Travel safety comparison · Latin America & the Caribbean

Guatemala vs Mexico: safety comparison

vs

Guatemala vs Mexico: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.

· How Warnely scores risk →
Mexico sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Guatemala (48 against 57), but the gap is small enough that the practical difference comes down to category-by-category detail rather than the headline. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Guatemala scores 3/5 against Mexico's 4/5. The US State Department currently carries a Level 3 advisory on Guatemala and a Level 2 on Mexico. Drug law diverges sharply: Guatemala carries a tier-severe regime against Mexico's more permissive framework.
🇬🇹Guatemala 🇲🇽Mexico
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 57 / 100 48 / 100
Risk tier High Risk Exercise Increased Caution
UK FCDO advisory avoid all but essential travel to parts of country avoid all but essential travel to parts of country
US State Department advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)
Global Peace Index rank #108 #135
Drug law Severe (long sentences) Strict
Women's safety rating Exercise Caution Exercise Caution
LGBTQ+ legal status legal marriage
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency GTQ MXN
Full guide

Is Guatemala safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is Mexico safe to visit in 2026?

Guatemala vs Mexico: common questions

Is Guatemala or Mexico safer to visit?

Mexico has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 48/100 vs 57/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Guatemala or Mexico safer for solo female travellers?

Guatemala is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; Mexico is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Guatemala and Mexico?

Guatemala: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) (US State). Mexico: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State).

More comparisons

Belize vs Mexico · Mexico vs El Salvador · Honduras vs Mexico · Guatemala vs El Salvador · Belize vs Guatemala · Guatemala vs Honduras · Guatemala vs Nicaragua

Planning the trip? Check Guatemala visa requirements and Mexico visa requirements.

← All country comparisons