Foreign Exchange and Means of Payment in Mexico

Mexico’s currency is the Peso. It’s symbol looks just like the symbol of the US Dollar with one small difference: the S of the peso is crossed by only one stroke.

We advise you to bring dollars or euros. Please note: these currencies can only be exchanged, you will not be able to pay with them (except in a few regions like Cancun, but with an exchange rate that will not be beneficial to you).

You’ll regularly exchange your money to Pesos. Try to anticipate your costs ahead of time.

Some Prices:

  • 1 beer: 15 to 25 pesos
  • 1 water bottle or soda: 5 to 10 pesos
  • 1 trip in a pesero (or microbus) in Mexico City: 2,5 to 4 pesos depending on the distance
  • 1 site or museum entrance: 38 to 48 pesos (up to 111 pesos for major sites like Chichen Itza or Uxmal). Add an extra 20 to 30 pesos for video cameras.
  • Filling up the gas tank: 250 to 400 pesos depending on the vehicle
  • 1 hour of internet connection: 10 to 20 pesos


Traveler’s Checks
(preferably in USD) are the safest way to carry money; they can be exchanged at casas de cambio and most banks.

Credit Cards: The most common ones accepted in Mexico are Mastercard, Visa and American Express. Automated teller machine can easily be found in big cities.

Hotels (for 2 persons):

  • Cheap: 17 – 28 USD
  • Affordable: 28 – 45 USD
  • Chic: 45 – 67 USD
  • Luxurious: over 67 USD

Restaurants:

  • Cheap: less than 6 USD
  • Affordable: 6 – 17 USD
  • Chic: 17 – 23 USD

Plane: Depends on your destination.

Tips:

It is customary to leave 10 % of the bill to the waiters in cafés and restaurants. Likewise, it is recommended to leave a tip for porters who carry your luggage (at airports and some hotels). If you pay by credit card, do not forget to fill in the box dedicated to the “propina” or to cross it out if you wish to leave the tip in cash. In both cases, do not rely on the waiter to decide on the amount, you could be in for a surprise!

Souvenirs:

Local handicrafts: antique replicas (taking antiques out of the country is strictly prohibited), musical instruments, ponchos and sombreros, paintings, textiles, gold and silver jewelry, onyx, art books… Mexico is one of the countries in the world where the local handicrafts are truly exceptional. Don’t orget mezcal and tequila!

It is not customary to bargain in Mexico like it can be in some countries of South America or Africa.