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.
Polanco · Experience date Mar 3, 2026
CDMX sits in the Valley of Mexico and experiences significant seismic activity. Major earthquakes: 1985 (devastating), 2017 (significant damage, 370+ deaths), 2022. Earthquake preparedness for expats: identify evacuation routes from your apartment building, locate the nearest Punto de Reunión (green and white assembly point signs on streets). Sismo alert (Sistema de Alerta Sísmica): the city's early warning system — a distinct alarm sounds 30–120 seconds before strong shaking begins. Download the 911 CDMX app for alerts. Your building's construction quality matters: modern buildings (post-1985 building code) are significantly safer than pre-1985 construction. Ask your landlord or building manager about the building's construction year and whether it passed post-2017 inspections.
Coyoacán · Experience date Jan 26, 2026
Airbnb long-term in CDMX (28+ days): significant discount versus nightly rate — typically 30–45% cheaper per night. 1-bedroom in Condesa/Roma: $800–1,400 USD/month on Airbnb long-term. Advantages: no fiador, no long-term commitment, utilities included, cleaning service often available. Popular for: first 1–3 months while looking for a permanent apartment. Platforms beyond Airbnb: Homie (Mexican startup focused on furnished monthly rentals), Homey, Furnished Finder, VRBO. Note: Mexico City passed Airbnb regulations in 2023 — most legitimate hosts are registered. Long-term Airbnb pricing is negotiable directly with hosts via the platform message system — many will discount for 3+ month commitments.
Roma Sur · Experience date Nov 22, 2025
Electricity (CFE — Comisión Federal de Electricidad): government utility, bills every 2 months. Cost: $400–1,200 MXN bimonthly for a 1-bedroom apartment (air conditioning significantly increases this). CFE subsidises residential electricity — prices are low by global standards. High electricity bill warning: CFE moves you to higher tariff brackets if you exceed usage thresholds — avoid heavy AC use to stay in the subsidised tier. Gas: most CDMX buildings use LP gas (gas LP) from cylinders (tanques) delivered by truck. Listen for the distinctive jingle of the gas truck and flag it down, or call your building's gas supplier. Water: included in most apartment rents — no separate bill for most tenants. Internet: Telmex (Telcel's home service) $380–600 MXN/month, Totalplay, Megacable also available.
Roma Sur · Experience date May 5, 2026
Most apartment buildings in Roma, Condesa, and Polanco have a portero (building doorman/security guard) — sometimes full-time, sometimes part-time. The portero: receives packages, monitors building entry, sometimes handles minor maintenance. Building with 24/7 portero: more secure, quieter (fewer unknown visitors), more expensive. No portero: direct street-level entry, more autonomous but less secure. Security questions to ask before signing: Is there a portero? What hours? Is there CCTV? Is there an intercom for visitor entry? Intercomunicador (intercom): standard in modern buildings. Building app (some newer buildings use apps like CONDOMINIO for visitor access and management). Tip the portero at Christmas — this is the norm in CDMX building culture, typically $500–1,000 MXN aguinaldo.
Roma Sur · Experience date May 1, 2026
Mexico City sits at 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level. Altitude effects for new arrivals: shortness of breath on exertion (especially stairs), fatigue, mild headaches, and disturbed sleep during the first 1–2 weeks. Acclimatisation time: 1–2 weeks for most healthy adults, 3–4 weeks for those sensitive to altitude. Mitigation: drink significantly more water than usual (altitude accelerates dehydration), avoid heavy alcohol and exercise in the first week, ensure good sleep. Altitude sickness (soroche): uncommon at 2,240m but possible if you come from sea level — take it easy in the first days. Exercise adaptation: running and physical activity feel harder for the first 2–4 weeks — this normalises. Most people fully adjust within a month.
Condesa · Experience date Mar 8, 2026
CDMX has a strong pet culture — especially dogs. Finding pet-friendly rentals: ask specifically about 'mascotas permitidas' — many landlords accept pets, especially in the Roma/Condesa area where dog walking is very common. Platforms: filter for mascotas in Inmuebles24 and Vivanuncios. Pet deposit: some landlords charge an additional deposit of $2,000–5,000 MXN for pets. Dog-walking culture: professional paseadores de perros are extremely common in Roma and Condesa — rates around $100–200 MXN per walk. Veterinary services: CDMX has excellent and affordable veterinary care — a specialist consultation costs $500–1,000 MXN vs $150–300 USD in the US. Pet importation: dogs and cats need rabies vaccination certificate and health certificate from your home country vet for Mexico customs.
Del Valle · Experience date May 3, 2026
Tap water in Mexico City is not safe to drink directly. Expat options: Garrafón (large 20-litre water jug) — the standard. Delivered to your door by Agua Ciel, Bonafont, or Electropura trucks for $30–50 MXN per garrafón. Building service: many CDMX apartment buildings have a water delivery arrangement — ask your landlord. Filtration: under-sink water filter (Purificador de agua, brands: Selecto, PUR) is a good investment at $1,500–3,000 MXN — pays for itself in 3–4 months. Boiling: effective but inconvenient. Do not use tap water for: drinking, brushing teeth, washing fruit without subsequent rinsing with purified water. Showering and cooking with clean tap water: generally fine. The garrafón system is deeply embedded in daily Mexico City life.