Mexico City according to Marko Ayling

Mexico City has the biggest potential for a long-term digital nomad base. I’m a big proponent of travelers forming a more permanent relationship with the city. I’d like to see people considering Mexico city as a potential home base rather than a flavor-of-the-month destination. The influx of digital nomads and remote workers is altering the landscape of the city, specifically in terms of available housing, property prices and rapid gentrification of certain neighborhoods. Instead of expecting the city to cater to your needs, choose this destination if you truly want to experience the local way of life. Keep these local issues in mind when booking your accommodation, supporting small businesses, choosing which restaurants to go to, and more.

It’s easy to see why remote workers are falling in love with this city — favorable time zone, the proximity to other countries in the Americas, great year-round weather and a strong infrastructure for remote work. The neighborhoods that most travelers visit are Condesa, with its art deco-inspired architecture and Roma, as potentially the center of the city's culinary scene. However, in light of the already mentioned challenges in the city, I recommend staying in less-touristy areas like Nápoles or Escandón. The influx of tourists in Condesa and Roma has been described as a tsunami by the locals. Instead, rent a place that is a 10-minute ride away. It'll be cheaper, more authentic, and mindful of the economic situation here. 

HAAB Project is one of my favorite coworking spaces to work from. This is where I organize monthly storytelling events on the first Friday of every month. This is your invitation to join! HAAB is a beautiful space with fast Wifi, good food, and plenty of expats and locals mingling together in one place.

A simple way to support local businesses here is to explore their local food. Here’s a good rule of thumb to follow: if there’s a line of people eagerly waiting for their order, the food is likely to be safe to eat. Don’t worry if you don’t speak Spanish well either. You can point and use basic phrases like “por favor” and “gracias” as a start. Cantinas are Mexican institutions that don’t get enough attention from travelers. They resemble the tapas bar you might see in parts of Spain, where you can enjoy a drink while trying different traditional small dishes. Mariachis often come in and play music for the patrons.

The city is much safer than the media would have you believe. Neighborhoods like Roma, Condesa, and Juarez are typically very safe. That said, you should always keep your wits about you. It’s the kind of city where you shouldn’t leave your phone unattended on a table in the street. Petty theft is very common. You should also be careful walking around alone after dark. These are good safety precautions to follow whenever you travel, not just in Mexico City.