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.
Condesa · Experience date Mar 27, 2026
Ecobici is CDMX's bike-sharing system with 6,500 bikes and 480+ stations across central colonias. Annual membership: $578 MXN ($29 USD) for unlimited 45-minute rides. Day pass: $118 MXN ($6 USD). Register: ecobici.cdmx.gob.mx with a bank card (foreign cards accepted). Dock-to-dock: return to any station in the system. Coverage: excellent in Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, Juárez, Centro — limited in outer colonias. Cycling in CDMX: infrastructure is improving with protected lanes (ciclovías) on Reforma, Insurgentes, and several Roma/Condesa streets. Air pollution: higher ozone days (spring, dry season) — check AIRE CDMX app for air quality before long rides. Ecobici is one of the best city cycling systems in Latin America — a practical and enjoyable transport option for central CDMX.
Insurgentes · Experience date Jan 16, 2026
Navigating CDMX without Spanish: Google Maps works excellently for Mexico City — transit, walking, cycling, and Uber mode all work well. The Metro's icon-based station identification helps non-Spanish speakers navigate. Uber and DiDi: app in English, no verbal communication needed with drivers (share destination via app). Key phrases for transport: 'Aquí está bien' (this is fine/stop here), 'Al Metro más cercano' (to the nearest Metro). Google Translate: essential for reading bus routes, asking for directions. Maps.me: works offline — download Mexico City maps before a trip with unreliable data. Waze: best for driving in CDMX, widely used. Being dropped in an unfamiliar colonia: Google Maps reliably shows the nearest Metro station and Uber pickup points.
Insurgentes · Experience date Mar 7, 2026
Mexico City's air quality is a real consideration for outdoor transport choices. IMECA index (Índice Metropolitano de la Calidad del Aire): tracked at aire.cdmx.gob.mx. Good days: IMECA below 50 — excellent for cycling and running. Acceptable: 51–100 — fine for most activity. Poor (contingencia ambiental): above 150 — avoid heavy outdoor exercise, cycling is not recommended. Worst months: March–May (dry season + temperature inversion traps pollution). Best months: July–September (rainy season clears the air — CDMX has its best air quality during the rains). Download: the AIRE CDMX app — check air quality each morning if you cycle, run, or use outdoor transit extensively. Long-term: CDMX's air quality has improved dramatically since the 1990s and continues to improve.
Centro Histórico · Experience date May 8, 2026
Cycling in Mexico City has improved dramatically since 2010 with the Ecobici system and growing ciclovía network. Protected bike lanes: Reforma (entire length), Insurgentes section, several Roma Norte streets, Condesa streets around Parque México. City cycling challenges: aggressive drivers, topes (speed bumps — can be uneven), potholes, and air pollution on high-ozone days. Best cycling areas: the Condesa-Roma circuit is excellent — flat, good infrastructure, moderate traffic. Chapultepec park: free to cycle inside, extensive paths. Xochimilco canal cycling: weekend day trips. Bike theft: significant risk in CDMX — invest in a quality U-lock ($300–600 MXN) and never lock to an easily removable post. Best cycling days: Sunday when Reforma is car-free.
Polanco · Experience date Jan 27, 2026
AIFA (Felipe Ángeles International Airport) opened in 2022 as Mexico's second major airport in the north of the metro area — 50km from CDMX's centre. Airlines: primarily Aeroméxico Connect, Viva Aerobus, Volaris for domestic routes, and some international. Getting there: Tren Suburbano from Buenavista station in northern CDMX (45 minutes, $69 MXN) — by far the best option. Uber: 45–90 minutes depending on traffic, $400–700 MXN. Bus: CDMX to AIFA buses from Autobuses del Norte terminal. For expats: check which airport your flight operates from — many flights use AICM (closer, more convenient) while some budget carriers use AIFA. AIFA is less convenient than AICM for central CDMX residents — factor in the extra travel time when booking.