Is Mexico Expensive? Our Travel Cost Guide
How much do you need when traveling around Mexico?
A popular destination for all kinds of travelers, Mexico is an incredible country to visit. Here we can go snorkeling in both the Caribbean and Pacific waters, explore ancient temples and also eat and drink up from one of the tastiest cuisines on the planet.
In this guide we’ll look at the typical costs you can expect when traveling Mexico, such as for accommodation, food and getting around.
As well as recommending some of the best tours you can head on, we’ll also answer your most burning questions in our FAQ section.
Is Mexico Expensive for Tourists?
Quick Answer: Mexico is a moderately-priced country to travel around when compared with the rest of Latin America. Whilst it’s not as cheap as say Bolivia or Guatemala, it’s certainly more so than the more expensive countries of Venezuela and Chile.
You can easily backpack around Mexico on a daily travel budget of $25, where you will stay at nice hostels, as well as eating hearty meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
You may be able to even upgrade to a private room too without breaking this budget, which is especially so in regions such as Chiapas and Oaxaca.
Things to know before traveling to Mexico
- Travel Distances Can Quickly Rack-Up – Even if you’re planning on just a short stint, you will probably need to head on at least a few buses to get between nearby regions. Overall Mexico is a pretty big country, so you’ll find that these bus journeys often take over 10 hours a hit. This means it’s a good idea to stay longer in each destination to avoid burn-out, and also to use a couple of domestic flights to save time on some of the longer routes.
- Mexico Is Safer Than You Think – Touristy areas like Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen are known to be pretty safe, however the rest of the country gets an undeservedly worse reputation than what the actual reality is. George has traveled solo through regions such as Sinaloa, Mexico City and Chihuahua with zero issues, and you can do so too by following a few of our own practical safety guidelines.
- Learn Some Spanish Before Your Trip – Technically you can get by without Spanish in Mexico, although it will make things much harder on a day-to-day basis. Even knowing a few basic phrases can make it easier to find good accommodation, make friends, find out about hidden gems and also access the local culture. If you’re already in Mexico and feel you are lacking, then you can head to a local Spanish school to brush up on some key vocabulary (even one lesson could make the rest of your trip go much smoother – so it’s really worth it in our opinion).
Have you got travel insurance for Mexico?
How much does a trip to Mexico cost?
Budget travelers and backpackers can expect to spend roughly $25 a day in Bolivia, whilst those who want an upgrade in experience (such as private rooms, eating in nicer establishments) can budget for around $30-40 a day.
This budget only covers accommodation, food and a few extras (like beers, a walking tour or entrance etc). Other costs such as flights and day tours will need to be planned with a different budget in mind.
Cost of Accommodation in Mexico
Given Mexico is a popular travel destination, we can find everything from cheap hostels to world-class resorts here. Thankfully for those on a budget, this also means that we can choose from a variety of great accommodation options.
Those who are on a shoestring budget will typically want to stay at hostels. They usually cost between $6-8 a night, although can be as much as $15 for more deluxe hostels in popular areas like Playa del Carmen. You’ll find the majority boast nice amenities like an on-site bar, air-conditioning and a swimming pool in the hotter areas.
When heading to Mexico City, we recommend staying at the Hostal Casa MX Centro. Here you’ll be staying in a comfortable dorm room just a block from the main Zócalo, where you can also enjoy their on-site bar and BBQ.
If you’re looking for an upgrade in your experience, then you can also stay at budget hotels during your trip (or for a part in order to change things up). Usually these cheaper hotel rooms or hostel private rooms go for between $20-30+ a night, although you can find cheaper if you’re less picky and just want privacy.
When heading to Playa del Carmen you’ll want to stay at the Vista Caribe, which is located right on the Quinta Avenida – just a block from both the beach and the ferry terminal that heads to Cozumel. Here you’ll be staying in a deluxe private room with breakfast included in the room rate.
Cost of Food in Mexico
Prices of food can really differ depending on what you’re after. They can either be really cheap if sticking to local dishes and eating at local restaurants, or expensive if heading to touristy places and always eating international cuisines.
With local food you can expect to spend $2-3 per person. Not only are costs low, but this is also a great opportunity to try a variety of Mexican cuisine (instead of the usual tacos and burritos). This includes foods like Mole and Tlayudas.
When it comes to avoiding sickness in Mexico we recommend that you follow the usual food safety guidelines, which include eating in places that are popular with locals.
Chain restaurants and international cuisines can be found pretty much everywhere in Mexico nowadays, aside from the really remote regions. For a meal you can expect to pay between $4-8 a person, which can easily go over $15 if heading to a nice restaurant.
Where you are in Mexico can also affect the prices too – so you can expect to pay more for a nice restaurant experience in the Hotel Zone of Cancún when compared with say the beach area of Boca del Río in Veracruz.
Cost of Transportation in Mexico
Buses will be your main way of getting around Mexico, which link up the entire country really well. Overall bus prices are fair and won’t dig too deep into your budget – unless of course if you are heading everywhere or backpacking Mexico for a longer time (say over 3/4 months).
In terms of what you can expect with the cost, the 6 hour bus ride from Mexico City to Oaxaca City will cost around $35. Regional buses are not too bad either, where for example from Playa del Carmen to Tulum you’ll pay around $10 for the 1 hour bus ride.
The quality of buses tends to be quite good, which have air-conditioning and soft comfortable seats. The only caveat is that the air-conditioning never gets turned off, so be sure to bring a jumper or blanket if heading on a night bus!
Cost of Tours & Attractions in Mexico
By far the biggest cost you’ll want to budget for in advance are your extras and tours.
In Mexico there are plenty of priceless experiences, so you’ll want to set aside a decent amount here (remember this budget is separate from your daily budget, which would usually cover just your accommodation and food).
Activities like island hopping in the Caribbean come at a fair price, and we think it’s better to book online and be guaranteed both a quality and safe service. In terms of prices it can really vary depending where you are (for example Playa del Carmen will be more expensive than some of the places further south such as Mahahual which we recommend ), so it’s worth browsing a few companies before buying.
When in Cancún (or nearby in Playa del Carmen), we highly suggest joining this yacht tour where you’ll explore both Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres. As well as having ample time to go snorkeling, you’ll also have breakfast and an open bar included!
There are also some incredible multi-day tours too which are perfect if you have the time. Popular ones include around the region of Chiapas, as well as around the mountains of Chihuahua.
Of course these will cost more, but are really worth it since they include your accommodation, food and all transport in the tour (which saves you from using your daily budget during the experience).
We recommend heading on this tour through the Copper Canyon, where you’ll visit Batopilas, the colonial town of Creel as well as see some epic mountain vistas.
Mexico FAQs
Is Mexico Expensive for Tourists?
And that’s all for our guide on how expensive Mexico is.
Filled with all kinds of bucket-list activities, Mexico is one of those few countries which
you must visit at least once in your lifetime. Here we can explore ancient Aztec and Mayan temples, see wildlife within the jungle and also walk around beautiful colonial cities. It’s also quite easy to travel on a budget here, which is especially great if you’re looking to keep costs low whilst backpacking around.
In this guide we’ve looked at how much money you’ll need when traveling around Mexico. This guide focuses more on the minimum needed for low-budget travelers, so of course if you feel like upgrading then by all means go for it!
Be sure to read our Backpacking Mexico Guide for more ideas on how to plan your very best trip around this unforgettable nation.
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