A Remote Worker’s Guide to Mexico City
Coliving,
Coworking, Cafes & More
Mexico City is hands down one of my favourite cities in the world. I first came here to get over a heartbreak, and the city in turn stole my heart. Not only is it bursting with rich culture, the best food, and the loveliest people, it also has a thriving digital nomad community with the infrastructure to support it.
In this article, I will outline the best of my 5-month experience as a digital nomad living in Mexico City.
Overview
When to Visit
The dry season in CDMX runs from November to April, and during this time, you can expect gorgeous days with sun and blue skies and highs around 26-28 degrees.
A special shoutout to visiting in February, March, and April as the jacarandas will be blooming and the city becomes decorated by the stunning purple trees. Once May hits, the city enters its wet season. This shouldn’t be a reason not to come, as the mornings are generally clear with heavy rain coming down for a few hours in the afternoon - just have to plan your day accordingly!
Time Zone and Work Hours
The time zone in CDMX is GMT (-6), which makes it ideal for anyone working US or Canadian hours, as it’s generally just an hour or two earlier in Mexico City.
Spanish Language
As you likely know, the language spoken all over Mexico is Spanish. Many Mexicans speak good English, making it easier to get by without Spanish than in countries further south, as I explain in my article on living in Colombia here. That said, I still recommend brushing up on your Spanish as it will make your experience that much more enjoyable, and it gives you the opportunity to connect with the locals, who are bien chido (Mexican slang for very cool)
Sim Cards
The internet provider with the best rates and coverage across Mexico, in my experience, is TelCel. You can easily purchase a TelCel SIM card at any of the OXO corner stores, and you can top up your plan at any of these locations as well.
Cost of Living
One of the best things about CDMX for me is the incredible quality of life you can have at such an affordable price point. You can have everything from a $1 street taco to a $100 dinner, depending on your style. So we’re not compromising on any comforts, and we can eat out when we want to, but we’re also not breaking the bank.
Golden Hour, Roma Norte
That said, rent is probably the only thing in Mexico City that is a bit pricier than you might expect for LatAm, and it’s going up, especially in areas that are gaining popularity among foreigners such as Roma and Condesa. For my room in a shared coliving house, I paid around $800 USD for the month. I would say this is on the average to low-end, depending on what you’re looking for. On another visit, I booked a room in a 3-bedroom apartment for $600 USD. And I’m sure if you stay longer, it will be easier to find better deals.
As for food, meals can range from $5 USD to $15 USD and over, depending on the type of place you go to. I mostly ate at small taquerias, and I never paid more than $5 USD for my meal, usually including a drink.
You can find the full article on my most recommended street food spots here, and restaurants in Roma Norte here.
Choosing Which Neighbourhood to Stay In
In my opinion, one of the most important decisions you’ll make when staying somewhere new, especially for a longer period, is the neighbourhood. So, worry not, I did all the research so you don’t have to!
What’s nice about CDMX is that for the most part, the international community chooses to stay in a few neighbourhoods that are all grouped together. These are Roma Norte, Roma Sur, Condesa, El Juarez and Hipodromo. To make it short and sweet, I would recommend staying in one of these neighbourhoods for their walkability, central location, access to gorgeous terraces, cafes, restaurants and nightlife, as well as safety.
I know many tourists choose to stay in Centro Historico, which is cool as well especially if you have a shorter stay, but it is a lot more hectic there.
My First Experience with Coliving in CDMX
When I first went to Mexico City I was totally solo, so I really wanted to make sure I’d have a way to make friends even while working from my computer. So, I did some research and took a leap of faith; I decided to book a room through Covive, at their Casa Rio de Janeiro coliving house in Roma Norte. I have to say I have zero regrets. When I arrived, the people already living there welcomed me with open arms, and over the course of a few months, I made some very dear friends.
The house is gorgeous, centrally located, equipped with a giant main floor, an additional coworking space, and a rooftop, as well as some lovely rooms. All in all, I highly recommend this experience and this house in particular if you’re looking to make international friends with similar lifestyles.
Centro Historico, CDMX
My Favourite Cafes to Work From
1. The Coffee Bar (TCB)
Location: Manzanillo 23
This cafe has incredibly delicious drinks with plant-based milk, including coffees and smoothies, as well as delicious food options.
Their wifi is fast, and the best part about this spot is that they have a number of cute little corners to get your work done in a peaceful environment - whether it be upstairs on a comfy chair or by the window!
2. Chop Chop Bikes
Location: Ámsterdam 282
What I love most about this cafe is that it’s actually a bike shop where they sell and repair bicycles. So, in addition to having a great space to work and delicious coffee, you’re surrounded by bicycles, making it a uniquely inspiring place to set up your laptop for the afternoon.
