Mexico City Real Estate

Below we have location descriptions for Mexico City. However, if you would like location descriptions for Monterrey, Guadalajara and San Miguel de Allende, just click on the city of your choice.

Location, Location, Location

A city with the population of Australia has many different places to live - and many more places not to live. The following is a rundown of the main areas, with a grading system from one to five smiley faces. We evaluate "snootiness," relating to how high-brow (and high priced) the neighborhood is, "hipness," which measures how cool it is to live there, "accessibility," its easy access and proximity to key areas, "QOL" (Quality of Life), an amalgam of traffic density, nearby parks, and cleanliness, and "security," how safe it is to live there. Finally, an "environment" classification that spans from "hustle and bustle" to "commercial," "neighborly" and "crunchy" (as in granola-munching, sandal-wearing intellectual types). We won't go so far as to say that if it's not listed you definitely shouldn't consider living there (even the Great Sam is not omniscient), but PLEASE drop Sam a line with a mention of the place you're thinking about. If it's a new development and we haven't heard of it, Sam will look into it and everyone can benefit from the experience. If it's someplace that sounds great, but has just recently turned nasty, we'll let you in on the grapevine commentary. Also, if you want to have an idea of the cost of living area by area in Mexico City, just click here and compare.

North

Ciudad Satélite, Tlalnepantla, Valle Dorado, Echegaray

An area of town that was developed specifically for the middle class around Ciudad Satelite (literally, "Satellite City"), this part of the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) is in the surrounding state of Mexico. Laws are slightly different in Mexico State than they are in the Federal District, but the problems are basically the same. License plates from that area of the city say MEX-MEX at the bottom instead of DF-MEX. Neighborhoods in this area are generally middle class, like they were intended, and although there's a lot of commercial activity (especially along Periferico Norte, Via Gustavo Baz, etc.), inside the residential areas it's pretty suburban. There are a lot of jokes about people from this area because they tend to be a little "slicker" than the rest, souping up their cars with accessories and chrome wheels, as well as wearing gold chains and putting gel in their hair. In that sense, it's a lot like "the Valley" in Los Angeles, where there's a well-defined suburban culture. One place that's physically in this area, but culturally excluded, is the Club de Golf Hacienda, which is more exclusive and has a more typical golf club atmosphere. Perhaps the worst part of living in the north of the urban sprawl is Periferico Norte, which is, beyond the toll highway that surrounds the Northwest perimeter, the only access. Although you can find everything you could want in terms of stores and restaurants without leaving the vicinity, most offices, cultural and social life is much further south. Click for cost of living.

Snootiness
Hipness
Accessibility
QOL
Security
Environment	neighborly

Northwest I

Tecamachalco

This area is considered more or less upper middle-class (for Mexico), and it contains a relatively large Jewish community. Its feel is "concrete suburban," that is, suburban without the gardens and green spaces associated with American suburbia. Tecamachalco is generally an agreeable place to live, although, like the rest of the north of Mexico City, it is a little apart from the cultural life of town. There are enough stores and restaurants for essential shopping and a decent meal; nevertheless, Tecamachalco has relatively easy access to both Interlomas and Polanco, where both of these needs are more than amply met. Public transportation access is very limited. Click for cost of living.

Snootiness
Hipness
Accessibility
QOL
Security
Environment	neighborly

Northwest II

Interlomas, Lomas de la Herradura

Just like Tecamachalco, this area is considered Mexican upper-middle and middle class, although Interlomas is a lot newer. Interlomas also has the advantage of a lot of shopping areas, some restaurants, excellent gym and fitness facilities, and a lot of the "mall"-type lifestyle that makes for easy suburban living. Mexico City's most modern hospital, the Angeles Interlomas is based there. La Herradura is a little neighborlier and a little greener, with its verdant hills and some parks. Access is a little annoying because you have to drive through Tecamachalco to get there from the center of town. It has the same problem regarding access to cultural venues and hip restaurants that Tecamachalco and the North have. The Anahuac, a small, private university for the wealthy is there. Public transportation access is very limited. Click for cost of living.

Snootiness
Hipness
Accessibility
QOL
Security
Environment	neighborly/commercial