Economy, jobs and prices in Cancún, Mexico: official figures
The 2024 Economic Census counted 25,065 business establishments (economic units) in Cancún (Benito Juárez municipality) in 2023, 28th most of 107 Mexican cities on this site, against 23,863 in the 2019 census (up 5.0%).
How many people work in Cancún?
Those establishments employed 206,512 people in 2023, 20th most of 107 Mexican cities on this site, down 10.9% from the 231,696 counted for 2018 (national: up 3.1%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Cancún?
Paid workers in Cancún (Benito Juárez municipality) earned an average of MXN 141,627 in total pay over 2023, 51st highest of 107 Mexican cities on this site; the national average was MXN 168,674.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyHow productive is the economy of Cancún?
Businesses in Cancún (Benito Juárez municipality) generated MXN 94.3 billion in gross value added in 2023, about MXN 456,864 per person employed, 32nd highest of 107 Mexican cities on this site (national: MXN 560,263).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyHow many women work in Cancún?
Women held 42.2% of the jobs counted in Cancún (Benito Juárez municipality) in 2023, 38th lowest of 107 Mexican cities on this site (national: 43.2%); 84.7% of all workers were paid employees.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Cancún?
By sector, manufacturing 5.4% (11,058), retail trade 25.4% (52,437) and hotels, restaurants and bars 26.5% (54,788) of the people employed in Cancún (Benito Juárez municipality) in 2023 (national manufacturing share: 25.7%); manufacturing's share was 5th lowest of 107 Mexican cities on this site.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyHow much do businesses invest in Cancún?
Businesses in Cancún (Benito Juárez municipality) reported MXN 3.9 billion of investment and MXN 157.0 billion of gross output in 2023 (2018: MXN 3.4 billion and MXN 123.8 billion, current pesos).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) · saved copyHow Cancún compares with other cities in Mexico
Economic units (2024 economic census) (2023)
Cancún ranks 28 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Economic units (2024 economic census) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Veracruz | 26,964 |
| 26 | Xalapa | 26,616 |
| 27 | Irapuato | 25,115 |
| 28 | Cancún | 25,065 |
| 29 | Uruapan | 24,686 |
| 30 | Mazatlán | 24,415 |
| 31 | Tepic | 23,641 |
Persons employed (2024 economic census) (2023)
Cancún ranks 20 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Persons employed (2024 economic census) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | La Laguna | 232,917 |
| 18 | Culiacán Rosales | 231,414 |
| 19 | Saltillo | 227,572 |
| 20 | Cancún | 206,512 |
| 21 | Morelia | 200,439 |
| 22 | Matamoros | 160,475 |
| 23 | Victoria de Durango | 154,668 |
Change in persons employed, 2018-2023 (2018-2023)
Cancún ranks 102 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in persons employed, 2018-2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | Monterrey | -9.4% |
| 100 | Sabinas | -9.7% |
| 101 | Ciudad Obregón | -10.0% |
| 102 | Cancún | -10.9% |
| 103 | Navojoa | -12.0% |
| 104 | Mexico, Ciudad De | -17.2% |
| 105 | Monclova-Frontera | -18.4% |
Average annual pay per paid worker (MXN) (2023)
Cancún ranks 51 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average annual pay per paid worker (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Huamantla | MXN 143,633 |
| 49 | Navojoa | MXN 143,271 |
| 50 | Túxpan de Rodríguez Cano | MXN 143,236 |
| 51 | Cancún | MXN 141,627 |
| 52 | San Luis Rio Colorado | MXN 140,096 |
| 53 | Orizaba | MXN 139,607 |
| 54 | Hidalgo del Parral | MXN 139,153 |
Gross value added per person employed (MXN) (2023)
Cancún ranks 32 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gross value added per person employed (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Ocotlán | MXN 464,444 |
| 30 | Monclova-Frontera | MXN 462,773 |
| 31 | Tijuana | MXN 458,613 |
| 32 | Cancún | MXN 456,864 |
| 33 | Villahermosa | MXN 456,820 |
| 34 | Tecomán | MXN 453,779 |
| 35 | Reynosa-Río Bravo | MXN 447,304 |
Women as a share of persons employed (2023)
Cancún ranks 70 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Women as a share of persons employed |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | San Luis Potosí-Soledad de Graciano Sánchez | 42.7% |
| 68 | San Luis Rio Colorado | 42.6% |
| 69 | Monclova-Frontera | 42.5% |
| 70 | Cancún | 42.2% |
| 71 | Salamanca | 42.0% |
| 72 | Zacatecas-Guadalupe | 42.0% |
| 73 | Minatitlán | 42.0% |
Manufacturing share of persons employed (2023)
Cancún ranks 103 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Manufacturing share of persons employed |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Oaxaca | 5.8% |
| 101 | Manzanillo | 5.7% |
| 102 | Caborca | 5.4% |
| 103 | Cancún | 5.4% |
| 104 | Los Cabos | 4.3% |
| 105 | Puerto Vallarta | 4.3% |
| 106 | Ciudad Del Carmen | 4.2% |
More on Cancún: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Mexico
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI): Censos Económicos 2024 and 2019 (reference years 2023 and 2018), SAIC query: economic units, persons employed, pay, gross output, value added and investment by municipality (request body saved as saic-ce2024-totals-2018-2023.request.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 47e3a4e8a9f4…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI): Censos Económicos 2024 (reference year 2023), SAIC query: economic units and persons employed in manufacturing, retail, education services, health services and accommodation and food by municipality (request body saved as saic-ce2024-sectors-2023.request.json), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fea3ec2053c9…)
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