Mexico City manages to astonish visitors with its relative affordability when compared to major European and American cities, while being one of the most costly destinations in Latin America. Mexico City is no longer as expensive as it once was, ranking as the 21st most expensive city in the world, barely above Frankfurt. Recently, hotel rates have increased by an astounding 93% as a result of the migration of digital nomads and the quick expansion of tourism.
However, you may still enjoy yourself on a tight budget in the historic Aztec capital. When you take into account the variety and calibre of gastronomic and cultural offerings, Mexico City on a budget.
Daily costs in Mexico City
- Shared hostel room: MXN$260
- A room on Airbnb: MXN$440 to MXN$530
- A one-way metro ticket: MXN$5
- Museum entrance fee: MXN$70
- Michelada at a bar: MXN$50
- Tacos for two at a street food stand: MXN$30
- Dinner for two at a standard restaurant: MXN$280
Cost per day on average: MXN$1050
Stay Away from Luxurious Areas
Mexico metropolis is a huge metropolis, so picking the ideal neighbourhood to call home is essential and may have a big influence on your budget. Condesa, Roma, and Polanco are wonderful neighbourhoods, but they are now the most costly since there are more foreign expat employees there now than there were previously.
Instead, think about living in the city’s southernmost neighbourhood, which is renowned for having more cheap alternatives. Coyoacán, where Frida Kahlo lived, is a big element of the community since it has a bohemian air, cheaper prices than Condesa, and a flavour of the local way of life. Additionally, it offers excellent public transit connections and a number of noteworthy locations to visit, like the energetic Coyoacán Market and Kahlo’s Blue House.
The Historic Centre (Centro Histórico) is another location that strikes a balance between comfort and safety. It is one of the capital’s key centres and provides several affordable lodging alternatives.
The Day of the Dead sees skyrocketing costs, like many other large festivities.. Plan your journey around Mexico’s national holidays. Travellers love to go to Mexico City at the start of November for the Day of the Dead. Thousands of residents, domestic tourists, and international visitors swarm to the capital city during the first few days of the month, driving up hotel and flight costs significantly.
In Mexico, Easter and Holy Week, often known as Semana Santa, are two continuous festivals. During these two weeks, locals frequently take holidays, which makes the city more inexpensive and peaceful.
The remainder of spring, though, is among the most expensive in terms of weather. Other inexpensive travel months include the hot and wet months of July, August, and September, as well as the milder months of January and February, which dissuade some sunseekers.
hosting or lodging in a dorm. The most obvious approach to save costs on lodging is to select a hostel; in Mexico City, these can be had for as little as MXN$190 per night. If you’re not into backpacking, there are plenty of affordable Airbnbs in the city.
Many hosts provide extra rooms for rent for about MXN$430 per night, which might be less expensive than renting out a full flat for yourself. Sharing a room with four or more other travellers at a hostel might be the most affordable option for a couple travelling together. To save time and money, make sure to choose a location that is close to a nearby metro station.
Use public travel as much as possible. One of the most affordable large cities in the world is Mexico City, where a ride only costs five pesos.
For each journey, go to the station ticket office and purchase a single paper ticket. If you want to stay a while, you may get a metro card for roughly 15 pesos and top it off at recharge machines.
Similar to that, a ride on the metro bus costs six pesos. An electronic card costs ten pesos.
There are some amazing street dishes in Mexico City that are frequently more affordable than eating in a restaurant. The best thing is that high-quality food doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, Mexico City is one of the few cities where eating out might actually be less expensive than cooking at home.
A few examples of authentic Mexican food are elotes (corn on the cob), tacos, quesadillas, gorditas (filled corn cakes), tortas (hearty Mexican sandwiches), and marquesitas (crispy crepes) that are served with mayo, cheese, and hot salsa. But take care—cheap prices don’t necessarily indicate tummy-friendly food. So, look for bustling stalls with a good reputation within the community, where there is a rapid food turnover and dishes are not left out for an extended period of time.
Take a lunch break like a local
Eating at comedores or fondas, which are family-run cafeterias that are frequently visited by office workers during their lunch breaks, is another option to get the most for your money while dining out. For around 50 to 80 pesos, they provide comida corrida, which is a set meal with three to four dishes that includes soup, stew, fresh juice and postres con leche (rice pudding).
The Mexican equivalent of McDonald’s in Mexico City, “Casa de Tono,” offers antojitos mexicanos (Mexican snacks), including tacos, quesadillas, and flautas (fried tortillas with toppings).
Examine the easily available cultural attractions and experiences in the city.
Mexico City is awash with museums and art galleries because to its rich history, architecture, and culture. On Sundays, several of these museums provide free entry, whereas on other days, there is usually an entrance fee of about 70 pesos. To view Diego Rivera’s well-known murals for free, visit locations like the Secretaria de Educación Pblica or the Palacio Nacional.
The city has a busy calendar of cultural events every year, the most of which are free and accessible to the public, ranging from film festivals and fairs to music concerts and plays.
Visit the parks with a picnic in hand
Despite being a significant city, Mexico City has a lot of expansive parks and green areas where you may relax whenever you choose.
A pleasant day out is provided by Chapultepec Park, often known as Mexico City’s Central Park. It has a gorgeous botanical garden, a number of sporting venues, and a sizable lake ideal for picnics.
The Central Park of Mexico City, popularly known as Chapultepec Park, is a terrific area to spend the entire day having fun. It has a large lake that’s great for picnics, a botanical garden, and athletic fields. In addition to the National Museum of Anthropology and Chapultepec Castle, which are both located close to Chapultepec Hill, the park also has a zoo.
