⚖️ Side by side
Mexico vs United States
A side-by-side look at the practical essentials for Mexico and United States — power, safety, money and getting around.
Quick answer
Traveling between Mexico and United States, you likely won't need a plug adapter, and a voltage converter is generally not needed for dual-voltage chargers.
| Detail | Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Power plug | Type A/B | Type A/B |
| Voltage | 127V | 120V |
| Frequency | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Emergency (general) | 911 | 911 |
| Police | 911 | 911 |
| Ambulance | 911 | 911 |
| Tap water | Use bottled water | Generally safe |
| Driving side | Right | Right |
| Currency | Mexican Peso (MXN, $) | United States Dollar (USD, $) |
| Dialing code | +52 | +1 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 to UTC-8 | UTC-5 to UTC-10 |
| Best season | November to April is the most comfortable dry season for many beach and city trips. Summer can be hot and rainy, while hurricane risk matters for Caribbean and Pacific coastal plans from late summer into autumn. | Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for many city trips because temperatures are milder and crowds are lower. Summer is popular for national parks and beaches, while winter is best for ski regions and warm-weather states such as Florida, Arizona and Hawaii. |
Full guide
Mexico travel essentials
Plugs, emergency numbers, tap water, tipping and more for Mexico.
Full guide
United States travel essentials
Plugs, emergency numbers, tap water, tipping and more for United States.