What time zone does Mexico City use?

Mexico City uses Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6) from the last Sunday in October through the first Sunday of April, and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5) during the rest of the year. Mexico transitioned to align its DST schedule with the US in 2023 after years of differences that caused confusion. Note that some Mexican border states follow US schedules specifically.

What are typical business hours in Mexico City?

Standard business hours in Mexico City run 9 AM to 7 PM CST/CDT, typically with a long lunch break from 2 to 4 PM. Mexican business culture values the comida (main meal) as a social and professional event; business lunches are common and can last 2 hours. Meetings after 7 PM are not unusual in some industries.

Is Mexico City on the same time as Chicago?

Mexico City and Chicago are both in the Central Time Zone and typically show the same time. However, Mexico and the US occasionally transition DST on slightly different dates, creating brief windows where the two cities are an hour apart. Since Mexico aligned more closely to the US DST schedule in 2023, these discrepancies are less frequent.

Working Hours in Mexico City: A Timezone Guide

April 14, 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

What time zone does Mexico City use?: Mexico City uses Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6) from the last Sunday in October through the first Sunday of April, and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5) during the rest of the year. Mexico transitioned to align its DST schedule with the US in 2023 after years of differences that caused confusion. Note that some Mexican border states follow US schedules specifically.
What are typical business hours in Mexico City?: Standard business hours in Mexico City run 9 AM to 7 PM CST/CDT, typically with a long lunch break from 2 to 4 PM. Mexican business culture values the comida (main meal) as a social and professional event; business lunches are common and can last 2 hours. Meetings after 7 PM are not unusual in some industries.
Is Mexico City on the same time as Chicago?: Mexico City and Chicago are both in the Central Time Zone and typically show the same time. However, Mexico and the US occasionally transition DST on slightly different dates, creating brief windows where the two cities are an hour apart. Since Mexico aligned more closely to the US DST schedule in 2023, these discrepancies are less frequent.