The Foreign Exchange
Expat Exchange
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Expat Exchange
A World of Friend Abroad
Mexico CityAugust 1, 2022

With a population of approximately 9.2 million people, Mexico City is an exciting place to be an expat. People moving to Mexico City need to do their research and understand which neighborhoods are safe. If they have a family, proximity to international schools and family-friendly neighborhoods is important. Plus, you'll need to decide which local public or private hospital you would go to in a medical emergency. Our Living in Mexico City Guide covers these another other important topics such as health insurance, traffic and the best international schools in Mexico City. Here are some highlights:

What are the Pros & Cons of Life in Mexico City?

"Mexico City is a fascinating, vibrant, enchanting, culturally rich location that is simultaneously very violent and dangerous and has pockets of crushing poverty and horrific criminality. ... it is a place of extremes in a culture of extremes," wrote one member in Mexico City. "I love Mexico City because there are a lot of things to do and it's a very walkable city. However, I recognize that it can be unsafe and this is the only negative," added another. Read our article: Pros & Cons of Living in Mexico City.

Where are the Best Places to Live in Mexico City?

Expat enclaves aren't a thing in Mexico City. When a member moving to Mexico City asked which neighborhoods most expat live in, an expat offered a helpful response that many others agreed with, "I lived in DF [Mexico City] for 26 months near the Archangel in Colonia Cuahetomec. This is behind the American embassy on Paseo Reforma. There really isn't a gringo community in DF, but the greatest sprinkling is where I lived, Roma Sur and Norte, and Condesa. When I say sprinking, I mean you are in neighborhoods that are 200 Mexicans to 1 gringo. Polanco is an exciting place but expensive. There are a lot of upscale eateries, nightclubs and discos. It's where the jet set meets the powerful and connected." Read more about this: 7 Best Neighborhoods in Mexico City.

Is Mexico City Safe?

The US State Department advises: "Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico City. Use additional caution, particularly at night, outside of the frequented tourist areas where police and security patrol more routinely. Petty crime occurs frequently in both tourist and non-tourist areas. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping." Our article, Is Mexico City Safe?, answers this question and discusses why its difficult to define the safest neighborhoods in Mexico City.

Which International Schools are Recommended for English-speakers in Mexico City?

The Westhill Institute is an American International school that serves pre-K through 12th graders. They have three campuses: Monte Athos (Preschool), Monte Carpatos (Preschool, Elementary) and Sante Fe (Preschool, Elementary, Secondary). Lomas Altas is an IB World school that serves nursery through Primary school children. It's located in Lomas de Chapultepec. Lomas Hill School is a bilingual IB World School for children aged 2 to 16. They adopt a student-centred approach which helps children to develop transferable skills which they can use throughout their lives. Eton School is a bilingual English and Spanish school that welcomes students from nursery through 12th grade. Eton offers the IB Middle Years and Diploma programs. Eton's main campus (elementary, middle and high school) is located in Santa Fe. To read the full list of recommendations, read International Schools in Mexico City.