Use this map to find the best accommodations in Sayulita, for as low as $75 per day! The location is set in Sayulita main beach but you can choose the area on the map to find the best deals!
?? Hola! My name is Trisha, and I called Sayulita home for 1 year! In this article, I share my real experience finding Sayulita apartments for rent—what to book online, how to hunt in person, and tips to save money.
❓ Hi Trisha! I’ve been following your Mexico nomad guides for a while, and I really appreciate how genuine and detailed they are compared to the usual surface-level blogs. I’m a Canadian planning to spend a few months working remotely in Sayulita this winter, and I’d love your advice. What’s the average monthly rent for a furnished apartment with reliable Wi-Fi, ideally close to the beach and cafés? And are there neighborhoods you’d recommend that feel safe and community-oriented for solo travelers?
- Charlotte, Canada
Hi Charlotte!
Thank you so much for following along with my Mexico guides. I know how overwhelming it can feel to arrive in a new town with the hope of finding a place that feels like home. That’s exactly why I put this guide together: to help you navigate the search for Sayulita apartments for rent with clarity and confidence.
Sayulita has its quirks, but it also has a vibrant community, walkable streets, and plenty of hidden gems if you know where to look. In the sections ahead, I’ll share everything you need to know about finding an apartment here as a digital nomad: from average rental costs and the best neighborhoods, to where to search, what to expect with Wi‑Fi and utilities, and even how to negotiate a fair monthly rate.
Good luck and let me know if you need further assistance – I can introduce you to landlords!
P.S. All photos in this article are from my different apartment rentals in Sayulita.
Use this map to find the best accommodations in Sayulita, for as low as $75 per day! The location is set in Sayulita main beach but you can choose the area on the map to find the best deals!
Yes. It has become more challenging to find Sayulita apartments for rent, especially for long-term stays, because demand from digital nomads and seasonal visitors has outpaced supply. Here are some reasons why it’s getting harder to find apartment rentals in Sayulita:
? Dreaming of Sayulita as your next base? I’ve made the move myself and can share real stories, practical tips, and a little encouragement to get you started. [CHAT WITH ME]
I found my first house in Sayulita through word of mouth. I was literally just having a drink at a bar and I met someone who said his brother has rentals in Sayulita.
I liked how to house looked and at the time, I was new to town and didn’t really want a big space. The owner was traveling to Madrid for a month so he wants to sublet the space for $350.
The price wasn’t bad and although it was only a studio, it was in a great Mexican neighborhood and it was away from the bustling nightlife in Sayulita. It really was a space that was enough for my needs. When the owner of the apartment came back from Madrid, I had to start looking again.
As you already know, Sayulita is a small town everyone is related. True enough, this guy I rented for a month with has a sister who is renting a bigger place (2-bedrooms with a patio) for $500.
It was right next to his house so I pretty much have an idea of what it looked like. The moment I went to meet his sister for viewing, I immediately put in a downpayment and moved in. It was my perfect Sayulita house and I lived there for two full years.
✨ Apartment hunting in Sayulita doesn’t have to be stressful—check out my Sayulita apartments map. It’s the shortcut I wish I had when I first arrived!
I never had to rent an unfurnished apartment in Sayulita. Most of the houses here already have the basic amenities, if not, even more. I pay $500 for most of the furnished apartments and that already includes AC and a water heater. I live in Cabo now and these things are not even included in a $1,000 rent. It’s so ridiculous how different each city in Mexico operates.
Of course, not all furniture is pleasing to our eyes – we all have different tastes. In this case, you can ask the landlord to take out some of the things from the house. You know, stuff that doesn’t spark joy. The only problem is that these landlords don’t have spaces to store them so you’ll definitely be stuck with things in the house that you don’t like. I’ve had this problem many times and they keep saying they simply just don’t have storage.
If you decided to fully move to Sayulita and want to buy your own things, the rent will definitely be cheaper and landlords won’t have problems if you have pets.
?? Read next: The digital nomad guide to Sayulita, Mexico
Unlike Los Cabos or Puerto Vallarta (two big cities I lived in), Sayulita is very lenient with contracts. Sometimes, they won’t even ask you for one unless the landlord is in the Real Estate business.
You see, renting Sayulita apartments is very informal because the landlords are locals—not agents of some sort. It is their house, and they can design a rental structure that works for them.
However, without a rental contract, you are risking the assurance of renting long term. Landlords can change their minds one day and say they will put the house on Airbnb for a higher income.
In this case, it is important to insist on drafting a contract. Of course, they would write it in Spanish but I can recommend my lawyer to help you review your rental contract.
A one-month advance and a security deposit are required for Sayulita long term rentals. Thankfully, they do not ask for a deposit when you have pets (unlike Mexico City or Los Cabos).
They will also probably ask for all of these in cash, as Sayulita is still a cash country plus Mexicans get taxed if you deposit money into their bank accounts. They don’t like that so prepare to withdraw a lot of cash for this transaction.
