillo de Chapultepec**Hilltop castle and history museum

The cobalt-blue walls of the Casa Azul, the Frida Kahlo museum — **Museo Frida Kahlo**The Blue House, Coyoacán

Brightly painted trajinera boats moored on a Xochimilco canal — **Xochimilco**Boat trips on the canals

Also worth a visit

Ciudad Universitaria (UNAM): the university campus, with murals, a contemporary art museum and the Olympic stadium.
Basílica de Guadalupe: Mexico's great Catholic pilgrimage site, in the north of the city.
Arena México: the city's best-known lucha libre venue, next to Roma.
Museo Soumaya: private art museum in Nuevo Polanco.

Sources (5)

Opening hours and ticket prices aren't researched yet.

Day trips

DataIncludes residents' reports

Pyramids, colonial towns and a lake are all within about 2½ hours by car.

The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacán under a blue sky — **Teotihuacán**The great pyramids

The Tepozteco pyramid among trees on the hilltop above Tepoztlán — **Tepoztlán**Town below a hilltop pyramid

White houses of Taxco climbing the hillside, with Santa Prisca's towers — **Taxco**Colonial silver town

Trip	Drive	Why go
Teotihuacán	30 mi, about 50 min	The great pyramids of a pre-Columbian city
Desierto de los Leones	20 mi, about 40 min	Pine forest, a 17th-century convent and hiking
Cuernavaca	46 mi, about 1¼ h	State capital known for its mild climate
Tepoztlán	51 mi, about 1¼ h	Town below a hilltop pyramid; an hour's climb
Puebla	82 mi, about 2 h	UNESCO-listed colonial centre known for its food
Valle de Bravo	90 mi, about 2 h 10 min	Lake town: sailing, paragliding, mountain biking
Taxco	100 mi, about 2 h 35 min	Colonial silver town with cobbled streets

Drive times assume no traffic, so allow longer. Check the US advisory's levels for Morelos and Guerrero before you drive.

Sources (3)

No-traffic road estimates from the centre; Wikivoyage's distances differ slightly (Taxco 112 mi). Bus times and fares aren't researched yet.

Food and markets

Includes residents' reports

Set lunch (comida corrida): $4–6 · Casual meal: about $11 · Dinner for two, mid-range: about $50. Prices as of Nov 2026.

Marinated pork stacked on a vertical spit for tacos al pastor — **Tacos al pastor**Pork from a vertical spit

Tacos de canasta in the centre of Coyoacán — **Tacos de canasta**Kept warm in baskets

A plate of green chilaquiles with refried beans — **Chilaquiles**Tortilla strips in salsa

A bowl of red pozole topped with lettuce and radish — **Pozole**Hominy and meat stew

Also try

Suadero and barbacoa tacos: thin fried beef, and slow-cooked beef.
Tamales and torta de tamal: steamed corn dough, often in a roll, with atole for breakfast.
Huaraches and alambres: big topped tortillas, and grilled meat with bacon, peppers and cheese.

Markets

The front of the Mercado de San Juan Ernesto Pugibet — **Mercado de San Juan**Hard-to-find ingredients, Centro

The yellow façade of the Mercado de Coyoacán — **Mercado de Coyoacán**Neighbourhood market, Coyoacán

The Mercado Roma food hall from the street — **Mercado Roma**Modern food hall, Roma Norte

Mercado de La Merced: the old central market, with food stalls, east of the Centro.
Mercado de Medellín: neighbourhood market in Roma Sur.
Mercado Juárez: neighbourhood market on the Roma Norte–Juárez edge.

Sources (3)

Set lunch 70–110 pesos (March 2022 figure); meals from Numbeo crowd data, Nov 2026.

Healthcare

Official sourcesData

The glass front of Hospital Angeles Pedregal — Hospital Angeles Pedregal

Two of the big private hospitals hold international (JCI) accreditation. Before you rely on English or direct billing, check with the hospital and your insurer: neither is confirmed anywhere yet.

Centro Médico ABC: private, JCI-accredited; campuses in Observatorio and Santa Fe.
Médica Sur: private, JCI-accredited; Tlalpan, in the south.
Hospital Español: private; Granada, next to Polanco.
Hospital Angeles: private network of 9 hospitals, including Clínica Londres in Roma Norte.

Sources (8)

JCI accreditation: ABC since 2006 (both campuses, its own timeline); Médica Sur since 2014 (its own site). Addresses: ABC Sur 136 No. 116 and Carlos Graef Fernández 154; Médica Sur, Puente de Piedra 150; Hospital Español, Ejército Nacional 613; Clínica Londres, Durango 50.

Families and schools

DataIncludes residents' reports

The Chapultepec lake seen from a rowing boat — Lago de Chapultepec

Five international schools offer US, British, French or German programmes. Confirm fees with each school.

