Mexico City sits at roughly 2,240 meters — high enough that some visitors notice mild shortness of breath or tiredness for the first few days, which passes on its own. Most international flights land at Mexico City International (MEX); the newer Felipe Ángeles Airport (AIFA), further from the center, serves a growing number of routes at often lower fares, at the cost of a longer trip into the city. The dry season runs roughly November through April, with afternoon rain common from May through October.
What renting here actually requires
Long-term rentals in Mexico City traditionally ask for a fiador — a Mexican citizen who owns property and co-signs as guarantor — which is a real obstacle for anyone arriving from abroad. Owners used to renting to foreign tenants increasingly accept an alternative instead: a larger deposit, often two to three months' rent, in place of a fiador. Ask directly which one a listing expects before you get attached to it.
Traffic makes the map misleading
Mexico City is enormous, and distances that look short on a map can take a long time at rush hour. Which neighborhood you're in matters less for "is it close to things" and more for "how much of each day do you want to spend in a car or on the metro" — pick based on which part of the city you'll actually be in day to day, not the center of the map.
Getting your bearings
Roma Norte is dense, design-and-food focused, and has the largest concentration of English-speaking residents and remote workers in the city — the easiest first neighborhood for a newcomer. Condesa, next door, is greener and quieter around its two big parks, slightly cheaper, and a strong fit for couples or anyone with a dog. Polanco is the polished, upscale end of the city — wide boulevards, embassies, and the highest prices, along with the most visible security presence. Coyoacán, in the south, is a colonial town within the city itself: cobblestone streets, the Frida Kahlo museum, and a slower pace, at rents below the other three.