Top Cities for Urban Competitiveness in Yucatan Peninsula

Playa del Carmen, Chetumal, and Mérida have been highlighted as the most competitive cities on the Yucatan Peninsula, according to the 2024 Urban Competitiveness Index (UCI) by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO). In contrast, Cancún and Campeche ranked lower in the region.

The UCI, which evaluates 66 cities across Mexico, categorizes them into four groups based on population size: over one million; between 500,000 and one million; between 250,000 and 500,000; and under 250,000 inhabitants.

Mérida, with a population exceeding one million, ranks seventh nationally, boasting a Medium High level of competitiveness. Cancún, however, ranks 20th with a Low competitiveness rating. Saltillo holds the top spot with a High competitiveness rating.

In the category of cities with populations between 250,000 and 500,000, Playa del Carmen ranks third with a High rating, while Campeche ranks 14th with a Medium Low rating. La Paz leads this group with a High competitiveness rating.

Chetumal ranks third among cities with fewer than 250,000 inhabitants, with a Medium High rating. Guaymas holds the top spot in this group with a Medium High rating.

The UCI 2024 is based on six sub-indices: Innovation and Economy; Infrastructure; Labor Market; Society and Environment; Law; and Political System and Government. The ratings range from Very Low to Very High.

Overall, the IMCO concluded that the 66 cities, home to 62 percent of the Mexican population, improved in the Innovation and Economy and Labor Market sub-indices. The other sub-indices remained stable.

Playa del Carmen and Cancún were top performers in the Political System and Government sub-index, while Mérida ranked third in the Law sub-index. Playa del Carmen also ranked third in the Innovation and Economy sub-index.

The IMCO recommends that cities focus on improving security to boost their competitiveness. The safest cities were identified as Mérida, Saltillo, and La Laguna, while Tijuana, Cancún, and Cuernavaca were deemed the least safe. The institute also emphasized the importance of innovation, suggesting that cities can foster creativity and idea generation, which in turn can drive personal and societal development and growth.