If you are moving to Mexico for a long-term stay, it is important to take your time and find a place that you really like. So, the first step for most people will be to find a good hotel. Many modest, family-run hotels will offer you a better rate if you stay longer than a week. Foreigners on a budget often stay in hostels, which aside from the low prices, also typically have kitchens available.
Where to begin your search?
Mexico being the huge nation it is, it can be pretty challenging when it comes to deciding where you want to live. Not only because there are so many beautiful options to choose from, but also depending on your budget.
We have created this guide to lead the way and help you find your perfect accommodation in Mexico.
Step 1: What type of location are you looking for?
In Mexico, you can literally have it all. Are you looking for a nice spot close to the beach - the next question is: what type of beach do you want? You can choose between the paradisic Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, or the wild Pacific Ocean.
Are you a fan of diving - what type of diving? Open water or maybe something exciting like cave or cenote diving? Do you love surfing? Well, the Pacific Coast has plenty of options for you.
Or do you prefer culture, art, and mountainous terrains in your surrounding? Mexico City, Oaxaca de Juarez or San Cristobal in Chiapas might be a good option for you then.
Step 2: How much do you want to or can you spend on your rent every month?
This is probably one of the most important questions you have to ask yourself before committing to any contract. It also is a very good indicator of the location. If you want to live close to the beach but only have a budget of less than 1000 USD, then Tulum probably won't be your best choice. Unless you want to live somewhere far off and in a very basic studio, or you have to search for some roomies to split the costs with. On the other hand, bigger cities, like Guadalajara or Mexico City, tend to have more options due to their large scale. Small towns that have yet to be discovered by mass tourism are probably your safest bet if you are looking for something with a rather smaller budget.
Just to give you an estimate for some of the regions of what you can expect to pay per month for your rent in Mexico, we have created the following list:
Quintana Roo
In a place like Tulum, you will most likely pay 1000 USD or a bit less for a modern and well-equipped studio. For example, the price for a 1 bedroom/1 bathroom flat with a balcony and other amenities like a shared pool and gym in one of the popular areas for expats will be around 1200 - 1500 USD. And everything above has literally no limit. If your budget is pretty extensive, you can, of course, rent a super luxurious 3-bedroom penthouse flat with a private pool or an entire villa to yourself, but be prepared to pay at least 3000 USD per month!
On the other hand, Playa del Carmen can offer you equally lovely flats and a bit more of a city-like feeling with direct access to the beach for much less. You will find modern 2-bedroom apartments for 1200 USD without too much challenge.
Cancun is even less expensive than Playa del Carmen, as it is a developed city with countless possibilities. You can rent a 2-bedroom apartment for almost half the price of one in Tulum if you do your research well. A studio is definitely available for around 500 USD per month without being in a shady area.
Yucatan
One of the best choices is Merida. Its size and easy access through its own international airport make it the perfect option if you are looking for city life with proximity to the ocean. Rents are very accessible, and you can choose from various rental types. You can rent a really beautiful townhouse with a private garden and a big swimming pool for less than 1000 USD. No wonder Merida is a paradise for US retirees.
If you like old colonial towns with fewer people and not as hectic, then Valladolid could be it for you. Think of it as the Meridas little sister. It has the same pretty looks and is also full of art and cafes but slightly smaller. Its location is also pretty good as you can reach Cancun in just about an hour, and also Tulum is not much longer than a 2 hours drive away. In the north, you have easy access via Chiquilá to Holbox, the most paradisic island you could think of if you need some beach time away from the sunkissed, hot cobblestone streets. Rent prices are about the same as in Merida, maybe a bit higher as it does not have that many options.
Jalisco
Guadalajara, the state's capital city, is the perfect spot if you are a business person. It has a thriving tech community and houses many significant factories in the country. You have an international airport to fly in and out from easily or to connect to other cities in Mexico. Rents are much cheaper than in the actual capital Mexico City, and you can find a lovely 2-bedroom apartment for around 1000 USD.
Puerto Vallarta offers you a city vibe and precious beaches at the same time. The international airport also makes it the perfect spot if you plan on having regular visitors over, and you have a wide range of renting options to choose from. Due to its proximity to the beach and its being a leading tourist destination, rents will be higher than in other regions. A nice condo with two bedrooms and two bathrooms is probably around 1300 USD per month.
