What currency is used in Mexico City?

Mexico City uses the Mexican peso (MXN).

How much does a day in Mexico City cost?

Roughly $35-55 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $90-150 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Mexico City?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Mexico City without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Mexico City travel guide

Mexico

A vast, high-altitude capital built on the ruins of Aztec Tenochtitlan, with major museums and a street-food culture that never seems to pause. Most travellers settle into a few leafy neighbourhoods and explore outward.

Essentials

Language: Spanish; English is common in hotels and many cafés in Roma and Condesa, much less so elsewhere
Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)
Plugs: Types A and B, 127 V
Emergency number: 911
Tipping: Around 10 to 15 percent is customary in sit-down restaurants, and it is rarely added to the bill.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $35-55, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $90-150, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Mexico City

Roma: Art Nouveau houses, independent cafés and plenty of taquerías.
Condesa: tree-lined avenues, two large parks and a relaxed, walkable feel.
Coyoacán: a former village in the south, home to the Frida Kahlo Museum and a lively market.

Getting around Mexico City

The Metro and Metrobús are cheap and run on a rechargeable card; ride-hailing apps are the easiest option at night. The city sits at about 2,240 metres, so give yourself a day to adjust.

Best time to visit Mexico City

November to April, the dry season; April and May are the warmest months, and summer afternoons bring heavy rain.

Top things to do in Mexico City

Spend a morning in the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Chapultepec Park, starting with the Mexica hall and the Sun Stone
See the Diego Rivera murals in the Palacio de Bellas Artes and, when it is open to visitors, the Palacio Nacional
Book ahead for the Frida Kahlo Museum, the Casa Azul in Coyoacán, then eat at the nearby Mercado de Coyoacán
Hire a trajinera, a painted flat-bottomed boat, on the canals of Xochimilco, ideally with a group
Watch lucha libre at Arena México, where masked wrestlers and a loud crowd make the night

What to eat in Mexico City

Tacos al pastor: spit-roasted pork with pineapple, shaved onto small corn tortillas
Chilaquiles: fried tortilla pieces in red or green salsa, a classic late breakfast
Tamales: steamed corn dough with fillings, sold from street carts in the morning, often with atole
Pulque: a milky, lightly fermented agave drink served in traditional pulquerías

Day trips from Mexico City

Teotihuacan: climb the Pyramid of the Sun at the ancient city, about an hour north by bus
Puebla: colonial tilework, the Capilla del Rosario and the home of mole poblano, about two hours by coach
Tepoztlán: a small town below a hilltop temple you can hike to, roughly an hour and a half south

Local etiquette

Greet people with a buenos días or buenas tardes before asking anything, and it is polite to say provecho to other diners as you pass their table.

Staying connected

Telcel and AT&T SIM cards are sold in OXXO convenience stores, eSIMs work well, and most cafés and hostels have free Wi-Fi.

Staying safe

Pickpocketing is common on crowded Metro carriages and in busy markets, so keep your phone out of back pockets and use ride-hailing apps at night. The city is in an earthquake zone; if you hear the seismic alert sirens, follow the locals outside to open ground.

A local tip

On Sunday mornings Paseo de la Reforma closes to cars, so borrow or rent a bike and ride it with the locals.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Mexico City on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Mexico City for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Mexico City, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Mexico City

What currency is used in Mexico City?: Mexico City uses the Mexican peso (MXN).
What is the emergency number in Mexico City?: In Mexico City, call 911.
When is the best time to visit Mexico City?: November to April, the dry season; April and May are the warmest months, and summer afternoons bring heavy rain.
How much does a day in Mexico City cost?: Roughly $35-55 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $90-150 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Mexico City?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Mexico City without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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