There are many reasons why Mexico City’s popularity skyrocketed in the last couple of years, but the top ones are the affordable prices, amazing food, and of course the fact that it’s a city where you can find absolutely everything. The ex-pat and digital nomad community here has grown exponentially, especially since 2021 when thousands of digital nomads decided to relocate temporarily or permanently to this huge metropolis following Covid.
If you’re reading this you’re hopefully a digital nomad or another wanderer who is thinking of moving to CDMX, whatever the case may be here’s the ultimate guide to renting an apartment in Mexico City.
Short-Term Rentals in Mexico City
Short-term rentals are ideal for those who cannot envision themselves living permanently in the city or for those who want to see if it is the right place for them before making a life-changing decision. Let’s take a look at how to find a short-term rental in Mexico City.
Types Of Short-Term Rentals
There’s a wide variety of units throughout the city, so the good news is that the chances of you finding exactly what you’re looking for are really high. See below the two most common types of short-term rentals in Mexico City.
Urban Rentals
This is the classic short-term rental. When looking for this option you’ll find that many of the listings are apartments, some include utilities in the total price of the rent and some don’t. There are entire buildings dedicated to only hosting short-term visitors and others where the homeowners only sublet their property in a common building.
Shared Apartments or Houses
Rent fees have always been expensive and have risen sharply in recent months, so many have opted to rent a room in a shared house or apartment. This option usually features a shared bathroom and kitchen and also includes utilities in the total rental price. Short-term shared rentals are a great alternative for those on a tighter budget.
How to find a short-term rental in Mexico City
- Airbnb
If you want to keep it safe and simple Airbnb is the best way to find a short-term rental anywhere in the city. You’ll discover tons of different options with different characteristics and price ranges. The only downside of Airbnb is that sometimes the additional fees are ridiculously high.
As in other locations, there are some Facebook groups where you can find short-term rentals in Mexico City. There you can also discover useful sources of information and good housing offers by Mexican or foreign users and find direct offers. The only disadvantage of using FB groups is that it can be a bit risky as there is nothing to verify the identity of the landlord and the legitimacy of the ad.
Some groups where you can search for short-term rentals and other information are Americans in Mexico City, Foreigners & Expats in Mexico City (CDMX), Mexico City Digital Nomads, and Expats in Mexico.
- Craigslist
Although Craigslist is not a very popular platform in Mexico you can still find some good choices. Currently, there aren’t many listings but keep an eye out because the right apartment or room can be posted when you least expect it.
Long-Term Rentals in Mexico City
As in the case of short-term rentals, those looking for permanent housing can easily find multiple options suitable for different types of budgets. The following are the two most popular types of long-term rentals in Mexico City:
- Flats/Apartments
As you certainly know, flats are entire units that make up a building. These typically have a private entrance door, kitchen, bathroom, living room, and washing room. Apartments are the most standard type of home in Mexico City and the most affordable option.
Flats come in many shapes and sizes, some used to be old homes that were transformed into units, some were built originally to be apartments, and some are a mix of different elements.
You can find furnished and unfurnished apartments from $700 to $1500 USD.
- Luxury Apartments
If you’re not on a tight budget and are on looking for comfort, luxury, and convenience these rentals are the perfect fit for you. Beware of fake false luxury apartments as some owners tend to mislabel them to charge more.
The difference between normal apartments and luxury apartments is that the latter has additional services or amenities such as a doorman, gym, swimming pool, balcony, gym, tennis court, etc. These additional features increase prices considerably, but will also increase comfort. Monthly payments range from $2k – $3k USD approximately.
How To Find a long-term rental in Mexico City
- Real estate agents:
Real estate agents in Mexico work quite similarly to real estate agents and brokers anywhere else in the world. Working with a real estate agent to find an apartment in Mexico City is an excellent move, as they will not only find the type of rental you want but will also negotiate prices on your behalf. Some agents charge at the beginning of the search, but others charge at the end.
- Real estate websites
If you don’t want to work with a real estate agent you can also explore real estate websites such as Vivanuncios, Century 21, and Metros Cubicos. Craigslist and some of the Facebook groups that I previously mentioned can also be useful resources to find long-term rentals in Mexico City.
- Sign hunting:
If you visit Mexico City before you move there you can go for a walk around some of the neighborhoods and you will notice that there are plenty of “for rent” signs outside buildings with phone numbers or websites. Just be very careful when you look at the signs on the poles as they sometimes advertise rentals in other areas of the city.
Important things to consider
- Rental periods
The regular long-term rental period in Mexico is 12 months, but it can be extended for years depending on the agreement between the tenant and the landlord. Once your lease is close to its expiration date, you can renew or terminate it if both parties agree. For short-term rentals, the length of stay ranges from 1 month and up.
- Earthquake damage
In case you didn’t know, earthquakes have been known to hit Mexico City unexpectedly, so it’s important to know beforehand when your building was constructed and you can also ask if it’s officially certified as a safe building. Your observation skills can also help you see if it looks like a safe place to live.
- Housing rules
It is essential that you always carefully review the housing rules to know what you can and cannot do, for example, invite friends over, organize small gatherings or parties, have pets, etc.
Rental agreements in Mexico
The rental process and contracts will vary depending on the landlord, but it is fairly easy to rent an apartment in Mexico City. The basic things a property owner will ask for are basically these two things:
- A deposit fee: this is often the first and last month’s rent.
- An aval: an aval is basically someone who co-signs your rental contract agreeing to pay for you if you’re unable to.
For most foreigners, getting an aval isn’t easy, so you may be able to talk to your prospective landlord about this and negotiate to waive this requirement by agreeing to pay a large upfront payment, such as 3 to 6 months’ rent in advance, or even a year. Some landlords may also accept bank statements or letters of employment to validate that you have a stable income. If these alternatives don’t work you can choose the legal option of buying an aval online at Mercado Libre or physically at the Colonia Doctores, it definitely won’t be cheap but it’ll be a suitable solution.
You can request your contract to be in a language that both you and the tenant understand. Always make sure that your name and your landlord’s name and the terms of the contract are on it and if you want to be absolutely sure that everything is in order you can always hire a lawyer.
Best neighborhoods for digital nomads in Mexico City
There are a lot of safe and nice districts, but these are 3 of the most popular and best neighborhoods in Mexico City:
Roma
This picturesque and thriving area is located west of the historic center of the city and is divided into Roma Norte and Roma Sur. It’s known for its European-style streets and architecture, walkability, bohemian-chic restaurants, boutiques and theaters, and laid-back atmosphere.
Condesa
La Condesa is another bohemian haven, but it also boasts a cosmopolitan vibe. This art-nouveau and European art-deco neighborhood is home to a variety of galleries, tree-lined avenues, trendy cafes, designer boutiques, stunning parks, exquisite dining, and some of the best nightlife in the city.
Polanco
Polanco is one of Mexico City’s high-class neighborhoods where you can find numerous upscale shopping malls, museums, malls, hotels, theaters, bistros, and modern stores. Elegance and glamour are everywhere here, and it’s also one of the safest areas to live in.
Ready to move to Mexico City?
Moving to a new city or country -especially Mexico City- can be intimidating, but I hope that after reading this guide you have realized that the renting process in Mexico City is not that complicated. I hope that once you’re all settled in you enjoy your new home. Thanks for reading!