Mexico : Safety by City
- Acapulco
- Aguascalientes
- Cabo San Lucas
- Cancun
- Chichen Itza
- Chihuahua
- Cozumel
- Cuernavaca
- Culiacan
- Durango
- Ensenada
- Guadalajara
- Guanajuato
- Hermosillo
- Huatulco
- Isla Holbox
- Isla Mujeres
- Ixtapa
- Juarez
- Leon
- Los Cabos
- Manzanillo
- Matamoros
- Merida
- Mexicali
- Mexico City
- Monterrey
- Morelia
- Nogales
- Nuevo Laredo
- Oaxaca
- Piedras Negras
- Playa del Carmen
- Puebla
- Puerto Morelos
- Puerto Vallarta
- Queretaro City
- Reynosa
- Saltillo
- San Luis Potosi
- San Miguel de Allende
- Sayulita
- Tijuana
- Tulum
- Valladolid
- Veracruz
- Zacatecas
- Zapopan
- Zihuatanejo
Mexicali is a city in Mexico, located in Baja California.
It is the capital of the state of Baja California and is located immediately across the border from Calexico in California.
It has a population of around 1.0 million people and the highest living standard in the country: a day of minimum wage work equals about a week of the average Mexican income.
It’s also considered to be extremely progressive for its significant investments in education and low unemployment.
Also, it always has been one of the safest border cities in Mexico, and the safest of its size.
Warnings & Dangers in Mexicali
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Mexicali is a large city, with some parts very safe for tourists, and others dangerous. Just in case, you should apply all possible precaution measures, to minimize the chances of anything going wrong.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Be very careful when you ride on public transportation as this is one of the primary places where pickpockets operate. You should always try to call your reliable taxi driver instead of hailing one on the streets.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Pickpockets are a common occurrence here and bag snatching is a very common issue in Mexicali, especially in public and crowded places like bus and train stations and airports. Keep your belongings by your side at all times.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Mexicali is somewhat prone to earthquakes. They're not very common but you should still be aware of this and take necessary precaution measures in the off chance it happens.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
Muggings and kidnappings have been known to happen in Mexicali, but they aren't very common occurrences. In some states up in the north, the risk of this happening may be higher.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
There haven't been any terrorist attacks in Mexicali's recent history, but they shouldn't be ruled out. Remain vigilant at all times and aware of your surroundings.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Mexicali is filled with people trying to trick you and scam you into paying them. You should be very vigilant, decline all drinks sent by strangers, double-check all information and negotiate everything in advance.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women have traveled safely to Mexicali, without having any problems. Unfortunately, many women will have a problem with being cat-called on the streets, while they might find whistles and comments directed at the offensive. Avoid parts of cities that are filled with bars and clubs. There aren't any more serious threats in Mexicali.
So... How Safe Is Mexicali Really?
Mexicali isn’t the safest city in Mexico, but it isn’t the most dangerous one either.
Nonetheless, tourists are advised to stay in populated areas, avoid poor neighborhoods, and if they do visit them, not to go out at night.
There have been reports of vicious beatings at resorts by people who have traveled alone.
The police are not much help here, according to the citizens, as they are prone to bribery and turn a blind eye to crimes as long as they’re paid.
You may be surprised to see some beggars here.
They are usually not a threat, but they are very common, especially in urban areas.
Most poor people in Mexican cities, however, opt for selling worthless trinkets or provide some kinds of services rather than beg for money.
You should avoid buying any illegal drugs in this country, and even if you buy a bunch of prescription drugs, you’ll likely get searched.
Stay away from illegal activities, by all means, since you won’t be protected just because you’re a foreigner.
Since there is a minor threat of an earthquake, in case it happens, duck and cover and stay where you are during the shaking, then go outside once the shaking stops.
How Does Mexicali Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Mexicali | 42 |
| Mexico City | 45 |
| Playa del Carmen | 69 |
| Cabo San Lucas | 68 |
| Acapulco | 63 |
| Cancun | 71 |
| Guadalajara | 62 |
| Manama (Bahrain) | 54 |
| Tianjin (China) | 67 |
| Brussels (Belgium) | 60 |
| Shanghai (China) | 66 |
| Belize City (Belize) | 37 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
Useful Information
Visas
Legally entering Mexicali is fairly easy: all nationals receive a traveler's permit upon entering Mexico, and it costs 15 USD, while there are still some countries do need to acquire a visa. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Mexican embassy for more information on your visa based on your nationality.
