Wondering how much cash to bring to Mexico? You’ve come to the right guide!

As a travel blogger that lives in Mexico, I’ve become really familiar with how much things cost and how to manage your money in Mexico.

And it’s part of my job to help travelers like you budget your trip and have the best experience possible while traveling in Mexico.

In this post, I’m going to share my recommendations on how much cash you should bring to Mexico, as well as tons of helpful tips on money management.

So if you’re traveling to Mexico soon and wondering how much or what kind of money to bring, if you can use a credit card, or where to get pesos for your trip, I’ve got you covered in this comprehensive guide.

And I’ve even created a handy calculator to tell you exactly how much cash you should bring to Mexico, depending on your spending habits and the length of your trip.

Ready to find out all about bringing cash to Mexico? Let’s dive in!

It depends on where you’re going. In popular tourist destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos, US dollars are accepted in most places.

So if you don’t plan to leave the resort, you can get away with only bringing US dollars.

But since the official currency of the country is the Mexican peso (MXN), you will get a better exchange rate when making cash payments in pesos.

So even if US dollars are accepted, I would still recommend bringing some pesos with you to Mexico.

Not only will you save money but it’s also good to have pesos on hand for smaller purchases, taxi rides, souvenir shopping at local shops, or dining at a local restaurant.

Alternatively, if you’re traveling to smaller towns or more remote destinations in Mexico, you’ll definitely want to bring pesos as United States dollars may not be accepted in these areas.

📱Ready to calculate now? Skip ahead here to the Mexico money calculator!

Yes, you can use credit cards in Mexico. Credit cards are widely accepted in large cities like Mexico City and popular tourist destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos.

I would recommend using a credit card for most of your purchases in Mexico as most restaurants, hotels, and retail stores accept credit cards.

Keep in mind though that some smaller stores may charge an extra fee for credit card purchases (anywhere from 1-5%).

When using your credit card in Mexico, you’ll want to make sure you use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

I personally use and recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred card as it has no foreign transaction fees and has some amazing travel perks.

I would also recommend using a credit card instead of a debit card as most debit cards charge foreign transaction fees and have fewer protections in case of credit card fraud.

While you can use credit cards in many places in Mexico, I still recommend having cash on hand to use for tips, smaller purchases, and spending money in Mexico.

Here are some of the things you will need cash for in Mexico:

• Airport Transportation Tips
• Bell Staff Tips
• Resort Staff Tips
• Housekeeping Tips
• Tour Guide Tips
• Souvenirs
• Taxis
• Public Transportation
• Parking
• Entrance fees for tourist attractions, cenotes, and archaeological sites
• Local Restaurants
• Street Food or Street Vendors

So now you know what you need cash for in Mexico, but how much money should you bring exactly? This depends on a few factors, such as the length of your stay and your spending habits.

Here is a general guideline to give you a rough idea of how much cash to bring to Mexico:

• Below Average Spending: $20 USD per day
• Average Spending: $40 USD per day
• Above Average Spending: $60+ USD per day

Note these guidelines are based on how much cash to bring to Mexico for the tips and extras outlined above, assuming you’re using your credit cards for most of your purchases.

If you plan to pay with cash in Mexico exclusively, then you’ll want to bring more money in pesos than the amounts above.

Additionally, these amounts are based on a single traveler or a single party that’s traveling together.

If you are traveling with your family or a larger group, I recommend using my handy cash calculator below, which includes a multiplier for the number of people.

Just enter your trip details and it will tell you exactly how much cash to bring to Mexico!

It’s important not to bring too much cash with you to Mexico as it be a safety risk and flaunting large amounts of cash can make you a target.

But if you find that you run out or didn’t bring enough cash, don’t worry because you can always get more from an ATM in Mexico.

Use the calculator below to get a rough estimate of the amount of money that you should bring with you to Mexico.

