Renting in Merida, Mexico: An Insider’s Guide To Expat Housing Options

In this article, I’ll show you examples of apartments in Merida, Mexico where you could be paying less than half that. 

Getting To Know The Merida Housing Market

Merida’s rental market offers exceptional value compared to U.S. prices, with well-appointed apartments available from 12,500 to 25,000 pesos monthly ($750-1,500 USD). Whether you’re drawn to the historic Centro’s colonial charm or the modern northern districts’ amenities, Merida provides diverse housing options for every budget and lifestyle preference.

But Merida is no backwater country town. Merida is the capital of the state of Yucatan and is an emerging hub for investment and growth in the country. The city has seen its population grow twenty percent in the last decade, with a large influx of both foreign expats and Mexicans from other states drawn to the areas gorgeous cenotes, proximity to pristine beaches, Mayan ruins, and liberal visa policy. Combine that with getting voted Cultural Capital of the Americas twice and with a reputation as one of Mexico’s safest city, Merida is now established as hotspot.

What sets Merida apart from popular tourist destinations like Cancun or Playa del Carmen is its authentic Mexican character combined with expat-friendly infrastructure. The city has experienced significant growth in recent years, attracting digital nomads, retirees, and professionals seeking a high quality of life at a fraction of North American costs.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore:

• The most desirable neighborhoods for expats
• Current rental prices and what they include
• Real examples of available apartments
• Essential tips for navigating the local rental market
• Important considerations about flooding and location

Today, we’re giving you an insider’s tour of four apartments, right in the heart of Merida’s central districts. We’ve got everything from a cozy studio to a spacious shared villa, a stylish two-bedroom apartment, and even a brand new two-story house. Prices range between 12,500 to 25,000 MXN , which is roughly $690 to $1380 US Dollars per month.

First let me share some quick background on the city and the neighborhoods, but if you are already familiar with Merida and just want to see the apartments, you can click here to jump to the apartment tours.

Merida Background

Merida slips under the radar for most foreigners checking out Mexico. It’s not the tourist hub like nearby Cancun, Tulum, or Playa del Carmen. And it’s only recently been getting a reputation among digital nomads and expats looking for a lower cost alternative to rising prices of Mexico City. 

But Merida is no backwater country town. Merida is the capital of the state of Yucatan and is an emerging hub for investment and growth in the country. The city has seen its population grow twenty percent in the last decade, with a large influx of both foreign expats and Mexicans from other states drawn to the areas gorgeous cenotes, proximity to pristine beaches, Mayan ruins, and unique Yucatan cuisine. Combine that with getting voted Cultural Capital of the Americas twice and with a reputation as one of Mexico’s safest city, Merida is now established as hotspot.

There are over 1.3 million people living here, with the expat population somewhere between 10,000 to 20,000. Estimates vary, because a large number of US and Canadian expats are snowbirds and spend six months here escaping the harsh winters back home. 

With popularity, comes increasing prices. With some estimates showing a jump in housing prices of over 15% annually.  However, to counter the increased popularity and inflation, the USD has significantly strengthen against the peso. We’ve seen peso weaken against the USD by over 20% in the last 12 months. Your money stretches a lot further here in 2025. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much bang you get for your rental buck in Merida.

Choosing Where To Live In Merida

Merida’s population is over 1.3 million and there is a massive issue with suburban sprawl. The city is very spread out, making walkability in some areas far more convenient than others. For example, our first apartment was in a neighborhood technically on the border of Centro, but there wasn’t a single medium-sized grocery store within walking distance. 

We didn’t have a car, so this meant a long walk in the hot sun or spending or spending extra to get groceries delivered or taking an Uber to the store.

We focused on homes in the core of the city, but if you want to move a bit further out, there are cheaper options, but you give up the convenience of being near the city’s heart of activity, cultural events, and restaurants.

We intentionally stayed away from the northern areas of Merida. Merida Norte is a more affluent area. Here you’ll find gated communities, with large modern homes. If you miss malls and US suburban living, you can find it here. As we don’t have a car, living this far away from the city center was a no go. 

