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.
Coyoacán · Experience date Feb 3, 2026
Home internet in Mexico City: Telmex Infinitum (owned by Carlos Slim, uses Telcel infrastructure) is the most widely available — plans from $379 MXN/month for 100 Mbps fibre, $599 MXN for 300 Mbps. Installation: 3–7 business days, requires you to be home for setup. Totalplay: fibre-based competitor, faster speeds, similar pricing — available in many Roma/Condesa buildings. Megacable: cable internet, available in some colonias. Check which providers serve your specific building before signing a lease — ask the landlord or portero. Many furnished apartments advertise 'internet incluido' — verify the speed with the landlord (ask for a speed test screenshot via WhatsApp). For remote work: verify minimum 50 Mbps before committing to an apartment.
Coyoacán · Experience date May 5, 2026
Recommended strategy for arriving expats: Month 1–2: stay in a furnished Airbnb or Homie apartment to explore different colonias before committing. Month 3+: sign a 1-year lease in your preferred colonia. Cost of this approach: $1,200–2,000 USD/month on Airbnb long-term (with discounts) vs $900–1,400 USD/month on a direct lease. The extra $300–600/month for 2 months buys you valuable exploration time — signing the wrong 1-year lease in CDMX is expensive to exit (you typically lose 1–2 months' deposit). Use the first two months to: understand which neighbourhoods suit your lifestyle and commute, build relationships with local landlords, and gather the documentation needed for a formal lease.
Polanco · Experience date Apr 10, 2026
The fiador (guarantor with Mexican property) requirement is the biggest barrier for expat renters in CDMX. Solutions: Fianza de arrendamiento — a surety bond purchased from insurance companies like Chubb, AXA, or HDI (costs 1–1.5 months' rent as a one-time premium, replaces the fiador). Depósito ampliado — offer 3 months' upfront instead of a fiador. Premium/serviced apartments: don't require fiadors (Airbnb long-term, furnished apartment buildings, corporate housing). Agency-brokered apartments: agents sometimes absorb the fiador requirement if you pay their commission. Facebook expat groups: other long-term expats who own property sometimes act as fiadores for a fee or as a favour — ask in community groups.
Condesa · Experience date May 5, 2026
Homie (homie.mx) is a Mexican startup that simplifies renting without a fiador. Process: apply online, Homie performs a digital background check (requires valid ID and income proof), provides a digital guarantee replacing the fiador. Listings: mostly furnished apartments in Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Del Valle. Advantage for expats: no Mexican fiador required, digital contract, 24/7 support app. Cost: slightly higher rent than direct market (Homie takes a margin), but saves the fiador complication. Move-in: 48–72 hours after approval. Homie also manages deposits, maintenance requests, and bill payments through the app. Most positively reviewed by CDMX expat community on Reddit and Facebook groups for reducing the administrative friction of renting in Mexico.
Del Valle · Experience date Apr 18, 2026
Rental platforms for Mexico City: Inmuebles24 (Mexico's largest property listing site), Vivanuncios, Metros Cúbicos (metro2.com.mx), Lamudi. Facebook groups: 'Renta de Departamentos CDMX', 'Mexico City Expats Housing', and neighbourhood-specific groups (Roma Norte Rentals, Condesa Apartments) — often the best source for expat-appropriate apartments. Real estate agents (inmobiliarios): common for premium apartments — typically charge 1 month's rent as commission. Direct from owner (directo con dueño): listed on Inmuebles24 and Facebook — saves commission. WhatsApp is the primary communication channel — expect agents to respond fastest via WhatsApp message rather than email.
Roma Norte · Experience date Feb 4, 2026
Most expat-friendly neighbourhoods in CDMX: Roma Norte (most popular, walkable, excellent café and restaurant scene, $18,000–30,000 MXN/month for a 1-bedroom), Roma Sur (quieter, slightly cheaper), Condesa (beautiful parks, Art Deco architecture, $20,000–35,000 MXN/month), Polanco (upscale, luxury apartments, corporate expat community, $30,000–60,000 MXN/month), Del Valle (quieter, residential, more local feel, $12,000–22,000 MXN/month). Coyoacán: colonial charm, further from metro core, good for families. Avoid: looking for apartments in colonias with poor security reputation without proper guidance — ask other expats in Facebook groups for current safety assessments.