You’ve Landed in Mexico: What Canadians Need to Know First

You did the paperwork. You got the visa. You shipped what was worth shipping and sold what wasn’t. Now you’re standing in your new apartment in Roma Norte wondering why there’s no AC and why the water pressure cuts out at 7am.

This is the part nobody writes about. Here’s what you actually need to know in the first weeks.

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Getting Around

Mexico City Metro is one of the best transit systems in Latin America. Twelve lines, 195 stations, and a flat fare of $5 MXN per ride (about $0.35 CAD). Get a Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada (plastic rechargeable card) at any station - buying tokens every ride gets tedious fast. Avoid rush hour (7:30-9:30am, 6-8pm) if you can. The system runs until midnight.

Uber is reliable and cheap in Mexico City. Expect $3-8 CAD for most in-city trips. Use it for airport runs and any time you’re out late. It works essentially the same as in Canada.

Do not buy a car in Mexico City. Traffic is genuinely brutal, parking is limited and expensive, and your Canadian driving habits (stopping for pedestrians, maintaining lane discipline) will be tested every 90 seconds. Most long-term Mexico City residents who owned cars eventually gave them up.

Outside CDMX: If you’re based in Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta, or smaller towns, a car becomes more useful. Canadian licences are valid. For longer residency, you’ll need a Mexican licence - the process varies by state but typically requires your residency card, CURP number, and a written test.

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Where Canadians Tend to Land

Roma Norte and Condesa are the default expat neighbourhoods in Mexico City - walkable, safe, good restaurants, tree-lined streets. Roma Norte is slightly more mixed and interesting. Condesa is quieter, slightly more polished.

Polanco is the upscale business district. Higher rents, closer to corporate offices, feels more international and less Mexican. Worth it if you’re doing regular client meetings.

Coyoacán is where Frida Kahlo lived. Charming, more residential, slower pace, popular with artists and academics. A bit further from the action.

For co-working: Homework, Selina, and WeWork all have Mexico City locations. The Facebook group “Mexico City Expats” is active and useful for recommendations.

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Day-to-Day Shopping

La Comer is your primary grocery store - closest thing to a Canadian supermarket. Good produce section, reliable stock, located throughout the city.

Walmart Mexico exists and looks almost identical to the Canadian version. If you need a familiar reference point in your first week, it’s there.

Costco Mexico also exists, in Satélite and other locations. Membership from your Canadian card does not transfer - you’ll need a new membership.

Mercado de Medellín in Roma is worth learning. Fresh produce, cheese, butchers, prepared food stalls. Cheaper than La Comer for staples, and the quality on fresh items is usually better.

For specialty items - imported cereals, Canadian-style peanut butter, real maple syrup - try specialty shops in Polanco or Condesa. They exist, they’re expensive, and after a few months you’ll mostly stop needing them.

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Furnishing a Place

Buy local. Shipping anything from Canada through Mexican customs is slow, unpredictable, and usually costs more than just buying it here.

IKEA has one location in CDMX (near Toreo). Familiar product line, similar pricing structure.

Liverpool is Mexico’s department store equivalent - think a more functional Hudson’s Bay. Appliances, bedding, cookware, everything.

Coppel is the budget version. Functional and cheap. Good for a blender or fan while you figure out what you actually need.

Facebook Marketplace Mexico has a solid secondhand market, particularly in expat-heavy neighbourhoods. Search in Spanish for better results.

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Food and Eating Out

Budget $4-12 CAD for a sit-down lunch at a neighbourhood restaurant. Street tacos run $0.50-1.50 CAD each. Evening meals at nicer places run $15-30 CAD. Alcohol is cheap.

Street food in busy areas is generally safe - your gut will adjust in the first two weeks. The general rule: look for high turnover. If locals are eating there, it’s fine.

What you’ll miss: cheddar cheese (available at Costco or La Comer import sections, but expensive), back bacon, and anything maple. What you’ll replace it with: every variety of fresh salsa, excellent avocado at $0.30 CAD each, and an entirely different relationship with corn.

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Things That Will Catch You Off Guard

Altitude. Mexico City sits at 2,240 metres. Your first week involves unexplained shortness of breath, occasional headaches, and worse hangovers than you’re used to. It passes.

The water. Do not drink tap water. Ever. You’ll get a garrafón (20-litre jug) delivered to your apartment weekly - your landlord will show you the service to call. Budget around $2-4 CAD per jug.

No AC. Mexico City’s altitude gives it a mild year-round climate - daytime highs rarely exceed 28°C. Most apartments do not have air conditioning. This is not an oversight. It also means they have no insulation for the 10°C nights in January.

Pharmacies are everywhere and open late. Many run 24 hours. Basic medications available without a prescription. This will change how you handle minor ailments.

CDMX is seismically active. Download the app “SkyAlert” for earthquake notifications. In your first months, you’ll likely feel a minor tremor. The city’s earthquake warning system (a distinctive alarm) triggers 60-90 seconds before significant events. Take a moment to locate your building’s emergency exits.