As a digital nomad, traveling is an everyday part of my life. Over the last decade, I’ve visited numerous destinations and cities. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that some places simply outlive the rest and Mexico City is one of them.

 

Whether it’s the culture, living costs, or even just the good ol’ tacos, Mexico City makes for a mean destination for us nomads. I’ve often come across tons of articles that create the impression that the city is a nightmare in terms of safety. But is it the case?

 

In this article, I’ll break down different aspects of the city and whether it deserves the praise of a dream city. So without further ado, let’s jump into the guide.

 

Is The City Safe?

Let’s be honest. As a digital nomad, safety is extremely important. Plus, with all the luggage and expensive electronics that I have on me, being robbed would be a nightmare.

 

If I’m being honest, then I’d rather not stay anywhere where my safety is probable to be compromised. As far as I’m concerned with Mexico City, I’ve never had to face any issues like this so far. And that’s not just me.

 

As a whole, Mexico City is quite safe for nomads. There are some parts of the city that are relatively dangerous at night, however, if you’re taking the necessary precautions, you’ll be safe.

 

Similarly, certain parts of the city such as the central area, are as safe as London. It all comes down to how mindful you are but if you’re not living in a potentially bad neighborhood, you have little to worry about.

 

Some of the safest parts of the city include:

• Roma Sur
• La Condesa
• Zona Rosa
• Polanco
• Del Valle
• Narvarte
• Santa Maria la Ribera
• Reforma
• Centro
• Roma Norte

 

However, as with all things, I’ll also recommend you avoid certain places such as:

 

• Istapalapa
• Tepito districts
• Doctores districts

 

Affordable Residence

Some of the best neighborhoods to live in the city include Roma and Condesa. The best part is that you can get good value for your money in these places. The costs here are relatively low, and you’ll notice how much cheaper they are especially compared to European areas.

 

Above, I mentioned a list of the best neighborhoods to live in. In all honesty, almost all of these places are a delight. You can find great coffee shops, malls, and other attractions that are made for nomads. You’ll most likely run into a digital nomad often here.

 

Moreover, you can also find great accommodations on Airbnb and hotels. I would suggest the former due to the costs involved.

 

Utilities

If it takes a toll on your pocket to just live a modest life in the city, then that’s not feasible now, is it?

 

From my personal experience, Mexico City is quite honestly one of the cheapest options around for a digital nomad. The food here is cheap and you can get your hands on a decent

one-bedroom apartment for around $600.

 

Similarly, utilities (which include electricity, water, Wifi) can be around $80-$120. And let’s not forget restaurants here. Given that you’re living in a good neighborhood, you can practically find food everywhere.

 

Whether it’s tacos in food streets or fine dining restaurants, it’ll be a few blocks down the road.

 

However, do keep in mind that these costs vary for everyone. If you’re trying to empty your pockets, then Mexico City does have the option to make that happen, and if you’d like to live lavishly at budget-friendly costs, the city can facilitate that as well. In the end, it comes down to how you’d like to spend your money.

 

Transportation Costs

One of the biggest issues in the life of a travel blogger or digital nomad is cheap conveyance. For cities as large as Mexico City, it becomes crucial that there are cheap transportation options.

 

A few years back, if you asked me about this, then I’d say that the transportation costs can be quite bad, however, with the introduction of Uber and other such startups, the situation has drastically changed.

 

Most digital nomads prefer to use Uber here and the costs pretty much justify it. You can move around the city for around half an hour and that’ll roughly cost you under 10 bucks.

 

Similarly, you can also get your hands on Bikes and Scooters. Just like Uber, there are a handful of apps that allow you to essentially rent a bike or scooter. In the case of bikes, you can get them for around $25 to be used for a whole year. In the latter case of scooters, you’ll get charged by the distance you travel.

 

Lastly, you can also go for the traditional metro and buses. These are also cheap and cost as low as a quarter of a dollar to move from one place to another.

 

All in all, however, transportation costs are nothing to worry about in 2022 in Mexico City.

