Mexico City travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Mexico City, Mexico's capital.
Local currency: Mexican Peso.
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Mexico City.
- Luxury
- MX$9,800–MX$37,000/day (~$530–$2,000) — five-star hotel, tasting-menu restaurants, private drivers, high-end shopping and experiences
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Budget
- MX$350–MX$900/night (~$19–$49) for a hostel dorm bed or basic budget hotel
- Mid Range
- MX$1,800–MX$4,500/night (~$97–$243) for a boutique hotel in Roma, Condesa, or Centro
- Luxury
- MX$6,000–MX$25,000/night (~$324–$1,351) for a five-star hotel such as the Four Seasons
Food
- Budget
- MX$150–MX$450/day (~$8.11–$24) for street tacos, market meals, and menú del día lunches
- Mid Range
- MX$700–MX$1,400/day (~$38–$76) for casual sit-down restaurants and one nicer meal
- Luxury
- MX$2,000–MX$6,000+/day (~$108–$324+) for tasting-menu restaurants like Pujol or Quintonil
Transport
- Budget
- MX$60–MX$120/day (~$3.24–$6.49) using Metro/Metrobús almost exclusively
- Mid Range
- MX$150–MX$350/day (~$8.11–$19) mixing Metro with occasional Uber/Didi
- Luxury
- MX$600–MX$2,000/day (~$32–$108) using private drivers or Uber almost exclusively
Activities
- Budget
- MX$100–MX$400/day (~$5.41–$22) — most museums charge MX$40–MX$100 (~$2.16–$5.41), many free on Sundays for residents (tourists still pay)
- Mid Range
- MX$400–MX$1,000/day (~$22–$54) including a paid guided tour or Xochimilco boat trip
- Luxury
- MX$1,200–MX$4,000/day (~$65–$216) including private guides and premium experiences
Single Item Examples
- Typical
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Mexico City costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
Accommodation MX$350–MX$900/night (~$19–$49), Food MX$250–MX$450/day (~$14–$24), Transport MX$60–MX$120/day (~$3.24–$6.49), Activities MX$100–MX$400/day (~$5.41–$22), Daily MX$760–MX$1,870/day (~$41–$101)
Mid Range traveller
Accommodation MX$1,800–MX$4,500/night (~$97–$243), Food MX$700–MX$1,400/day (~$38–$76), Transport MX$150–MX$350/day (~$8.11–$19), Activities MX$400–MX$1,000/day (~$22–$54), Daily MX$3,050–MX$7,250/day (~$165–$392)
Luxury traveller
Accommodation MX$6,000–MX$25,000/night (~$324–$1,351), Food MX$2,000–MX$6,000/day (~$108–$324), Transport MX$600–MX$2,000/day (~$32–$108), Activities MX$1,200–MX$4,000/day (~$65–$216), Daily MX$9,800–MX$37,000/day (~$530–$2,000)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy a rechargeable Metro/Metrobús card (MX$15/~$0.81) at any station — the MX$5 flat Metro fare makes it one of the cheapest transit systems in the world
Eat lunch (comida) as the main meal — the menú del día offers a starter, main, and drink for MX$100–MX$180 (~$5.41–$9.73) at most casual restaurants
Street food and market stalls with high turnover are both cheaper and often better than tourist-oriented sit-down restaurants
Many museums are free or discounted on Sundays for Mexican residents; tourists still pay standard admission, so visit lesser-known free sites (Zócalo murals, parks, markets) on weekends instead
Split Xochimilco trajinera boat costs across a group — pricing is per boat, not per person
Book flights and hotels for shoulder season (March–May, October–November) for better rates than the December–January and Easter peaks
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Walk the Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución) and view the Diego Rivera murals inside the Palacio Nacional (free, ID required)
Explore Bosque de Chapultepec's paths, lake, and forested sections (park entry is free; individual museums inside charge admission)
Wander Coyoacán's Jardín Centenario and the surrounding market streets
Walk Paseo de la Reforma and join the Sunday Ciclotón, when the avenue closes to cars for cyclists and pedestrians
Visit the Alameda Central and the exterior of Palacio de Bellas Artes (interior museum and murals require paid entry)
Browse Mercado de San Juan and Mercado Roma without buying — both are free to enter and wander