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Mexico City on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Mexico City is excellent for budget travellers. Allow about MXN 1,100 a day per person for a hostel, street food, a museum and the metro.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | MXN500 | MXN1,300 | MXN4,000 |
| Food & drink | MXN350 | MXN800 | MXN2,000 |
| Sights & tickets | MXN200 | MXN600 | MXN2,500 |
| Local transport | MXN60 | MXN250 | MXN600 |
| Per person, per day | MXN1,110 | MXN2,950 | MXN9,100 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Mexico City day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Zócalo and the Metropolitan Cathedral
- Diego Rivera's murals in the Palacio Nacional (free; bring ID and check opening days)
- Walking Chapultepec Park
- Coyoacán's plazas and the Jardín Centenario
- The Sunday cycle ride on Paseo de la Reforma (Muévete en Bici), when the avenue is closed to cars
- The Casa de los Azulejos and Madero Street
Cheap eats
- Tacos al pastor: about MXN 20–35 each
- Tacos de suadero or campechanos: about MXN 18–30 each
- Tlacoyo with nopal and salsa: about MXN 20–40
- Tamal or guajolota with atole: about MXN 20–40
- Quesadilla or huarache at a market: about MXN 30–60
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels in the Centro Histórico, Roma and Condesa, with dorm beds roughly MXN 300–600.
Getting around cheaply
The metro costs MXN 5 a ride and the Metrobús runs on dedicated lanes; both use a rechargeable Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada. From the airport, Metrobús Line 4 runs to the Centro cheaply. Uber and DiDi are inexpensive for evenings.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Zócalo, Cathedral and the Templo Mayor (about MXN 100)
- Lunch: tacos al pastor at a street stand, about MXN 100
- Afternoon: Palacio de Bellas Artes (about MXN 90) and Alameda Central
- Evening: tlacoyos and a mezcal in the Centro, about MXN 200
- Total: about MXN 1,100 including a hostel bed and metro rides
More ways to save
- Eat your main meal at lunch as a comida corrida.
- Use Metrobús Line 4 from the airport instead of a taxi.
- Buy a rechargeable transit card at any metro station.
- Visit free markets such as Mercado de La Merced and Mercado de Coyoacán.
- Book Teotihuacán independently by bus from the Terminal del Norte.
- Choose hostels with breakfast included.
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Common questions
How much do I need per day?
About MXN 1,100 per person: MXN 500 for a bed, MXN 350 for food, MXN 200 for sights and MXN 60 for transport.
What is free in Mexico City?
The Zócalo, the Palacio Nacional murals, Chapultepec Park, Coyoacán's plazas and Sunday cycling on Reforma.
How do I get from the airport cheaply?
Take Metrobús Line 4 to the Centro, or the metro from Terminal Aérea station.