See how much and how to take money to Cancun. If you are going on a trip in this city, find out the ideal amount and ways to get your money there. At the end of this article, you will have a complete financial plan for your trip. Enjoy!
After reading this article, check out our tips about how to save a lot of money on your trip to Cancun. It is the most accessed article on our blog and will help you a lot with all the trip planning. There are several unmissable tips that will save you A LOT of cash and set up your entire trip to Cancun.
How much money to take for accommodation in Cancun?
One of the most expensive items on any trip abroad is accommodation. Therefore, it is essential to have adequate financial planning for each type of itinerary and profile. If you are one of those who don’t see problems in staying in hostels, hostels and cheaper hotels, know that you’ll get some in the 500 Mexican peso range. Already, for those who prefer luxury hotels or full all-inclusive Cancun, stays are in the range of 2,500 Mexican pesos and up. Read too:
- Best hotels in Cancun Hotel Zone
- Best cheap hotels in Cancun
- 5 Best all-inclusive resort hotels in Cancun
A great tip for finding great hotels and resorts all-inclusive with incredible prices, in the region you want and save a lot on lodging in Cancun is to use thisHotel Search Engine in Cancun. We always use it as it is the largest hotel booking site in the world and therefore it is the best place to book with confidence and security. Not to mention that it has all the hotels and resorts in Cancun and the world in his research and unbeatable prices due to the strong negotiation they do with the hotels.
Another very good tip is that this search engine has a very strong partnership with the establishments and they offer free cancellation with almost all hotels. This is great, because the factor that will save you the most in hosting is the advance.
This is the most important tip. The sooner you make the reservation, you can be sure that the cheaper you will pay. So, you can book your hotel now, to guarantee the lowest price, and if you find a better one afterwards or don’t want to stay in it, just cancel for free.
How much money to take for food in Cancun?
When it comes to food, the tip remains the same: there are cheaper options, but there are also more sophisticated options. For those who opt for fast food or grocery shopping right at the beginning of the trip, the budget will be cheaper (around 195 Mexican pesos per meal per day).
Now, if the intention is the best and most elaborate restaurants in Cancún, the separate amount for that will have to be double, 370 Mexican pesos per day! Enjoy and see the article on the best restaurants in Cancun.
How much money to take on tours in Cancun?
Cancun, fortunately, is a city that has several incredible free tours: beaches, malls, squares, markets and others. So, if you are on a more economical trip, choose these attractions for your itinerary. Now, if you want to go to the most famous attractions there, understand that you will need to shell out a lot of money for that.
- Xcaret Park: between US$ 99 and US$ 129;
- Xel-Há Park: between US$ 80 and US$ 125;
- Swim with dolphins: between US$ 49 and US$ 199;
- Cenotes: it will depend on the chosen cenote.
Whatever your choice, be sure to check the values and information for all of themat this link. As it’s the biggest ticket and tour site in the world, you already have all the options there and you can buy everything in one place, which we know is to be trusted.
How much money to take for shopping in Cancun?
Cancun is not as attractive as some US cities, for example, for shopping. However, it is possible to find much more affordable products there than in some regions of the world. On average, we suggest that you set aside around 1,800 Mexican pesos to buy some clothes, shoes, souvenirs and souvenirs on the trip. See more about this subject in the texts:
- Best malls and outlets in Cancun
- Plaza La Isla in Cancun
- Las Plazas Outlet in Cancun
How much money to take for transport in Cancun?
The most comfortable, practical and economical way we found to get around in Cancun is a rental car. With it, you will have more mobility and flexibility to go anywhere and anytime. For this, know that you will have to spend an average of 435 Mexican pesos per day. Also read the article Cheap car rentals in Cancun, with all the tips to purchase this service there.
How much money to shell out for an airline ticket to Cancun?
