🇬🇧 Exchanging Money in Mexico – How to Be Fully Prepared

If you’re traveling to Mexico, it’s a good idea to think about money matters in advance. The best recommendation: bring your own currency, such as euros or US dollars. Getting Mexican pesos in Europe beforehand is often difficult and usually comes with poor exchange rates. Exchanging money once you’re in Mexico is usually the better option.

Credit Card – Your Most Important Travel Companion

For most of your expenses on the go, you can easily pay with a credit card – from restaurants to tour providers. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. Providers like American Express or others are less common – so it’s best to bring a Visa or Mastercard.

Exchanging Money at CancĂșn Airport – Just the Essentials

After landing in CancĂșn, you can exchange a small amount at one of the currency exchange counters at the airport. Although there’s no commission, the exchange rate is generally not great. So it’s best to exchange only about 20–30 US dollars into pesos.

You should plan to use around 80–90% of that for the taxi ride, as Uber is not allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. Uber can drop you off at the airport (e.g. for your return trip), but upon arrival, you’ll need to use an official airport taxi. The rest of the money can be used for small expenses or to buy a local SIM card, for example.

20 Pesos

1 Dollar

500 Pesos

25 Dollar

Various Coins

The largest coin in circulation is the 20 peso coin.

Buying a SIM Card – Quick and Easy

You can get a local prepaid SIM card almost anywhere: in small shops, kiosks, or mobile phone stores. The process is straightforward and usually costs around 200–300 pesos – roughly 10–15 euros. No ID is required.

In most cases, the seller will even set everything up for you. The SIM card is inserted right away and activated via a confirmation SMS. Important: make sure to test everything in the store – for example, by opening a website or sending a message via WhatsApp. This way, you’ll be on the safe side and reachable right away.

Exchanging Money in the City – Better Rates and More Options

In general, exchanging money in CancĂșn is not a problem, since you can pay for many things easily by card. Still, it’s a good idea to carry some cash – not all small shops, street vendors, or tour operators accept cards.

A great place to exchange money is the ADO main bus terminal in downtown CancĂșn. There you’ll find several exchange offices offering better rates than at the airport. It’s a good idea to exchange a larger amount (a few hundred euros or dollars) to be well prepared for the rest of your trip – especially in case your credit card doesn’t work at some point.

Tipping – An Important Gesture in Mexico

In Mexico, tipping is an essential part of the culture – especially in tourist areas like hotels, restaurants, tours, or luggage services. Small amounts of 10–20 pesos or 1–2 dollars are common and expected.

That’s why it’s helpful to carry smaller bills in your home currency (e.g. 20s or 50s). You can either exchange them for pesos or – if you have small US dollar bills – use them directly. This way, you’ll always have a little something on hand and can respect local customs.

Important

At official exchange offices, banks, or money transfer services like Western Union, you’ll usually need to show your passport. So make sure to keep it handy if you plan to exchange money in the city.

Summary

  • Bring euros or US dollars – ideally in small denominations.
  • Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere.
  • Only exchange a small amount at the airport.
  • For better rates: exchange money in the city, e.g. at CancĂșn’s main bus terminal.
  • Keep your passport ready when exchanging money at official places.
  • Uber is not allowed for arrivals at the airport – use a taxi instead.
  • A local SIM card costs around 200–300 pesos and can be set up directly in small stores.
  • Tipping is customary – always have some small pesos or dollar bills on hand.

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