Remote Workers Descend on Mexico City

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

American and Europeans are using Airbnb to find long-term rentals in Mexico's capital, pushing housing costs higher and, critics say, forcing out local residents.

Posted by retort at 02:10 PM | 9 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

END;

Alternate links: Google News | Twitter

Comments

Admin's note: Participants in this discussion must follow the site's moderation policy. Profanity will be filtered. Abusive conduct is not allowed.

Meh. I'm unclear why Mexico City would be a preferred destination. And if the article were not blocked off by a pay wall I might learn the answer. So many much nicer locations in other cities south of the border.

#1 | Posted by moder8 at 2022-12-28 02:42 PM | Reply

Between January and October, more than 9,500 permits were issued to Americans allowing them to temporarily reside in Mexico City, according to federal immigration statistics, nearly double the 5,400 issued in the same period in 2019.

Why would 9500 transplants affect rents in a metro area of 22 million?

Ya, if I was moving to Mexico for remote work, a coastal city like Puerto Vallarta or a larger city like Merida on the Yucatan would be preferable. Also for air quality. Mexico City has some of the worst air pollution in the Western Hemisphere.

#2 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2022-12-28 03:00 PM | Reply

Daughter is working remotely about 80 minutes South of Mexico City. Ironically, her internet speed is faster than ours in rural Minnesota. Beautiful area, different living standard than expected here.
No dryer, use the sun. Shared bathroom that you walk through the court yard to get to, no central heat or air. As a minimalist she is loving it. We visit periodically and may settle permantly there in the future.
For now she returns every three months for a few weeks.

#3 | Posted by mattm at 2022-12-28 03:18 PM | Reply

#2
La Ciudad has, as you note, a yuuuge number of people. They're scrambling around at an altitude of over 7,000 feet on a gigantic sinkhole in volcano country where you will doubtless be an outsider plunked into an insider's game. In other words, there are factors worthy of serious consideration.

The Merida area is fantastic, especially within the area of the colonial buildings. There's also a real artsy-fartsy crowd of expat gringos, Brits, and assorted Eurotrash you can embrace or steer clear of. Plenty of interesting people. With good manners. Merida is more Maya than non-Indian Mexican, and they tend to be modest, reserved, and willing to help you out if you even just try some Spanish. (I think they're surprised to find not all gringos are pendejos.) And some great dining at decent prices, again within the colonial area. Most tourists are passing thru going to/from the Mayan Riviera. They may hit the ruins at Chechen but Ixmal is, well, special. It's in the Puuc country. If you are in Merida and happen by the Gran Hotel, give the shades of Fidel and Che a wink.

#4 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2022-12-28 03:39 PM | Reply

Those jobs are going to end up being done in China.

#5 | Posted by Tor at 2022-12-28 03:59 PM | Reply

DOC

I have (Mexican) friends in Merida and plan on visiting them again later this year. I've been to all the touristy places over the years, but I prefer places like that.

Side note on Mexico City: I've spent the last few months reading about the Aztec empire (and its fall), including an English translation of the Florentine Codex.

What an amazing civilization they created, especially at Tenochtitlan (modern day Mexico City). Running water via twin 8' aquaducts, hydroponically grown crops, etc etc. And the lakes sounded beautiful. Damn shame the Spaniards drained them. Damn shame the Spaniards came at all and sowed misery and disease. The human sacrifices for which the Aztec and Maya have been castigated for engaging in are no match for the millions of indigenous deaths the Spanish were responsible for.

BTW, I've been to villages where they still speak Nahuatl. Incredible that the language survived for all those centuries.

#6 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2022-12-28 03:59 PM | Reply

AU
If you're interested, I know a Merida-based guide who can do everything from the teeming market to any of the ruins, cenotes, etc. He is both experienced and knowledgeable, excellent English, a guy to whom other guides often seem to defer as a sign of respect, and if you want to see more of Maya life it's his milieu. Let me know if there's interest at your end.

#7 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2022-12-28 05:10 PM | Reply

I've thought about doing something like this. It would not only save money but also be an interesting cultural experience.

#8 | Posted by snoofy at 2022-12-28 05:33 PM | Reply

#7 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis

Thanks, DOC. I'll take you up on that when the time comes. Though my friend and his family grew up in Merida, his field of expertise isn't archeology.

BTW, have you seen any of episodic TV about LIDAR unearthing Mayan ruins from densely covered jungle? Very interesting.

Like this one from National Geographic:

Lost Treasures of The Maya
www.natgeotv.com

#9 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2022-12-28 05:53 PM | Reply