Currency
The Mexican peso is the official currency in Mexicali. ATMs are widespread throughout the country, and while credit cards are accepted in most top-end hotels, restaurants and stores, Mexico is considered largely a cash economy.
Weather
Mexicali has a desert climate. There is almost no rainfall during the year. July is the warmest month of the year. The temperature in July averages 34 °C. In January, the average temperature is 11.4 °C. It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year.
Airports
General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport is an international airport in Mexicali. It located outside Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, near the U.S.-Mexico border. It is, actually, the northern-most airport in Mexico.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Mexicali, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Mexicali Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 20 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 28 | 24 | 20 |
| Low °C | 8 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 11 |
| High °F | 68 | 68 | 73 | 79 | 82 | 90 | 93 | 93 | 91 | 82 | 75 | 68 |
| Low °F | 46 | 48 | 59 | 63 | 68 | 75 | 82 | 82 | 73 | 68 | 57 | 52 |
No reliable police force
Mexicali us a popular dental services destination. With no reliable police force or enforced rule of law, the medical tourist is a likely cash robbery target since yo I’m pay cash for all services. Worth the risk? Your call.
I flew from Ireland to Mexico city,,and the first thing I sniffed outside the largest airport I had ever landed at,was car exhaust. After spending a whole night eating at a pizza hut there, I could not wait to get out with so many pairs of cops looking at me like I was on their radar. I soon learnt that they think of gringos as possible drug traffikers. thank Christ for a wonderful American lady who kindly showed me to my departure and thus liberty. Having flown over mostly desert I was one of three Europeans who stood out like you could not mistake us. Two Dutch and one Mick.? Landing was another experience as all I could see on the approach to the airport were the odd Ranchero (ranch) beneath us and no sign of any city. But alas there is one, but many miles away from the main airport and truly a scary place with a line of the most impoverished cab drivers I had ever set eyes on. But that is when experience kicks in, and the young lady behind the Cambio winked reassuringly as a suspicious undernourished but smiling toothless driver who already had hold of my luggage and led the way to his equally suspicious cab, with its collapsed passengers side window and malfunctioning radio which he kindly put on to relax me. Though he turned out to be a very stand up person trying hard to assure me that all would be okay. Mind you he could have dumped me in that long desert freeway and who would have been the wiser. Eventually, I seen large buildings up ahead and soon the five lane road at the USA/immigration border and instantly felt i would survive another day. The morale of the tale is, don,t prejudge others untill your senses know better from all around you. Seamus Glas,, author, and travel writer..
4star
I love Mexicali it is a wonderful place to meet women and eat the best Chinese food outside of China. The people are great except the police. I am sick and tired of being stopped and ripped off for no reason. Except that they want my money
Safe overall
Safe overall if you’re not looking for trouble or going to bad areas. Lots of good places to eat and some nice movie theaters and stuff like that. I would really advise walking alone in places you’re unfamiliar with, especially at night.
You mean AGAINST walking alone in places you’re unfamiliar with, especially at night.
I moved there
prostitutes galore. I left my wife of 31 years and married one. She thinks I am rich. They wait on you hand and foot. Her family protected me since I married the ugly old thing. cheap liquor, cheap food, cheap housing
Too bad
USA should take it clean it up make it Arizona coastline. Best thing that could ever happen. What a shame it’s wasted coastline.
What you are saying? Use Spanish
What coast?
Mexicali DOESN’T have any “coastline!”
It’s hours east of the coast & literally 🌵 DESERT.
Watch for accident scams
We come to mexacali to shop Costco, Walmart, and home deposit, and cross border. Car accident scammers hit you from behind and claim you hit them. They threaten to call police if you don’t pay $200-$1000. DONT PAY!!! negotiate, or threaten to call cops, but be ready for consequences. It has happened to us and our friends. We didn’t pay, but our friends did (and perpetuate the scam). Looking for U.S. plates and older people driving. Too bad Mexicali doesn’t do anything about this escalating problem.
Good to live in, boring to visit
Good city to live in, horrible to visit. (I live here) Great food, horrible weather, exceptional safety considering it’s a city on the border, avoid going astray from the main avenues if you’re on the southern part of the city, everything, if anything in it is worth seeing, it’s in the historical center, which is right on the border, and not sprinkled around the city.