This Guest Article was written by Steph Jouppien. Steph Jouppien is a freelance writer and digital nomad. She writes about remote work and travel. She’s lived in and visited nearly 20 countries, and her work is featured on travel and tourism sites. Connect with her at www.stephjouppien.com.
The world loves Mexico. And why wouldn’t it?
Sunny beaches, cultured cities, and all-you-can-eat tacos – no wonder more than 1.2 million foreigners live in Mexico despite safety concerns. With its low cost of living, fast internet, and U.S. time zones, it’s easy to see why so many digital nomads chose to make Mexico their home.
What are the best places for digital nomads to live in Mexico?
We asked digital nomads that have spent significant time living in each city. We’ve listed the most recommended places suitable for remote work and play.
Mexico City
First up: Mexico’s flashy and vibrant capital. History, nightlife, and varied attractions make it an unforgettable place.
One of the world’s most visited cities, nomads enjoy its ample coworking spaces and cafés with fast internet. Spend five minutes walking Paseo de Reforma and hear foreigners speaking tongues from around the world.
Like living anywhere, the cost of living depends on your lifestyle. Accommodation prices in the hip Condesa and Roma Norte neighborhoods have risen since 2020. A factor that’s driving locals away from the city center.
Excellent public transit, walkable streets, and annual bike rental subscriptions for $28 make commuting painless. At the same time, Mexico City International Airport makes exploring the rest of the country easy.
The city has so many activities that keep you up for days. Palacio de Bellas Artes is the city’s most iconic building, blending elements from Renaissance and Art Nouveau styles. Just a short metro ride to Coyoacán is the home of artist Frida Kahlo. Chapultepec park serves as the city’s lungs, with sculpted fountains, museums, petting zoos, and food galore.
Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca
Foodie paradise Oaxaca de Juárez is another popular digital nomad destination. Culture, art, architecture, and unique cuisine live at every turn.
Historic landmarks space out the trendy internet cafés and vegan restaurants. Oaxaca’s warm year-round climate draws travelers year-round.
Like Mexico City, the cost of living has risen steadily with the influx of remote workers. Street tacos are less than $1, while bottled kombucha is about what you’d pay in Manhattan.
Small furnished apartments go for under $500 a month, outside the high tourism season – October to April. Hidden gem rentals are found in funky nearby towns like San Sebastian.
Oaxaca is recommended for those looking for an immersive experience with unforgettable food, mezcal tasting, and folk art.
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
Beachy nomads, this one’s for you! You may know Mexico’s Riviera Maya as the place for destination weddings. But the city, Playa del Carmen, is popular with digital nomads.
Before you read further: Playa del Carmen is not the place for an authentic Mexican experience. Referred to as “Playa,” the city feels like a USA beach town with churros.
If you’re dying to post a laptop from the beach picture, this is the place to do it. Plenty of digital nomads chose to make Playa their winter base in favor of the reliable internet, international food options, and US-like amenities.
Small apartments further away from the beach cost around $900 a month. Taxis and food can be inexpensive depending on personal tastes. As for clubbing, Playa has some fun bars if you feel like blowing your budget.
If Playa sounds like your next home, gear up for day trips to nearby ruins, cenotes, or the clear waters of Cozumel – Mexico’s sought-after diving destination. Y.O.L.O!
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas
Hidden away in the mountains towards Guatemala is San Cristóbal. Smaller than other cities in Mexico, there’s something enchanting in the cobble-stones, and eccentric folk San Cristóbal attracts.
One of Mexico’s poorest states, Chiapas, has a low cost of living for foreigners. Check the local Facebook groups for a furnished apartment with a garden and utilities for only $300 a month. Because of the low cost of living, many expats have relocated and opened small businesses. Just walk the streets, and you’ll see vendors surviving off selling handmade goods.
While this may seem ideal, the internet speeds in San Cristóbal are poor. Be sure you look for the right rental before relocating.
Also worth noting is the fresh mountain air is damp and cold, though many welcome the fresh air and quiet in favor of productivity.
Chiapas is a place for nature lovers who enjoy mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, and waterfalls. The Palenque ruins and jungle are a few hours North-East for a weekend trip. Visitors say they rival the Chichen Itza ruins. But beware, one visit and you might stay forever.
Tulum, Quintana Roo
On the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula is Tulum’s turquoise sea. There’s a subtle Mayan mystery hanging in the air, harmonized by techno and good vibes.
