What Mexico City actually looks, feels, and costs like for someone considering moving. Neighbourhoods, climate, transport, healthcare, safety, and the practical scaffolding — every figure sourced.
Country
Mexico
Americas
Population
22,752,000
metro · 2023
Area
7,866 km²
Elevation
2240 m
city centre
Time zone
America/Mexico_City
Currency
MXN
Airport
MEX,NLU · Mexico City International Airport
Metro
12 metro lines · tram network
Walkability
●●●○○
editorial score · 1–5
Bike friendliness
●●●○○
editorial score · 1–5
Primary language
Spanish is the working language. English proficient in tech (Polanco, Roma) and multinationals; functional Spanish is essential for daily life.
Mexico City is a city of 22,752,000 people in Mexico (Americas). It is the capital. The main international airport is MEX (Mexico City International Airport). The metro system has 12 lines, alongside a tram network.
A one-bedroom city-centre apartment runs approximately €650 per month. Monthly groceries for one person run approximately €200. A monthly public-transport pass costs €20. Across the 100 cities Meridian tracks, Mexico City ranks 18th overall on combined monthly essentials — among the cheaper.
Mexico City's climate is mediterranean — April is typically the warmest month with average highs around 27°C, while January is the coldest with average lows near 6°C. Annual rainfall totals approximately 801mm, wettest in July.
Cost of living
Cost of living
Total monthly essentials: approximately €910/month EUR-equivalent for a single person in a 1-bedroom flat (rent + utilities + groceries + transit). District and lifestyle swing this 30–50% either way.
Visa policy, taxation, healthcare, and broadband infrastructure are national rather than city-level — the numbers below are Mexico-wide context for someone weighing Mexico City specifically. Each links through to the full country brief.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, in force 2020) enters its first joint review in 2026 — determining whether the parties will extend the agreement beyond its 2036 sunset date. Immigration provisions are limited but the broader trade and investment framework affects mover-relevant employment markets (nearshoring-dependent employment, cross-border services).
Who it affects: Broader trade-and-migration environment; indirect impact on cross-border worker flows.
Following the US Trump administration's January 2025 orders tightening US border enforcement, Mexico expanded its own asylum and transit-processing capacity at the southern border (Chiapas, Tabasco) through 2025 — expanded COMAR (refugee commission) processing, temporary migrant-transit cards, and integration programmes for those granted refugee status. Practical effect on mover-relevant immigration channels is indirect.
Who it affects: Transit migrants and asylum seekers; indirect impact on Mexican employers relying on migrant labour.
The Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) value rose to MXN 113.14/day on 1 February 2025 (MXN 3,439.46/month) — a 4.4% increase. All Mexican residency income-threshold tests (Temporary Resident financial solvency, Permanent Resident high-net-worth, Investor) are indexed to multiples of UMA. Practical dollar-equivalent thresholds update each year with this adjustment.
Who it affects: All residency applicants whose income-threshold tests are indexed to UMA.
A one-bedroom apartment in central Mexico City rents for around €650 per month. Combined monthly essentials (rent + utilities + groceries + transit) total approximately €910 EUR-equivalent. Individual spend varies 30–50% by district and lifestyle.
Is Mexico City expensive compared to other global cities?
Mexico City ranks 18th out of 100 cities Meridian tracks for combined monthly living costs — among the cheapest quartile, and 3rd of 3 within Mexico. Rankings use EUR-normalised rent + utilities + groceries + transit.
What's the weather like in Mexico City?
Mexico City sees average summer highs of 27°C in April and winter lows of 6°C in January. Annual rainfall totals about 801mm. Full monthly breakdown in the Climate section above.
What visa do I need to move to Mexico City?
Mexico City's visa regime is set at the national level — Mexico tracks 4 residence-permit routes including Temporary Resident — Financial Solvency (Solvencia Económica), Temporary Resident — Employment (Oferta de Trabajo), Family-Unit Temporary / Permanent Resident, among others. See the Mexico country brief for full eligibility, salary thresholds, and processing times.
How do you get around in Mexico City?
Mexico City has 12 metro lines plus an extensive tram network; the city centre is moderately walkable (Meridian editorial score 3/5). Monthly transit pass cost is in the breakdown above.
What language is spoken in Mexico City?
Spanish is the working language. English proficient in tech (Polanco, Roma) and multinationals; functional Spanish is essential for daily life.
What is the main airport for Mexico City?
Mexico City's primary international airport is MEX (Mexico City International Airport). Secondary airports include NLU.