Want to find the cheapest places to live in Mexico?
You’ve come to the right place!
Mexico is a great country with diverse landscapes, rich culture and wonderful people. A lot of Mexican cities offer digital nomads a very affordable cost of living, a high standard of living and warm weather!
As digital nomads who travel full-time, it’s smart to research the cheapest places to live in Mexico. If you are smart with your money, it can definitely go a long way. It helps to create a budget and, based on that, see where to go next. It’s not fun living beyond your means and being stressed by money all the time.
That’s one of the main reasons digital nomads are living in Mexico – the affordability! And I just want to say…just because a place is cheap and affordable doesn’t mean it’s any less beautiful. But you know that!
Here are the 7x cheapest places to live in Mexico for digital nomads.
In This Article: show
Why Live In Mexico As A Digital Nomad
Is there a digital nomad Mexico scene?
Short answer – You bet there is (and it’s on the rise)!
There are many reasons digital nomads are flocking to the beautiful country of Mexico. Here are just a few reasons why:
- Affordable cost of living: That’s why you’re on this blog right? The groceries, food, activities and general living costs are pretty cheap in Mexico. Your money goes pretty far and it means you can still stay on a tight budget!
- Diverse landscapes: Beach? Check! Mountains? Check! Deserts? Check! Jungles? Check! Ruins? Check! Whichever landscape you’re after, chances are you will find it in Mexico. As the 14th largest country in the world, it makes sense that Mexico is filled with so much natural beauty.
- Good infrastructure: The wifi works pretty well (although it’s not excellent) and it’s so easy to get around from city to city. There are plenty of domestic and international airports in major Mexican cities and even smaller cities. We were surprised by how well the infrastructure was in Mexico!
- High standard of living: While Mexico is one of the cheapest places to live for digital nomads – you don’t have to sacrifice your quality of life. With a low budget, you can still eat well, travel around and do activities for pretty cheap.
The best part about living in Mexico as digital nomads is that you get to choose! You get to design the lifestyle you want without burning the bank.
What’s The General Cost of Living In Mexico?
We explored Mexico for 7 months on and off. We weren’t sure what to expect in terms of cost and while we expected it to be pretty low – there were a couple of things that surprised us.
We were used to being digital nomads in Asia, but it was a very different experience in Mexico (which makes sense!). The cost vs. the value for money is what we noticed the most. The general cost of living in Mexico is pretty cheap, but do you get much for the amount you pay? We found that it depends. Here’s what we figured:
- Rent is much higher than we expected. This is where most of your budget will go, especially if you live in the more popular tourist destinations like Playa del Carmen or Tulum. The rent in our list of the cheapest place to live in Mexico isn’t as expensive, but we just don’t want you to expect it to be ultra-low. We also noticed you might pay a high price and get a really basic place that isn’t amazing.
- Groceries are of amazing quality. If you like to cook at home, you will love the produce in Mexico. To this day, we have never had a bad avocado in Mexico. Idk how, but they are always perfect and you pay less than 50 cents for it! There’s a huge range of vegetables, meat and carbs – all available for low prices.
- Flights across the country are affordable. Let’s say you choose to live in one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico – chances are the town is pretty small and doesn’t have much to do. You’re in luck, because the flights to visit other towns are pretty cheap (around $30-50 USD) for a weekend escape!
The most expensive thing you’ll pay for in Mexico is your rent. For some reason, it’s very expensive to rent an Airbnb for a couple of weeks to a month and more. Everything else is pretty affordable! As long as you can secure a good place for a decent price, you don’t have to worry about going over your digital nomad budgetin Mexico.
Wondering about safety? Make sure you check out our guide to the safest places to live in Mexico.
