Mexico City has it all – there’s a vibrant energy here, like nowhere else in North America. Everywhere you look, you’ll see culture, natural beauty, stunning architecture, friendly people, and delicious food cooked on every corner: tacos al pastor, anyone?
When you compare Mexico City to some cities in the south of the country, like Cancun, which are infamous for their overpriced resorts, it’s an affordable destination. You can have a relatively cheap getaway here, and we’ll show you how in this budget travel guide!
How to Get From Mexico City’s Airports to the City Center
From Mexico City Benito Juarez
Mexico City Benito Juarez is the main airport in the city, so the chance of you landing here is high. The distance to the center is only around 8 km, and there are three transport options available: taxi, bus, and metro.
The taxi ride from Mexico City to Benito Juarez should take around 15 minutes as it’s only an 8 km drive. The fare usually costs between MXN 244.08 (€12.03) and MXN 300.41 (€14.81), but be sure to compare it to Uber.
If you want to take the bus into the city, you need to use the Metrobus; it requires a card called the Metrobus Card, which can be bought at the airport for MXN 15 (€0.74). When you buy the card, you must load money onto it for your fare. Be sure to put around MXN 60.85 (€3) just to be safe. The Metrobus stops outside Terminals 1 and 2, and the journey should last around 45 minutes.
Getting into Mexico City by metro is your final option. You’ll have to take a 10-minute walk from the airport to Terminal Aérea Station; tickets are available there for MXN 5 (€0.25), but the journey takes 50 minutes.
From Felipe Ángeles International Airport
Recently opened in 2022, Felipe Ángeles International Airport is around 45 km north of Mexico City. There are two ways to get to the city: by bus or taxi.
Taking a taxi is the fastest option; the journey only takes 40 minutes and can cost between MXN 262.70 (€12.95) and MXN 337.76 (€16.65). You can also download a rideshare application like Uber, which sometimes offers cheaper fares.
The second option is to take a bus. However, there are no direct buses to the center, so you’ll have to get on bus line 1 to Glorieta Militar and, from there, get on a Zumpango bus to the city center. The bus terminal is located at the Intermodal Land Transport Terminal (TITT), and you can buy tickets there. You should expect the total journey to cost around MXN 80.90 (€4).
How to Enjoy Mexico City on the Cheap
Marvel at Catedral Metropolitana
In the heart of Centro Histórico is the jaw-dropping Spanish Baroque-style Catedral Metropolitana. Despite many strong earthquakes in the city over the years, this masterpiece still looks better than ever.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Catedral Metropolitana is the oldest and largest cathedral in all of Latin America. Today, it sits as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico, and visitors can visit the four buildings part of the complex for free.
The best view of the Catedral Metropolitana is at Zócalo Square, a buzzing hive of activity where locals and tourists come together to admire the work of art. You’ll know you’re at the right place once you see the giant Mexican flag waving through the air.
Fun Fact: The construction of Catedral Metropolitana began in 1573 and took nearly 250 years to complete!
Watch a Lucha Libre Fight
Lucha Libre in Mexico is like football in the U.K.; this type of wrestling is a massive part of the culture and a spectacle to behold, with competitors wearing funky masks, showboating, and battling out for revered title belts.
A couple of arenas around the city host Lucha Libre fights, but the best is Arena México, which has a seating capacity of over 16,000. On most Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, this place comes alive with roars from die-hard Mexican fans cheering on their favorite Heel wrestlers.
Tickets can be purchased for these fights online from Ticketmaster, but they’re cheaper from the box office when you arrive. Expect to pay around MXN 125 (€6.22). However, the seats you want will dictate the price.
Fun Fact: The masks worn by Lucha Libre wrestlers are called “mascaras,” and each design has its own unique history and symbolism.
Try Some Strange Foods in Mercado San Juan
What looks like your typical food market as you walk inside, there’s much more than meets the eye in Mercado San Juan. This mart is infamous for its exotic offerings; you can feast on all sorts of stuff here, including alligators, iguanas, scorpions, and grasshoppers. They even have lions and tigers, priced at around MXN 100 (€4.98) per burger.
