Co-living and Co-working in Playa del Carmen: The Trend Attracting Digital Nomads

Playa del Carmen has become the third most popular city in the world for digital nomads, according to the 2025 Nomad List ranking, behind only Lisbon and Bangkok. This is no coincidence. The combination of year-round tropical climate, a cost of living between 40% and 60% lower than comparable cities in the United States or Europe, fiber optic internet with speeds up to 500 Mbps in central areas, an accessible temporary resident visa and a consolidated international community created the perfect ecosystem for the co-living and co-working model to take off.

The co-working ecosystem: more than a shared desk

Fifth Avenue and its perpendicular streets between Calle 14 and Calle 38 hold the highest density of co-working spaces in the Riviera Maya. Nest Coworking, Bunker Coworking, Playa Coworking Hub and Terminal operate with memberships ranging from $150 USD per month for a hot desk to $400 USD for a private office with meeting room included.

But the trend that is truly transforming the real estate market is the integration of co-working within residential developments. In the Corasol area and along Avenida CTM, new mixed-use projects include entire floors dedicated to remote work with redundant internet, soundproofed video call booths, networking areas and specialty coffee operated by the building's management. This is no longer a bonus. It is a requirement that buyers demand.

Co-living: the model that changed the rules of renting

Co-living takes the concept a step further. It is not simply renting a room in a shared house. It is a residential hospitality model where the operator designs the complete experience: furnished private rooms, gourmet communal kitchen areas, living room, rooftop terrace with pool, weekly cleaning, high-speed internet, community events, morning yoga and a community manager who facilitates social integration.

In Playa del Carmen, operators like Selina (headquartered on Calle 12, facing the ocean), Outsite and several independent projects in Colonia Ejidal and the northern part of the city offer stays from $800 USD per month for a private room with shared bathroom to $2,200 USD for a suite with private bathroom and balcony. Occupancy rates exceed 85% annually, with peaks of 98% between November and April.

The business model for investors

This is what makes co-living relevant for anyone looking to invest in real estate in the Riviera Maya, not just live in it.

A two-bedroom apartment in the central area of Playa del Carmen costs between $180,000 and $280,000 USD depending on exact location and amenities. Rented traditionally (annual lease), it generates between $800 and $1,400 USD per month. The same apartment, operated as co-living with two independent rooms, included services and professional management, generates between $1,600 and $3,200 USD per month. Gross return jumps from 5-6% to 9-14% annually.

Operating costs are higher (cleaning, utilities, internet, community management, marketing), but even after deducting them, the net return of the co-living model exceeds that of traditional rental by a range of 2 to 4 percentage points.

Why demand keeps growing

Mexico has offered since 2023 a digital nomad visa that allows legal residence for up to four years with proof of monthly income of $2,600 USD or more. Quintana Roo processed more than 12,000 temporary visas for foreigners in 2025, a 34% increase over 2024 according to data from the National Migration Institute.

Playa del Carmen captures the largest share of that flow in the Riviera Maya for one simple reason: walkability. Unlike Cancun, where you need a car for everything, or Tulum, where distances within the hotel zone are long, Playa del Carmen is a city that works on foot. From your co-living in Colonia Centro you can walk to the beach in 10 minutes, to the supermarket in 5, to the co-working space in 3 and to dinner in any direction.

Tulum is developing its own co-living and co-working ecosystem, especially in the Aldea Zama and Region 15 areas, but it still depends more on a car or bicycle. Puerto Morelos offers a quieter alternative for nomads who prefer small communities, with some emerging co-working spaces along the federal highway.

What to look for if you want to invest in co-living

Walkable location (no more than 15 minutes on foot from the beach and services). Fiber optic internet guaranteed by the developer, not by promise. Unit design that allows real privacy with generous common areas. A professional operator with a demonstrable track record (occupancy, reviews, time in market). And, crucially, a land use permit compatible with co-living operations, which in Quintana Roo requires mixed or commercial use, not purely residential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to operate a co-living in Playa del Carmen? Yes, as long as the property has a mixed or commercial land use permit and complies with the municipal regulations of Solidaridad. Developments specifically designed for co-living already include this permit. If you buy an apartment in a purely residential building to operate as co-living, you need to verify that the condominium bylaws allow it and obtain the corresponding license.

What return can I expect from a co-living investment? Gross return ranges between 9% and 14% annually on the property value, depending on location, management quality and season. After deducting operating costs (cleaning, utilities, marketing, administration), net return falls between 7% and 10%. This significantly exceeds the 4% to 6% net return from long-term traditional rental in the same area.

Do digital nomads really pay those prices for a room? Yes. A digital nomad earning $4,000 to $8,000 USD per month working remotely allocates between $800 and $2,200 USD for accommodation. Compared to the cost of an apartment in Austin, Barcelona or Berlin, Playa del Carmen remains significantly more affordable, with the added benefit of beach, tropical climate and an active international community.

What is the difference between co-living and Airbnb? Co-living involves minimum stays of one month, a curated community, included services and a focus on the living experience, not just accommodation. Airbnb is short-term vacation rental. Co-living generates more stable income, with lower turnover and less wear on the property. Additionally, co-living guests tend to take better care of the space because they consider it their temporary home.

Digital nomads are not a passing fad. They are an economic force that is redefining how and where people live. At L'Agence we help you identify properties with co-living potential in Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Puerto Morelos. Get in touch at lagencemx.com.