7x Cheapest Places To Live in Mexico For Digital Nomads
Ready to find out the cheapest place to live in Mexico for digital nomads? Here is a quick overview of the cheapest places to live in Mexico right now:
- Valladolid, Yucatan – starting from $950 USD
- Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro– starting from $1,000 USD
- San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas – starting from $1,100 USD
- Puebla, Mexico – starting from $1,150 USD
- Guadalajara, Jalisco – starting from $1,200 USD
- Guanajato City, Mexico – starting from $1300 USD
- Oaxaca City, Oaxaca – starting from $1,350 USD
Before we get into the details of each city’s cost of living – it’s important we put some parameters on the cheapest places to live in Mexico so that this guide is clear and informative for you.
It will also make it easier for you to understand why these Mexican cities were chosen. Here are some things to remember while you scroll through the list:
- These costs are for digital nomads, *not* expats or locals. You’re probably wondering what the difference is. It’s pretty big! Digital nomads will only rent a place for a month or so. Expats are looking at renting long-term (at least a year+). This means expats get better deals than digital nomads flying through and it means the cost of living is impacted. For this blog, we are catering specifically to digital nomads who slow travel month to month.
- Monthly-based pricing. Everything is based on a month-long stay. If you see a price, it’s a monthly rental, a monthly grocery total, a monthly activities total, etc.
- All prices are for a single person. We decided to make the price for a single person living in Mexico – you can just assume this throughout the blog. But we will also state the monthly price for a couple (like us) in each Mexican city.
- Living comfortably – not on a shoestring. We wanted to make this budget a little bigger so that you can actually live a comfortable lifestyle in Mexico. On these budgets, you don’t have to share a dorm room in a hostel or only eat rice and beans every day. You still have room to do weekend activities, eat out and live in a place of your own.
- These are the cheapest cities to live in Mexico that are still liveable. Of course, there are cheaper cities to live in Mexico, but you need to take in certain factors like safety, livability, and community. While some places might be even cheaper, it’s not necessarily safe for you to live there. We tried to make this list of cities a harmonious combination of affordability and livability.
Now that you know all of that, let’s just get straight into it yeah?
1. Valladolid, Yucatan – starting from $950 USD
Valladolid is a small colonial city located in the Yucatan peninsula. It’s a popular destination for people to hit up while they are also exploring the famous Chichen Itza. The architecture is stunning, the people are friendly and the living costs are very cheap – making Valladolid a great option for you!
We did a weekend road trip to see Chichen Itza and we stayed in Valladolid during our visit. We fell in love with this charming town full of historic centers, cenotes and vibrant Mexican culture. It’s very safe (at least in our experience) and you get that awesome small-town feel where people know each other.
Valladolid is one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico for digital nomads. The monthly cost of living in Valladolid starts from around $950 USD, depending on your lifestyle choices. This includes rent, groceries, eating out, activities, coffee, and more. If you’re a couple, it’s more like $1,700 USD.
Valladolid Monthly Cost of Living For A Single Person:
| CATEGORY | COST (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | $514 |
| Groceries | $140 |
| Dining Out | $150 |
| Drinking Water | $18 |
| Transport | $40 |
| Phone Plan | $14 |
| Activities & Entertainment | $75 |
| TOTAL: | $951 |
Valladolid Quick Price Facts:
🏠 1 Bedroom Apartment in a Nice Area: $514 USD per month
💰 Cost of Living For a Local: $250 USD per month
🍽 Restaurant Meals: $4-7 USD
🌮 Street food: as little as $1 USD
🍺 Local beer: $1.95 USD
☕️ Coffee: $2 USD
Valladolid is one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico! We fell hard for this unique town that has tons of charms and quirks. We saw it quickly growing with more cafes and restaurants popping up and it offers anyone a great lifestyle at affordable prices.
2. Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro – starting from $1,000 USD
Santiago de Queretaro is one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico. The Spanish colonial architecture is one of the most well persevered in all of Mexico which means it is absolutely stunning to walk around the town. Queretaro has lots of natural beauty with the beautiful mountain range surrounding it and there are plenty of hikes, museums to visit and things to do!
Queretaro is one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico for digital nomads. The monthly cost of living in Queretaro starts from around $1,000 USD depending on your lifestyle choices. This includes rent, groceries, eating out, activities, coffee, and more. If you’re a couple, it’s more like $1,800 USD.