Merida Neighborhood Overview

Let’s start with neighborhoods. The city center is called “centro” in spanish. Many expats gravitate towards the central and upper parts of centro. It’s got that historic charm. There are colorful houses lining the streets. Lots of cute cafes and restaurants. Unlike Queretaro, San Miguel de Allande, or Guanajuato, Merida’s Centro is not a UNESCO WoId heritage site so it’s not a instagram pretty as those cities, but there are streets that have a similar picturesque vibe. 

The northern parts of Merida are less charming but far more developed,but they offer more modern Western-like  conveniences like air-conditioned gyms, better public transportation, and large grocery stores such as Chedraui Select, Soriana Hiper, and Walmart. They even have a Costco! So, if you’re missing those free samples or are craving an American-style Costco hot dog, you’re in luck.

But, not all of Centro is as cute as it looks in travel brochures. As soon as you venture east, south, or west from the core, you’ll notice a stark difference. The streets get less picturesque, the houses a bit less charming, and the sidewalks…well, they can be an adventure on their own – uneven, high, or sometimes just missing. On the bright side, rents in these areas are usually cheaper.

We love being close to the beautiful parts of Centro, so all the housing options we’re showing you today are near the lovely central area. Keep in mind, we signed our contracts in the slow season here, so it was a renter’s market when we negotiated our leases. If you are housing hunting during the high season, especially around December, January, and February when the snowbirds from the US and Canada head south, prices jump around twenty percent ish.

INSIDER TIP: Flooding in Merida– One of my biggest complaints about Merida is the lack of trees and green spaces. Without trees, summers here are hotter than anywhere I have ever lived.

However, the lack of trees is also a drawback during the rainy season. We didn’t expect flooding to be such a pain in Merida, but surprise, lots of concrete, no laws, and few green spaces means water can’t seep into the ground and pools.

When the rainy season hit, we were constantly trapped indoors with a flooded kitchen and living room. It was not fun. Usually, it clears up within 24 hours, but still, it’s a mess while it’s there.

Floods can occur in all areas of the city, but certain streets and neighborhoods are more prone. Centro is notorious. Our area in Chem Bech was always hit. Additionally, be wary of any houses in Las Americas, parts of Itzimna, and Avenida Itzaes.

Even outside of those areas, here are some tips to determine if a place might flood:

1. High sidewalks: In many parts of town if you see tall sidewalks, it’s a good sign that the roads flood.
2. Ask a taxi driver: These folks know the streets like the back of their hands. If you’ve got your eye on a house, ask a cab driver if the area floods.
3. Chat with local businesses: People running small shops in the neighborhood will know which roads turn into rivers during heavy rain.

Remember, having a fully concrete backyard isn’t great for drainage. If water has nowhere to go, it’s more likely to end up inside your house. So, watch for that when you’re looking at properties.

1) Apartment 1: Two Room Shared Villa

Alright, let’s kick things off with our first apartment for 12,500 Mexican pesos. This gem is a two-room shared villa, and it’s quite the find. The spacious bedroom comes with a comfy couch and a big king-size bed, and… typical for the area, has a hammock with wall mounts, perfect for those lazy Sunday mornings. There’s also a dedicated office room with a desk and tons of closet and storage space, plus a private bathroom. The bedroom has an AC, which is essential in Merida, where heatwaves of 110°F are all too common. 

INSIDER TIP: Merida is HOT- Merida’s a freaking oven. Not having a pool here is basically a deal breaker. Now I’m no stranger to heat. I’ve lived all over the world in “hot” places like Egypt, Vietnam, Morocco, Las Vegas… I mean I was born in the Philippines. I know about living in tropical heat and humidity, but let me tell you, I’ve never experienced heat like Merida’s. 

Make sure your house has a pool. Nuff said.  

The rest of the villa is shared, but it’s all about communal living with style. There’s a roomy living area, a beautiful garden, and a pool where you can cool off – trust us, you’ll need a pool in merida! The shared kitchen is well-equipped with four gas burners and a big fridge, so you can cook up a storm whenever you like. The garden and pool area have plenty of seating, perfect for relaxing and soaking in the view.

