Mexico City
How to get around efficiently with clear cost comparisons.
You'll find that navigating Mexico City's transport system can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can get around safely and efficiently. Most newcomers are surprised to learn that DiDi is 20-30% cheaper than Uber, and InDriver allows you to negotiate the price, making them better options for getting around. Watch out for pickpocketing in the Metro, and keep your phone secure. To get started, download Google Maps, which works excellently for Mexico City, and use it to navigate the city's transit, walking, and cycling options. For a hassle-free ride from the airport, consider taking an Uber or DiDi, which costs around $150-300 MXN to Roma or Condesa. Today, take a few minutes to download the DiDi or InDriver app and familiarize yourself with the Metro map to start exploring the city.
Ranked by contributor trust level and quality score.
Polanco · Experience date Dec 5, 2025
DiDi is consistently 20-30% cheaper than Uber in CDMX. InDriver lets you negotiate the price. Always book inside the app, never accept street hails. Share your live location when riding at night.
Roma Norte · Experience date Apr 17, 2026
The Tren Suburbano is a commuter rail line connecting Buenavista station (central CDMX, near Metro Buenavista on Line B) to Cuautitlán in the north — 27 km in approximately 50 minutes. Fare: $11–22 MXN depending on distance. Useful for expats: connection to AIFA airport (change at Lechería to shuttle), and for trips to Tlalnepantla and northern suburbs. Frequency: every 20–30 minutes. Compare with Metrobús: for central CDMX movement, Metrobús is more useful. The Tren Suburbano is comfortable and significantly faster than Uber in northern corridor traffic. Integration with Metro: connects at Buenavista to Metro Line B. For most CDMX expats in Roma/Condesa: the Tren Suburbano is infrequently needed but worth knowing for the AIFA airport connection.
Roma Norte · Experience date Mar 26, 2026
Metrobús is Mexico City's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system — articulated buses running in dedicated lanes. Fare: $6 MXN, requires a Metrobús card (tarjeta Metrobús, $10 MXN at kiosks at major stations). Key lines: Line 1 runs the full length of Insurgentes Avenue from Indios Verdes (north) to San Ángaro (south) — the most useful for expats, connecting Roma, Condesa, Polanco corridor, and Centro. Line 4 runs east along Buenavista. Hours: 4:30am–midnight. Faster than regular buses for the Insurgentes corridor — dedicated lanes protect from traffic. Combine with Metro: Metrobús connects to several Metro stations. The $6 fare makes it remarkable value — a cross-city trip on Metrobús costs $0.30 USD.
Centro · Experience date Mar 5, 2026
Mexico City metro costs 5 MXN per ride — about 25 cents. Fast and extensive. Avoid rush hour (7-9am, 6-8pm) — extremely crowded. First car of each train is women-only at all times.
Roma Norte · Experience date Feb 23, 2026
Getting from Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM) to central Mexico City: Uber/DiDi: $150–300 MXN to Roma/Condesa (20–45 minutes depending on traffic) — most convenient for arrivals. Book inside the terminal via app — designated Uber pickup area on lower ground level. Avoid: official airport taxis (Transportación Terrestre) are overpriced at $350–600 MXN fixed rate. Metro: Line 5 (yellow, Terminal Aérea station) connects to the Metro network — $5 MXN fare, 40–60 minutes to central colonias with one transfer. Recommended for experienced CDMX travellers without heavy luggage. Rappi/DiDi: sometimes 10–15% cheaper than Uber at the airport. NAICM (Felipe Ángeles Airport, AIFA): the new airport 50km north — served by a dedicated suburban train to Buenavista station ($69 MXN) and some airlines.
Roma Norte · Experience date May 7, 2026
The vast majority of CDMX expats living in Roma, Condesa, or Polanco do not own a car — and for good reason. Traffic: Mexico City has among the worst traffic congestion in the world (consistently in the global top 5 by TomTom index). Parking: extremely limited and expensive in central colonias. Hoy No Circula: restrictions on which cars can drive on which days based on their licence plate — reduces daily vehicle kilometres. Car ownership in CDMX: makes sense if you frequently travel outside the city or live in outer colonias with poor transit. Most central CDMX expats rely on: Metro + Metrobús for daily commuting + Uber/DiDi for convenience + Ecobici for local trips. Car rental: Hertz, Avis, Europcar at the airport — useful for weekend getaways only.
Polanco · Experience date Feb 17, 2026
Paseo de la Reforma is Mexico City's grand boulevard — 15 km from Chapultepec Park through the financial district to Centro Histórico. For transport: major Uber and taxi route, Metrobús feeder, and a dedicated protected cycling lane (ciclovía) running its full length. On Sundays: Reforma is closed to cars from 7am–2pm (Via RecreActiva program) — the most popular cycling and running route in the city with thousands of participants. Key landmarks on Reforma: Ángel de la Independencia (the iconic gold angel), Chapultepec Castle entrance, Torre Mayor (tallest skyscraper), Hemiciclo a Juárez. Getting around: Reforma is the backbone of central CDMX navigation — know where you are relative to Reforma and you can orient yourself in most of the city.
Centro Histórico · Experience date Nov 10, 2025
The CDMX Metro has dedicated women-only spaces at the front of each train and women-only carriages during rush hours (6am–10pm on weekdays). Look for the pink signs at platform ends. Policy: enforced at barriers and on platforms — men may not use the pink-marked carriages during these hours. Women with children under 12 may also use the women-only carriages. Context: introduced to address harassment on public transit — a real issue on crowded CDMX Metro trains during rush hours. Male expats: note the pink markers and stay in the non-designated carriages — violations are politely but firmly corrected by transit staff and other passengers. Female expats: the women-only carriage is significantly less crowded and more comfortable during peak hours.
Xochimilco · Experience date Apr 3, 2026
Hoy No Circula is CDMX's vehicle circulation restriction program: cars are banned from driving on one weekday per week based on their licence plate's final digit. Mon: plates ending 5, 6. Tue: 7, 8. Wed: 3, 4. Thu: 1, 2. Fri: 9, 0. Additionally: vehicles with a hologram '2' sticker (older, higher-emission cars) also cannot circulate on Saturdays. Suspension days: during high pollution alerts (contingencias ambientales), restrictions intensify and may include SUVs and newer vehicles. Foreign-registered vehicles: subject to Hoy No Circula. For renting a car for the week: check which plates are restricted for the days you need it. The system applies in all of Mexico City and State of Mexico metropolitan area.
Insurgentes · Experience date Apr 24, 2026
DiDi (the Chinese rideshare app) operates strongly in Mexico City and is the main Uber competitor. Pricing: generally 10–20% cheaper than Uber for equivalent routes. App: available in English and Spanish. Payment: card, cash, or DiDi credits. Driver rating system: similar to Uber. Why use DiDi: cheaper fares, especially for longer trips. Promotions: DiDi regularly offers discount codes in CDMX — check the app promotions section. DiDi Food: the delivery service competes with Uber Eats and Rappi — often cheaper. Safety: similar to Uber — drivers are tracked and identified. Best practice: compare Uber and DiDi before every ride and take whichever is cheaper — the difference on a $150 MXN ride can be $20–40 MXN. Both are better than a street taxi.