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(—)Guide · Updated October 2026

What to bring to Mexico — and what to sell.

The short version: carry what's small and expensive, think twice about anything big and cheap, and check the Mexican price before you decide. We compared real 2026 listings at Home Depot México, Liverpool and IKEA México against U.S. stores and ran each item through the same calculator you can use below.

Updated

The short answer
  • Usually bring: laptops, consoles, cameras, quality power tools, kitchen gadgets like a stand mixer, and TVs — Mexican prices for these ran 1.2–1.9× U.S. prices in our checks.
  • Often replace in Mexico: large appliances and budget furniture. A 22 cu ft Samsung fridge listed for about $1,024 in Mexico vs $1,499–1,799 in the U.S.
  • Check first: U.S. gas appliances (most Mexican homes cook with LP gas), 240 V electric dryers, and mattresses — a Mexican “queen” listed at 150×190 cm vs about 152×203 cm in the U.S.

The one rule behind every decision

An item is worth moving when shipping it costs less than replacing it — and “replacing” means the Mexican price minus whatever you'd get selling yours in the U.S. Bulky items lose because shipping is charged by volume; small, valuable items win because they ride in your luggage for close to nothing.

Nine common items, run through the calculator

Real 2026 prices on both sides of the border. Decisions recompute live in your own inventory when you enter your numbers.

ItemU.S. newEst. resaleMexico priceCost to bringVerdictShip if under
IKEA KIVIK sofa (3-seat)
$799$160$553$511Replace$8.12/cu ft
Dining set for 4
$400$120$290$406Replace$4.56/cu ft
Samsung 22 cu ft fridge
$1,650$825$1,024$520Replace$6.05/cu ft
Samsung front-load washer
$810$405$692$214Ship$16.7/cu ft
Samsung 65" TV
$430$172$747$130Ship$50.94/cu ft
MacBook Air 13" M5
$1,299$844$1,660carryTakealways
DeWalt drill + impact combo
$300$165$315carryTakealways
Toro 21" gas mower
$395$158$692$164Ship$36.26/cu ft
KitchenAid Artisan
$400$200$678carryTakealways

U.S. and Mexico prices are real listings checked on 2026-10-01 (see sources); Mexico prices converted at 18.071 MXN/USD (Banxico FIX, 2026-09-29). Resale is an estimate from published resale ranges (furniture 20–30%, appliances 50%, tools 55%, Apple laptops ~65% after two years; TVs and outdoor gear 40% is our assumption). Volumes are approximate packed sizes. Shipping uses our $10/cu ft placeholder — the break-even column shows the highest rate at which shipping still wins.

Usually worth bringing

  • Laptops, tablets, phones, consoles, cameras. A MacBook Air M5 listed at MXN 29,999 (≈$1,660) at Liverpool vs $1,299 at Best Buy; a PS5 at MXN 14,699 (≈$813) vs $649.99. They fit in your carry-on. Mind the per-traveller limits in the menaje guide.
  • TVs. A Samsung 65" U8000 listed at MXN 13,499 (≈$747) vs $429.99. Even with crating, shipping one rarely costs more than the gap — see electronics.
  • Brand-name power tools and outdoor gear. A DeWalt combo kit was MXN 5,699 (≈$315) vs $299.99; a Toro mower MXN 12,499 (≈$692) vs about $395; a Weber Spirit grill MXN 11,999 (≈$664) vs $399. See tools.
  • Small kitchen appliances you love. A KitchenAid Artisan listed at MXN 12,249 (≈$678) vs $349–499.99.
  • Sentimental and hard-to-find things. No calculator should talk you out of these; mark them sentimental in your inventory and they're kept automatically.

Often cheaper to sell and replace

  • Large appliances. Fridges, ranges and microwaves listed cheaper in Mexico than in the U.S. in our checks, and they take a lot of space. U.S. gas appliances usually ship set up for natural gas, while about 79% of Mexican households cook with LP gas (INEGI), so they need a conversion. See appliances.
  • Budget and flat-pack furniture. IKEA's KIVIK sofa was cheaper in Mexico (MXN 9,999 ≈ $553) than in the U.S. ($799), and used mass-market furniture resells for only ~10–25% of retail. See furniture.
  • Mini-splits and A/C. Buy them locally — an LG 1-ton inverter mini-split listed at MXN 8,699 (≈$481) at Home Depot México.

Check before you pack

  • Voltage: Mexico uses 127 V / 60 Hz with the same A/B plugs as the U.S., so most 120 V devices work as-is. 240 V U.S. appliances need a 220 V circuit; CFE can supply 220 V service on request.
  • Mattresses and bedding: Mexican “queen” mattresses we found were 150×190 cm, shorter than a U.S. queen (~152×203 cm). U.S. sheets and frames may not fit Mexican mattresses and vice versa.
  • Customs: goods must be used (owned 6+ months) to enter under the menaje exemption, and vehicles are never included. Read the menaje de casa guide.
  • Not needed for a while? Storage in the U.S. runs ~$75–124 a month for a 10×10 unit (SpareFoot, Extra Space). Six months of storage can exceed the value of cheap furniture.

Check your own item

Enter what you paid or could sell it for, and the Mexican price if you know it.

(01) Category
(02) Estimated

If you know it. Otherwise we estimate from the U.S. price.