Some of them do but because of the extensive use of AC in Sayulita apartments (which landlords cannot control), they don’t include utilities and bills with the rent. You won’t believe me if I told you that I lived in Sayulita without AC. My house was in a jungle, surrounded by a canopy, so it was never hot in my house.
The only problem with that jungle thickness is that I don’t get a lot of sun inside so the house gets moldy, which is common to most houses in Sayulita. Without AC, my electricity bill was $10 per month. I also didn’t pay for the water bill because the landlord said it was free.
However, I’ve been told that one day, there will be someone from the water agency who will knock on your door and charge you for all those years that you didn’t pay for water.
Which, by the way, isn’t my problem since I pay all my bills to the landlord. I never had to go to Bucerias or Puerto Vallarta to physically pay for it in the office. Sayulita has a lot of water problems, and I feel sad that it doesn’t have a bigger monetary value so people just waste water as they please.
Unlike my other apartment-hunting articles, I did not have a lot of challenges in Sayulita. First, the close-knit community makes it easy for you to get the latest rentals and/or know the landlord personally.
Sayulita is super dog-friendly that no one minds if you have pets. At the beginning, I only had one dog which my landlord allowed but for the next few months, my dog family became bigger and they did not say a thing.
Location was also not a challenge as I have a car and a golf cart to go around. And even if you don’t, Sayulita is a walking town – you can really walk anywhere safely!
If there were any challenges, I would say it’s the Internet as landlords only put basic Internet speed in their rentals. Some streets don’t also have enough signal or connection so you can end up having really bad Internet.
I had to upgrade to fiber-optic wifi which I did by myself. It costs 10 times more than the usual ($100 vs $10) but I needed to upgrade because of my digital nomad lifestyle.
Here’s the thing—I’ve done the Sayulita apartment hunt myself, and I’ll be honest with you: the system here is still very much old‑school. If you’re hoping to score a cheap rental, you won’t find it scrolling Airbnb at midnight from Canada or the U.S. The real deals live offline—on café bulletin boards, through a friend of a friend, or just by walking around and asking.
That’s why my best advice is to book one week online first. Yes, it’s more expensive, and yes, it stings a little to pay that premium. But it buys you peace of mind. You land, you’ve got Wi‑Fi, a bed, and a safe base to start from. Then, once you’re here, you can do the real hunting in person.
I know it sucks that Mexico is still a word‑of‑mouth kind of place when it comes to rentals, but that’s just the reality. The upside? If you’re willing to put in a few days of walking, chatting, and exploring, you’ll almost always find something better and cheaper than what you booked online. That’s how I ended up cutting my rent in half—and finding a place that actually felt like home.
Now, if money isn’t really an issue for you, it’s a different story. There are plenty of rentals online—stylish condos and beachfront apartments you can book in minutes. They’ll cost more, but they’re convenient, reliable, and you won’t have to spend your first week pounding the pavement. It really comes down to whether you’d rather save money or save time.
Renta Sayulita is a good Facebook group as all the landlords and locals post their listings here. The group is in Spanish but you can easily use Google translate in communicating.
Although I would recommend for you to learn basic Spanish to be able to communicate well with landlords. Another good thing about this group is that they still charge local prices compared to foreign homeowners.
? I have an American friend, Chelsea, who created a great Spanish program for travelers—it’s fun, practical, and makes connecting in Mexico so much easier.
In Los Cabos, most realtors are also assigned with rental homes but in Sayulita, everyone seems to be just selling properties.
I have not had the experience of heavily relying on agents when looking for apartments for rent in Sayulita. They just won’t help you with this as they are focused on selling.
I don’t live in Sayulita anymore but I am still connected with the locals there. Send me an e-mail and I will connect you to people who may possibly have rentals in Sayulita available.
With my guidance and local network, you’ll skip the overwhelm and step straight into the best parts of Mexico’s digital nomad lifestyle: finding the right city, securing housing, navigating the visa process, and connecting with a community that makes you feel at home.
Yes—demand is high, especially in peak season (November–April). Online listings are limited and often pricier, while the best deals are usually found in person through word of mouth
On average, short‑term online rentals range from $1,200–$1,800 USD/month for a studio or one‑bedroom. In‑person rentals can be significantly cheaper, around $600–$900 USD/month, depending on location and amenities.
The best neighborhoods for digital nomads in Sayulita are the North End for quiet and beach access, Town Center for lively cafés and nightlife, and the South End for affordable rentals and surf spots.
Wi‑Fi quality varies. Many apartments advertise “high‑speed internet,” but speeds can be inconsistent. Always test the connection before committing to a long‑term lease.
The low season (May–October) offers more availability and lower prices. Arriving just before high season gives you the best chance to secure a long‑term deal
It depends. Some rentals include water, electricity, and Wi‑Fi, while others charge separately. Always confirm before signing an agreement
Yes—especially for stays of three months or longer. Landlords are often open to discounts if you commit to a longer lease.
Yes—Sayulita is generally safe, with a strong expat and nomad community. Still, always meet landlords in person, verify contracts, and avoid sending deposits without confirmation
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