American School Foundation: US diploma, with IB and AP options · Las Américas, Álvaro Obregón.
Greengates School: British-international, IGCSE then the IB Diploma · Naucalpan, State of Mexico.
The Edron Academy: British, IGCSE and the IB Diploma · Olivar de los Padres.
Liceo Franco-Mexicano: French-Mexican bicultural · Polanco and Coyoacán.
Colegio Alemán Alexander von Humboldt: German International Abitur · north, west and south campuses.

Sources (8)

Curricula from each school's own site. ASF tuition is published as an image table; aggregators show about 262,350–333,800 pesos a year (not from the school).
Not yet confirmed: the Liceo's French accreditation (AEFE), Westhill Institute's curriculum, IB directory listings.

Nightlife

Official sourcesDataIncludes residents' reports

Mariachis in orange suits playing in Plaza Garibaldi at night — Mariachis in Plaza Garibaldi

Roma and Condesa have overtaken Zona Rosa as the place for bars.

Roma and Condesa: mezcal bars, cocktail lounges and craft beer.
Polanco: upscale clubs; book ahead and expect a dress check at the door.
Zona Rosa (Juárez): street bars, clubs and many gay bars; heavy touting.
Centro Histórico: old cantinas, pulque bars and Plaza Garibaldi's mariachis.
Classic spots: Cantina La Ópera, Pulquería Las Duelistas, Salón Malafama, La Clandestina.

Rules worth knowing

Drinking age 18: drinking in the street can mean 24 hours in jail.
Drink-driving: random breath tests and 24–72 hours in jail.
Watch your drink: spiking and tainted alcohol are reported.

Sources (5)

Street-drinking penalty: 'at least 24 hours' (Wikivoyage). Drink-spiking warning: UK government. A venue on the map isn't proof it's open now.

Getting there and getting around

Official sourcesDataIncludes residents' reports

An orange Metro train at San Juan de Letrán station, Line 8 — Metro Line 8, San Juan de Letrán

Flying home is easy: six airlines fly non-stop from MEX to the US.

Not yet verified Route list from a public route table, not confirmed with the airlines.

Airline	Non-stop US destinations
Aeroméxico	Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York JFK, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Washington Dulles
American	Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK, Phoenix
Delta	Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York JFK, Salt Lake City; Los Angeles seasonal
United	Chicago, Houston, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles; Denver seasonal
Volaris	Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oakland, Orlando, Sacramento, San Antonio
Viva	Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York JFK, San Antonio

From the airport

Roma Norte, Condesa, Juárez: 8–9 miles, about 20 min without traffic; Metrobús Line 4 is about $1.60.
Polanco, Lomas: 12–13 miles, about 25 min.
Del Valle, Narvarte, Coyoacán: 8–10 miles, about 20 min.
Taxis: use only authorised prepaid airport taxis or a ride-hailing app.
Felipe Ángeles airport (AIFA): no US flights; fixed taxi to Roma Norte about $40.

Around the city

Metro: about 30¢ a ride with free transfers; tap a bank card on most lines. Runs 5 am to midnight on weekdays.
Metrobús: about 30¢; Line 1 runs down Insurgentes past Roma and Condesa.
Ride-hailing: Uber, Cabify and DiDi all work here.
Ecobici bike share: many stations in Polanco and Zona Rosa.

Sources (11)

Terminals: Aeroméxico and Delta T2; American and United T1. AIFA is about 23 miles north-east; trains to Buenavista take 40–45 min (reports differ on fares: 11.50–45 pesos), so check the operator.
Drive times are no-traffic estimates. Fares: Metro 5 pesos (unchanged for 2026), Metrobús 6, Line 4 airport bus 30 (Nov 2021 figure), AIFA fixed taxi 750; minibus fares rose 1.50 pesos on 1 Nov 2025. Popocatépetl ash has disrupted MEX flights.
Not yet confirmed: airline frequencies and official airport taxi fares.

Expat community and coworking

Official sourcesIncludes residents' reports

A dog walker with five dogs by Parque España, Condesa — Parque España, Condesa

You won't be the only American. About 1 in 80 residents was born abroad, and many recent arrivals are young US remote workers in Roma and Condesa.

Rent protests: a July 2025 march against gentrification targeted Roma and Condesa.
InterNations Mexico City: about 42,000 members and 28 events a month.
InterNations Language Exchange: a meetup for practising Spanish.
Impact Hub Roma Norte: coworking with a current listing and day passes.
WeWork Reforma 26 and CREA (Polanco, Del Valle): listed in directories Not confirmed

Call coworking spaces ahead for hours and prices.

Sources (9)

1.2% of residents were born abroad (INEGI 2025). July 2025 news reports describe an influx of young American remote workers since 2020; the president called the march xenophobic and organisers denied it.
InterNations figures read 13 Nov 2026. Impact Hub: Av. Álvaro Obregón 213, day passes from €16 (OneCoworking, June 2026).