If you’re taking private transportation or shuttle services from the airport to your hotel, it’s customary to tip the driver 10-15% of the fare.

🚐 Related Reading: The Best Airport Transfer for Cancun Mexico

If you need help with your luggage at the hotel, it’s polite to give the bell staff a small tip of $1-$2 USD per bag.

If you have a lot of luggage that they are carrying for you, then it’s okay to tip a bit more.

Tipping the staff at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico is not required but it’s appreciated. And you will probably find that if you tip, you will get better service.

I would recommend having some cash on hand in small bills to tip bartenders, pool staff, restaurant servers, and the activities staff.

You can give them a few dollars a day or just tip them when you receive exceptional service. It’s really up to you how much you want to give them.

Leaving a small tip for housekeeping is not required but is common courtesy, especially if you are staying at a luxury hotel or resort in Mexico.

It’s customary to leave $1-$5 USD per day on the last day of your stay, which can be left in the hotel room.

When dining at restaurants in Mexico, it is customary to leave a 10-15% tip, although in major tourist areas higher tips are expected.

If paying with a credit card, the server will bring the credit card terminal to the table and will ask you if you would like to leave a tip.

You can typically just tell them the percentage amount and it will automatically be added on the credit terminal.

Tipping the tour guide is not required but it’s appreciated and pretty much expected in Mexico.

You can tip the tour guide 10-15% of the total cost of the tour, or $10-$20 USD per person depending on the length and quality of service.

It’s also common to tip the driver and other staff if they are extra helpful during the tour.

It is not customary to tip taxi drivers in Mexico and they do not expect a tip. So you can feel comfortable simply paying the exact amount of the fare.

But if they help you a lot with your bags or provide you with exceptional service, you can round up and give them a small tip.

If you’re someone that likes to plan ahead and have everything ready to go before your trip, then I would recommend ordering pesos from your bank before you leave for Mexico.

While this option takes a bit more time and advance planning, it’s cheaper than exchanging currency at a counter in Mexico once you arrive.

Plus, you won’t have to deal with finding an ATM or currency counter once you get there, which can add stress to your vacation.

Most large banks have the option to order foreign currency online or through a mobile app but it typically takes 1-3 business days for delivery.

The quickest and easiest way to get pesos in Mexico is to simply withdraw cash from an ATM once you arrive.

You can find ATM machines in most major tourist spots, hotels, and grocery stores, or even at the airport once you land.

While your bank might charge a fee for withdrawing money from foreign ATMs, it will typically be cheaper compared to using currency exchange services or a commission-based money exchange counter.

The final option for getting pesos in Mexico is to exchange U.S. dollars for pesos at the airport or a foreign currency exchange counter.

While this is a bit more convenient, I wouldn’t recommend it because it’s typically the most expensive option.

You’ll have access to cash right away but currency exchange counters in Mexico typically have some of the highest conversion rates.

If you really do need to use a currency exchange counter, be sure to check the current exchange rate before deciding whether or not this is the best option for you.

When using ATMs in Mexico, it is important to use only official bank ATMs and avoid using any random or unidentified ATMs found on the street.

You might find nameless ATMs in the main tourist areas but these are known to have card skimmers and hackers that could potentially drain your bank account.

For optimal security, it is best to use official bank ATMs located directly at a bank or at places such as grocery stores or shopping malls.

You can also find bank ATMs conveniently located in many Oxxo convenience stores.

The most popular banks and ATM locations in Mexico include:

• Banamex
• Banorte
• BBVA Bancomer
• CIBanco
• HSBC
• Intercam
• Santander
• Scotiabank (partnered with Bank of America)

Before your trip to Mexico, it’s a good idea to check with your bank to see if they have any partnerships with Mexican banks.

Several major banks, including Bank of America, have established partnerships with foreign banks around the world.

If your bank does have a partnership with a Mexican bank, you will likely be able to withdraw money without a usage fee.

