Sandra Ortiz finds it difficult to discuss her family’s restaurant without tears. “They gave us five minutes to clear everything out,” she recalled, remembering the day they were evicted earlier this year.
For 54 years, Ortiz’s family ran Tortería Colima, a beloved local restaurant in Mexico City’s Roma neighborhood. Her father began the business as a bakery in 1968, and Sandra and her siblings later expanded it into a full-fledged restaurant. But as the area transformed, with an influx of foreigners, mainly from the US, landlords began to renovate properties to attract wealthier tenants. The once-occasional tourists became full-time neighbors, driving up rent prices.
The Ortiz family’s landlord followed suit, and after a legal battle, they were forced to leave. Decades of memories and belongings were packed up and moved out. The space where their restaurant once thrived is now being remodeled into luxury apartments. “It was painful; they hurt us a lot,” Ortiz said, now working alongside her sisters at a different restaurant far from their original location.
Sandra acknowledges that rising global inflation and the impact of the pandemic made the situation more challenging. She doesn’t blame foreigners for wanting to experience Mexico City, but she fears that as more US expats move in, more locals will be priced out of their homes and businesses. Across the street from their closed restaurant, a storefront sign in English welcomes new residents, highlighting the increasing presence of foreign nationals in the area.
Local professor Fernando Bustos Gorozpe sees why many Americans are drawn to Mexico City. “It’s beautiful, the cost of living is lower, and they can enjoy a better lifestyle,” he said. However, he noted that many new residents show little interest in integrating with the local culture. According to Bustos Gorozpe, the trend of American expats moving to Mexico accelerated during the pandemic when Mexico had fewer border restrictions. Combined with the rise of remote work, many US citizens opted to live in Mexico City, drawn by its affordability and lifestyle benefits.
Official data shows that there are 1.6 million US citizens living in Mexico, though the exact number working on tourist visas remains unclear. Real estate agents have reported a sharp increase in interest from Americans looking to move to the city, particularly from places like Los Angeles and New York, where the cost of living is high.
Real estate agent Edyta Norejko, who specializes in helping foreigners settle in Mexico City, said that about 70% of her clients come from abroad. While the influx has brought economic benefits, like increased tourism revenue, Bustos Gorozpe warned that the money often only benefits a few, while many locals are displaced due to soaring rent prices.
In popular neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa, cafes and restaurants cater to English-speaking expats, with fewer attempts to learn Spanish. Some locals have grown frustrated, feeling the cultural shift and rising costs. Signs in certain areas even express their discontent, reading, “Please leave, we don’t want you here.”
The presence of digital nomads is another factor contributing to the rising demand for rentals. Erik Rodriguez, a 37-year-old remote worker originally from San Diego, is among the Americans who’ve relocated to Mexico City. While he appreciates the lower cost of living and quality of life, he’s aware of the concerns locals have. “When I arrived, I felt welcomed, but now I hear more complaints from residents about how expats affect their lives,” he said.