Queretaro Monthly Cost of Living For A Single Person:
| CATEGORY | COST (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (one bedroom apartment in a nice area) | $620 |
| Groceries | $140 |
| Dining Out | $170 |
| Drinking Water | $18 |
| Transport | $40 |
| Phone Plan | $14 |
| Activities & Entertainment | $90 |
| TOTAL: | 1,092 |
Queretaro Quick Price Facts:
🏠 1 Bedroom Apartment in a Nice Area: starting from $600 USD per month
💰 Cost of Living For a Local: $350 USD per month
🍽 Restaurant Meals: $5-8 USD
🌮 Street food: as little as $1 USD
🍺 Local beer: $1.95 USD
☕️ Coffee: $2.50 USD
If you want more city vibes combined with a cheap cost of living, Queretaro could be the place for you! This town offers a great standard of living, value for money and a great lifestyle. It’s easy to take day trips to Pueblo Magicos nearby and there’s even an airport nearby! While the expat community is relatively small – we think as more people discover this hidden gem, it will continue to grow. With such an affordable cost of living, we think Queretaro is one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico.
3. San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas – starting from $1,100 USD
San Cristobal de las Casas is a small colonial city located in the mountains of Chiapas. It’s a popular tourist destination for Mexicans and foreigners alike. The town is simply beautiful, with cobblestone streets, colonial history and rich indigenous culture.
We spent 3 months living in San Cristobal de las Casas. We came from being Playa del Carmen digital nomads and loved the change of scenery and weather. It can get pretty cold as you’re up in the mountains with an elevation of 6,900 feet (2,100 m). It’s very safe and we felt the locals were super friendly! The infrastructure was pretty solid even for a small colonial town (there were coworking spaces and decent wifi).
San Cristobal de las Casas offers great value for money. It’s also such a fun town with plenty of restaurant options and a good lifestyle which keeps people extending their stay. The monthly cost of living in San Cristobal de las Casas starts from around $1,100 USD, depending on your lifestyle choices. This includes rent, groceries, eating out, activities, coffee, and more. If you’re a couple, it’s more like $1,900 USD.
San Cristobal de las Casas Monthly Cost of Living For A Single Person:
| CATEGORY | COST (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (1 bedroom in a nice area) | $700 |
| Groceries | $110 |
| Dining Out | $140 |
| Drinking Water | $18 |
| Transport | $40 |
| Phone Plan | $14 |
| Activities & Entertainment | $100 |
| TOTAL: | $1,122 |
San Cristobal de las Casas Quick Price Facts:
🏠 1 Bedroom Apartment in a Nice Area: starting from $700 USD per month
💰 Cost of Living For a Local: $300 USD per month
🍽 Restaurant Meals: $6-10 USD
🌮 Street food: as little as $1 USD
🍺 Local beer: $1.20 USD
☕️ Coffee: $1.80 USD
San Cristobal de las Casas is one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico! We’ve lived there as San Cristobal de las Casas digital nomads as proof you can live here even on a tight budget. You’ll love the lifestyle, simply walking around the town, the rich culture and the great value for money in this town. If you want a full breakdown, we wrote about our complete cost of living in San Cristobal de las Casas.
4. Puebla, Mexico – starting from $1,150 USD
Puebla is the 4th largest city in Mexico. Located just 2 hours drive from Mexico City, this is a popular day trip for many tourists but it’s a big town that makes it much more than a day trip. If you want easy access to a major hub but need a lower cost of living, Puebla is a great option for you!
Puebla is one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico. The monthly cost of living in Puebla starts from around $1,150 USD, depending on your lifestyle choices. This includes rent, groceries, eating out, activities, coffee, and more. If you’re a couple, it’s more like $1,900 USD.
