The reference daily budget for Mexico is around €55 per person per day for a comfortable mid-range trip — a decent double room, meals at mid-range restaurants, local transport and site entries. That number hides large regional variations and very different travel styles.
A budget traveler can move through Mexico on €30–40 per day: hostel dorms or basic guest rooms (250–450 pesos, or €13–24), meals at comedores and local markets (150–250 pesos per meal, €8–13), and intercity buses (ADO, OCC) or collective minibuses. A mid-range traveler — a double room in a colonial-style boutique hotel (800–1,500 pesos, €42–79/night), tourist-zone restaurants (400–700 pesos per meal, €21–37), Uber and the occasional car rental — spends €60–100 per day. A luxury traveler staying in Mexico City design hotels, Oaxacan haciendas or Tulum beachfront boutique properties easily clears €200 per day.
By category, here are realistic ranges. Lodging: dorm bed 200–350 pesos (€10–18), standard double room 500–900 pesos (€26–47), boutique hotel 1,200–3,000 pesos (€63–158), Riviera Maya luxury resort 5,000–15,000 pesos (€263–790). Food: market or taquería 100–200 pesos (€5–10), mid-range restaurant 250–500 pesos per person (€13–26), fine dining in Mexico City or Oaxaca 700–1,500 pesos (€37–79). Transport: colectivo 15–50 pesos (€0.80–2.60), ADO bus 180–450 pesos (€9–24), Uber in Mexico City 80–200 pesos (€4–10). Site entries: INAH archaeological sites (Teotihuacán, Chichén Itzá) 80–571 pesos (€4–30).
A few practical tips: ATMs are everywhere in tourist cities — withdraw pesos on arrival, the exchange rate beats any currency exchange counter. Uber works flawlessly in Mexico City, Oaxaca, Mérida and most major cities — much more reliable and transparent than street taxis. Bargaining is expected in craft markets but not in restaurants or hotels. Mobile coverage is excellent in tourist zones: a local Telcel or AT&T SIM (300–400 pesos with a data plan) is well worth it for navigation and ride-hailing apps. Tipping in restaurants is typically 10–15% and not always added automatically — check the bill.
Read also
- The Yucatán, land of the Maya — Maya cities, turquoise cenotes, Caribbean beaches and the colonial elegance of Mérida.
- Central Mexico — Mexico City the megacity and Oaxaca the cultural capital — the jewels of the central altiplano.
- Tulum, the Maya city by the sea — Cliffside Maya ruins, world-class cenotes and Caribbean beaches in a single spot.