You’ve accepted the job. You’ve booked the flight. Now what? Your first month in Mexico City will feel like drinking from a firehose—visa lines, apartment hunting, setting up a bank account, learning Metro routes. This guide is a checklist: what to do before you arrive, what to prioritize in week 1, and what can wait until you’re settled.
30 days before: visas and paperwork
Days 1–10: Visa application
Mexico temporary resident visa (TMR) is the standard path for work stays 4–12 months. Process takes 10–15 days.
You’ll need:
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Employment letter from your Mexican employer (or offer letter if hired locally)
- Proof of income (last 3 months of payslips, or employer’s financial statement showing ability to pay)
- Bank statement showing ~$2,500 USD minimum balance (proof you won’t become a burden on the state)
- Filled-out visa application form
- 1 passport photo (4x4 cm)
Where to apply: Mexican consulate in your home country, or if you’re already in Mexico, INAMI office in Mexico City.
Cost: ~$300 USD, usually processed in 10 days.
Pro tip: If your visa sponsor (employer) is slow with paperwork, you can enter Mexico on a tourist card (FMM, 180 days free) and apply for TMR from inside Mexico. Slightly longer but less stressful if employer is disorganized.
Days 10–20: Tell your employer you’re coming
- Confirm start date and first-day logistics
- Ask: will they help with visa paperwork, or are you solo?
- Ask: do they have corporate housing partnership, or do you find your own?
- Ask: is there a relocation stipend? Some companies offer housing bonus.
- Confirm: salary currency (USD or MXN?), tax treatment, how often payroll runs
Days 20–30: Arrange short-term housing
You’re arriving next week. You don’t need your permanent apartment yet—you need week 1 breathing room. Book a 7-day Airbnb or short-term furnished unit to:
- Explore neighborhoods before committing to 3 months
- Sleep off jet lag without feeling pressured
- Have a stable address for your visa-related appointments
Cost: $50–100/night for a decent temporary unit.
Week 1: Arrival and settling
Day 1–2: Airport to apartment
Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) is 15 km east of Centro. Options:
- Uber/Didi: ~$20 USD, 30–45 minutes depending on traffic
- Airport bus (ADO): ~$15 USD, 1 hour but requires patience with luggage
- Pre-arranged driver: If your company offers, take it
Get your phone set up immediately:
- AT&T Mexico prepaid SIM: Buy at airport kiosk. $30–50 for month of unlimited data + calls
- Telcel: Slightly cheaper, more coverage, but at slower speeds
- Load your phone, test WhatsApp (Mexico’s default messaging app for everything)
Day 2–3: Neighborhood walk and first meals
You’re jet-lagged. Don’t do anything important. Walk your temporary neighborhood:
- Find a supermarket (Soriana, Elektra, Coppel)
- Grab breakfast at a local café
- Notice the rhythm: where do people eat? What’s the vibe?
- Identify a good Uber pickup spot
Eat local, cheap food: tacos, quesadillas, tortas (sandwiches). Budget: $2–5 per meal.
Day 3–5: Start apartment hunting seriously
Now that you’ve arrived and understand the timezone, start touring permanent apartments. You want to live for real starting week 2.
Where to look:
- StayWork: Direct furnished apartments in Narvarte, Roma Norte, Condesa (recommended for remote workers and first-timers)
- Airbnb: Monthly listings, usually furnished, variable quality
- Inmuebles24, Vivanuncios: Mexican rental platforms, mix of furnished and unfurnished
Neighborhoods for first-timers with jobs:
- Narvarte: Quiet, good value, close to hospitals and offices. Best if you want low stress.
- Roma Norte: Walkable, cafe dense, social. Best if you want energy and don’t mind noise.
- Condesa: Balanced between both. Best if you can’t decide.
Read furnished apartments in Mexico City for a full breakdown, or jump straight to Narvarte if you want the recommendation.
Questions to ask when touring:
- Is Wi-Fi truly fast? Ask them to run a speed test (you need 50+ Mbps for video calls)
- What are utilities? Is internet included or separate?
- Lease flexibility: Can you month-to-month, or are they pushing 6-month minimum?
- Move-in: When can you get keys? Is there a deposit? How long to get it back?
Day 5–7: Lock in a lease
By end of week 1, you should have a lease signed for your next month. This removes anxiety. You’re not perpetually hunting for housing—you have a home base.
Lease essentials:
- Move-in date (typically day 1 of next month, or ASAP)
- Monthly rent amount
- What’s included (internet, utilities, furniture)
- Deposit amount and refund timeline
- Cancellation terms (month-to-month flexibility is key early on)
- Landlord contact + emergency number
Week 2–3: Set up your life
Day 8–10: Bank account and tax ID (RFC)
You’ll be paid in Mexico. Get a local bank account.
Which bank: BBVA or Santander are fastest. Hit any branch with:
- Passport
- Proof of address (lease or Airbnb confirmation email)
- Employment letter (shows you’re serious)
- Initial deposit: $100+ USD to open
Cost: Free to open, some accounts charge monthly maintenance (~$5).
