Move abroad · 7 min read
I priced out a year in Mexico City. The real numbers.
Rent, visas, groceries, and the neighborhoods worth it — no influencer math.
The monthly budget
1-bed in Roma Norte or Condesa: $1,100–$1,500. Groceries and eating out: $400. Gym + Spanish classes: $120. Ubers: $60. Total: about $1,700–$2,100 a month living very well.
The visa
US citizens get up to 180 days on arrival (at the officer's discretion). To stay a year, apply for Temporary Residency at a Mexican consulate in the US — you'll need proof of roughly $4,300/month income or savings around $72,000.
Neighborhoods
Roma Norte for cafés and nightlife, Condesa for parks and dogs, Coyoacán for a slower, artsy pace, Juárez for value and a central location.
Jamie's quick tips
- Do a one-month trial before signing a lease.
- Drink filtered water — all apartments have a garrafón.
- Earthquake alerts: download the SASSMEX app.
