Daily costs per person in Mexican pesos. CDMX is one of the world's great travel bargains — world-class food, museums, and nightlife at a fraction of European or North American prices.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: MXN (Peso) (1 USD ≈ 17.5 MXN)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | MXN 250–500 | MXN 800–1,800 | MXN 3,000+ | Hostels → boutique hotels → luxury hotels |
| Food | MXN 150–250 | MXN 400–700 | MXN 1,200+ | Street tacos & markets → restaurants → fine dining |
| Transport | MXN 20–50 | MXN 100–200 | MXN 400+ | Metro/Metrobús → Uber/taxi → private driver |
| Activities | MXN 0–100 | MXN 200–400 | MXN 600+ | Free sites & parks → museums → guided tours |
| Drinks | MXN 50–100 | MXN 150–300 | MXN 500+ | Cantina mezcal → craft bars → speakeasies |
| Daily Total | MXN 470–1,000 | MXN 1,650–3,400 | MXN 5,700+ | $27–57 → $95–195 → $325+ |
Money-saving tips
Street food paradise
Tacos al pastor: MXN 10–25. Tamales: MXN 15–20. Tlayudas: MXN 60–80. Tortas: MXN 30–50. You can eat three full meals on the street for under MXN 200 ($11) per day and eat better than most restaurants.
Metro CDMX
The metro costs MXN 5 per ride — one of the cheapest in the world. It covers the entire city. Buy a rechargeable card at any station. Metrobús (MXN 7) reaches areas the metro does not.
Free museums on Sundays
Almost every government museum in CDMX is free on Sundays — Antropología, Bellas Artes, Chapultepec Castle, MUAC. Museo Soumaya is always free. Plan your museum day for Sunday to save MXN 200+.
Cantina culture
Traditional cantinas serve free botanas (snacks) with every drink — by your third mezcal (MXN 50–70 each) you have had dinner. La Coyoacana and Salón España are famous for generous botanas.
Markets over restaurants
Eat at mercados (markets) instead of restaurants — Merced, San Juan, Coyoacán, Jamaica. A full comida corrida (set lunch) at any market costs MXN 50–80 for soup, rice, main, drink, and dessert.
Free walking tours
Free walking tours (tip-based) run daily from the Zócalo. Estación México and Free Walking Tour CDMX cover Centro, Roma, and Coyoacán. Budget MXN 100–200 per person as a tip.