Learning Spanish

DataIncludes residents' reports

The mosaic-covered Biblioteca Central at Ciudad Universitaria — Biblioteca Central, UNAM

You'll need Spanish: English is rare outside hotels, restaurants and the wealthy west.

CEPE Polanco (UNAM): about $580–670 a course, 8 to 16 weeks; online about $560.
CEPE-UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria: courses plus official Spanish exams such as SIELE.
Private schools: CIEL La Salle, Academia Hispano México, Centro de Idiomas Bravo, Walk Spanish, Speak Like a Mexican Not confirmed

Sources (5)

CEPE Polanco 2026: 12,400 pesos (basic), 10,750 (intermediate, advanced), 10,330 online. Private schools' prices and status aren't researched yet.

Neighbourhood areas are approximate; a circle marks an area OpenStreetMap has only as a point. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Altitude and health

Official sourcesDataIncludes residents' reports

Most people adjust within a few days. The city sits at about 7,350 ft, just under the 8,000 ft level where altitude sickness becomes a risk.

Altitude by area

Symptoms: headache, nausea and poor sleep start 6–10 hours after arrival and ease in 1–3 days.
Get help fast for confusion, breathlessness at rest or a frothy cough.
Air quality: worst late November to early February; skip outdoor exercise on alert days.
Heart or lung condition? Weigh both the altitude and the pollution.

This is general guidance, not medical advice.

Sources (6)

Outlying areas reach about 3,000 m (9,800 ft). The CDC risk level is about 2,450 m (8,040 ft) for unacclimatised people sleeping there.
Symptom advice: NHS. Pollution alerts apply when the air index passes 150. Not yet researched: official air-quality statistics; guidance for older adults.

Central Mexico City's towers from the Torre Latinoamericana — The city from the Torre Latinoamericana

Cost of living

DataIncludes residents' reports

Rent is the big number: about $800–2,100 a month for a 1-bed, depending on the neighbourhood. Prices as of Nov 2026.

1-bed asking rents by neighbourhood

Bigger places: 3-bedrooms ask about $2,130 in Del Valle and $4,580 in Polanco.
Everyday costs: about $770 a month for one person, not counting rent.
Rent rules may change: Pending change a bill sent in Oct 2026 would cap rent rises at inflation.

A month's budget

Per month	One person, modest	One person, comfortable	Couple, modest	Couple, comfortable
Rent	$1,146	$1,455	$1,146	$2,129
Groceries	Not sourced yet	Not sourced yet	Not sourced yet	Not sourced yet
Utilities	$62	$62	$62	$62
Phone and home internet	$63	$63	$91	$91
Transport	$12	$45	$24	$57
Eating out	$86	$135	$172	$270
Health insurance	Not sourced yet	Not sourced yet	Not sourced yet	Not sourced yet
Other	Not sourced yet	Not sourced yet	Not sourced yet	Not sourced yet

Modest: San Rafael 1-bed, Metro, cheap meals. Comfortable: Roma Norte 1-bed, some taxis. Couple, comfortable: Del Valle 3-bed.

No total yet: groceries and health insurance aren't priced.

Sources (10)

Dollar figures at Banxico FIX 18.5525 pesos per $1 (13 Nov 2026). Rents: Mercado Libre asking prices, ads live 13 Nov 2026 (Roma Norte 27,000 pesos, 87 ads; Polanco includes two ads priced in dollars). 3-bed: Roma Norte 43,950 pesos ($2,369).
Numbeo crowd data (Nov 2026): central 1-bed about $1,165; costs excluding rent $767 for one person, $2,868 for a family of four. Asking prices run higher, probably because many ads are new or furnished.
Pending change Ley de Rentas Justas, sent to Congress in Oct 2026: tenant ombudsman and a cap at inflation; status unconfirmed. A 2024 reform is reported as capping rises. Airbnb-type rentals now need registering.
Not yet researched: groceries, health insurance (ages 40–65, IMSS), utility tariffs, 2-bed rents, deposit and guarantor (fiador) norms.

Climate

Data

Mild all year. About 33 inches of rain fall a year, mostly June to September.

Days and nights through the year

NightsDays

Dry, cool (Nov–Feb): highs 72–76 °F, nights 47–50 °F, little rain.
Dry, warm (Mar–May): the warmest months, highs 79–82 °F, nights 52–57 °F.
Rainy (Jun–Sep): sunny mornings and afternoon rain; highs 75–78 °F, nights about 55 °F.
October: drying out; high 74 °F, low 53 °F.

