Should you choose Tulum, Mexico for your next remote work destination?

While it would be great to choose any country for a remote work location, the reality is that it doesn’t necessarily work that way for digital nomads. There are a few things to look out for when choosing a destination to work from. This guide will give you some insight into whether Tulum is a good remote work destination.

Tulum has stunning beaches, cenotes, lush nature reserves, great food, and of course great weather.

What about working from Tulum?

When choosing a remote work location, there are a few things that are key in making that decision.

Wi-Fi

I’ve heard stories from people living in Tulum that WiFi in Tulum can be spotty at times. I worked primarily from my Airbnb and a coworking spot and fortunately I never ran into issues with connectivity. I mainly take video calls at work and the internet was stable for all of my meetings. The Wi-Fi in the Airbnb was fast at 93 Mbps.

Your Wi-Fi speed will vary based on where you’re staying so I would suggest asking for the Wi-Fi speed before booking your Airbnb to make sure it will be steady enough for remote work.

If there is any issue with Wi-Fi speed in your hotel/Airbnb, you can also choose to work from plenty of cafes or coworking spaces, all with good Wi-Fi.

Cost of Living

If you’re considering working from Tulum as a digital nomad, definitely consider staying in an Airbnb in town as this will be the most affordable. Since most digital nomads are traveling a lot, we are usually looking to base ourselves in places that are generally affordable.

Is Tulum really affordable though?

Tulum beach is very pricey but prices are more reasonable in town. I would suggest booking your Airbnb (or hotel) in town. You can also get a better deal if you’re staying for a full week (or even better discount when staying a full month) in an Airbnb. There are 3 main neighborhoods in Tulum – town area, la Veleta, and Aldea Zama. The plus side staying in town is that there is a big expat/digital nomad community and you will likely meet other digital nomads during your stay in Tulum.

As far as food, you can definitely make your stay less pricey by either buying groceries at a nearby supermarket (Chedraui is the main supermarket in Tulum) and cooking or going to local spots in town for food. There are tons of local authentic options that are also much more affordable than a lot of restaurants in town.

Coworking Space

There are several coworking spots in Tulum but by far my favorite is Digital Jungle. I just loved everything about it. The aesthetic is beautiful and it has a very relaxed yet focused vibe. It’s quiet which is also really important for me to focus.

It’s a bit pricey at $400MXN/$21.00USD but that includes using the space all day from 7am-9pm and free drip coffee.

I also love that it has private phone booths or private offices, if you choose to not work in the main open desk area (phone booths and offices for an additional cost). If you’re planning on staying in Tulum longer, you can buy a week pass for $1500MXN/$80 USD or a monthly pass at $5000MXN/$263USD. They also offer half day passes as well as a 3 day pass for the price of 2 days.

If you’re just looking to change up your work environment but don’t want to spend so much on a coworking space, you can head over to Holistica Hotel where they have a juice bar with a space to set up and work or you can sit at the restaurant and simply order a coffee.

And if you really want to change up your work space, there are also some beachclubs on the beach that offer coworking spaces. I personally find it hard to concentrate on a beautiful beach when I could just be relaxing on the beach itself, but if you can focus on the beach then go for it! My personal favorite was Orchid beach club where they have a private area on the second floor with tables and outlets to set up.

Transportation

As a digital nomad, I’ll assume you’re likely going to stay in Tulum for at least a week. I would highly suggest renting either a car, bicycle, scooter or ATV to get around. You definitely need something to get around versus just relying on walking everywhere. Depending on the neighborhood you’re staying in, your walk into town could be anywhere from 20-30 minutes and that’s not ideal if you’re working all day and looking to grab a quick bite to eat somewhere. There will be options in your neighborhood (whether you’re staying in la Veleta or Aldea Zama) but they will likely be pricier versus going into town.

Overall if you’re looking for a warm beach destination, I would recommend Tulum for digital nomads.

As long as you’re making sure you’re Tulum trip is more affordable, it can be a great destination to work remotely. I would highly recommend against staying on the beach as a digital nomad due to the high prices. If you rent a car (or scooter), stay in town, and eat in local spots in town, then Tulum can be a great choice for your next (or first) digital nomad destination.