Guanajuato
The city that carries the same name, Guanajuato, might be one of the prettiest cities in the entire country. Also, its neighboring town, San Miguel de Allende, has its charms and offers you beautiful scenery, culture, art, and a big fellow expat community. Prices have been rising due to its increasing demand as more and more people, especially from the US and Canada, have decided to move down to these cities. Still, you will find some decent housing for around 1200 USD per month.
Apartment and housing rentals in Mexico
In general, you can find decent unfurnished two- or three-bedroom apartments in major Mexican cities for as low as 6,000 to 10,000 pesos a month (between USD 350 USD and 500 USD). However, it is possible for a similar apartment to be much more expensive in the city center or in a fancy neighborhood like Polanco, Condesa, or Roma Norte in Mexico City. In general, prices have been steadily rising for the last two years, and main spots for expats, like Tulum, Oaxaca, and the country's capital, experienced not only an influx of people wanting to live there but also rents that were skyrocketing.
Furnished apartments are also common, especially near universities. These are a good option for new arrivals to Mexico because most unfurnished flats don't even have a stove or refrigerator.
You can also find entire houses for rent at very reasonable prices. In general, renting a detached home in a regular, working-class neighborhood is less expensive than renting an apartment or condo in a gated community. These fraccionamientos, or gated communities, are becoming increasingly popular in Mexico, and although they are more expensive, they offer greater security and fun amenities like swimming pools.
Finding accommodation in Mexico
The best way to find accommodation in Mexico is to walk around a neighborhood you like and look for “For Rent” signs: 'Se Renta' in Spanish. Start with a neighborhood close to your job and/or public transportation, such as near a metro station in Mexico City. Once you find a place you're interested in, call the number to ask for an appointment to see the property and get a price. If you don't speak Spanish, ask someone for help, both to make the appointment and to go over the lease.
You can also check out websites like Craigslist, Vivaanuncios, Segundamano, or the classified section of newspapers to look for rental units.
If you find a place that you want to rent, come back at various times of the day to get an idea of what the neighborhood is really like. Make sure to visit at night as well. Perhaps the area is quiet and peaceful during the day, but a nondescript building nearby may actually turn out to be a rowdy nightclub that blasts loud music until the early morning hours. Also, on Facebook's Marketplace, you can easily find available apartments. But be aware of scammers! Many people create fake accounts and use pictures from other real estate agents' ads, and pretend to rent a place.
The easiest way to get started in Mexico is to look for a short-term rental option on Airbnb. If you rent longer than a week usually some sort of discount applies and gives you the opportunity to live in a local flat, cook your own meal, while searching for your long-term rental in peace and tranquility. It also is perfect to rent for a month in one area and for another in a different one, so you can check out all the different neighborhoods to see which one really is a fit for you.
Tip:
Never send a deposit to a random account without making sure this person really is the one responsible for dealing with your rental agreement!
Requirements for renting in Mexico
Most leases last for one year, although in some cases, this is negotiable. Usually, you will pay a security deposit equal to one month's rent at the beginning. Ensure you receive a receipt for each payment that you make in case of a conflict arising later about which months have been paid for and which haven't. Many rentals will charge extra fees for some services, although it is more common that you must arrange your own internet service and pay the electricity and gas bill yourself.
Another usual requirement is that renters provide an aval, security in the form of a person (that owns property in Mexico) who will pay the rent if the renters fail to deliver. You will need this person to sign a document and provide proper identification. Also, you might be asked to present personal references as well as proof of income from the past 3-6 months, usually three times the monthly rent. These rules, especially the one about the aval, are very common practices in Mexico City, and other parts of the country might be less demanding or complicated.
Buying property in Mexico
Expatriates who want to purchase property in Mexico should speak to a real estate agent or hire a lawyer to assist them with the procedures. Buying property in Mexico can get complicated, mainly when situated by the ocean. Foreigners are not legally allowed to buy property along the coast, although many real estate agents have set up ways to get around this, such as with timeshares and other schemes.
If you think about buying instead of renting, make sure you know about all the costs involved. It is not just the price of the desired property that you have to keep in mind but also the taxes you will have to pay. In Mexico, the property acquisition tax is between 2 and 5% of the property's value. So let's say you want to buy an apartment for 100,000 USD, you have to put aside somewhat between 2000 USD and 5000 USD. Additionally, you are required to pay an annual fee which usually is around 100 USD and will not be more than 300 USD.
Useful links:
Metros Cúbicos (renting)
Zonaprop (renting)
Trovit (purchasing and renting)
Gomfy (renting and homestays)
Compartodepa (renting and flat-sharing)
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