This place really blends comfort with practicality and affordability, making it a great start to our tour.

The rent here converts to roughly $700 USD and includes a pooler cleaner, house cleaning service once a week, high speed internet, and all utilities except electricity. 

INSIDER TIP: Electricity Costs In Mexico – Your power bill in Mexico can get quite pricey. Electricity is almost never included in the rental rate because prices can get exorbitant during a Merida heatwave. Always double-check the terms with your landlord so you’re not caught off guard. Power rates in Merida are on escalating tiers- the more you use, the higher they get. There is even a doméstico de alto consumo or (DAC) rate for any users that go past what the power company deems as “high” for the area. That DAC rate can be 3 to 5 times higher the base rate. 

And the rates change for different parts of the year. During the hot months, plan for massive electricity bill. To give you an idea, cooling just one room in our house for about 20 hours a day during a 110°F heatwave cost us around 100 USD per month. Fortunately, that extreme heat only lasted about a month and a half.

2) Apartment 2: Spacious studio with natural vibes

Next up is a spacious studio renting for 14,000 MXN. This studio included two double-sized beds, a comfy couch, and a little dedicated workspace. The studio is flooded with natural light, making it feel open and airy. The bathroom was really unique. It was big and bright, with two sinks, natural stone walls, and plenty of windows looking out into the backyard. The bamboo accented decor gives off a “I’m naked and showing outdoors” kinda vibe. 

Now, the minimalist kitchen was the biggest downer. I struggled cooking with just a two-burner gas stove and a small fridge. Luckily, tacos here are cheap.

But on the plus side, it’s one of the larger studios we’ve seen with plenty of empty floor space. Perfect for laying out some mats for a good stretch or doing some yoga. The apartment also came with an AC and a shared pool.

INSIDER TIP: Airbnb Negotiations- If you find an apartment on Airbnb, message the host directly and try to negotiate. Most hosts are willing to reduce the rent for long-term stays, especially during the slower season.

3) Apartment 3: Modern two-bedroom apartment

Next, we have a brand new, spacious twenty-two thousand peso two-bedroom apartment. This one was a beauty with a modern and colorful chic design. It felt like an Ikea showroom. The living room area is inviting with a comfortable couch, a big TV, and an office table. The kitchen area has an induction stove (my favorite), a big fridge, a washing machine, and a large dining table—perfect for those who enjoy cooking and dining in style.

Each of the two bedrooms has its own private bathroom. They also come with blackout curtains, which is a great feature for those who value their sleep and helps keep the heat out. During our visit, the curtains were closed, making the rooms appear darker than they actually are. But once you pulled them open, the rooms were actually plenty bright. Each bedroom and the living were equipped with a individual ACs.

There’s also a small shared hangout area with a plunge pool on the apartment building’s terrace. It’s a great spot to cool off with a michelada and relax after a long day.

4) Apartment 4: Two-story house with private pool

Finally, we have a brand new, stunning two-story, two-bedroom house for 25,000 peso. At just a shade under one thousand four hundred dollars a month, this is the pricer option, but in my opinion, well worth the extra cost. 

As soon as you step inside, you’re greeted by an entry hall with plenty of storage, including a washer and dryer conveniently hidden in the closets. The modern designed kitchen is perfect for foodies or anyone that likes cooking and entertaining. The kitchen boasts a massive 5-burner gas stove, overhead vent, and an island for extra workspace. It opens up to a large solid wood dining table and a high ceiling living room  with tall wall to wall glass doors overlooking the garden and pool. This setup was made for having friends over for dinner and drinks.

Each room in the house comes with an AC and ceiling fans, ensuring you stay comfortable no matter the season. The private garden and pool are highlights, complete with papaya trees, so you can enjoy fresh papayas whenever you like. The large glass facades allow natural light to flood every room, while the north-facing orientation of the house avoids direct sunlight, which is especially nice during Merida’s hot seasons.

Upstairs, you’ll find two spacious bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. The courtyard views are filled with greenery from the old trees in the neighboring yards, giving you a serene, leafy outlook despite being in the heart of the city.