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Work from Mexico: 7 Reasons to Work Remotely South of the Border

by | Sep 21, 2022 | Travel | 0 comments

With the popularity of remote employment, many Americans are wondering how they can work from Mexico. The time zones keep them in line with the United States and it’s a quick flight back for any essential in-person meetings. Not to mention, the weather is perfect, the food is delicious, and the cost of living is much more affordable than in the United States.

More and more people are planning months-long coworking vacations with friends to split the cost of accommodation. Use Troupe to start planning your remote work vacation with your fellow work-from-home buddies.

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What cities are best to work from Mexico?

Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s top travel destinations. With miles of pristine beaches, lush mountains nestled along the Bahía de Banderas, and a vibrant culinary and cultural scene, it is becoming a favorite getaway for travelers from all over the world. But the charming town is drawing more and more long-term residents and digital nomads to its cobblestone neighborhoods. 

With affordable housing, a solid internet connection in most neighborhoods, and tons of activities that invite you to explore the area, it is easy to see why more and more people are choosing Puerto Vallarta as their next digital nomad hub. 

Have you ever changed the backgrounds on your zoom meetings and imagined yourself working from a tropical paradise? Here are our top 7 reasons why you should make it a reality and choose Puerto Vallarta as your next digital nomad hub. 

While we’ll use Puerto Vallarta as an example, the same ideas hold true for many other cities including:

Top 7 Reasons to work from Mexico

1. Easy entry to the country 

Setting up shop in Mexico for a few months is easy and convenient. Offering 180-day visa-free entry to travelers from over 160 countries, Mexico is one of the most popular countries for digital nomads. With regular and cheap flights from the U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to see why many workers are choosing to swap their own four walls for more tropical scenery.

And if you are feeling called to stay longer, you are not alone! Many digital nomads are deciding to make Puerto Vallarta their home base. Luckily, getting temporary residency or a business visa in Mexico is a no-headache process and a route many long-term residents are choosing to take. 

2. Housing 

Finding monthly rentals or more permanent apartments is easy and doesn’t break the bank.  Venture outside of the areas where the tourists gather, and you will find buzzing neighborhoods lined with cobblestones, vibrant eateries, and charming shops.

Airbnb or Vrbo are the easiest ways to find apartments. If cost is an issue, we recommend booking via an online platform for a week and then finding an apartment via local channels once you arrive.

You can connect with ex-pats and housing groups directly using Facebook Groups. This allows you not only to circumvent the fees of the big housing platforms but also to become part of the community. 

If you are visiting your destination for the first time, it’s best to book a short-term rental first and become familiar with the neighborhoods before making a decision on where to settle down. In Puerto Vallarta, for example, popular neighborhoods for longer stays are 5 de Diciembre and Fluvial, which offer quieter streets and local neighbors while still being a short walk or Uber ride to all the happenings in town.

Tip: If you are planning your stay in Mexico during the high season (October – May), we recommend booking accommodations as early as June, as prices will go up significantly during that time. 

3. Low cost of living

Being a digital nomad in Mexico is extremely affordable. Of course, your living costs will always depend on your individual lifestyle, but most digital nomads spend anywhere from $400-$1500 a month in cities like Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen, or Mexico City. With apartment rental being the biggest expense, you can save significantly by staying a few months and finding an apartment locally.

4. Good internet

In the more popular digital nomad destinations in Mexico, you will be graced with a very reliable and fast internet connection in many neighborhoods. This includes cities like Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, and Oaxaca. Tulum, Puerto Escondido, and some of the smaller beach town destinations are where you might run into trouble.

In recent years, many apartments have installed fiber optic connections, giving you a solid connection to handle even the biggest zoom meetings. However, internet speed varies from place to place so when looking for an apartment, ask them to send you a screenshot of the internet speed. 

5. Coworking Spots

Don’t want to sit around your apartment all day? Lucky for you, most of the big digital nomad cities in Mexico have no shortage of coworking spaces and cafes to inspire a productive work day. 

In Puerto Vallarta, post up on the upper deck of Cafe Mas Leche, a specialty coffee bar in the northern part of town. Come for the specialty coffee pour-over and cold brew, stay for Jazz night or open mic, and get to know your community. 

Want to work with a view? Vivero, a rooftop wine bar, offers breathtaking views over the city and the mountains. Open every day for brunch and tapas, you can enjoy a solid wifi connection while sipping on a cup of coffee (or wine) and let yourself get inspired. 

And if you want to mingle with other digital nomads, check out Vallarta Cowork. Conveniently located just steps from the Malecon (the downtown boardwalk) as well as the beach, this coworking space draws in digital nomads with fast and reliable internet, meeting rooms, call booths, hang-out spaces, and more. This is just one of Puerto Vallarta’s several coworking spots and also makes a great way to connect with other digital nomads from all around the globe. 

6. Transportation

Getting around these bigger cities is easier and cheaper than in many other places in Mexico. In places like Puerto Vallarta, apps like Uber, Didi, and InDriver make it effortless for you to get around town. In addition to the ride shares, you can catch the local buses or collectivos taking you pretty much anywhere you need to go for only ten pesos (about 50 cents!). 

7. It’s okay if your Spanish isn’t great

No hablas Espanol? No problemo. Most locals are friendly and patient when it comes to language barriers. Many people speak good English in the bigger cities, and even if there is a language barrier, you will find the locals to be helpful and patient – and very good at communicating with body language.

Of course, we always encourage visitors to brush up as much as possible on the local language anywhere they go.

Tips and tricks to work from Mexico:

  • Get travel insurance for the duration of your remote work adventure in Mexico to be prepared for all eventualities. Some digital nomad favorites are Geoblue, Safety Wing, and Allianz. 
  • Get a phone plan to stay online while on the go and to give you a backup in case your internet goes down. You can get a Mexican phone plan with lots of data for less than 20$ a month and Mexican providers offer unlimited usage of social media apps like Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, or Uber. The biggest providers in Puerto Vallarta are AT&T and Telcel, with Telcel providing the most seamless 4G coverage. However, you may be able to continue using your US phone plan as normal while in Mexico. Check with your provider to make sure you’re staying online when working in Mexico.

Get to know more of the most popular cities to work from Mexico: