Mexico City
Rental checklists, area notes, and red flags before signing.
You'll find that renting in Mexico City typically requires a 2-month deposit plus the first month's rent upfront, with prices ranging from $600-900 USD/month in popular colonias like Roma Norte, Condesa, and Jurez. Most newcomers are surprised by this initial payment, so it's essential to plan ahead. Watch out for additional costs, such as utilities, which can range from $400-1,200 MXN every 2 months for electricity. To get started, consider staying in a furnished Airbnb or Homie apartment for the first 1-2 months to explore different neighborhoods before committing to a long-term rental. You can expect to pay around $800 USD/month for a 1-bed furnished apartment in Roma Norte. Today, start by researching Facebook groups, such as Expats in Mexico City, to find expat-friendly rentals and begin your housing search.
Ranked by contributor trust level and quality score.
Roma Norte · Experience date Mar 22, 2026
Found my apartment in Roma Norte through the Facebook group Expats in Mexico City. 1-bed furnished for $800 USD/month, landlord spoke English and accepted Wise transfers. Much easier than local real estate agents.
Del Valle · Experience date Mar 31, 2026
Rent payment in CDMX is typically in Mexican pesos (MXN). Common payment methods: bank transfer (transferencia bancaria) — landlord gives you their CLABE (18-digit Mexican bank transfer number), you transfer from your Mexican bank account. SPEI: Mexico's real-time bank transfer system (like EU SEPA or UK Faster Payments) — instant and free from most Mexican banks. Cash: still used in some informal arrangements — never pay large cash amounts without a receipt (recibo). USD rent: some Polanco and Santa Fe landlords quote rent in USD (especially in high-end buildings) — generally acceptable for premium furnished apartments. Avoid: sending rent via international transfer to a landlord's foreign account — a common scam in expat-targeting listings.
Coyoacán · Experience date Apr 4, 2026
Roma Norte is the most popular neighbourhood for international expats and digital nomads in Mexico City. Characteristics: walkable, tree-lined streets, Art Deco and Modernist architecture, excellent café density (some of the best specialty coffee in Latin America), abundant restaurants, good metro access (Insurgentes and Sonora stations). Rent: $18,000–30,000 MXN/month for a furnished 1-bedroom ($900–1,500 USD). Street life: very active until late — restaurants, bars, and cafés lively 7 days a week. Community: well-established expat WhatsApp groups and Facebook communities for Roma Norte specifically. Safety: considered very safe by CDMX standards — well-lit streets, busy even late evenings. Downside: can feel like a bubble from 'real' Mexico City — necessary to actively explore beyond it.
Juárez · Experience date Jan 27, 2026
I toured 8 apartments before choosing Juárez — walkable, safe, close to metro, and €600-900 USD/month range. Avoid Santa Fe unless you work there. Polanco is beautiful but expensive and car-dependent.
Condesa · Experience date Apr 15, 2026
Standard rental in CDMX is 2 months deposit plus first month. My place in Condesa cost $900 USD/month so I paid $2,700 upfront. Contracts are in pesos but many landlords quote in USD. Negotiate in writing.
Del Valle · Experience date Nov 24, 2025
Mexico City is a noisy city — a major factor in apartment selection. Sources: street noise (cars, motorbikes, vendors with loudspeakers — especially the iconic gas truck jingle and tamale cart calls), construction (CDMX has perpetual construction projects), barking dogs (dog culture is strong in CDMX), and late-night social activity in Roma/Condesa. Mitigation: apartments on higher floors, facing internal courtyards (not street-facing), or on quieter side streets are significantly calmer. Luces del departamento (apartment light): lower-floor CDMX apartments can be very dark — check natural light at different times of day before signing. North-facing windows: less direct sunlight in the northern hemisphere. Weekend morning: markets and street vendors can start at 6am in some colonias.
Coyoacán · Experience date Nov 19, 2025
Condesa is CDMX's second most popular expat neighbourhood alongside Roma Norte. Characteristics: Art Deco architecture, beautiful Parque México and Parque España (perfect for morning runs and weekend afternoons), excellent restaurant and bar scene along Ámsterdam Avenue and Tamaulipas Street, quieter than Roma Norte. Rent: $20,000–35,000 MXN/month furnished ($1,000–1,750 USD). Famous street: Ámsterdam Avenue, which forms an ellipse around Parque México — one of CDMX's most attractive running routes. Condesa vs Roma Norte: Condesa is slightly quieter and more residential feeling, Roma Norte has more café density. Both are excellent — your preference will emerge after 2–4 weeks exploring both.
Polanco · Experience date Mar 24, 2026
Mexico City safety is improving but highly uneven by neighbourhood. Expat-safe zones: Roma Norte, Roma Sur, Condesa, Polanco, Del Valle, Coyoacán, Narvarte, Juárez. Exercise caution at night: Tepito, Doctores, Guerrero, Iztapalapa. Areas that tourists visit but have risks: Centro Histórico (pickpocketing during busy periods), Garibaldi (late night). General rules: use Uber (not street taxis) at night, keep phone out of sight on the street in busy areas, use ATMs inside Oxxo or banks rather than on the street, avoid displaying expensive cameras or jewellery in outer colonias. The expat communities in Roma/Condesa experience very low crime — most incidents are opportunistic thefts, not violent crimes. Join Facebook expat groups for current safety updates.
Roma Sur · Experience date Feb 18, 2026
Most expat apartments in CDMX (Roma, Condesa, Polanco) are rented furnished (amueblado). Furnished 1-bedroom in Roma Norte: $18,000–28,000 MXN/month ($900–1,400 USD). Unfurnished equivalent: $10,000–18,000 MXN/month but requires significant furniture investment. Furnished apartments typically include: beds, sofa, dining table, kitchen appliances, washing machine (not all have dryers — air drying is standard). What to check: WiFi included (ask speed), hot water heater type (calentador de gas — check it works), gas connection (many CDMX apartments use gas canisters — confirm regular delivery schedule with landlord), security (portero on duty, intercom, CCTV). Short-term furnished: Airbnb, Homie, and Homey offer monthly-rate furnished apartments without contracts.
Roma Sur · Experience date Nov 12, 2025
Mexican rental contracts (contratos de arrendamiento) are typically 1-year fixed term. Key clauses to understand: Depósito (deposit) — typically 1–2 months' rent, held by landlord until end of lease. Fiador (co-signer guarantee) — many landlords require a Mexican fiador (guarantor) who owns property in Mexico City. Expats without a fiador: offer 3–6 months' rent upfront or a larger deposit in lieu. Incremento anual (annual increase) — typically linked to inflation (INPC), currently 4–6%/year. Services incluidos: confirm which utilities are included (typically none — water, electricity, gas all separate). Have any contract reviewed by a Mexican abogado (lawyer) or use a reputable agency before signing.