Skip to main content

where to live

Honest guides to CDMX's best colonias — what each neighborhood feels like, who it's for, and what you'll pay.

Mexico City is not one city. It's fifty neighborhoods stacked on top of each other, each with its own personality, its own tacos, and its own opinions about the other forty-nine.

17795 Expat Fave
Colonia Roma Norte

Tree-Lined Streets & World-Class Restaurants

Tree-lined streets, Art Deco buildings, independent coffee shops on every block

Rent $12,000–18,000 MXN/mo
Transit Metro Insurgentes (L1), Metrobús Durango
Walkability ●●●●●
First-timers Foodies Nightlife Walkability
28963 Dog-Friendly
Colonia Condesa

Art Deco Architecture & Parque México

Parque México at the center, Art Deco architecture everywhere, quieter streets with excellent restaurants

Rent $13,000–20,000 MXN/mo
Transit Metro Chapultepec (L1), Metrobús Campeche
Walkability ●●●●●
Couples Dog owners Quiet seekers Walkability
$ Culture Hub
Centro Histórico

Colonial Heart & Maximum Culture

Monumental, chaotic, overwhelming, magnificent — the colonial heart of everything

Rent $8,000–14,000 MXN/mo
Transit Metro Zócalo (L2), Metro Bellas Artes (L2, L8)
Walkability ●●●●○
History lovers Culture buffs Budget-friendly Immersion
105148$ Luxury
Polanco

Parks, Museums & World-Class Dining

Beautiful parks, designer boutiques, world-class museums, and the best restaurants in the country

Rent $18,000–35,000 MXN/mo
Transit Metro Polanco (L7), Metro Auditorio (L7)
Walkability ●●●●○
Luxury travelers Museum-goers Families Fine dining
$ Village Charm
Coyoacán

Village Charm & Cobblestone Plazas

Cobblestone plazas, Frida Kahlo's blue house, churros vendors, weekend crowds

Rent $9,000–15,000 MXN/mo
Transit Metro Viveros (L3), Metro Coyoacán (L3)
Walkability ●●●○○
Culture seekers Families Slower pace History
190885 Nightlife
Colonia Juárez

Cocktail Bars & Late-Night Energy

Roma's slightly grittier, slightly cooler neighbor — the cocktail bar district

Rent $10,000–16,000 MXN/mo
Transit Metro Cuauhtémoc (L1), Metrobús Reforma
Walkability ●●●●●
Nightlife LGBTQ+ scene Bar-hopping Central location
$ Budget Central
Colonia Cuauhtémoc

Central & Budget-Friendly

Central location without the tourist premium — unpolished, which means lower rent and Mexican neighbors

Rent $8,000–13,000 MXN/mo
Transit Metro Cuauhtémoc (L1), Metro Revolución (L2)
Walkability ●●●●○
Budget-conscious Central location Immersion Long-term stays
$ Up & Coming
Tabacalera

Rough Edges & Rising Culture

The one nobody talks about yet — galleries, design studios, and coffee shops opening in old mansions

Rent $7,000–12,000 MXN/mo
Transit Metro Revolución (L2), Metro Hidalgo (L2, L3)
Walkability ●●●○○
Adventurous Art/gallery types Early adopters Budget
$ Best Value
Santa María la Ribera

Best Value & Real Community

The local's neighborhood — Kiosko Morisco, Mercado de la Dalia, families in the park

Rent $7,000–11,000 MXN/mo
Transit Metro San Cosme (L2), Metro Normal (L2)
Walkability ●●●○○
Long-term residents Spanish speakers Zero tourist infrastructure Value