Merida

Safe, because it's basically a police state. Two cop cars on every block. After you've done the tourist stuff there really isn't much to do. Almost no nightlife center, flat, no parks, and I have to say it's a very boring city. If you just need a place that is cheaper than Playa Del Carmen and want to rent a house to hole up and work, then Merida might be for you. Personally after a week I found it very boring.

I've stayed in Merida for about 1 month during winter. I really enjoyed the Merida fest which take place during the month of January.
I felt very safe in this city and people are very friendly. There are plenty of cafes in Centro where you can work and the internet is quite good. Overall, it's a great place to be and I would see myself stay for a long time.

I've stayed in Merida for about 10 weeks now. It's a cute sleepy city with a good amount of restaurants and museums/history if you're into that sort of stuff. I cannot speak about the nightlife because I'm here during Covid times and the lockdown is real. The city is flat as a pancake, so if you're into cycling, this is a great city for you. The heat in this city is oppressive starting in March through the end of October. I've asked many locals why they come here and their number one response is safety, this is one of the "sleepy" cities which is where the families of the cartels live and so they've made a pact that no crime will happen here.

I've stayed in Merida about 5 months. Its okay. There is not much to do here other than go to visit ancient Mayan ruins, cenotes, restaurants and a few cantinas. Its a huge police presence and its really safe here. The nightlife is not good here. I would not recommend renting here because they want you to pay your entire lease upfront if you don't have a Mexican who owns property to co-sign for you. Most of the people here are nice. Many of them speak English but won't speak it because they're afraid they wont speak it correctly. Most of the restaurants mainly serve the local Mayan cuisine here but there are other options but it will get expensive. Some of the best food I've had is in Centro but there are many good options around the city. The beach is not far away. Its about a 45 minute drive by Uber or Didi that costs about $130 to $180 pesos. Sundays are quite slowed down here. If you are looking for a slower small town pace, Merida may be the place for you. Otherwise, there is nothing exciting about this place other than the safety here. Its really safe here.

Merida is a great place to work from with lots of people and many whom speak English, in fact I've been back i liked it so much. Rentals are very affordable, some of the cheapest in Mexico, but of course the cheaper it is the area isn't the best. There is much to do here, from heading to the Gulf of Mexico about an hour away, to visiting the ruins. Many, many places to eat and cuisines from around the world and for those who miss shopping at Costco no need to fear one is close by. Drive to Progreso and watch flamingos. Some say it's not safe here but I never had any difficulties and never felt threatened. Transportation is not a problem and is fairly cheap and plentiful