Mexico & Central America

Money, cards and tipping in Mexico

Capital: Mexico CitySpanishUpdated October 2026

MXNPeso

Money in Mexico

Mixed: cards and cash Cards work in chains, restaurants and hotels in cities; cash is needed for markets, street food, small shops, tips and rural areas. Carry small bills. US$1 ≈ MX$18.21 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: 10–15% at restaurants (check whether service is already added), MXN 10–20 for gas attendants and grocery baggers; app rides optional.
ATMs: Bank ATMs charge foreign cards roughly MXN 30–150 per withdrawal; always decline the ATM's currency conversion.
Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work at many card terminals in cities; local bank transfers need a Mexican account.
Price level: about 54% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Mexico City	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in chains, restaurants and hotels; cash for taquerías, markets, tips and Metro tickets.
Cancún	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards at resorts, malls and restaurants; cash for downtown eateries, buses, tips and taxis. Dollars accepted in the Hotel Zone at poor rates.
Tulum	Mixed: cards and cash	Beach clubs take cards (and add a surcharge); cash for taquerías, colectivos, bikes, cenotes and taxis. Beach ATMs run out.
Playa del Carmen	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in resorts, bars and chains; cash for colectivos, tianguis, tacos and tips.
Puerto Vallarta	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in restaurants, hotels and chains; cash for buses, tacos, markets and tips.
Cabo San Lucas	Cards almost everywhere	Cards at resorts, restaurants and shops; cash for taco stands, buses, tips and some taxis. Dollars widely accepted at poor rates.
Oaxaca	Mostly cash	Cards in hotels, upscale restaurants and some cafés; cash for markets, tlayudas, mezcal shops, colectivos and tours.
Guadalajara	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in restaurants, malls and chains; cash for markets, tacos, street stalls, buses and tips.
Mérida	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in malls, hotels and restaurants; cash for markets, cochinita stands, colectivos and small shops.
San Miguel de Allende	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels, restaurants and shops; cash for markets, taxis, buses, tips and tianguis.
Puerto Escondido	Mostly cash	Cards at hotels, bigger restaurants and surf shops; cash for taquerías, taxis, markets and small shops. ATMs run out on weekends.
Cozumel	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in dive shops, hotels and restaurants; cash for taxis, tacos, markets and smaller shops.
Isla Mujeres	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards at hotels and many restaurants; cash for taxis, golf carts, tacos and small shops.
Sayulita	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels, bigger restaurants and shops; cash for taco stands, taxis, buses and surf rentals. Few ATMs, which often run out.
Holbox	Mostly cash	Cards work at hotels and some restaurants, but connections fail. Cash for taxis, tacos, tours and small shops; ATMs often empty.
Bacalar	Mostly cash	Cards at some hotels and restaurants; cash for taxis, tours, tacos and small shops. Few ATMs, and they run out on weekends.
San Cristóbal de las Casas	Mostly cash	Cards work in some restaurants, hotels and shops; markets, colectivos, tours and Maya villages are cash only. Withdraw before day trips.
Mazatlán	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels, malls and most restaurants; cash needed for markets, street stalls, buses and small taquerías.
Guanajuato	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards accepted in hotels and many restaurants; cash needed in markets, small shops, buses and for tipping guides.
Monterrey	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are accepted in most restaurants, malls and hotels; carry cash for taco stands, markets, tips and some taxis.
Valladolid	Mostly cash	Cards work at some hotels, restaurants and tour offices; cash needed for colectivos, markets, cenote entries and small eateries.
La Paz	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels, marinas and many restaurants; cash needed for markets, small eateries, taxis and tips.
Puebla	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in most restaurants and shops in Centro; cash is needed in markets, small taquerías, buses and for tipping.
Acapulco	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants; cash needed for beach shacks, buses, markets and tips.
Querétaro	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in most restaurants, malls and shops; carry cash for markets, buses, small taquerías and tips.
Tijuana	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work almost everywhere; many places also accept US dollars, usually at a poor rate. Carry pesos for taxis, markets and tips.
Puerto Morelos	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work at hotels, dive shops and many restaurants; cash is needed for colectivos, small cafés, markets and some taxis.
Mazunte	Cash only	Few places take cards and ATMs are unreliable. Withdraw cash in Pochutla, Huatulco or Puerto Escondido before arriving.
Todos Santos	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in galleries, hotels and most restaurants; cash needed for markets, small shops, taxis and surf lessons.
Ajijic	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in many restaurants, shops and clinics; cash needed for markets, buses, taxis and tipping.
Huatulco	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work at hotels, tour offices and bigger restaurants; cash needed for colectivos, markets, boat taxis and small eateries.
Zihuatanejo	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels, tour offices and bigger restaurants; cash needed for colectivos, beach palapas, markets and tips.
Palenque	Mostly cash	Cash for colectivos, markets, tours and small eateries; cards at hotels and some restaurants. ATMs in Centro often run out on weekends.
Cuernavaca	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in malls, chains and many restaurants; cash for markets, taxis, combis and small shops. Use bank-branch ATMs.
Morelia	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in malls, chains and most restaurants; cash for markets, street food, taxis and small shops. Use bank-branch ATMs.
Ensenada	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash for fish tacos, markets, small shops and taxis. USD is accepted in some tourist places at poor rates.
Puerto Peñasco	Mixed: cards and cash	Pesos preferred; US dollars accepted at poor rates. Cards at hotels, condos and many restaurants; cash for tacos, markets and taxis.
Campeche	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels and many restaurants; cash for markets, taxis, buses and small eateries. ATMs in Centro are common.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Mexico?

10–15% at restaurants (check whether service is already added), MXN 10–20 for gas attendants and grocery baggers; app rides optional.

Is Mexico cashless?

Mixed: cards and cash. Cards work in chains, restaurants and hotels in cities; cash is needed for markets, street food, small shops, tips and rural areas. Carry small bills.

What currency does Mexico use?

The Peso (MXN). US$1 ≈ MX$18.21 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.