Heading to CDMX soon and am trying to sort out how much cash I should bring. I know there are instances (street vendors, etc.) that only take cash. Any advice/info on an amount ( U.S. $) that I should bring? (And yes, I will convert the currency prior to leaving the states and heading to CDMX).
FYI I’m not planning on walking around with a wad of cash. I’d just like to understand if bringing $100 or $200 (as an example) is what most of you folks who travel to CDMX do.
Posted by
PA
3077 posts
As anywhere else, use your hopefully no foreign-transaction-fee debit card at a bank ATM to withdraw Mexican money from your account in Mexican currency as needed, and make certain the machine processes your withdrawal amount in pesos, not USD. Using USD for purchases will as always result in you being overcharged.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
937 posts
I haven't been to Mexico City since 2022 and things do change, especially regarding safety - which seems to almost always be a topic when "Anything Mexico" is the topic. I found the city fascinating, welcoming and delightful although horror stories do abound. I would not presume to know which is safer.....walking around with local currency acquired prior to your arrival or visiting an ATM in Mexico City and extracting local currency in publc view.
During my one-week visit, I used only cash although hotel, airfare and guided tours were pre arranged and paid for prior to my arrival.
My trip report can be viewed, here (https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/a-week-in-mexico-city).