Also get: Your RFC (Clave de Registro Federal de Contribuyentes)—Mexico’s tax ID. You’ll need it for your bank account, and your employer needs it for payroll. It’s free, takes 10 minutes, can be done at the bank or online via the SAT (Mexico’s IRS equivalent).
Day 10–14: Settle at work
First week at the new job. Focus on onboarding, not exploration.
- Meet your team in person
- Get office keys, desk setup, laptop configured
- Understand your commute time (Is it really 30 minutes, or 45 in traffic?)
- Ask senior employees where they eat lunch, where they live, what they do after work
Day 14–21: Explore your neighborhood seriously
Now you’re in your real apartment. Spend a week just being a resident, not a tourist.
- Identify your favorite cafe for morning coffee
- Find a gym or yoga studio if you exercise
- Locate the nearest pharmacy, supermarket, taco stand
- Walk to work a few times if possible (build a sense of safety and routine)
- Identify a safe Uber pickup spot for late nights
- Join a coworking space or cafes where you can work if you WFH
Day 21–30: Get into a rhythm
By end of week 4, you should feel normal, not disoriented. You know:
- How to get to work (and how long it takes)
- Where to buy groceries and eat well
- Where your apartment is in the city (via taxi/Uber landmarks)
- Who your coworkers are and where they hang out
- How to use Metro, Metrobus, Uber without stress
Practical essentials before you arrive
Document yourself
- Get a notarized copy of your passport (you’ll use this more than the original)
- Take photos of all important documents (passport, visa, employment letter) and email them to yourself in encrypted storage
- Keep credit cards and bank info separate from passwords
Money and budgeting
- Plan for $1,500–2,500 USD/month total living costs (rent $1,200–1,800, food $300–400, transport $50–100, entertainment $200–300)
- Bring $2,000 in cash (backup), rest in debit card or credit card
- Costs are 30–50% lower than US cities for housing, food, entertainment
- Open a Wise account (formerly TransferWise) before you leave—low fees for USD → MXN transfers from your home country
Insurance and healthcare
- Check if your job offers health insurance (many do)
- If not, get travel or expat health insurance that covers Mexico (costs ~$100–200/month)
- Register with your home country’s embassy or consulate (so they can help if anything goes wrong)
Tech and connectivity
- Confirm your phone will work in Mexico (most modern phones do)
- Download Google Maps offline for your neighborhood
- Get Uber, Didi, Google Translate, and WhatsApp before you land
- Consider a portable WiFi hotspot (~$20, useful for emergencies)
Common pitfalls: what to avoid
❌ Don’t sign a 12-month lease in week 1
You don’t know if you’ll like this job, this neighborhood, or Mexico yet. Month-to-month flexibility is worth more than a 10% rent discount.
❌ Don’t ignore air quality in winter
November–February, Mexico City can get hazy. If you have asthma or respiratory issues, research this before committing. It’s not dangerous, but you might want a better apartment with better air filtration.
❌ Don’t underestimate the need for exercise and routine
Mexico City is chaotic. Gym, yoga, or running keeps you sane. Find one by week 2, not week 6.
❌ Don’t rely on public transit for early-morning shifts
If you start at 6am, take Uber or arrange a driver. Metro crowds at rush hour are brutal, and you’ll arrive stressed. Cost: $5–8/day, worth the sanity.
❌ Don’t lose your passport
Keep your actual passport in a hotel safe or apartment safe, not in your backpack. Carry a notarized copy or color photocopy for daily use.
Where to live: neighborhoods compared
| Neighborhood | Cost/2BR | Vibe | Best For | Commute to Centro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narvarte | $1,500–2,000 | Quiet, residential, parks | Remote work, sleep priority, hospitals | 25 min |
| Roma Norte | $1,800–2,500 | Walkable, cafes, young | Social, nightlife, office jobs | 20 min |
| Condesa | $1,600–2,300 | Balanced, parque-central | Don’t know yet, want flexibility | 20 min |
| Polanco | $2,500–4,000 | Premium, business, expensive | Corporate jobs, high salary | 10 min |
Recommendation for first-timers: Narvarte or Condesa. Both are livable from day 1, low pressure, good value. Upgrade later if you decide you want more nightlife or closer office proximity.
30-day action summary
| Timing | Action |
|---|---|
| Before arrival | Visa app, employer confirmation, temporary housing booking |
| Day 1–2 | Arrive, get SIM card, rest |
| Day 3–7 | Tour apartments, sign lease |
| Day 8–14 | Bank account, RFC, start job, meet coworkers |
| Day 15–30 | Explore neighborhood, find routines, establish rhythm |
By day 30, you’re not a tourist anymore. You know where to eat, how to get to work, and what your weekends feel like. That’s success.
Related guides
- Furnished apartments in Mexico City — Find your home
- Narvarte guide — Best neighborhood for first-timers
- Remote work apartments in CDMX — If you’re working online
- Corporate housing in Mexico City — If your company is paying for housing
Questions on your move? Contact us. We’ve housed hundreds of first-timers—we know the chaos and can help.
