Mexico Travel Money Guide
Mexico operates on both cards and cash. Resorts and cities take cards everywhere; markets, taxis, and street food are pesos only.
Capital: Mexico City · Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN)
Paying by card
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted. Always pay in pesos, not dollars — DCC and 'dollar pricing' inflate cost by 5-10%.
Cash and ATMs
Use bank ATMs inside branches (BBVA, Santander, Banorte). Avoid free-standing ATMs in tourist zones — high skimming risk.
Tipping
10-15% at restaurants. 20-50 pesos for hotel staff and bag handlers.
Scams to avoid
ATM skimming, 'official' taxis at Mexico City airport (use authorized booths only), and inflated bills if you order without checking prices.
What MXN amounts are worth
| MXN | USD | EUR | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 MXN | 0.56 | 0.49 | 0.42 |
| 50 MXN | 2.79 | 2.46 | 2.11 |
| 100 MXN | 5.59 | 4.92 | 4.22 |
| 500 MXN | 27.94 | 24.60 | 21.09 |
Rates are European Central Bank reference rates for 29 Sept 2026 (published each working day around 16:00 CET; the UAE dirham uses its official US-dollar peg of 3.6725). The live converter loads the latest rate when the page opens.
Over the 30 days of ECB data to 29 Sept 2026, one US dollar bought 5.60% more MXN and one euro 2.99% more.
Before you go
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in MXN; the conversion it offers usually includes a wide margin.
- Tell your bank you are travelling and carry two cards on different networks in case one is declined.
- Check your card's foreign transaction fee and put it in the budget converter's fee field.
Budget the trip with the travel budget converter, see all MXN rates, or browse more country guides.