Mexico is a diverse country with many things to please travellers. It has a rich history, fantastic ruins, perfect beaches and delicious food. Travelling to the tourist sites is easy and safe however it is always advisable to check the government’s recommendations for which states are safe to travel in.
Mexico is more expensive than other Latin American countries but it has so many unique places to visit that you will feel that it is money well spent. We didn’t have any set plans when we arrived in Mexico City and went off the recommendations from other travellers along with information from our guide book. As it is a huge country to travel if you have limited time it would be worth doing your research beforehand and picking a state or region to travel in.
Average Cost per Day for a Couple – M$1300 (Mexican Paso)
Our average cost includes
- Transport
- Hotels/Hostels
- Daily spends
In total we spent 41 days in Mexico. We spent a lot of time on Yucatan coast which is more expensive the rest of the country. If you are looking to reduce costs avoid areas such as Cancun, Playa del Carman and Tulum and spend more time on the Pacific coast in areas such as Puerto Escondido and Oaxaca.
Another factor in the cost of travel is the exchange rate. We were fortunate in that when we were in Mexico we were getting a good rate which reduced the costs and allowed us to stay in the country for a lot longer than we had expected.
Typical Costs
Hostels: Ranging from M$250 to M$500 for a private double room. Most of these will have shared a bathroom and will include breakfast.
Hotels: The price range for budget hotels can start from around M$400 so it always worth checking if you dont fancy staying in a hostel.
Food: Tacos from street vendors can cost between M$20 to M$50 for a meal. In a restaurant a typical meal for 2 with drinks will be about M$200. Expect to pay more in tourist areas. Bakeries are a very cheap option excepect to pay M$2 or M$3 for an item.
Beer: In a restaurant a 330ml bottle of beer is M$25. From a shop it is cheaper to buy the 1.2 litre glass bottle which range from M$30 to M$50 including a refundable deposit, usually M$10, if you bring the bottle back to the shop.
Tequilla\Mezcal: Costs range from M$100 to M$300 per bottle, other spirits such as vodka and rum are in the same price range.
Eating out and drinking made up a significant portion of our daily spend. We did reduce this costs by using the kitchens in hostels to cook our own food which is significantly cheaper than eating out.
Entrance Fees and Activities
Mayan Ruins: The typical entrance fee to ruins such as Palenque, Teotithuacan and Mote Alban and Tulum is M$58. The exception is Chichen Itza which is M$182. The ruins have signs posted in Spanish and English so unless you are looking for detailed knowledge of the area you don’t need a guide which can cost anywhere from M$100 – M$600.
Museums: A lot of museums are free in Mexico so make sure to check your guidebook. Local Museum’s such as the Oaxaca Museum of Culture costs M$51 but all the displays are in Spanish. English speakers will need an audio guide which costs an additional M$50. The Museo Natcional de Antropologia in Mexico City costs M$57 and audio guide M$75 although most of the displays are in English.
Boat Tours: As the cost for these trips are a lot higher than in other countries which we are visiting we only went on one tour from the Isla Holbox which cost M$1200. Although the cost of the trip was high it was worth the expense as we got to swim with whale sharks and turtles as well as see other wildlife around the island.
Organised Tours: There are lots of tours advertised around Mexico which may be useful if you are trying to save time. In most cases the tours can be done yourself much cheaper using local transport.
Transport
Transport was one of our biggest expenses in Mexico. We mainly travelled using the first class bus service ADO. The service makes travelling the country very easy and safe but journeys can cost anywhere from M$1400 for a 14 hour journey to M$100 for a 1 hour trip. We did travel on second class busses which are about half the price but these are usually less reliable, much longer and less comfortable.
For long distance journeys internal flights can be a quicker option and cost a similar amount to the bus.
Taxis can be expensive, particularly in Cancun and other popular tourist resorts.
In Mexico City the cheapest way to travel is using the Metro which is M$5 per person for a one way ticket. It’s easy to use but be very wary of pickpockets if the train is busy.
Highlights
We visited a lot of amazing places in Mexico, this list below shows a few of our particular favourites.
- Palenque - Mexicos most beautiful ancient ruins, waterfalls and jungle
- Isla Holbox - Carribbean island, swimming with whale sharks and turtles
- Puerto Escondido - Surfers paradise on the pacific coast
- Bacalar - Off the beaten track at the most amazing turquoise lake