 

Visa Policy

The Visa policy in Mexico is unique and it is especially something to smile at if you’re a digital nomad. Why?

 

Because Mexico allows you to stay in the country for six months if you come through Immigration. You will not be asked for any paperwork and this is perfectly legal.

 

Once the six-month window ends, you can pretty much just leave the country for a week or two and then return for another six months. However, this is more of a loophole.

 

If we talk strictly concerning digital nomads, then the country does not have a Visa for digital nomads. Instead, it has what is called a “Temporary Resident Visa”. It is essentially a nonlucrative visa which means that you cannot earn in the country under this visa from a Mexican company or source.

 

However, this is exactly why it fits so well with digital nomads since you’ll be earning outside of the country anyway.

 

Another thing I’ll like to point out is the fact that the six-month tourist visa does come with its fair share of downsides. In a nutshell, you cannot open a bank account in a Mexican bank, or even buy a car let alone get a driving license.

 

So if you’re looking to spend a long time in Mexico City, you’re much better off opting for the Temporary Residence Visa as it will allow you to get all these facilities.

 

WiFi Speeds

Ah yes, the WiFi speed. Being someone whose entire business is remote-based, having a fast internet connection is of the essence.

 

Luckily Mexico City does pretty well in this regard for me. You can get internet speeds of up to 50 Mb/s at relatively cheap rates and these numbers only scale up in your favor if you’re working in a coworking space.

 

Things You Must Do When In Mexico City

Life is not all about work. There’s also a fair share of it that deserves to be enjoyed and what better way to do that than by visiting landmarks, museums, and markets in this beautiful city of Mexico?

 

Plaza de la Constitución

Plaza de la Constitución is perhaps the most widely visited place in the city. This area is essentially the main square that is at the heart of historical buildings such as the Metropolitan Cathedral.

 

As you can imagine, there are tons of people here, and the experience is worthwhile to remember.

 

Museo Nacional de Antropología

Museo Nacional de Antropología is a museum that houses significant pieces from the history of Columbian culture. As such, the place is moderately crowded but has a unique experience.

 

Other Areas

The list can pretty much go on about great places to visit so I’ll put it down in a list:

 

• Ruins of Teotihuacan
• Chapultepec Park
• Frida Kahlo Museum
• Palacio de Bellas Artes
• Soumaya Museum

 

 

Downsides Of Mexico City

As with all things, there are always two sides of a sword and in the case of Mexico City, I’ve come across a handful of things that can be an issue. So let’s talk about them as well.

 

Pollution

I find the pollution in Mexico City to be a concerning issue. Specifically here, I mean air pollution. It’s not exactly as bad as some other cities in the world, however, it is not good either.

 

To give you an idea, many people choose to stay indoors at times mainly due to the rising air pollution. It varies as you can tell.

 

From my personal experience, it has not caused me a lot of issues as it is bearable, however, if you’re someone who routinely has allergic reactions, then Mexico City may not be the best place for you.

 

I will strongly advise you to do your research regarding the weather conditions before you decide to visit the city.

 

High Traffic

Mexico City is home to a whopping 9 million people. As a result, the traffic here is quite bad. You can pretty much get stuck on the roads for hours on a bad day.

 

However, in my case, I don’t find this to be too big of an issue as it seems to get compensated for me due to the relatively cheap transportation costs.

 

Crime Rates

Perhaps the biggest issue in the country and Mexico City is the crime rate. For many nomads, this can be the instant deal breaker, however, in my years of living here, I’ve not had a single such issue.

 

In short, as I mentioned earlier, if you’re careful and stay in a good neighborhood, then your chances of getting mugged are nearly the same as they would be in New York or London.

 

Conclusion

Mexico City certainly packs a lot of magic in it. Be it the cheap living costs, the lively cultural tourist attractions, or even the food, this place has got it all.

 

Apart from a few safety concerns, Mexico City certainly can live up to its name of being a dream city. As a digital nomad, I’ve been living in this city for quite some time now and have found myself falling in love with the place. What makes it extremely good for me are the Visa policies and how cheap costs. That brings me to the end of this guide.