Recognized as the place for parties, Tulum is a hotspot for laid-back flower children. While action thrives on the beach, the wifi does not. Many rentals advertise a location right on the beach. While that may be true, they may not have internet access.
The city center is an overpriced cab ride away. You’ll find coworking spots, coffee shops, and yoga studios galore there. Centro is not near the beach, but it is where you can get some work done.
Because of the hype about remote workers, the prices are comparatively high compared to the rest of the country. Boogie vegan eats, craft beer, and fine dining are available. If a minimum $850 monthly rental and raves don’t scare you, Tulum is your place.
Lesser-known Digital Nomad Cities
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Mexico’s second-largest city, Guadalajara, is a lively university town. Known as one of the most LGBT+-friendly places in Mexico, rural traditions remain. Mariachis sing on the streets while cowboys perform rodeo acts in giant sombreros. One hour West is the village of Tequila, the birthplace of the golden spirit with the same name.
Furnished apartments are available for $500, and budget-friendly co-living spaces are available. Strong internet connectivity and coworking offices are why many digital nomads call the city home.
The historical center holds most of the city’s attractions, including Guadalajara Cathedral, Plaza de Armas, and Museo de Jalisco. For cheap eats, check out Mercado Libertad, where you can find tacos de cabeza (head tacos) for two pesos.
Weekends can be spent mountain biking Barranca de Huentitán, hanging at the zoo, or visiting nearby towns surrounding Chapala lake. If you’re itching for the beach, bargain flights to Puerto Vallarta are less than an hour long.
This city is ideal for the city-lover that wants to save some moolah.
Guanajuato, Guanajuato
Another lively university town with great eats and siesta culture thrives in Guanajuato. Expect closed shops outside the city center between 2 pm – 5 pm. Recognized by its colorful cityscape, Guanajuato had the first battle victory for Mexico’s independence.
The city is mainly Spanish-speaking and popular with domestic tourists, but there is a small expat community of artists and retirees. International students from Europe and Asia study at Universidad de Guanajuato.
The cost of living is fair, with lots of options for food. A furnished apartment or coliving stay costs around $600 a month outside of the annual event season. Escuela Mexicana, a Spanish language school, also helps visitors find local homestays.
Make note that the city is hilly. Without a car or taxi, expect to do a good amount of walking up and down hills. Plaza Allende, Plazuela de Mexiamora, Callejón del Potrero, and Jardin Embajadoras are all mostly car-free neighborhoods at lower elevations.
The city has a solid internet connection, some coworking spaces, and many fun activities. While there, check out the Mummy Museum, take the Funicular tram to the Al Pipila Statue for the best city view, and hang out at GIFF – the annual international film festival.
Mérida, Yucatán
Located in the Northern part of Yucatán state is its capital city, Mérida. Safe and quiet, and with uncrowded beaches, some find it boring.
Furnished apartments are around $600 a month, and Merida has some of the fastest wifi speeds in Mexico. Entrepreneurs from all over have relocated and started up businesses in the city. Mérida has many coworking spaces and a growing community of digital nomads and expat families.
That said, Mérida isn’t the most accessible place to get around without a car. Temperatures are sweltering for most of the year (March – October). Its restaurants and supermarkets are sparse outside of Centro, and uber fares are notably high. Public transportation is available, though only every 30 minutes.
For a fun weekend, go swimming in the underground cenotes. There are archeological sites right inside the town, but they aren’t well maintained. For a better-preserved site, head North outside of the city to Dzibilchaltún ruin and cenote.
Mérida is perfect for nomads concerned with safety and serious about work.
Puebla, Puebla
Neighboring Mexico City is laid-back Puebla city. Founded by Spanish settlers, it is the site of Cinco de Mayo. Today, Puebla is a bustling metropolis with a population of +2 million and impressive churches on nearly every corner.
The city offers an excellent quality of life. You can easily find a comfortable place to live with fast internet for less than $1,000 monthly. While the internet is fast in Puebla, ask for a screenshot of the internet speed before paying. Otherwise, you’ll end up working at Starbucks.
Puebla is a smaller, more relaxed Mexico City with a Mole that rivals Oaxaca’s. And it’s perfect for art aficionados. Visitors can take a traditional Talavera-making workshop or check out the famous street murals in Barrio de Xanenetla. Smack-dab in Centro is Barrio del Artista – an alley filled with painters, sculptors, sellers, and bars galore.
While the local expat community is smaller than in Mexico City, travelers tend to stop over in Puebla between Mexico City and Oaxaca’s surf coast.
