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The Future of Toluca: Concrete, Chaos, and Seriously Good Street Corn

@Oscar Finch2/7/2026blog

okay, so lemme tell you about toluca. it's…complicated. right now, it's drizzling, that kind of insistent rain that smells like exhaust and something vaguely floral. like someone tried to cover up a bad decision with air freshener. it's not bad, just…toluca. and honestly, a quick flight or a six-hour bus ride gets you to puerto vallarta, which is a whole different vibe.


i've been bouncing around here as an indie film scout for about three months, mostly looking for locations that don't look like every other generic mexico city backdrop. and honestly? toluca's got potential. but it's also…changing. fast. everyone's talking about the new infrastructure projects, and it's not all good news, if you ask me.


so, the big thing is the *Tren Suburbano. it's a commuter rail line connecting toluca to mexico city. sounds great, right? less traffic, easier commute. but locals are already grumbling about rising property values in the areas around the stations. i overheard this dude at a tacos al pastor stand - and trust me, this guy knew his stuff - saying, "they're gonna price us all out. it's for the chilangos (mexico city folks), not for us." which, ouch. that's a pretty common sentiment. you can read more about the project here: https://www.gob.mx/sct/acciones-y-programas/tren-suburbano-toluca-valle-de-mexico.

then there's the expansion of the Parque Industrial Toluca 2000. more factories, more jobs… supposedly. but it also means more pollution, more strain on the already-stretched resources. i've been trying to find a decent, affordable apartment near the centro, and it's getting harder and harder. rent for a one-bedroom is averaging around 8,000-12,000 pesos (like $400-$600 usd) depending on the neighborhood. it's not crazy expensive, but it's definitely creeping up. check out this subreddit for more local opinions: https://www.reddit.com/r/Toluca/.


and don't even get me started on the new shopping malls. they're popping up everywhere, these sterile, soulless boxes. i mean, i get it, people want convenience, but it's killing the tianguis (street markets). those are where the real life happens, you know? i found this amazing vintage leather jacket at a tianguis last week for like, 200 pesos. you'd pay a fortune for that in mexico city.

safety is a concern, honestly. it's not a warzone or anything, but petty theft is common, especially around the bus stations and in crowded areas. i've heard stories (and seen a few close calls) so keep your wits about you. a local warned me, "don't flash your phone around, and definitely don't walk alone at night in the colonias (neighborhoods) on the outskirts." good advice. you can find some safety tips on tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel_Guide-g150822-d198884/Toluca_Mexico.html.

but it's not all doom and gloom. the jardín central is still beautiful, even with all the construction going on around it. and the street corn…oh god, the street corn. it's life-changing. seriously. i've had street corn in like, ten different countries, and toluca's is the best. i'm not even kidding. and the pulquerías* (pulque bars) are still thriving, which is a good sign. pulque is this ancient fermented drink, and it's…an experience. check out yelp for reviews: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Pulquerias&find_loc=Toluca%2C+M%C3%A9xico.

so, what's the future of toluca? i honestly don't know. it feels like it's at a crossroads. it could become just another sprawling suburb of mexico city, or it could find a way to preserve its identity while embracing progress. i'm hoping for the latter, but i'm not holding my breath. i'm just here to film it, whatever happens.

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About the author: Oscar Finch

Optimist by choice, realist by necessity.

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