Travel Magazine · Mexico guide
Getting cash in Mexico, without the fees.
Which ATMs to use, the one button that costs travelers the most, and how much cash you actually need, from our team on the ground in Puerto Vallarta.
The short answer.
Five rules that save you money
- Use a bank ATM, inside a bank branch.Safer than street and convenience-store machines, and the fee is shown on screen before you confirm.
- When asked "dollars or pesos?", choose pesos.ATMs and card machines offer to charge you in dollars at their own rate. Say no, every time.
- Bring a card with no foreign transaction fees.Many home bank cards add about 3% to every payment and withdrawal abroad.
- Take out enough for two or three days.Fewer withdrawals means fewer fees, without carrying a lot of cash.
- Skip airport exchange desks.Their rates are the worst you will see. Use the ATM inside the terminal if you need pesos on arrival.
The costly button
"Dollars or pesos?" Always pesos.
It is called dynamic currency conversion. The ATM or card machine offers to convert the amount into dollars for you, at an exchange rate it chooses, often several percent worse than your card's own.
It sounds helpful, and the screen is designed so the expensive choice looks like the safe one. Choose pesos, or press "Decline conversion", and your own bank does the conversion at the real rate.
Withdraw 4,000.00 MXN
Would you like to be charged in USD at a guaranteed rate?
Where to get pesos
From best to worst.
Paying day to day
Cards, phones and cash.
Cards
Visa and Mastercard
- Accepted at most restaurants, hotels and shops in tourist areas.
- American Express is less widely taken.
- Ask for the card machine at the table and keep the card in sight.
Phone
Tap to pay
- Apple Pay and Google Pay work wherever the terminal is contactless.
- The same rule applies: pay in pesos.
Cash only
Keep small notes
- Markets, taquerías, taxis and tips are cash.
- Carry 20, 50 and 100-peso notes; change for a 500 can be hard.
- For tips, see how much to tip in Mexico.
Peso converter
What it costs in dollars.
Free for your trip
The Mexico money card.
The five ATM rules, every tip amount, and the exact screen to decline. One page, made for your phone.
Before you fly
Tools for your trip.
Our villa plan
Trip protection for your villa
7% of trip cost, or 10.8% with Cancel For Any Reason (60% back). Buy within 14 days of your first payment.
See our villa plans →Peace of mind
Travel insurance, compared
Compare plans from many insurers for any Mexico trip. Booked a villa with us? See our villa plans.
Compare on Squaremouth →Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Villa Experience may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only list services we would use ourselves.
Less cash, fewer decisions
At a villa, it is one quote.
At a staffed villa, the stay, the staff and the services are agreed in one written quote before you arrive. You need cash mainly for tips and nights out.
Stay here
Fully staffed villas in Mexico
Fully staffed villas across Punta Mita, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and the Riviera Maya, with a private chef included at many of them.
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Questions
Cash in Mexico, answered.
What is the best way to get cash in Mexico?
A bank ATM inside a bank branch, with a card that has no foreign transaction fees. When the screen asks whether to convert to dollars, decline and stay in pesos.
Can I withdraw money from an ATM in Mexico?
Yes. Visa and Mastercard debit cards work at Mexican bank ATMs. The bank shows its fee on screen before you confirm, and your own bank may add its own.
Should I exchange money before I travel?
Usually not. Exchange rates at home and at airports are poor. Arrive with a little cash for the first taxi and use a bank ATM in Mexico.
Are US dollars accepted in Mexico?
In some tourist businesses, but at a poor rate. Paying in pesos is almost always cheaper, and it is what staff prefer for tips.
How much cash should I carry?
Enough for two or three days of tips, taxis and small purchases, split between your wallet and the villa or hotel safe. Use cards for the larger bills.
What is the exchange rate today?
18.37 pesos per dollar, the reference rate on 14 October 2026. Check your bank’s app for the exact rate on the day you travel.
