Cancún Medical Tourism Generates $340 Million a Year as Spending per Patient Climbs

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Medical tourism in the Mexican Caribbean is holding steady on patient volume while expanding in facilities, specialties and services for international visitors, said Andrés Jurado, director of My Medical Vacations.

The region treats roughly 25,000 patients a year, most of them from the United States. Although the number was essentially unchanged in 2026, hospital capacity grew with new clinics, expanded facilities and additional specialists, along with projects still under construction.

Average spending per patient rose from about $11,000 to $13,500 over the past year, an increase of nearly 20%. Jurado attributed the jump to the exchange rate and to stronger demand for complex and preventive procedures, among other factors.

Each patient typically travels with two companions, which by the annual patient count would mean about 50,000 companions and a potential flow of 75,000 travelers. The estimate offers a sense of the strain on hotels, restaurants, transportation and recovery services, though it is not an official measurement of the economic impact.

Hospital spending alone would put the annual economic contribution at around $340 million, before factoring in lodging and other costs for patients and the people accompanying them.

Savings remain the main draw

Cost continues to be one of the main reasons U.S. patients seek care in Mexico. Jurado said treatment can cost up to 80% less than in the United States, though the gap depends on the procedure, the hospital, the physician and the services included.

The Tourism Department says treatments in Mexico can run 40% to 80% cheaper than in the United States, depending on the specialty. It cites connectivity, the exchange rate, infrastructure, technology and medical training as factors behind that competitiveness.

A broadening range of treatments

The region’s medical offerings have diversified well beyond plastic and bariatric surgery. Jurado said there is demand for hernia surgery, joint replacement, orthopedics, regenerative medicine, treatment of systemic and congenital diseases, hyperbaric medicine and addiction control programs. Executive checkups have grown by more than 30%, he added.

The expansion includes new capacity at Hospiten and a strengthened presence for Costamed and Amerimed, along with projects such as Fifty Doctors and a Grupo Wyndham medical center in the Riviera Maya.

Amerimed says it has bilingual staff, certified specialists and year-round emergency care for domestic and international patients. The Joint Commission International directory lists Hospital Galenia and Hospital Amerimed Cancún among accredited organizations in Mexico. Hospital Galenia also reports certifications from the Consejo de Salubridad General and international accreditations.

Beyond price

Cancún’s advantage is not limited to cost. The destination pairs air connectivity and a large hotel inventory with recovery options, bilingual care and a tourism experience.

The challenge, Jurado said, will be turning that expansion into trust through transparent pricing, current certifications and clear information for patients.