It is also located right on the famous Avenida Ámsterdam, so you can people-watch the gorgeous tree-lined street while you work.
3. Mandarino Café
Location: Córdoba 136
My favourite thing about this cafe is its vintage vibe. All of the furniture looks like it was thrifted, decorated in luxurious velvet; there is beautiful art hung all around, luscious plants, and pottery everywhere.
This place also serves alcohol and makes a very cute meet-up spot for after-work hours.
In addition, it is always very quiet when I’ve gone there - never difficult to find a spot and concentrate or read in peace.
4. I Quit - Café & Bakery
Location: Durango 310
This cafe gets an extra shoutout because it is also entirely plant-based.
In addition to their large menu full of plant-based, caffeine-fueled drinks, you can find the yummiest desserts here while working away. This place has rarely been super busy when I’ve gone to work, and I’ve been many times, so that’s a bonus as well.
Trove Tip: Some days they have two-for-one cinnamon rolls, and I really can’t recommend these enough!
5. Miga Vegana
Location: Chilpancingo 129
Miga Vegana’s Pain Au Chocolat
I didn’t discover this cute little place in the corner of Roma Sur until much later in my time living in CDMX. It is rarely ever busy so it makes for a great spot to focus and get some work done. Not to mention their delicious coffee and even better baked goods (all 100% plant-based)
6. Honorable Mention: Panadería Rosetta
Location: Colima 179
This is simply an institution in the Roma Norte neighbourhood and I couldn’t write about the best cafes in the city without including it. It is a cafe and bakery with a stunning patio to enjoy their treat on. The only thing is that it is not the best place to work from because it is just so busy - every time I’ve visited there has been a line-up (even at 7:00 the morning - but don’t be discouraged as it does go quickly) so you wouldn’t be able to spend more than an hour here without feeling the pressure. Regardless, it is a must-visit cafe; I recommend you try to get your hands on their blueberry focaccia (it is almost always sold out), otherwise their regular focaccia is also to die for, and their coffee is fantastic.
After Work Activities
There are so many fun and cool things to do in Mexico City during your downtime; the challenge is often choosing which one! I’ve put a list here together to get you started:
Visit One of Mexico City’s 150+ Museums
Mexico City is one of the cities with the most museums in the world.
Spend an afternoon exploring the Museo Nacional Antropología, the National Art Museum, Museo de Arte Popular, Museo Sumaya, Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo, or the Frida Kahlo Museum - none of which will disappoint. Some of these, like the anthropology museum and the contemporary art museum, are located in CDMX’s largest park: Chapultepec - so these can be combined for a wonderful weekend day.
Take a Stroll on Ávenida Amsterdam
One of my go-to activities while living in CDMX was to walk around Ávenida Amsterdam. This stunning, tree-lined street is studded with gorgeous restaurants and cafes, and spots to people-watch. I’m sure I walked here at least once per day during my time in the city.
3. Explore One of Mexico City’s Markets
Tuesday Market, CDMX
Home to many mercados, such as Mercado Medellín, where you can find fresh produce, small taco stands, household items, and some of the best and cheapest fresh-pressed juice in the city. There is also Mercado Juarez and The Tuesday Market (outdoors and only open on Tuesdays) which are lovely to stroll around.
4. Explore Some of CDMX’s Other Gorgeous Neighbourhoods
I highly recommend walking around San Ángel in the southern part of the city, where you can find stunning homes, Frida and Diego’s art studio, or have an afternoon tea at San Ángel Inn, where scenes from the movie Frida were filmed.
Another neighbourhood that’s very popular and lively on weekends, particularly on Sundays for its market is Lagunilla, just north of the Centro Historico. And of course, taking a walking tour of Centro is incredibly informative, and they have many free walking tours available.
5. Go Vintage Shopping
Mexico City has many second-hand and vintage stores. I love shopping second-hand and I do it as much as I possibly can, but one thing that I personally don’t like is when vintage shops are as or more expensive than buying new, and unfortunately, a lot of the stores in CDMX are like this. I did find one hidden gem, though, which is a pop-up second-hand clothing market called tiangucci on Instagram. They only host their pop-ups once in a while, but let me tell you, there are some amazing and super affordable (starting at 100 pesos) items, alongside hand-made goods from small business owners. So follow their Instagram and stay tuned for their next pop-up - highly recommend!
6. Enjoy Some of the Best Food That Mexico Has to Offer
Mexico City is just full of restaurants with amazing eats to try. I have written two entire articles on the topic; one on my favourite restaurants in Roma Norte, which you can find here, and the other on the best street food eats, here.
San Ángel, CDMX
