Oaxaca
Oaxaca is Mexico's cultural and culinary capital a colonial city in a mountain valley at 1,550m where eight distinct Indigenous cultures converge in markets, textile workshops, and mezcal distilleries. The digital nomad scene arrived quietly but firmly; co-working spaces share the same cobblestone streets as 500-year-old churches. At under $1,000/month all-in, it is one of the best-value liveable cities in the Americas.
Oaxaca, Mexico has a solid, growing expat community and excellent year-round weather. Expect rent from $550/mo (about $1,040/mo all-in), with a very easy visa process — see how it stacks up against 355 other cities on Jonzy.
Best for: Digital nomads, Food lovers, Culture lovers, Artists.
- Rent from $550/mo, about $1,040/mo all-in for one person.
- Safety 70/100 · Internet 60/100 · excellent year-round weather.
- Visa: Very Easy process, no formal waiting period (retirement option: Mexico Residente Temporal (Rentista)).
- Local salaries average around $800/mo, with a solid, growing expat community.
Cost of living in Oaxaca
| Rent (1-bed, typical) | $550/mo |
|---|---|
| Food & groceries | $220/mo |
| Transport | $40/mo |
| Healthcare | $70/mo |
| Utilities | $60/mo |
| Other essentials | $100/mo |
| Total (all-in) | $1,040/mo |
How Oaxaca stacks up
- Rent eats about 53% of a one-person monthly budget in Oaxaca — a rent-heavy split, so location choice moves your total the most.
- At ~$1,040/mo all-in, Oaxaca runs about 26% cheaper than the median Jonzy city ($1,400/mo).
- A local salary (~$800/mo) covers roughly 77% of one person's costs — most movers here rely on foreign or remote income.
- Its strongest catalog score is climate (88/100); the weakest is internet (60/100).
Is Oaxaca right for you?
Highlights
- Excellent year-round weather.
- Straightforward long-stay setup — little to no processing wait.
- Dedicated retirement route (Mexico Residente Temporal (Rentista)).
Quality of life in Oaxaca
- Safety: 70/100
- Internet speed: 60/100
- Climate: 88/100
- Healthcare: 68/100
- Expat community: 72/100
Taxes in Oaxaca
0% on foreign income (non-resident)
Living in Mexico
Mexico is a vibrant North American nation with deep cultural roots, incredible cuisine, and a growing economy. Its territorial tax model means non-residents owe zero Mexican income tax on foreign-sourced earnings, and most Western nationalities receive 180 days on arrival. The Residente Temporal visa provides formal residency with a clear path to permanency.
Oaxaca relocation FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Oaxaca?
Budget roughly $1,040/mo all-in for one person in Oaxaca — rent from $550/mo, plus food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and everyday extras. It has a solid, growing expat community, so ready-made shortcuts on where to live exist.
What is the monthly cost breakdown in Oaxaca?
Typical monthly costs for one person in Oaxaca: rent from $550, food $220, transport $40, healthcare $70, utilities $60, and other essentials $100 — about $1,040/mo all-in. Sign in to Jonzy for community-validated figures and a budget tuned to your lifestyle.
Is Oaxaca a good place to relocate?
Oaxaca has excellent year-round weather and a solid, growing expat community, with a very easy visa process (no formal waiting period). Those are catalog averages — Jonzy ranks Oaxaca against 355 other cities for your specific income, passport, and priorities.
What visa do I need to live in Oaxaca?
Long-stay relocation routes for Oaxaca depend on your passport. For example, a US passport holder may see "Temporary Resident — Remote Worker" (is catalogued in our catalog). Tourist entry is separate, confirm border rules on official sources before travel. Jonzy matches Mexico against 525+ visa programs in-app. Informational only, not legal advice.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Oaxaca?
Core costs for one person run about $1,040/mo, so a comfortable budget with room for savings, travel, and irregular expenses is roughly $1,500/mo take-home. Local salaries average around $800/mo. Jonzy calculates your exact surplus after tax for your income and passport.
Who is Oaxaca best for?
Oaxaca tends to suit digital nomads, food lovers, culture lovers and artists — based on its cost profile (about $1,040/mo all-in), 60/100 internet, 70/100 safety, and a solid, growing expat community. Jonzy scores it against your own income, passport, and lifestyle priorities so you can see whether it fits you specifically, not just the average relocator.
Is Oaxaca expensive to live in?
At about $1,040/mo all-in for one person, Oaxaca is one of the more affordable cities in the catalog — about 26% below the median of the 356 Jonzy cities ($1,400/mo). Your own number depends on neighbourhood, lifestyle, and whether you rent short- or long-term.
Is Oaxaca safe to live in?
Oaxaca scores 70/100 on Jonzy's safety index, reasonably safe by catalog standards. For families specifically it rates 72/100. Safety varies sharply by neighbourhood and time of day everywhere — treat the score as a city-level average, and use community threads for street-level reality.
Is Oaxaca good for remote work?
Connectivity scores 60/100 — workable but worth verifying per building before signing a lease. The expat and nomad scene rates 72/100, and work-life balance 85/100. Combined with ~$1,040/mo all-in costs, that is the core remote-work math for Oaxaca; Jonzy re-ranks it against your own income and timezone needs.
What is the weather like in Oaxaca?
Oaxaca scores 88/100 for climate — one of the better climates in the catalog. It logs roughly 300 sunny days a year in the catalog. The city guide's seasonal data shows how the year actually feels; the climate planner tool maps it against your heat and daylight preferences.
What are taxes like in Oaxaca?
Typical tax snapshot for Oaxaca, Mexico: 0% on foreign income (non-resident). Your actual liability depends on residency status, income source, and any tax treaty — Jonzy estimates take-home pay for your specific situation, and this is not tax advice.