You Can Live In This Mexican City That Feels Like Europe For Under $800 A Month

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Who would have thought you could immerse yourself in European-esque streets south of the border?

It's true, and it's easy to reach from numerous U.S. cities, even as the DOT recently banned certain flight routes to Mexico.

Boasting staggering cathedrals seemingly plucked from a Spanish postcard, a cobbled maze of winding walkways, an endless sea of colorful facades, and never-ending rooftop vistas, this affordable city is a far cry from what most expect in Mexico, other than splendid year-round weather. ☀️

Personally, it's one of my favorite places anywhere in Latin America, and even though I'm guilty of being caught in the moment, constantly telling myself “I could live here” almost everywhere, I really mean it for highly underrated Guanajuato.

Not only is Guanajuato light on your wallet, it's culturally captivating, safe to explore at all hours, impossible to find a bad meal, and let's just say you won't need a gym membership with the hilly callecitas you'll navigate — but hey, the sweeping views are worth the trek, especially once a tasty mezcalita graces your lips from a scenic rooftop bar.

A Vibrant City Etched In Time

Minus the lone Starbucks in the main plaza, Guanajuato truly feels un-Americanized. Unlike places such as Mexico City, where you can find a taste of home at numerous American junk chains, Guanajuato offers more authenticity by holding onto its centuries-old charm, local eateries, and timeworn traditions.

The latter being one of my favorite spectacles to witness across Mexico — La Callejoneada. Dozens of estudiantinas parade through the streets singing and dancing their way through Guanajuato’s labyrinth of alleyways, all while donning Spanish garb dating back hundreds of years.

My favorite part about Guanajuato is that it unapologetically sits fat and happy being itself, unlike countless other places that change their identity to appease more tourists.

You won't find many name-brand hotels or many familiar restaurants, but that's all part of the appeal. Wouldn't you prefer to stay in a timeless castle anyway, instead of just another Marriott?

I would — and it's one of my top travel recs in Mexico to book a room at Hotel Castillo Santa Cecilia with unbelievably low rates under $40 per night this winter.

But for a city that never seems to change, I have an inside scoop on one new place. My friend Adriana just opened a new bar and restaurant smack dab in the city center, El Charco de Cantarranas — definitely save room for pasta! 🍝

Guanajuato Should Be A Digital Nomad Hotspot

Often overshadowed by nearby San Miguel, Guanajuato boasts less touristy vibes and an equal amount of charm, and arguably more affordability across the board.

If there's one thing we love to do in our travels here at Travel Off Path, it's save money!

While Guanajuato isn't particularly known for being a digital nomad hotspot, it's a place I've kept in the back of my mind as my #1 go-spot should I ever take the full plunge into digital nomadism.

Having visited Guanajuato twice, it's left a lasting mark on just a couple of extended weekend getaways.

Now we have some numbers to back up why nomads should scope out this color-splashed city as their next base with the help of Travelbinger, who claim you can live here for under $800 per month.

Heck, with the insanely low rates at aforementioned Hotel Castillo, you can score monthly stays there for only $1200, but that may be far-fetched long-term…

Nomads typically rent locally, or at the very least book monthly on such platforms as AirBnB.

A quick search for the month of January shows “entire home” rentals as low as $375, but the favorite is this spacious loft for $537 — plus, who doesn't love a spiral staircase?

Better yet, just as you would in Europe, Guanajuato is a great place to cafe-hop throughout the week. Last time I visited, I banged out a few articles for you folks at La Vie en Rose.

How To Get Here

Americans can fly nonstop to Leon (BJX) from 11 U.S. cities.

It's important to note that BJX is the only airport where I've had negative encounters with taxi drivers for taking an Uber (albeit it was pre-pandemic).

However, on my most recent visit, Uber drivers were still hesitant to pick us up from the airport. It's best to walk to the Oxxo convenience store just outside the airport entrance to book an easy ride into Guanajuato.

Once here, you'll find a surprising amount of attractions — most notably the Museo de las Momias.

This eerie museum houses a collection of more than 100 bodies on display and is yet another cheap facet of the city, only costing about $5 for entry.