Digital Nomads

Working Remotely from Guadalajara: Internet, Coworking and Where to Live

By Fernando R · · 7 min read

Laptop on a desk in a modern workspace

Guadalajara works well for remote work: fiber internet of 200 Mbps or more is widely available, the city has a mature tech industry that earned it the nickname “Mexico’s Silicon Valley”, the climate is mild most of the year, and the city keeps Central Standard Time all year, which overlaps well with working hours across the United States and Canada.

Guadalajara has been called “Mexico’s Silicon Valley” for over a decade. Global companies such as IBM, Oracle and Intel run large operations in the metro area, and that industry has shaped the city: fast internet, a large community of developers and designers, and plenty of places to work. For remote workers, it adds up to one of the easiest cities in Latin America to settle into.

How fast is the internet in Guadalajara?

  • Home fiber: plans of 200 Mbps and more are common in central neighborhoods. At Nora the connection runs above 200 Mbps.
  • Main providers: Telmex (Infinitum), Izzi, Totalplay and Megacable.
  • Mobile data: Telcel and AT&T have good 4G and 5G coverage across the metro area; a local SIM is cheap and makes a solid backup.
  • Cafés: speeds vary widely; fine for email and documents, less reliable for long video calls.

Where to work

Guadalajara has coworking options for every budget, from international chains such as WeWork in the business districts to independent spaces in Providencia and the Americana. Day passes are easy to find, and monthly hot desks generally cost a few thousand pesos.

For stays of one to three months, the most efficient setup is usually a coliving with coworking built in: the workspace is included in the rent, the internet is set up for heavy use and your commute is a flight of stairs. Our guide to coliving in Guadalajara compares it with Airbnb and renting an apartment.

Remote worker on a laptop in Guadalajara
Fast internet, a mild climate and North American time zones make Guadalajara easy to work from.

Neighborhoods remote workers choose

  • Mexicaltzingo: quiet and central, 10 minutes on foot from the Historic Center, and more affordable than the trendier areas. See our Mexicaltzingo guide.
  • Chapultepec and Americana: the highest density of specialty cafés and nightlife. Creative and lively, but pricier to live in.
  • Providencia: calmer and more residential, popular with corporate professionals.
  • Ciudad Creativa Digital: a government-backed hub for tech and creative companies in the center.

Visas for remote workers

Mexico has no dedicated digital nomad visa. Most remote workers enter on a tourist permit, granted for up to 180 days at the immigration officer’s discretion, and work for employers or clients outside Mexico. For longer stays, the route is a Temporary Resident Visa applied for at a Mexican consulate before you travel. Our guide to visas for remote workers in Mexico explains both in detail.

The tech community

Guadalajara has an active tech scene, with regular developer, design and startup meetups and events throughout the year. Between the local industry and the steady flow of remote workers, meeting people who do what you do is genuinely easy here.

Guadalajara or Mexico City?

Guadalajara is generally cheaper, calmer and easier to get around, while Mexico City offers more culture and a bigger international community. We compare cost, internet, climate and community in Guadalajara vs. Mexico City for remote work.

Looking for a place to live and work in Guadalajara, with everything included?

See long-term stays at Nora