Puebla Monthly Cost of Living For A Single Person:
| CATEGORY | COST (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (1 bedroom in a nice area) | $725 |
| Groceries | $120 |
| Dining Out | $150 |
| Drinking Water | $18 |
| Transport | $40 |
| Phone Plan | $14 |
| Activities & Entertainment | $110 |
| TOTAL: | $1,177 |
Puebla Quick Price Facts:
🏠 1 Bedroom Apartment in a Nice Area: starting from $600 USD per month
💰 Cost of Living For a Local: $325 USD per month
🍽 Restaurant Meals: $4-9 USD
🌮 Street food: as little as $1 USD
🍺 Local beer: $1 USD
☕️ Coffee: $2.20 USD
If you’re looking for one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico – Puebla is a great choice. You have quick access to Mexico City if you need anything and there’s so much to explore in this underrated travel destination. While this isn’t a popular expat destination, we think it’s a great place to live with the right infrastructure for digital nomads if they are on a tight budget.
5. Guadalajara, Jalisco – starting from $1,200 USD
Guadalajara is a fun city located in the state of Jalisco on the west side of Mexico. There is a big university which means the demographics are fairly young and hip. This is one of the largest cities on this list and it’s a great place to live. There’s plenty of history, museums, delicious food and football is life in this vibrant city.
Guadalajara offers a great city lifestyle and it’s still one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico for digital nomads. The monthly cost of living in Guadalajara starts from around $1,200 USD depending on your lifestyle choices. This includes rent, groceries, eating out, activities, coffee, and more. If you’re a couple, it’s more like $1,950 USD.
Guadalajara Monthly Cost of Living For A Single Person:
| CATEGORY | COST (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (1 bedroom in a nice area) | $775 |
| Groceries | $140 |
| Dining Out | $150 |
| Drinking Water | $18 |
| Transport | $40 |
| Phone Plan | $14 |
| Activities & Entertainment | $90 |
| TOTAL: | $1,227 |
Guadalajara Quick Price Facts:
🏠 1 Bedroom Apartment in a Nice Area: starting from $750 USD per month
💰 Cost of Living For a Local: $375 USD per month
🍽 Restaurant Meals: $6+ USD
🌮 Street food: as little as $1 USD
🍺 Local beer: $1.50 USD
☕️ Coffee: $2.15 USD
You’ll quickly fall in love with this city in Mexico. Guadalajara is a great place to live with thousands of expats in the community. You can live in one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico and still have an amazing time. It’s much easier to find friends and get out to do things and there is lots to explore in Guadalajara!
6. Guanajuato City, Mexico – starting from $1300 USD
Guanajuato is a city located up in the hills with an elevation of 6,700 ft (2,042 m). It’s easy to fall in love with this city that has the most breathtaking views in all of Mexico. It’s much colder than the Caribbean coast of Mexico but if you can bear the cold – it’s worth living in Guanajuato. You’ll love this city and you’ll want to take a deep dive into the culture and meet more of the local people. It hasn’t gained too much popularity (yet) so it’s considered a hidden gem in Mexico!
The cost of living is pretty cheap for the quality of life you’ll get living in Guanajuato. That’s why it’s one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico for digital nomads. The monthly cost of living in Guanajuato City starts from around $1300 USD depending on your lifestyle choices. This includes rent, groceries, eating out, activities, coffee, and more. If you’re a couple, it’s more like $1,975 USD.
Guanajuato City Monthly Cost of Living For A Single Person:
| CATEGORY | COST (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (1 bedroom in a nice area) | $800 |
| Groceries | $140 |
| Dining Out | $170 |
| Drinking Water | $18 |
| Transport | $40 |
| Phone Plan | $14 |
| Activities & Entertainment | $120 |
| TOTAL: | $1,302 |
Guanajuato City Quick Price Facts:
🏠 1 Bedroom Apartment in a Nice Area: starting from $800 USD per month
💰 Cost of Living For a Local: $375 USD per month
🍽 Restaurant Meals: $8+ USD
🌮 Street food: as little as $1 USD
🍺 Local beer: $2.20 USD
☕️ Coffee: $1.85 USD
Guanajuato City is a charming town full of excellent restaurants, a growing expat community and affordable options for housing. It’s one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico. Again, if you can withstand the cold and prefer the fresh, brisk air then Guanajuato City could be a great place for you to live without spending too many dollars every month!
