Moving to Mexico City, Mexico in 2026

Considering relocating to Mexico City? Expect rent from $1156/month, a city where neighbourhood research pays off, Spanish is essential for daily life. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.

🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico

Compare
9.2M peopleLivability: 53/100 · #66 of 6774% cheaper than NYC2.7% unemployment — very tight job market
How the Livability Score is calculated
Affordability
17.7/25 ptsNumbeo
Violent Crime
5.9/15 ptsUNODC
Perceived Safety
3.3/10 ptsNumbeo
Internet
4.7/15 ptsOokla
Democracy
8.6/15 ptsEIU
English
3.7/10 ptsEF EPI
Climate
9/10 ptsNumbeo
Stability
5.3/10 ptsWorld Bank

Total: 58.2 / 110 raw pts → normalized to 53/100

☀️

It's 10:59 AM in Mexico City

Tamales and atole on the street corner.

Affordability71/100
Safety37/100
Climate90/100
Connectivity31/100
Democracy57/100
English Ease37/100
Clear Days54%

Scores derived from: Numbeo (cost of living) · UNODC (crime) · Economist Intelligence Unit (democracy) · EF EPI (English) · Ookla/Speedtest (internet)

Weather in Mexico City

Spring

26°C

62% sunny

Summer

23°C

32% sunny

Fall

21°C

52% sunny

Winter

21°C

70% sunny

Best: Winter, Spring, Fall, Summer.

Cost of Living in Mexico CityNumbeo

Beer (0.5L)

$2.00

Cappuccino

$3.00

Cheap meal

$4.00

Fast food combo

$4.50

Bus/metro ticket

$0.30

Gym/month

$30

Internet/month

$25

Is it actually a democracy?

Democracy index: 5.7 (#89 globally)· Hybrid regime

Freedom House: 59/100

Press freedom rank: #124 of 180

Sources: EIU Democracy Index · Freedom House · RSF Press Freedom Index

Is Mexico City Safe?UNODC + Numbeo

37/100

Homicide rate: 9.1 per 100,000 (world average ~5.8)

Numbeo Safety Index: 33.2/100 (covers theft, property crime, perception)

Crime is real here. Read up on safe neighborhoods before you sign a lease.

Locals report high concern about everyday crime — petty theft, pickpocketing, and property crime are common complaints.

Will the lights stay on?

Unreliable
25% electricity from renewables
Occasional outages

English in Mexico CityEF EPI

Low

Primary language is Spanish.

English is not widely spoken. Committing to learning the local language is strongly recommended before relocating.

For Russian/Ukrainian speakers: Very different — steep learning curve

Will you have friends?

#3 expat city globally(InterNations 2024)

Who Has Offices in Mexico City?

KavakClipBitsoAdyenMongoDBSamsara

Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.

Is Mexico City Worth Moving To?

Against

  • Street safety requires genuine awareness. Read up before you arrive.
  • Spanish is essential for daily life. Factor in language school costs and a steeper adjustment curve.
  • Political institutions are imperfect. Do your own research before committing.

Can you actually live here?

Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay.

EU citizenModerate
US citizenModerate
RussianModerate
UkrainianModerate
4 years to permanent residency
5 years to citizenship
Work permit: Moderate
Compare all countries by visa difficulty →

What you can actually do here

Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is.

Employment

finteche commercelogistics techai tech

Startup Scene

Ecosystem: Hub
VC: Strong

Corporate tax rate: 30%

Mexico City — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mexico City safe?

Mexico City has a homicide rate of 9.1 per 100,000 people (source: UNODC), making it moderately safe. The world average is around 5.8 per 100,000. The Numbeo Crime Index is 66.8/100 (lower is safer), which reflects residents' self-reported concerns about property crime, theft, and everyday safety. As with any city, awareness of local neighborhoods is recommended before settling.

What is the cost of living in Mexico City?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Mexico City city centre costs around $1156/month (Numbeo data). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $4.00, monthly transit pass: $15. A single person can expect total monthly costs of roughly $1556–$1956 depending on lifestyle — covering rent, food, transport, and utilities.

What is the weather like in Mexico City?

Mexico City has Summers reach around 23°C, winters drop to around 7°C. Summers are warm and pleasant for most people.

Can you get by in Mexico City without knowing the local language?

Mexico City has Low English proficiency (EF EPI data). English is less widely spoken here. Learning the local language is strongly recommended for long-term relocation.

Is Mexico City a good place to settle long-term?

Mexico City is in Mexico, which scores 5.7/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. The political environment is reasonably stable, though worth monitoring for expats. Rent from $1156/month.

What is the job market like in Mexico City?

Mexico has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, indicating a tight labor market where jobs are relatively plentiful. For settlers planning to work locally, research your industry before committing. Remote workers and self-employed expats are less affected by local employment conditions.

Which companies have offices in Mexico City?

Notable companies with offices in Mexico City include Kavak, Clip, Bitso, Adyen, MongoDB, Samsara. The city's job market spans tech, finance, and other sectors — check company career pages for current openings.

Is Mexico City good for expats?

Mexico City attracts expats looking for long-term relocation in Mexico. Key facts: rent from $1156/month; Mexico Temporary Resident Visa (moderate requirements). The Livability Score, safety data, and cost of living figures above give a data-driven picture of what to expect when settling here.

How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Mexico?

Mexico offers the Mexico Temporary Resident Visa program. Duration: 1–4 years. Requirements: Proof of income ≥ ~$2,600/mo. Apply at Mexican consulate in your home country. The process is manageable but requires preparation and documentation. Check the official government portal for the most up-to-date application process.

Expenses

$1,389 / mo

🥑 That's 116 avocado toasts/mo

winter

😊 21°C / ❄️ 7°C

summer

😊 23°C / ❄️ 12°C

Internet · Ookla Speedtest

62 Mbps

MX: 75 Mbps

Mexico

Economics · World Bank / IMF

GDP per capita (PPP)2024

$21,661

GDP Growth2024

+1.5%

Inflation Rate2024

4.7%

Unemployment2024

2.7%

Gini Index2022

45.4 

Population2024

9,209,000

Politics · EIU Democracy Index

Democracy Index

5.789th

Regime

Hybrid regime

Safety · UNODC

Homicide per 100K

9.1

Language · EF EPI

Languages

Spanish, English (I)

English Proficiency

Low80th

Data sources

Cost of living: Numbeo crowd-sourced data

Homicide rate: UNODC

Crime perception index: Numbeo Crime Index

Democracy index: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Freedom House score: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2025

Press freedom rank: RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025

GDP per capita: World Bank / IMF

English proficiency: EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)

Internet speed: Ookla Speedtest Global Index

Grid reliability & renewables: IEA / national grid operators

Residency & visa data: https://www.gob.mx/inm