Digital Nomad Guide to Mexico

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Digital Nomad Visas for Mexico

If you're planning to stay for 6 months or less, and as long as your country of citizenship belongs to Mexico's “no visa” list, all you will need is a tourist visa, which you can get on your flight or at the airport upon your arrival in Mexico.

Planning a longer stay? Here are your options:
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1. Make a border run. Reset your tourist visa by leaving Mexico to visit a neighboring country. This will automatically grant you an additional 6 month stay.
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2. Apply for a Temporary Resident Visa. This visa has been designed for those who plan to live in Mexico for more than 180 days, but less than four years. Initially, the visa will be good for one year, and can then be renewed for an additional 1 to 3 years. Documents proving monthly income over $1,620 USD over the last 6 months or a bank account balance of over $27,000 are required.

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Best Places to Live and Stay in Mexico for Digital Nomads

Mexico City

This modern city boasts all the amenities of big American cities at a much lower price point. It's a young and vibrant city home to young professionals and entrepreneurs from all over. Its exciting nightlife, trendy coffee shops with WiFi, abundance of coworking spaces, and some of the best food around, makes it a great place to live and work from. Discover more in our Digital Nomad Guide to Mexico City.

Cabo

Cabo is a popular destination for expats and nomads year round. It features beautiful beaches, year-round sunshine, and plenty of outdoor activities. It's becoming a major destination for digital nomads, so there are plenty of opportunities to connect through events and meet-ups. Learn more about Cabo for remote workers in our Digital Nomad Guide to Cabo.

Tulum

You know Tulum for its bougie strip of beach, exclusive parties, and Instagrammable cafes, but this beachside city is becoming quite a hotspot for remote workers. There's a lot to see and do here whether you're in town or by the beach. Check out our Digital Nomad Guide to Tulum if you're considering a trip here.

Todos Santos

Not far from Cabo, you'll find Todos Santos. This laid back beach town has a care free spirit, attracting surfers and those looking for a slower pace of life. Read on about life here as a remote worker in our Digital Nomad Guide to Todos Santos.

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Digital Nomad Communities in Mexico 

Mexico offers something for everyone, from its lively cities to laid back beach towns. It's easy to get around here with affordable domestic flights and the abundance of buses available. It's also US time zone friendly, which is a big draw for remote workers coming from America. There are plenty of destinations within Mexico that have cultivated solid digital nomad communities, and through Facebook groups, Meetup.com, and our Whatsapp groups, it's never been easier to connect with like minded travelers.

Coworking Spaces in Mexico

Mexico City

Mexico City has more than 15 different coworking spaces, including Outsite Mexico City, used by both locals and digital nomads. You can find everything from a WeWork corporate room to small independently owned office spaces like Impact Hub, W1 Coworking, Colmena Creativa, and Homework Chapultec.

Los Cabos

Like all Outsite locations, Outsite Los Cabos features its own dedicated work space. There are other coworking spaces in the area too such as T1ME & CO, Coworking at Los Cabos, and LCI Coworking Space.

Tulum

Whether you're staying at Outsite Tulum Playa or Centro, you'll have access to dedicated workspaces onsite. Digital Jungle and Los Amigos Cowork are two other popular spots to work from.

Todos Santos

The workspace at Outsite Todos Santos is available to guests. The Coop Baja is another coworking with private meeting rooms and a home goods store attached.

Getting Around Mexico

Public Transportation – Public buses (also known as "colectivos") are the most common way to get around in cities and towns (and nearby villages). These buses are also the cheapest, costing no more than a few pesos per journey.

Mexico City has a great subway system. One-way tickets for the subway and the bus system are around 5 MXN ($0.25 USD). You’ll have to buy a rechargeable smart card at any of the Metro stations for 16 MXN (this includes the first 5 MXN ticket). Cards can be used for the metro and metro buses.

Bus – The bus is the most popular way to get around Mexico. Longer trips call for an express bus (referred to as "directos").

A few of the largest and most reliable bus companies are:

• ADO
• Primera Plus
• Estrella de Oro
• Omnibuses de Mexico
• ETN (Enlaces Terrestres Nacionales)

There's a central bus terminal where all long-distance buses depart from in most cities. Tickets can be purchased there or on the company’s website.

Train – There is no rail network in Mexico.

Car rentals – Renting cars in Mexico is quite affordable. A week-long rental will run you about 1,500 MXN. We suggest avoiding driving at night, and not keeping valuables in your car uncovered or overnight.

Is there Uber in Mexico?

Uber is available in some cities in Mexico, like CDMX or Cabo, but you won't find any Ubers in Tulum or Todos Santos.

Internet Connection: Wifi Speed

While Mexico doesn't have the fastest internet in the world, it still gets the job done. You'll find WiFi spots available throughout the country, including some of the country's somewhat rural locations. In Mexico City and Tulum, the average speed is 11 Mbps, and in Cabo and Todos Santos, it's 12 Mbps. Outsite Spaces are equipped with fast WiFi from 45 to 915 Mbps.
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Mexico FAQs

Cost: Is Mexico cheap? 

One of Mexico's main reasons for its popularity among digital nomads is its low cost of living. You'll find the Yucatan Peninsula, particularly Tulum, to be more expensive than other parts of Mexico, but even so, it's cheaper than living in the US.

Safety: Is Mexico safe? 

While there is crime in certain parts of Mexico, most tourist destinations are unaffected. As with any country, use common sense, mind your possessions and don't do anything you wouldn't d at home.

Language: Do I need to speak Spanish?

You don't need to speak Spanish to visit Mexico, but it is helpful to at least have a few key words and phrases under your tongue. You'll get by on English, though we recommend brushing up on some Spanish as it's polite and appreciated by locals.

Ready to go? Book your stay with us in Mexico City, Todos Santos, Los Cabos, Tulum Centro or Playa, and you'll be instantly connected with the digital nomad community in Mexico.

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