Money & duty free for Mexico

Exchange rates:

Mexican Peso
C$1 = M$15.19
€1 = M$21.2
£1 = M$25.25
US$1 = M$20.38

Currency & Money

Currency information

Mexican Peso (MXN; symbol $) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of $1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of $20, 10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centavos.

Credit cards

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Mexico, particularly in cities, tourist areas, hotels, restaurants and larger shops. Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly accepted, while American Express is accepted in some higher-end establishments. Contactless payments are increasingly common in urban areas.

ATM

ATMs are widely available in cities, towns and tourist destinations, making it easy to withdraw local currency. Machines are commonly found in banks, shopping centres, airports and convenience stores.

Banking hours

Mon to Fri, 09:00 to 16:00.

Currency restriction

There are no strict limits on the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into or taken out of Mexico. However, amounts exceeding US$10,000 (or equivalent) must be declared on arrival and departure.

Currency exchange

Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change (casas de cambio) and airports. Better exchange rates are usually available in cities than at airports or hotels. US dollars are the easiest to exchange, particularly in tourist areas.

Mexico duty free

Travellers, aged 18 and over, entering Mexico may bring in:

• Up to 10 packs of cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g of tobacco.
• 3L of spirits and 6L of wine.
• Other goods with a total value of up to US$500 (if arriving by air or sea) or US$300 (if arriving by land).

Duty-free allowances are subject to change, sometimes at short notice due to policy updates or external factors. Information is correct at the time of writing; travellers should verify current allowances with official customs authorities before departure. We accept no liability for any inconvenience or loss arising from changes to these regulations.

Banned imports

Banned imports include narcotics and illegal drugs, unlicensed firearms and ammunition, explosives, counterfeit goods and pirated products, and goods that may pose a risk to public health or safety. Mexico also prohibits the import of electronic cigarettes, vaping devices and related products. Certain food products, plants and animal products may be restricted or require permits.

This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult official Mexican customs guidance for the most up-to-date information.

Banned exports

Banned exports include narcotics, protected wildlife and products derived from endangered species, archaeological artefacts and cultural heritage items without authorisation, and certain regulated goods.

This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult official Mexican customs guidance for the most up-to-date information.

Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.