(03) Will you need it in Mexico?
(04) Assumptions

Using a placeholder shipping rate. Enter a quote-based rate for a real answer.

Recommendation
Ship

Bringing it costs less than selling and buying again.

Bring it (Ship)✓$62
Sell & replace$600
BREAK-EVEN$118$ / CU FTSHIPREPLACE● Your rate: $10

5 cu ft · Send it with your mover or freight.

How this is calculated

Bring it = shipping (volume × rate, + fragile premium) + insurance + duties. Sell & replace = Mexico replacement price − U.S. resale after fees. The cheaper net cost wins.

Duties default to 0%. Some movers may qualify for a household-goods (menaje de casa) exemption; eligibility and rules vary. Confirm with a Mexican consulate or licensed customs broker — MenajeFlow is not legal or customs advice.

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Questions people ask

Is it worth shipping furniture to Mexico?

Expensive, solid or sentimental furniture often is; budget and flat-pack furniture often isn't. Shipping is charged by volume, and in our 2026 checks IKEA's KIVIK sofa cost less in Mexico than in the U.S. Run your own pieces through the calculator with your quote's rate.

Are electronics more expensive in Mexico?

In our October 2026 checks, yes: TVs, laptops and consoles listed 1.2–1.7× their U.S. price at Liverpool versus Best Buy. Most are small enough to carry, which makes them the clearest items to bring.

Can I use my U.S. appliances in Mexico?

Most 120 V devices work, because Mexico uses 127 V / 60 Hz and the same plug types. 240 V appliances (electric dryers, some ranges) need a 220 V circuit, and gas appliances usually need conversion to LP gas, which most Mexican homes use for cooking.

What should I sell before moving to Mexico?

Large, low-value items that are cheap to replace: budget furniture, big appliances you'd have to convert, and anything you won't need for a while. Sell early — used mass-market furniture often fetches only 10–25% of retail.

Sources

Every price and rule on this page comes from these sources, checked on the date shown. Prices change; tell us if you find a better one.

  1. 01IKEA México — KIVIK 3-seat sofa (MXN 9,999) — checked 2026-10-01
  2. 02IKEA US — KIVIK sofa ($799) — checked 2026-10-01
  3. 03Liverpool — Comedor Magda, 4 chairs (MXN 5,249) — checked 2026-10-01
  4. 04Home Depot México — Samsung RF22A4110S9 22 cu ft (MXN 18,499) — checked 2026-10-01
  5. 05Samsung US — RF22A4111SR 22 cu ft ($1,799; $1,498.97 at P.C. Richard) — checked 2026-10-01
  6. 06Home Depot México — Samsung WF20T6000AW 20 kg (MXN 12,499) — checked 2026-10-01
  7. 07Best Buy — Samsung WF45T6000AW ($809.99) — checked 2026-10-01
  8. 08Liverpool — Samsung UN-65U8000 (MXN 13,499) — checked 2026-10-01
  9. 09Best Buy — Samsung UN65U8000F ($429.99) — checked 2026-10-01
  10. 10Liverpool — MacBook Air 13" M5 16/512 (MXN 29,999) — checked 2026-10-01
  11. 11Best Buy — MacBook Air 13" M5 16/512 ($1,299) — checked 2026-10-01
  12. 12Liverpool — PS5 1 TB (MXN 14,699) — checked 2026-10-01
  13. 13Best Buy — PS5 Slim 1 TB ($649.99) — checked 2026-10-01
  14. 14Home Depot México — DeWalt DCK287D2 (MXN 5,699) — checked 2026-10-01
  15. 15The Power Tool Store — DeWalt DCK287D2 ($299.99) — checked 2026-10-01
  16. 16Home Depot México — Toro 21311 (MXN 12,499) — checked 2026-10-01
  17. 17Tractor Supply — Toro 21311 ($389.99) — checked 2026-10-01
  18. 18Home Depot México — Weber Spirit Fusion E-210 (MXN 11,999) — checked 2026-10-01
  19. 19Walmart — Weber Spirit E-210 ($399) — checked 2026-10-01
  20. 20Liverpool — KitchenAid Artisan KSM180 (MXN 12,249) — checked 2026-10-01
  21. 21Walmart — KitchenAid Artisan KSM150PS ($349) — checked 2026-10-01
  22. 22Home Depot México — LG 1-ton inverter mini-split (MXN 8,699) — checked 2026-10-01
  23. 23Banco de México — tipo de cambio FIX — checked 2026-10-01
  24. 24INEGI — ENCEVI 2018 (household energy use) — checked 2026-10-01
  25. 25WorldStandards — Mexico plugs and voltage — checked 2026-10-01
  26. 26El Informador — Changing to 220 V service with CFE (2025-04-24) — checked 2026-10-01
  27. 27Kashew — How much is used furniture worth (2026-08-07) — checked 2026-10-01
  28. 28Consumer Reports — Used appliances (2025-04-15) — checked 2026-10-01
  29. 29Underpriced — Where to sell used power tools (2026-07-27) — checked 2026-10-01
  30. 30SpareFoot — Storage unit cost data (Feb 2026) — checked 2026-10-01
  31. 31Extra Space Storage — How much do storage units cost (2026-09-17) — checked 2026-10-01

MenajeFlow gives planning estimates. It is not a moving company, customs broker or legal adviser — confirm customs requirements with your Mexican consulate and a licensed customs broker.