Moving to Mexico City: Neighborhoods, Costs and Residency for Expats

If you want a beach or a small-town pace, compare Mérida, Querétaro, or Lake Chapala.

• Roma Norte and Condesa. Tree-lined streets, parks, cafes, and nightlife. Walkable and central, but busy and among the priciest rentals in the city.
• Juárez and San Rafael. Next to Reforma avenue, close to offices, with a mix of older buildings and new apartments.
• Polanco. Upscale, with embassies, shopping, and quick access to the INM office. Popular with corporate transferees.
• Del Valle and Narvarte. Residential, calmer, and usually less expensive than Roma or Condesa, with good Metro and Metrobús links.
• Coyoacán and San Ángel. Colonial streets in the south, near UNAM. Quieter and popular with families and academics.
• Santa Fe and Lomas de Chapultepec. Office towers, gated buildings, and several international schools. More car-dependent.

Walk a neighborhood at night and on a weekday morning before you sign a lease.

Rent is the biggest variable. Central neighborhoods popular with foreigners cost far more than the rest of the city, and landlords often ask for a guarantor (aval) or a rental guarantee policy. Groceries from markets, public transit, and eating at local restaurants are inexpensive; imported goods and international schools are not.

To live here long term you still need to meet the residency tests. Temporary residency by financial solvency uses income or savings thresholds set in UMA (a Mexican reference unit), and consulates convert them to local currency. Run your numbers in the solvency calculator. See also renting and cost of living.

Mexico City has the widest choice of specialists in the country. Private options include the ABC Medical Center (Observatorio and Santa Fe), Médica Sur, and Hospital Ángeles. Legal residents can also apply for voluntary IMSS enrollment, which is low cost but has waiting periods and exclusions. Many expats carry private health insurance for hospital stays.

• Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) is inside the city, about 20 to 45 minutes by car from most central neighborhoods depending on traffic.
• Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) is north of the city in the State of Mexico and handles a growing number of domestic and some international flights.
• Getting around: the Metro, Metrobús (bus rapid transit), Ecobici bike share, and ride-hailing apps cover most needs. Many residents in central areas live without a car.

If you bring a foreign-plated car, read temporary vehicle import permits and check the Hoy No Circula driving limits first.

Residents of Mexico City use the INM Oficina de Representación on Avenida Ejército Nacional in Polanco (Miguel Hidalgo borough), open weekdays 9:00 to 15:00 according to INM. You must start the canje there within 30 days of entering Mexico on a residency visa, and you return for renewals. If you live in a State of Mexico suburb such as Interlomas, you use that state's INM office instead. Retirees should read permanent residency for retirees; most others start with temporary residency.

Mexico City has a large, mixed foreign community: remote workers, diplomats, students, and people working for multinational companies. You will find language exchanges, professional meetups, and neighborhood groups online, and plenty of Spanish schools. Learning Spanish makes daily life much easier outside Polanco and Roma.

Practical tips:

• Earthquakes. Learn the sound of the seismic alert and where to go in your building.
• Water. Drink bottled or filtered water. Ask whether a building has a cistern and rooftop tank, since supply can be interrupted.
• Paperwork. Once you have your residence card, get your CURP, open a bank account, and set up phone and internet.
• Safety. Check the US and Canadian advisories (linked on the CDMX page) and read our safety guide.