Digital nomads have made their presence known in nearly all corners around the world, but in Mexico City, locals are struggling with affordability at home.
In recent years, international travelers (mostly from the U.S.) have come to work and live in Mexico thanks to its low cost of living and year-round warm weather.
“There’s obviously a lot of advantages if you can earn in dollars and spend in pesos,” said Marko Ayling, a writer and content creator originally from San Diego, California. “You’re essentially tripling your income.”
However, activists and researchers have found that the rise in digital nomads has driven inflation up, creating a wider gap between upper and lower-class residents.
In neighborhoods such as Condesa and Roma, long-term residents are being priced out of their homes as landlords turn to platforms like Airbnb to make their income.
Additionally, there is a huge divide between Mexican and American salaries, meaning American workers who come into Mexico are often given an immediate upper hand when choosing their living situation.
Although the rise of digital nomadism certainly has its benefits when it comes to supporting local economies, the residents who make these regions special and operational could suffer.
