Have you ever wondered how much time we spend in Mexico City traffic? According to the “Cost of Traffic 2026” study by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), every year, residents of Mexico City lose 211 hours due to traffic congestion.
This study analyzes the cost—both economic and in terms of time—of traffic congestion in 44 cities across Mexico. Mexico City tops both lists. Regarding the hours each person loses to traffic congestion, these are the results:
- Mexico City: Each person who commutes loses an average of 211 hours per year
- Oaxaca: 175 hours lost
- Puerto Vallarta: 171 hours
- Pachuca: 164 hours
- Acapulco: 162 hours
- Toluca: 162 hours
- Guadalajara: 159 hours
The amount of time each person spends in traffic in Mexico City also depends on the type of transportation they use
According to the IMCO study, people who use public transportation spend more time in traffic than those who drive private cars. In the former case, an average of 140 hours is lost, while in the latter, 94 hours per year are lost while commuting.
In the case of Mexico City, the difference is even greater. While private-car users lose 163 hours a year (6.7 days), public transit users lose 247 hours, which translates to about 10.2 days.
It’s worth noting that traffic also has an economic cost, which, in Mexico, exceeds 203 billion pesos annually across the 44 metropolitan areas included in the study.
