We’ve lived in Roma Norte for over four years. Between us and our 316+ Airbnb guests, we’ve taken hundreds of rides on Uber and Didi across Mexico City: at rush hour, at 2 AM, to the airport, from the airport (when that was still easy), and everything in between.
When guests ask, we tell them: download both apps before you land. But open Didi first.
If you are choosing a base for a longer work stay, transportation is only one part of the decision. Read this guide alongside our overview of digital nomad apartments in CDMX so your commute, café access, and workspace at home fit the same routine.
The short answer
Didi is usually 10–20% cheaper than Uber for the same route. Uber has more drivers and slightly faster pickup times. Both are safe and both work with international credit cards, so you want both on your phone.
The differences that matter depend on where you’re going, what time it is, and whether you’re paying cash or card.
Price comparison: real rides from Roma Norte
These are fare ranges we saw regularly in March 2026. Prices move with demand, but the ranges are realistic.
| Route | Uber (MXN) | Didi (MXN) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roma Norte → Condesa | $40–70 | $35–55 | Didi ~15% less |
| Roma Norte → Polanco | $60–100 | $50–85 | Didi ~15% less |
| Roma Norte → Coyoacán | $120–180 | $100–150 | Didi ~15% less |
| Roma Norte → Centro Histórico | $50–80 | $40–65 | Didi ~15% less |
| Roma Norte → AICM Airport | $120–200 | $100–170 | Didi ~15% less |
| Roma Norte → Xochimilco | $200–300 | $170–250 | Didi ~15% less |
| Roma Norte → Teotihuacán | $500–600 | $450–550 | Didi ~10% less |
Didi is cheaper for two reasons. It takes a smaller cut from drivers (about 20%, compared to about 25% for Uber), and it uses dynamic pricing less aggressively. When Uber spikes to 1.8x on a rainy Friday evening, Didi is often still at 1.2x or lower.
When Uber shows surge pricing, check Didi. At peak hours the difference can be 30–40% instead of 15%, and we’ve saved $50+ MXN on single rides this way.
For month-long stays, needing fewer rides saves more than picking the cheaper app. Compare long term rentals in Mexico City by neighborhood before you build a routine around rideshare.
Availability and wait times
Uber has more drivers in Mexico City. Mexico is Uber’s third-largest market globally, with about 25 million users and 300,000+ registered drivers nationwide. You’ll almost always get an Uber within 3–5 minutes in Roma Norte, Condesa, or Polanco.
Didi has fewer drivers overall, but it’s growing fast. In central neighborhoods wait times are comparable, usually 4–7 minutes. You’ll notice the difference late at night (after midnight) or in less touristy areas. If Didi can’t find a driver, Uber almost always can.
We open Didi first for every ride. If the wait is under 7 minutes and the price looks good, we book it. If Didi shows 10+ minutes or no drivers available, we switch to Uber.
Safety: both are solid
Both Uber and Didi are significantly safer than street taxis in CDMX, and both apps give you:
- Driver name, photo, and license plate before pickup
- Real-time GPS tracking of your route
- Digital payment (no cash transaction needed)
- Trip history and receipts
- Rating system that holds drivers accountable
- Option to share your trip with a contact in real time
Didi also uses a 4-digit security PIN that you give the driver before the ride starts, and Uber has rolled out a similar verification feature. Both help, especially for airport pickups where multiple drivers may approach you.
In some cities, Uber lets you request “Uber Mujer” (female driver for female passengers). As of March 2026 this is not yet available in Mexico City, but it’s been rumored for launch before the World Cup.
We tell our guests to avoid InDrive. It’s cheaper, but driver vetting is minimal, vehicles can be sketchy, and the negotiation model means less accountability.
Payment: cash vs card
Uber works with international Visa, Mastercard, and Amex, and you can also pay in cash. Most drivers prefer cash because Uber takes weeks to process card payments to them.
Didi also accepts international cards and cash. It was built with cash-first markets in mind, so paying cash is smoother.
Add your card to both apps, but carry small bills ($50 and $100 MXN notes). Some drivers may cancel if they see card payment, especially for short rides, and having cash avoids that. Many drivers also can’t break a $500 MXN note, so keep smaller bills on hand.
