Getting to the office has become a daily challenge for millions of people in Mexico. Long commute times take a toll on workers’ quality of life, as many must travel considerable distances to reach their workplaces. In this context, mobility has become a determining factor for companies when choosing where to establish their offices.
According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Mexicans spend an average of 71 minutes commuting by public transport and 52 minutes when traveling by private vehicle.
This reality has begun to reshape location criteria in the corporate real estate market. While Mexico City’s extensive public transport network provides connectivity to the main office corridors, Monterrey continues to rely heavily on the private car, generating distinct dynamics in office demand and development.
Monterrey: The Car Is Central to Office Location Decisions
High temperatures, urban configuration, and the city’s topography have limited the development of a walkable culture, making vehicle accessibility one of the primary factors when selecting office space. As a result, parking availability has become an essential requirement.
In many cases, companies rule out office spaces that meet their location and quality requirements simply because the number of parking spots is insufficient for their workforce.
According to Datoz, the benchmark for Class A+ buildings is typically one parking space per 30 m² leased. However, some developments offer a ratio of one space per 20 m², a feature that can represent a competitive advantage in the market. Some companies even opt to acquire additional parking or arrange private transportation for their employees given the city’s public transit limitations.
Mexico City: Connectivity Drives Space Demand
In Mexico City, proximity to Metro and Metrobús stations tends to carry more weight in occupancy decisions than parking availability.
This connectivity has supported the performance of corporate corridors such as Insurgentes and Polanco, which maintain high real estate activity due to the wide range of public transport options available. The ease of access from different parts of the city allows companies to reduce employee commute times.
In contrast, corridors such as Santa Fe and Lomas Altas face greater mobility challenges. Despite concentrating a large number of corporate buildings, limited transit coverage has contributed to high availability rates in these areas — 23% in Santa Fe and nearly 40% in Lomas Altas at the close of Q1 2026.
This reflects how urban connectivity has become an increasingly decisive factor in the national office market, to the point of directly influencing leasing decisions.
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