Los Algodones, a city in Mexico just across the border from Yuma, Arizona, is a relatively small border town with a population of just over 5,000 according to the 2010 Mexican census. Despite its small size, a 2019 Business Insider article claimed it to have 350 dentists, that mostly cater to people from the U.S. who have crossed the border for more affordable care.
Are more U.S. residents seeking medical & dental care in Mexico?
You can see from Google search data (below) that there are more and more searches within the U.S. for “mexico dentist” and “mexico doctor.” It’s clear that people are using this strategy more and more as a cost saving factor. From 2010 until 2022, the number of Google searches has increased by about 50%.
As medical costs continue to increase in the U.S. I expect this trend to continue, particularly for those who have easy access to Los Algodones and other medical tourism-friendly locations.
What is the difference in cost between the U.S. and Los Algodones?
Unlike U.S. dentists, dentists (and doctors) in Los Algodones often post their prices right on their website so it’s easy to learn both (a) how much it will cost and (b) how the prices compare to the U.S.
A quick review of dentist websites in Los Algodones reveal that people can expect save:
- 80% of the cost of dentists in the U.S. and Canada
- Up to 75% off the cost of dental care in the U.S. and Canada
That’s a pretty good deal. Medical procedures also also far less expensive in Los Algodones than they are in the U.S.
How can a person choose a doctor or dentist in Los Algodones?
All of the doctors and dentists have reviews on various local review sites. Just googling “dentists in Los Algodones” or “doctors in Los Algodones” will reveal a large number of excellent choices. Many of the reviews are left by medical tourists from the U.S. and Canada. Many of them have a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews.
Is it safe to receive medical or dental care in Los Algodones?
Dentists and physicians in Mexico follow most of the same practices as those in the U.S. and Canada. One key difference is that doctors in Mexico do not normally have malpractice insurance and if something goes wrong during the procedure you may be left with little recourse.
Traveling to and staying in Los Algodones
Yuma, AZ, the town on the U.S. side of the border with Los Algodones, has an own airport that you can fly into. Yuma International Airport is currently served by American Airlines multiple daily direct round-trip flights between Yuma and Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) and one daily round-trip flight between Yuma and Dallas Fort Worth (DFW). Baja Surgery Center offers a free shuttle from the Yuma, Arizona airport. Other providers may offer a similar service.
As far as accommodations go, you can stay on either side of the border but there are nice hotels on the Mexico side and they are cheaper.
Aaron Charlton, PhD, MBA is the marketing lead for Away Clinic, a yellow fever vaccine clinic located in Mesa and Chandler, Arizona.