Cozumel Tops National Ranking for Highest Per Capita Municipal Debt

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The island municipality of Cozumel has the highest per capita debt in Mexico, according to a report from the “Ifigenia Martínez” Center for Public Finance Studies of the Chamber of Deputies. The study, covering the current administration led by Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez, shows Cozumel with a total debt of 421.6 million pesos and an approximate population of 95,000, resulting in an average burden of 4,437 pesos per person.

The analysis, based on data from the last quarter of 2025, measures municipal debt relative to population size to assess the real impact of liabilities on local economies. This indicator places Cozumel above municipalities across various regions of the country, highlighting a more strained financial situation proportional to its population.

In contrast, other Quintana Roo municipalities like Benito Juárez have a higher total debt of 796.5 million pesos, but a population exceeding one million significantly reduces the per-person pressure. Nationally, municipalities such as Puerto Peñasco, Ixtlahuacán, Ónavas, and San Nicolás de los Garza also appear in the ranking, though none reach Cozumel’s per capita debt level.

At the opposite end, towns like Comalcalco, Espita, and Calkiní report nearly zero debt, underscoring disparities in municipal financial management. Experts warn that this level of indebtedness limits investment in infrastructure, public services, and emergency response, directly affecting residents’ quality of life.