The cost of an air ticket to Cancun depends on your departure destination. If you purchase this item well in advance and with the travel date for the low season, believe me, it is possible to find super cheap flights. If you want to buy your tickets right now, click on this link, which is a wonderful airline ticket comparison.
How much money to spend for Travel Insurance to Cancun?
International Travel Insurance must be taken out prior to travel and paid for by credit card, so you don’t have to worry about it while traveling. But, don’t forget to do yours in advance to pay even less. If you want, check out our article International Travel Insurance for Cancun with all the tips and get great insurance at an incredible price.
How much to shell out money for a cell phone chip in Cancun?
Nowadays, you cannot travel abroad without a cell phone chip with Internet. With it, you can do everything with greater convenience, especially in Cancun, where there are apps for some attractions and also for shopping. And the best thing is that you can use your cell phone as a GPS, which ends up being cheaper.
After all these years of testing many different chips and traveling around the world, the one we like the most and think it’s cool to recommend to readers is the mysimtravel travel chip. It has a good price, compared to others, and the main difference we found was the coverage and signal. The 2GB internet plan costs US$ 20. And using our coupon GRUPODICAS you get a discount! Also read the article on tips to use your cell phone in Cancun.
About the official currency of Cancun and throughout Mexico
In all Mexican states and cities the currencies used are the same, as is the best way to pay for things. Thinking about how to help you in this matter, we have separated tips from all the pros and cons of ways to take your money to Cancun.
Mexican pesos
The official currency for Cancun and all of Mexico is the Mexican peso, which is presented with a $ or the initials MXN. The notes, for example, are: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 pesos, while the coins are 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 pesos.
Dollars
In Cancun, you can also use the dollar, which is accepted in most tourist spots, taxis and restaurants. So, see what you prefer and buy in advance, the pesos or dollars, to use on the trip. Remember that Mexican pesos are accepted everywhere, so it’s more guaranteed, because when converting in certain places, sometimes you can have unnecessary expenses.
About ways to take money to Cancun and Mexico
1) Mexican pesos in cash
The simplest way to get your Mexican pesos to Cancun and all of Mexico is cash. The advantages of paper money are:
- You don’t pay the tax you pay on credit and prepaid cards;
- You pay that exchange rate on the day of purchase and it doesn’t change;
- You have money to spend in places that do not accept card (such as taxis and small establishments).
The disadvantages are:
- You will need to carry and count the money all the time;
- If anyone sees or you are robbed, you will lose all your money and lose out.
Obviously you can’t take all your travel money in cash, as it’s dangerous, but it can take quite a bit. Many services, such as transportation in Cancun, parking and some establishments only accept payments in Mexican pesos. Those which accept payments in dollars end up having major disadvantages when converting. To avoid these expenses, our tip is that you look for a trustworthy exchange house when buying the pesos and pay attention to the exchange rate. In Cancun, there are also many exchange houses that do this exchange with great quotes, but don’t forget to check prices first.
2) International prepaid card
The International Prepaid Card is a great way to take money to Cancun and anywhere in the world. See the main advantages of using it on your trip:
- It works like a debit card, which is accepted in more than 95% of establishments around the world, as its brand is VISA or Mastercard;
- All you have to do is hire the card from a trustworthy company and load it with Mexican pesos still in your country;
- You transfer the amount in your country’s currency to the exchange company and they put the amount in pesos on the prepaid card;
- You pay the exchange rate for the day and it no longer varies;
- It is accepted everywhere;
- With it, it is possible to make withdrawals in Mexican pesos, dollars or local currency at ATMs all over the world;
- You can carry more weights at any time over the phone or the Internet and can track all expenses in real time via the mobile app;
- It is the simplest, safest, economical and practical way to take money abroad.
3) Credit card
A credit card is another way to take money to Cancun or any city in Mexico. Its advantage is:
- You just need to call the card company and let them know you’re going to travel, so they can release international purchases in the cities you’re visiting.
The disadvantages are:
- Unfortunately, apart from the practicality, this is the most expensive and least economical option.
