Workation in Mexico City: the honest guide

In short

Most people stay in Roma Norte, Condesa or Juárez; Escandón, Narvarte and Del Valle are quieter and more local.
Since 2026, any new Mexican SIM has to be registered with your passport or it gets blocked. Roaming and travel eSIMs are exempt.
The dry season runs roughly November to April. From June it rains most afternoons, and ozone pollution peaks in spring.
The city sits at about 2,240 metres in an earthquake zone, so learn early on what the siren alert means.
According to the German Foreign Office, street-hailed taxis carry a serious risk of robbery and kidnapping. Use apps like Uber, Didi or Cabify.

Where to stay

The city is vast, and your colonia makes all the difference. Newcomers mostly stay in the Roma–Condesa–Juárez belt, which is flat, green, walkable and on the Metrobús. It's also where rents and resentment over short-term lets are highest.

Roma Norte

Packed with cafés, restaurants and coworkings, and very walkable. It gets loud at night, especially around Álvaro Obregón. Roma is built on the old lakebed, and the German Foreign Office names it as especially exposed to earthquakes.

Condesa

Parque México and Parque España, calmer than Roma but expensive and very geared to international visitors. The ground is soft here too.

Juárez

Between Reforma and Roma: central, well connected, and a mix of offices, bars and homes. It varies a lot block by block, so check your street at night before you commit.

Escandón, Narvarte, Del Valle

Residential areas with everyday local life, markets and good taquerías. They're usually cheaper and quieter, but you'll travel a bit further to the trendy cafés.

Where to work

There are plenty of coworkings, but they come and go: of the spaces on our data page, the websites for Cubic Idea and Centraal were offline in October 2026. Call or WhatsApp ahead to ask about day passes, phone booths and hours.

WeWork (Reforma, Polanco and more)

Several buildings, including Reforma 26 in the centre and Lago Alberto 375 and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 169 around Polanco. The website lists WeWork On Demand day passes from MXN 717. Expensive, but reliable for calls.

Homework (Tabacalera)

In a former textile building at Plaza de la República 9, with a terrace overlooking the Monumento a la Revolución. Time Out mentions meeting rooms and community evenings. Ask them directly for prices and current hours.

Impact Hub Ciudad de México

A coworking focused on social enterprise, with programmes for founders. Good if you want to connect with the local scene. Memberships and room bookings are on the website.

Blend Station (Condesa, Roma, Polanco)

A café chain that works like one big coworking room, with lots of tables and sockets. Get there early. There's background music, so it's only so-so for calls.

Chez Vous Time Café

You pay by the hour (from MXN 90, according to Mexico News Daily). Several locations, including Juárez, Del Valle and Coyoacán. Handy for a few quiet hours without a monthly plan.

Internet & SIM

Since 2026, every Mexican mobile line must be linked to a person. As a foreigner, you register a new SIM or local eSIM with your passport, in store or online with a selfie check. According to Infobae, new lines have 30 days to register before they're cut back to emergency calls only. Roaming on your home number and travel eSIMs aren't covered by the rule. Coverage is good in the centre, and many apartments have fibre, but don't take it for granted. Ask for a speed test before you book.

Telcel

The biggest network with the best coverage, including outside the city. Prepaid bundles are sold in Telcel stores and convenience stores; registering in a Telcel store is the easiest route.

AT&T México

Usually good across the city, and prepaid bundles often include North America data. Registration with your passport works the same way as at Telcel.

Travel eSIM

More expensive per GB, but no registration needed. Often the simplest option for stays of up to about three weeks.

When to go

The dry season runs roughly November to April. Days are sunny, but December to February nights are cold and many apartments have no heating. February to June is ozone season: for 2026 the regional environmental commission CAMe expected 5 to 11 smog alerts, mostly in March, April and May. From June to about September it rains most afternoons, often hard enough to flood streets, but mornings are usually fine for being outside. Around Día de Muertos in late October and early November the city fills up and accommodation costs more. October and November are a good compromise if you plan around the holidays.

Average temperature by month

13°

15°

17°

18°

19°

18°

17°

16°

15°

13°

What it costs

The ranges below are Numbeo rents (October 2026) for regular long-term leases. Furnished monthly apartments in Roma and Condesa usually cost considerably more. Since 2026, short-term hosts have had to register, and homes may only be let short-term for half the nights in a year. How that will affect supply and prices is still unclear.

1-bed apartment, central, 1 month

Numbeo range about €730–1,360, average about €920. Furnished places in Roma or Condesa land at the top of that range or above it.

1-bed apartment, outside centre, 1 month

Numbeo range about €390–830. That's realistic in Narvarte, Del Valle or further out, though often only with a guarantor or a longer lease.

Coworking

WeWork On Demand from MXN 717 a day; hourly cafés such as Chez Vous from about MXN 90 an hour. Smaller spaces are often cheaper, so ask directly.

Getting around

The metro and Metrobús are very cheap but extremely crowded at rush hour. Ride-hailing apps are inexpensive and the safer choice at night.

Meeting people

The international scene is big, but there's little central nomad infrastructure. Most of it runs through language exchanges, coworking events and WhatsApp groups. Check dates beforehand, as they change often.

Language Exchange & Socializing (Meetup)

A language exchange that, according to the group page, meets on Saturday evenings at a brewery in Roma Norte, with a WhatsApp group for follow-up meetups.

Nomads.com meetups

Irregular get-togethers; the most recent was a rooftop evening in August 2026. Not reliable, but you can host one yourself.

Coliving (Outsite Roma Sur, San Miguel)

Two Outsite houses in the city. Pricier than your own apartment, but you land straight in a group of remote workers.

Arrival & paperwork

AICM airport (MEX) is right in the city; Roma or Condesa is 20–60 minutes away depending on traffic. Germans don't need a visa for tourist stays of up to 180 days, but the immigration officer decides on arrival how long you get, anywhere from 1 to 180 days. The German Foreign Office advises carrying proof of accommodation, a return ticket and evidence of sufficient funds, and your passport should be valid for at least six months. Arriving by air, you no longer need an FMM card, and adults with biometric passports can use e-gates at some airports. Paid work is not allowed on tourist status. For longer stays, there's temporary residence (residente temporal), applied for through a Mexican consulate. This isn't legal advice; the INM and the consulate are authoritative.

The catches

Plenty of remote workers stay for months without incident, but the city asks for attention. The German Foreign Office describes express kidnappings and robberies in Mexico City as everyday occurrences.

Taxis and express kidnappings

Don't hail taxis on the street. Use official ranks (pre-paid at the airport) or apps like Uber, Didi or Cabify. Never resist a robbery.

Drink spiking

The Foreign Office warns that drugs are slipped into drinks for robbery and sexual assault. Don't leave drinks unattended or accept anything from strangers.

Earthquakes

Mexico City is in a very active zone, and Roma and Condesa sit on soft lakebed. The SASMEX siren system gives a few seconds' warning. On day one, work out the safe way out of your building.

Altitude and air

At about 2,240 metres the first days are tiring and alcohol hits harder. Ozone is high in spring; aire.cdmx.gob.mx has current readings.

Gentrification

In July 2025 there were protests in Roma and Condesa against rising rents driven by foreigners and Airbnb, with some property damage. Speaking Spanish and respecting local prices helps. The German Foreign Office notes that foreigners may not take part in demonstrations.

180 days isn't a right

The officer at the border decides how long you can stay. Extensions are only granted in narrow exceptions, so plan your return flight and paperwork accordingly.

Sources

Researched October 2026. Prices and offers change – double-check with the provider. Not legal or visa advice.