The airport situation (March 2026 update)
As of March 12, 2026, after taxi union protests, the Mexican government deployed Guardia Nacional (National Guard) at AICM airport to stop Uber and Didi drivers from picking up passengers inside the terminals.
In practice:
- You can still request an Uber or Didi from the airport, but the pickup won’t be at the terminal
- From Terminal 1, you’ll need to walk about 500–900 meters to a nearby street where drivers can safely stop
- From Terminal 2, the walk is 500–1,200 meters
- The apps still work; drivers wait outside the enforcement perimeter
The alternative is a pre-paid authorized airport taxi: buy the ticket at the “Sitio” booth inside arrivals. The fixed rate to Roma Norte is $700–1,000 MXN. That’s 4–5x what Uber or Didi would cost, but you walk straight from the terminal to a licensed car.
Uber has filed a legal injunction (amparo) arguing their drivers have the right to operate at federal airports, and a federal judge has issued a temporary suspension protecting Uber drivers from sanctions. Enforcement is still ongoing, so check our AICM airport transportation guide for the complete breakdown and the latest.
NEW: Uber Shuttle (launched January 2026)
Uber launched “Uber Shuttle” in Mexico City ahead of the World Cup. It’s a shared van/bus service with fixed routes and schedules and no surge pricing, which puts it between a regular Uber and the Metrobús.
For now it runs routes to and from Santa Fe, but Uber plans to expand routes as the World Cup approaches, especially to Estadio Azteca and fan zones. Look for “Uber Shuttle” as an option in the regular Uber app. It uses a security PIN like Didi and is significantly cheaper than a regular Uber ride. That could help a lot during the World Cup, when regular Uber and Didi prices will spike hard.
Other apps worth knowing about
Cabify still operates in CDMX, with a smaller market share. It’s slightly more expensive, with slightly nicer cars, and fine as a backup.
The city government is reportedly building its own ride-hailing app, Taxi CDMX, for the World Cup. It had not launched yet as of March 2026.
InDrive is a budget option where you negotiate fares with drivers. We don’t recommend it because safety standards are lower, vehicles are unreliable, and the bidding model is stressful. It’s fine for locals who know what they’re doing but not ideal for visitors.
Tips we give every guest
1. Always verify before getting in. Check that the license plate, driver name, and car model match what the app shows. It takes 5 seconds and is the single most important safety habit.
2. Sit in the back seat every time. It’s safer, and it’s the cultural norm in Mexico, where sitting up front with the driver is unusual.
3. Rush hour will wreck your plans. On weekdays from 7–10 AM and 4–8 PM, Mexico City traffic is brutal, and a 15-minute ride becomes 45 minutes. Leave early, take the Metro, or wait it out at a café.
4. Rain spikes prices. The moment it starts raining (common in afternoon/evening during rainy season, May–October), both Uber and Didi prices jump 30–50%, while the Metro doesn’t care about rain.
5. The Metro is often faster. For cross-town trips during rush hour, the Metro ($5 MXN per ride) beats any rideshare in both speed and cost. We use Uber for convenience, but the Metro is our workhorse.
6. Don’t take street taxis at night. Use Uber or Didi instead. The safety gap between app-based rideshare and random street taxis is real, especially after dark.
7. Tip in cash. If the ride was good, hand the driver $10–20 MXN in cash. Both apps have tipping options, but cash tips go directly to the driver without platform cuts.
For monthly stays
Staying a month or more? Skip the daily commute math
Our verdict
| Uber | Didi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Higher, more surge pricing | 10–20% cheaper, less surge |
| Availability | More drivers, faster pickups | Growing, good in central areas |
| Best for | Late night, less touristy areas | Daily rides, budget-conscious |
| Payment | Card + cash | Card + cash |
| Safety | Excellent | Excellent |
| Airport | Currently restricted at AICM | Currently restricted at AICM |
| App quality | Slightly better UX | Functional, getting better |
| Driver earnings | ~75% of fare | ~80% of fare |
Download both apps and open Didi first for everyday rides. Switch to Uber when Didi can’t find a driver or you’re in a hurry, use the Metro when traffic is insane, and never take a random street taxi at night.
When the apartment location matters more than the app, compare Mexico City monthly rentals and use Book Direct to confirm dates, Wi-Fi, workspace, and route questions before you pay.