Sources (4)

SMN/CONAGUA 1991–2020 normals, Tacubaya Central station (issued 6 Nov 2026): 846.9 mm (33 in) a year. Rainy months 132.5–175.6 mm (5–7 in), 16–22 rainy days; nights have dropped to about 32–35 °F.
Sources disagree: WMO normals for the same station (via NOAA) give 655.2 mm (26 in) a year and a May peak of 26.5 °C (80 °F). We use SMN, the national weather service.
Extra driving restrictions for pollution generally apply February to June (UK government).

Mexico City at dusk from the Torre Latinoamericana viewpoint — Dusk from the Torre Latinoamericana

Safety

Official sourcesIncludes residents' reports

Mostly fine with big-city sense, and taxis are the main rule: use an app or a dispatched cab, never a street hail. US government staff must.

US travel advisory

Level 2: increased caution

The UK doesn't advise against travel here, but says street crime is a serious issue in big cities.
Benito Juárez feels safest: 14% of adults feel unsafe, vs 56% in Cuauhtémoc.
Pickpockets: organised teams work crowded Metro lines.
Least safe tourist area: north of the Centro Histórico, around Plaza Garibaldi.
Ride-hail scams: check the app's PIN before you get in.
Express kidnapping can happen in cities; take care at ATMs.
Protests: avoid demonstrations, including the rent protests since July 2025.
Earthquakes: the 911 CDMX app can warn up to 60 seconds before shaking.
Volcano: Popocatépetl is active, with a 7.5-mile exclusion zone.

Sources (7)

US State Department, 29 May 2026: Level 2 (terrorism, crime, kidnapping); reports put Mexico City itself at Level 2. UK FCDO, 20 Oct 2026: use sitio and authorised airport taxis; Hoy No Circula driving bans.
INEGI ENSU, Sept 2026 (share who feel unsafe): national 58.1%; Benito Juárez 13.8% (Del Valle, Narvarte), Miguel Hidalgo 40.0% (Polanco, Lomas), Coyoacán 42.6%, Cuauhtémoc 55.9% (Roma, Condesa, Juárez).
A Sept 2026 news summary places Roma and Condesa on soft lakebed soil and Polanco and Lomas on firm ground. Crime counts by neighbourhood aren't researched yet.

The pedestrian Calle Madero at dawn — Calle Madero, Centro Histórico

Internet and remote work

Official sourcesDataIncludes residents' reports

Fast enough for video calls: home connections average about 120 Mbps.
Home internet: about $35 a month · Phone plan with data: about $28 a month.
Main providers: Telmex, Totalplay, Izzi and Megacable for home; Telcel, Movistar and AT&T for mobile.
Coworking: Impact Hub in Roma Norte has day passes from about €16 (about $17).
Time zone: same as Chicago in US winter, an hour behind in summer.
Power: dips are more common than in the US; protect laptops with a surge protector or voltage regulator.

Sources (6)

Ookla, Sept 2026 (national): fixed 119.81 Mbps, mobile 47.74 Mbps. Numbeo, Nov 2026: broadband 60 Mbps+ 638.56 pesos a month, 10 GB+ mobile 523.75 pesos; providers' own prices not read.
Time zone: Zona Centro, UTC-6 all year (no daylight saving since Oct 2022). Power: 127 V, 60 Hz, US plugs; brownouts to 80–100 V. The $17 day pass is a rough conversion of €16.

Residential towers on Paseo de la Reforma at dusk — Towers on Paseo de la Reforma

Living in Mexico long-term

Staying beyond a visit means residency. Our Mexico guides cover the routes, the documents and what you'd pay in tax, with the law behind each rule.

Cyclists on a car-free Paseo de la Reforma by the Ángel de la Independencia — Sunday cycling on Reforma

Questions people ask

Is Mexico City safe?

Mostly yes, with normal big-city sense: use app taxis rather than hailing cabs, and watch your phone on crowded Metro lines. Residents feel safest in Benito Juárez (Del Valle, Narvarte).

How much does it cost to live there?

Rent is the big number: about $800 to $2,100 a month for a 1-bed, depending on the area. Everything else runs about $770 a month for one person.

Where should I live?

Most newcomers start in Roma Norte or Condesa. Juárez, Narvarte, Del Valle and Escandón are the usual alternatives; Coyoacán is quieter, and Polanco and Lomas suit bigger budgets.

Will the altitude affect me?

Probably not much: most neighbourhoods sit just under the 8,000 ft level where altitude sickness becomes a risk. Some people do feel short of breath, so take the first days easy.

How do I get from the airport?

Take an authorised prepaid airport taxi or a ride-hailing app; Roma and Condesa are about 20 minutes away without traffic. Metrobús Line 4 also runs from both terminals.

Is there an expat community?

Yes, a big one: InterNations alone lists about 42,000 members and 28 events a month. The 2025 rent protests did show some resentment of newcomers in Roma and Condesa.

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