Casa vs. Departamento (House vs. Apartment/Condo)KAH-sah versus deh-par-tah-MEN-toh
Casa vs. departamento in Mexico refers to the choice between a standalone house (casa) and an apartment or condominium unit (departamento) as of November 2026; a casa is typically a single structure on its own lot under full private ownership (dominio pleno), while a departamento is an individual unit within a building governed by a condominium regime (régimen de condominio), where the owner holds exclusive title to the unit and shared ownership of common areas.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 8 November 2026
How it works
<p><cite index="19-2">For a departamento, the owner holds exclusive property rights over the unit and co-ownership of common elements such as parking, gardens and social areas.</cite> <cite index="13-3">The condominium owner is the exclusive owner of the apartment or unit and co-owner of common elements and parts of the condominium.</cite> Departamentos are subject to monthly HOA fees (cuota de mantenimiento) and condominium bylaws (reglamento de condominio).</p><p>A casa is a standalone structure, usually with its own land title, where the owner is responsible for all maintenance and property taxes on both land and construction. <cite index="6-1">Property tax (predial) is generally lower for departamentos on a per-square-meter basis compared to casas that include land value.</cite> Both property types can be located in the restricted zone and require a fideicomiso for foreign buyers.</p><p><cite index="7-13,7-14">Average prices in urban Mexico as of 2026 range from MXN 18,000 to 25,000 per m² for casas and MXN 22,000 to 35,000 per m² for departamentos.</cite> <cite index="7-6">A departamento typically costs about MXN 1,600 per month more in fixed costs (approximately MXN 19,000 annually) than a casa of the same value, due to HOA fees.</cite></p>