Living in Mexico City: neighbourhoods, cost of living and relocation

Mexico City is a high-altitude megacity, set in a basin more than two thousand metres above sea level. Its sheer size makes the choice of neighbourhood decisive: crossing the city from one end to the other can take more than two hours.

La Condesa and La Roma are the most sought-after area among foreign newcomers: early twentieth-century architecture, parks, cafés, a walkable street life. They are also the area where rents have risen most with the arrival of remote workers.

Polanco is the affluent neighbourhood par excellence, with embassies, corporate headquarters and luxury shopping. Prices there are the highest in the city and the atmosphere is noticeably more formal.

Coyoacán and San Ángel, to the south, retain the feel of a colonial village, with squares, markets and low-rise houses. They attract families and academics, at the cost of being far from the business district.

Finally, Santa Fe, to the west, concentrates office towers, shopping centres and international schools in an environment designed entirely around the car. It is a professional choice rather than a lifestyle choice.

One principle governs all these choices: in Mexico City, quality of life is measured in daily commuting time, not distance. A home close to your workplace is better than a larger one at the other end of the metropolitan area, and this trade-off comes before all others.

We do not publish a median rent for Mexico City: we have not found an official series publishing rents by neighbourhood in Mexico City, and we do not use estimates from property listing portals.

The rental market is plentiful, but access to it depends on a disconcerting local requirement: landlords frequently ask for a guarantor who owns property in the city, or for a rental guarantee policy taken out with a specialist company.

A newcomer without local ties therefore usually takes the second route, whose cost comes on top of the security deposit, usually one month's rent. This is the main practical difficulty of a first move.

The arrival of foreign remote workers since 2020 has fuelled a local public debate about the gentrification of La Condesa and La Roma. It does not translate into hostility, but it is real and influences municipal decisions.

As for buying, foreigners can purchase freely, except in the so-called restricted zone, a coastal and border strip where acquisitions must go through a bank trust. Mexico City, being inland, is not affected.

Mexico City offers a large cost gap with Europe for services, labour, local restaurants and transport. The gap narrows for imported goods and electronics.

We do not publish a typical monthly budget: we have not found an official Mexican series measuring a basket of spending comparable to that of an expatriate.

Altitude and air quality are two parameters specific to the city. Acclimatisation takes a few weeks, and winter pollution episodes are documented and regular.

Safety is the issue that prospective movers assess least accurately from abroad. The situation varies considerably from one neighbourhood to another and from one state to another; the central neighbourhoods of the capital bear no comparison with the most exposed regions of the country.

The Mexican income tax scale starts at 1.92%⁵ and reaches 35%⁶ at its top marginal rate.

Mexico City's French community is long-established and large, with a complete school network, an active chamber of commerce and a fabric of French companies that have been present for many years.

Spanish is essential: English is not widely spoken outside business circles and international neighbourhoods. This is a notable difference from other Latin American destinations.

Mexican temporary residence is granted on proof of economic solvency, assessed by reference to monthly income of around about $4,300⁷ or an account balance of around about $73,000⁸.

It is granted for a maximum of up to 4 years⁹, after which permanent residence can be applied for. The initial application is filed at a consulate, from abroad, not in Mexico.

The Mexico City metro is vast and very cheap, complemented by a bus rapid transit network. It is overcrowded at rush hour, and its condition has been criticised after several incidents.

Two airports serve the metropolitan area, with direct flights to Paris. The city is a convenient starting point for the whole of Latin America.

The public healthcare system is overstretched, and private provision, of a good standard in the capital, is the norm among expatriates. International insurance is essential.

• The temporary residence application is filed at a consulate from abroad, not in Mexico.
• A lease often requires a local guarantor or a rental guarantee policy to be taken out.
• The restricted zone only covers the coasts and borders: Mexico City is outside it.
• Seismic risk is real: check the building's compliance and age before signing.