7. Oaxaca City, Oaxaca – starting from $1,350 USD
Oaxaca City is full of culture and delicious food and offers digital nomads a great lifestyle. Located in the state of Oaxaca, this capital city is most known for its mole and Day of the Dead celebrations! Every person we have met who’s been to Oaxaca has raved about it. With a low cost of living and an opportunity for a great lifestyle – Oaxaca City is a great option for you to consider.
Got just a little more to spend? Oaxaca City offers a vibrant city with amazing food and culture making you want to stay. The monthly cost of living in Oaxaca City starts from around $1,350 USD depending on your lifestyle choices making Oaxaca City one of the cheapest places to live in Mexico. This includes rent, groceries, eating out, activities, coffee, and more. If you’re a couple, it’s more like $1,975 USD.
Oaxaca City Monthly Cost of Living For A Single Person:
| CATEGORY | COST (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (1 bedroom in a nice area) | $850 |
| Groceries | $140 |
| Dining Out | $180 |
| Drinking Water | $18 |
| Transport | $50 |
| Phone Plan | $14 |
| Activities & Entertainment | $130 |
| TOTAL: | $1,382 |
Oaxaca City Quick Price Facts:
🏠 1 Bedroom Apartment in a Nice Area: starting from $800 USD per month
💰 Cost of Living For a Local: $400 USD per month
🍽 Restaurant Meals: $4.50-9+ USD
🌮 Street food: as little as $1 USD
🍺 Local beer: $1 USD
☕️ Coffee: $2.20 USD
With so many festivals and events going on around Oaxaca City, it’s an attractive city for digital nomads. There are plenty of things to do, world-class restaurants and it’s one of the cheapest cities to live in Mexico. Oaxaca City is an easy city to fall in love with and it’ll make you want to stay longer. The low cost of living is just one of the perks of Oaxaca City.
Which of The 7x Cheapest Place To Live In Mexico Will You Choose?
There you have it!
The 7x cheapest places to live in Mexico as digital nomads.
Our favorite places on this list are San Cristobal de las Casas and Oaxaca City! They are amazing and truly make you feel like you’re living in Mexico. The colonial architecture, delicious food and friendly people are only some of the benefits of living there!
We tried our best to make sure we had a balance between cheap cost of living without sacrificing things like safety and livability. We think any of these 7x cheapest cities is a great option if you are on a tight budget. You can still live comfortably, have a place to yourself and maybe even save some dollars!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the cheapest place to live in Mexico?
The cheapest place to live in Mexico as a digital nomad is Valladolid, Yucatan. As a digital nomad, you can live in Valladolid for $950 USD per month ($1,700 for a couple).
Can you live in Mexico for $1,500 a month?
Yes, if you’re smart with your money and know how to budget, you can definitely live in Mexico for under $1,500 USD per month! In fact, every place mentioned on this list is well under $1,500. Here’s how much each place costs:
1. Valladolid, Yucatan - starting from $950 USD
2. Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro- starting from $1,000 USD
3. San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas - starting from $1,100 USD
4. Puebla, Mexico - starting from $1,150 USD
5. Guadalajara, Jalisco - starting from $1,200 USD
6. Guanajato City, Mexico - starting from $1300 USD
7. Oaxaca City, Oaxaca - starting from $1,350 USD
What is the safest area in Mexico to live?
The safest places to live in Mexico are:
1. Merida, Yucatan
2. San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas
3. Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
4. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
5. Sayulita, Nayarit
What is the average rent in Mexico?
The cost of rent is much higher than we expected in Mexico! The average cost of rent is $700 USD per month. Of course, the cost is going to vary from city to city. Some cities will be $500 - $650 USD, but if you’re in a more popular city (like Playa del Carmen or Tulum), rent could be up to $1,500 - $2,000 USD per month!