However, there is typically still an international withdrawal fee that is a small percentage of the total withdrawal amount.

For example, Bank of America has a partnership with Scotiabank in Mexico. This means you can withdraw money from a Scotiabank ATM in Mexico and avoid a $5 USD international ATM usage fee.

However, you will still be charged 3% of the converted US dollar amount that you are withdrawing.

When withdrawing money from ATMs in Mexico, you will likely be charged a usage fee and/or an international transaction fee that will be a small percentage of the total amount you take out.

Let’s say you are a Bank of America customer and you were to withdraw $2,000 pesos in local currency from a Scotiabank ATM in Mexico.

Here’s an example of the cost breakdown:

• Usage Fee: $5 USD (waived) = $0 USD
• Currency Conversion: $2000 MXN at BOA Conversion Rate (0.0484) = $96.80 USD
• International Transaction Fee: $96.80 x 3% = $2.90 USD
• Total Amount for this Withdrawal: $99.70 USD

If you weren’t to use a Scotiabank ATM, then you would be charged the $5 usage fee in addition. This can add up depending on how many times you visit the ATM!

If there’s one thing to remember about using ATMs in Mexico, it’s to always decline the conversion rate offered by the ATM.

When withdrawing money from an ATM, you’ll be prompted to accept or decline the conversion rate offered by that particular ATM — hit DECLINE!

ATMs always offer terrible exchange rates and markups, which are much higher than what you would get from your bank.

By hitting decline, your financial institution will automatically charge you with the standard conversion rate, which is typically a much better deal.

Here’s a rough USD conversion for the Mexican peso denominations to give you an idea of the value of money:

• $10 peso coin = ~$.60 USD
• $50 peso bill = ~$3 USD
• $100 peso bill = ~$6 USD
• $200 peso bill = ~$12 USD
• $500 peso bill = ~$30 USD
• $1000 peso bill =~$60 USD

If you’re not familiar with paying in Mexican pesos, it can be confusing to figure out exactly how much you’re spending.

However, there is a simple trick to convert pesos to American dollars easily in your head – just take off a zero and divide the price of the item by 2!

For example, if something is $500 pesos, you would take off a zero ($50) and divide the amount by 2 to get to a value of around $25 USD.

Of course, this is not an exact value but will give you a rough estimate of how much an item costs, which can help you keep track of your vacation budget and spending.

Alternatively, you can pull out the calculator on your phone or use a currency converter app to get the exact value.

💵 Easy MXN-USD Currency Conversion Trick: Take off a zero and divide by 2!

Follow these Mexico travel money tips to save money when it comes to international travel and exchanging currency in Mexico:

• When given the option, pay in pesos: When paying at restaurants or stores in major tourist destinations in Mexico, you’ll likely be given the option to pay in pesos or USD (even when paying with a credit card). Always choose pesos, as you’ll typically get a better exchange rate.

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about money in Mexico:

I hope this guide has given you a better understanding of how much money to take to Mexico and the ins-and-outs of managing your money during your trip.

I recommend using a credit card for most of your purchases and bringing along about $40 USD per day in physical cash for tipping, transportation, and smaller purchases.

If you’re staying in major tourist destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos, US dollars are typically accepted but I still recommend getting some pesos as it’s good to have for smaller purchases and you’ll save money on the exchange rate.

Don’t forget you can use my handy calculator to find out the exact amount of cash you should bring for your trip depending on the length of your stay and spending habits.

You don’t want to bring too much money to Mexico as it can be a safety risk, but if run out and don’t have enough money, you can always withdraw more cash from an ATM.

Just remember to always decline the conversion rate offered by the ATM as it will always be worse than your bank’s!

By following these Mexico money tips, you’ll be able to make the most out of your trip without overspending or running out of money. ¡Buen viaje!

READ NEXT:

• Do You Need Pesos in Cancun?
• Will My Phone Work in Mexico?
• Is There Uber in Mexico?