For some weekend activity, summit Iztaccihuatl Volcano, the third-highest mountain in Mexico. Just a short collectivo ride away is Cholula. Known for its Great Pyramid, the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios was built right on top, so worshippers are closer to god. Bless up.
Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro
Situated in central Mexico with a colonial-era history is Querétaro. Known for its red stone aqueducts, Los Arcos Querétaro, the city is an important economic hub for Mexico.
Ranked one of the Best Cities to Do Business in Latin America, the city’s low crime rate attracts transplants from all over. The cost of living is reasonable compared to Tulum or Mexico City. You can find a comfortable apartment or house for under $500/month.
The city has some coworking spaces and an expat community. While there, check out Queretaro Expats to meet others who’ve made the city home.
Querétaro’s up-and-coming wine region is just outside of town, known for its sparkling and red wine varieties. For a weekend road trip, visit San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato. Or, head West and spend an afternoon touring the Tolantongo Caves.
Querétaro is ideal for those who want to live among a mix of people and entrepreneurs from around the world.
Off-the-beaten-path cities in Mexico for digital nomads
Ensenada, Baja California
Fresh ocean air, killer seafood, and wine that rivals Napa Valley are some reasons you’ll love Ensenada. Home to the world-famous La Guerrerense food stand, their seafood tostadas will change your life. Ensenada’s Boardwalk and Black Market have cheap and delicious tacos, with seafood literally coming off the boat.
Ensenada isn’t popular with digital nomads, but living in the area has perks. You can rent a large furnished home with fast internet for $1000 a month. While it’s not the most affordable place to live, it’s well-priced compared to the popular retiree haven Baja California Sur.
The city is relatively safe but has a sizable homeless population.
You can seek out other remote workers in one of the city’s coworking spaces or connect with the expat community on Facebook.
Ensenada is not the most pedestrian-friendly city. Here, it’s worth having a car to explore more wineries, craft breweries, and the Baja coast. Buses run hourly to Mexico’s best-known wine region, Valle de Guadalupe.
The weather is mild year-round, so you won’t have to worry about extreme heat or cold, but it’s worth having a jacket for chilly mornings. For the nomad that loves pairing wine with seafood and boat rides, Ensenada is a top destination.
La Paz, Baja California Sur
Who knows why La Paz is so often missed by nomads? Possibly the hot and arid summers with little rain are to blame. La Paz is a wonderful place to hang out poolside, grab a beer, and skate.
La Paz is priced slightly higher than the rest of the country but is located in a safe and stable part of Mexico. Expect to pay over $2 a taco (an outrage) and close to $800 a month for a furnished apartment.
There’s plenty to do in La Paz, so plan a few weeks to explore everything the city offers. Playa La Balandra’s blue waters, and fascinating rock formations, are incredibly biodiverse.
The city has a few coworking spaces to work from. Then, spend some out-of-office hours enjoying local craft beer, boating, or getting active on the city’s boardwalk. For weekends, escape the city to Sierra de las Cacachilas mountains for hiking, biking, and rock climbing.
La Paz is the perfect place for sun-loving digital nomads that can handle the heat.
Xalapa, Veracruz
South of the Naolinco volcanic field is Xalapa. With its indigenous and colonial history, the city is home to Universidad Veracruzana, the main public university in the state of Veracruz. Birthplace of the famed jalapeño pepper, Xalapa is for the digital nomad who doesn’t mind being the only foreigner enjoying its theatres, street art, and green spaces.
The city offers an excellent quality of life, though it is off the beaten path for remote workers and foreigners. Veracruz is a state known for coffee cultivation, and the city has 5-star restaurants, many coffee shops, bars, and clubs.
If you don’t mind the seasonal cold and humidity from the ocean and mountains, Xalapa offers a high quality of life. You can find furnished condos for under $500 a month and delicious cheap eats.
Spend your afternoons walking in one of the city’s impressive gardens – Jardín de Esculturas, Paseo de los Lagos, Jardín Botánico Clavijero, or working from a café. Situated near the gulf of Mexico, Veracruz has a distinctive gastronomy based on fresh seafood.
Several pueblos mágicos are nearby for weekend excursions – Coatepec, Orizaba, Xico, and Jalcomulco. The adventurous can take a kayaking trip at Isla de Sacrificios or take camping and rafting tours in Jalcomulco. For a slower pace, visit the Port of Veracruz, where you can see the San Juan de Ulúa fortress (prison) or the El Tajín archaeological zone. Like to tread your own path? Check out Xalapa.
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