Quick facts
Budget breakdown
| Category | Budget | Midrange |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | MXN 250–500 | MXN 800–1,800 |
| Food | MXN 150–250 | MXN 400–700 |
| Transport | MXN 20–50 | MXN 100–200 |
| Activities | MXN 0–100 | MXN 200–400 |
| Drinks | MXN 50–100 | MXN 150–300 |
| Daily Total | MXN 470–1,000 | MXN 1,650–3,400 |
Daily per-person estimates. Costs vary by season and travel style.
Practical info
Visa & Entry
- US, EU, UK, Canadian citizens get 180 days visa-free — fill out the immigration form on the plane
- Keep your FMM immigration form safe — you need it to leave the country. Losing it means a MXN 600+ replacement fee
- Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay
Health & Safety
- Tap water is NOT safe to drink — buy bottled water or use a filtered bottle. Brush teeth with bottled water
- Altitude sickness possible (2,240m) — stay hydrated, go easy on alcohol the first day, expect breathlessness on climbs
- Roma, Condesa, Polanco, and Centro are safe. Use Uber after dark. Avoid isolated areas in outer neighbourhoods at night
Getting Around
- Metro CDMX: 12 lines, MXN 5 per ride, runs 5am–midnight (6am–midnight Sat, 7am–midnight Sun)
- Metrobús: MXN 7 per ride, dedicated bus lanes. Line 1 runs the length of Insurgentes. Rechargeable MB card required
- Uber is safe, cheap, and widely used — a 20-minute ride costs MXN 50–100. Always confirm the plate number
Connectivity
- Free WiFi in most cafes, Starbucks, Oxxo stores, and public plazas. CDMX has a public WiFi network in the Centro
- Telcel or AT&T Mexico SIM cards from Oxxo stores — MXN 100–200 for 3–5GB data. eSIMs from Airalo work well
- Download Uber, Google Maps offline, and Mexico City Metro app before arrival
Money
- Cards accepted at restaurants and shops in Roma, Condesa, Polanco. Markets, street food, and taxis are cash-only
- ATMs (cajeros) are everywhere — use bank ATMs inside branches. Avoid standalone ATMs. Withdraw MXN 3,000–5,000 at a time
- Tip 10–15% at restaurants (check if propina is included). Tip MXN 10–20 for bag packers at supermarkets, street musicians, and car watchers
Packing Tips
- Layers — mornings are cool (12°C), afternoons warm (25°C), evenings cool again. A light jacket for every season
- Comfortable walking shoes — CDMX involves a lot of walking on uneven sidewalks. Rain jacket for Jun–Oct rainy season
- Sunscreen and a hat — the UV at altitude is much stronger than you expect. A filtered water bottle saves money
Cultural tips
Greetings
A kiss on the right cheek is standard between women and between men and women when meeting. Men shake hands. Say "buen provecho" (enjoy your meal) when passing people eating — it is universal politeness.
Taco Etiquette
Never use a fork. Hold the taco with one hand, tilting slightly so juices do not drip. Add salsa sparingly first — some are extremely hot. Squeeze lime over everything. Eat standing at the taquería counter like a local.
Tipping & Propinas
Tip 10–15% at sit-down restaurants (check if propina is included in the bill). Tip MXN 10–20 to gas station attendants, bag packers, and windshield washers. Car watchers (viene viene) get MXN 10–20.
Mexican Time
Social events start 30–60 minutes late — this is normal, not rude. Dinner reservations are the exception. Saying "ahorita" means sometime soon, which could be 5 minutes or 2 hours.
Safety Smarts
Use Uber or Didi instead of street taxis — especially at night. Keep phones in front pockets. Do not flash expensive cameras or jewellery on the Metro. Stay in well-lit, busy areas after dark.
Basic Spanish
A few words go a long way. "Buenos días" (morning), "buenas tardes" (afternoon), "por favor" and "gracias". Even broken Spanish is appreciated — most Mexicans will patiently help you communicate.