- In addition to the tax that is charged on all purchases made abroad, the exchange rate considered is that of the day your invoice is closed, which may have increased a lot after the trip and you may have to pay a lot more for it.
- The credit card has a limit and the exchange rate charged on the invoice is always much higher than the rate you pay when purchasing in cash and with a prepaid card.
When we travel, we pay much cheaper for every peso we buy in cash and on the prepaid card. The purchases we made on credit cards, for example, came after a few weeks with the invoice closed at a much higher exchange rate. It’s a big difference and, in the end, it’s a pretty high value considering what you’re going to spend on the trip.
How to take Mexican pesos to Cancun after all?
Our recommendation is to always take an amount in cash, around 150 to 300 dollars converted into Mexican pesos per person, to save on tax and pay small daily expenses. The rest of the money, take on an international prepaid card, which is safe, much cheaper than a credit card and you can keep track and recharge at any time. The credit card is good to unlock and take abroad for any emergency. It’s good to always have a plan B in case something unforeseen happens. And for car rental and hotel reservations, you must always have an international credit card.
Important tips to enjoy much more your trip to Cancun
Now that we have given you all the tips about how much and how to take money to Cancun, here are some more suggestions that will make your trip even better. Cancun is a big city and its tourist spots and beaches are concentrated in some regions, so being well located makes all the difference. If you haven’t already booked your hotel, be sure to check out our article Where to stay in Cancun, with tips from the best regions and also how to get a great hotel at a great price (and find all inclusive hotels and resorts on sale).
Another good tip is that many people think it is not worthwhile to rent a car in Cancun, but it all depends on how your trip will be. If you are staying at the hotel every day, it really is not worth it. But, if you are going on tours, want to go to shopping malls and tourist spots, they are all a little bit apart and the car is great for getting around.
Even in the hotel zone that has everything there, the distance between the points is great, and without the car you need to take a taxi or public bus. With the car, you have more comfort and freedom, not to mention the economy, because with the value of the transport that you will spend from the airport to the hotel and vice versa, you have already paid the rent of a car for almost 5 days. If you want to know all the tips on the subject and how to get incredible prices, see our full article about how to rent a car in Cancun.
Where to buy the cheapest tickets for tours and tourist attractions in Cancun
A good suggestion to save money is to buy tickets, tours and excursions in advance online. It costs a lot less and you don’t waste time in lines there in Cancun. We have done a lot of research and the site that always has the best prices is this Cancun tickets website. They are the biggest tours tickets website in the world.
The unmissable tours that cannot be left out of your trip in any way are: the excursion to Isla Mujeres, excursion to X-Caret or Xel-Há (two incredible natural parks), the Coco Bongo party and the excursion to Chichén Itzá, which is one of the seven wonders of the world. It also has the swim with dolphins which is incredible. Virtually all tours pick you up at your hotel and drop you back there.
Don’t forget about travel insurance to Cancun
Another tip is to not forget to take international travel insurance to Cancun, as it is very important and no one should leave the country without one. If you want, read our article about travel insurance for Cancun and see tips on how to get good insurance at an incredible price. It is super cheap and very worth it.
How to use your cell phone in Cancun
Being able to use the Internet from your cell phone in Cancun is very worthwhile. The tourist attractions, restaurants, shopping malls and beaches have great applications. In addition, you save by not having to rent a GPS for the car with the rental company, you can search the addresses and times of the places, see the weather forecast to plan for the tours and beaches, stay connected with everyone through applications and post your photos of Cancun on social networks.
If you want, see all our tips to use your cell phone in Cancun. It’s super cheap and you’ll be able to use your cell phone all day and anywhere. And, you can also search all about how much and how to take money to Cancun for when you’re there.
Other must-see articles from Cancun:
- Best all inclusive resort hotels in Cancun
- Best things to do in Cancun
- Best things to do at night in Cancun