The market is actually split into two sections; they’re only a short walk from each other, but the one with the whacky foods looks pretty modern from the outside. Bizarre dishes aren’t the only thing you’ll find here; there are also lots of fresh fruit, fish, nuts, and mezcal stands that offer free shots if you buy food.
Fun Fact: Mercado San Juan has been around since the 1950s and is known for its exotic meats and gourmet products.
Admire the Palacio de Bellas Artes
The striking Palacio de Bellas Artes is a true work of art dominating Centro Histórico. It was constructed on the site of the original National Theatre to honor the 100th anniversary of Mexico becoming independent from Spain.
The building of the Palacio de Bellas Artes began in the early 1900s, but unfortunately, it was not completed until 1934 because of the Mexican Revolution.
From the outside, its Neoclassical and Art Nouveau features are particularly impressive, but when you go inside, the style changes to a more Art Deco design.
If you want to enter the Palacio de Bellas Artes, it costs MXN 75 (€3.73) for a ticket, but if you go on Sunday, entry is free for both Mexicans and foreigners, so plan your trip accordingly.
Fun Fact: The Palacio de Bellas Artes is sinking! Built on the soft soil of what used to be Lake Texcoco, the building has been gradually sinking since its construction.
Get Lost in the Roma District
In comparison to Centro Histórico, the Roma District is like a completely different city. It has this trendy vibe with upmarket cafes, boujee restaurants, and cute galleries; when you walk through the streets, you’ll feel like you’re somewhere in Europe.
Roma is a nice place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the city. Rest up in peaceful parks like Plaza Rio de Janeiro or pop into Museo del Objeto del Objeto (MODO) for a unique exhibit where each random object is an artifact that tells a story. Get your hands on tickets for as low as MXN 60 (€2.99).
Fun Fact: The Roma District was the setting for Alfonso Cuarón’s Oscar-winning film “Roma,” which is based on his childhood experiences.
Catch a Mariachi Performance at Plaza Garibaldi
Nicknamed ‘Mariachi Square,’ Plaza Garibaldi is a square in the city where you can watch mariachi bands belt their hearts out to Mexican classics free of charge.
Every day, these bands come together and showcase their vocals to tourists looking for a real taste of Mexico. You’ll hear them before you see them in their traditional garments, playing their super-sized trumpets and quirky guitars.
The rules are they don’t play until they get paid, but that doesn’t mean you have to be the one to pay them. Just wait around out front of one of the nearby cafes until someone comes along and gives them money; you’ll see a free performance in no time.
Please be mindful that Garibaldi isn’t the safest area in Mexico City, so you should be extra cautious while there. In recent years, there has been an increase in security presence, so you’ll be fine, but always be aware of your surroundings and avoid the area when it’s dark.
Fun Fact: Mariachi music was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2011.
Take a Day Trip to See Teotihuacan
Mexico has many ancient ruins, while Chichén Itzá in the south gets a lot of recognition; Teotihuacan is equally, if not more impressive, depending on your tastes.
Teotihuacan is a pre-Hispanic city around 50 km from Mexico City, which dates back between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D. It had up to 25,000 inhabitants and is made up of incredible monuments and humongous pyramids. When you set your eyes on them for the first time, you’ll be scratching your head, wondering how they built them.
Getting to Teotihuacan is very easy; you have two options: an organized tour or going there yourself by bus.
If you opt for the organized tour option, expect to spend around MXN 602.74 (€30) for the entire trip. These tours usually include other stops along the way for mezcal tastings and to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The cheapest way to get to Teotihuacan is by going alone on a public bus. A couple of buses depart a day from the Autobuses del Norte Bus Station in the Puerta 8 zone. Tickets cost around MXN 50 (€2.49) each way, and the journey should only take an hour.
Fun Fact: The name “Teotihuacan” means “the place where the gods were created” in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs.
When to Visit Mexico City
The best time to visit Mexico City is during the dry season between November and April. During these months, you’ll avoid the sweltering heat and humidity, making walks through cute districts like Roma and Condesa that bit more enjoyable. Temperatures during the dry season can range anywhere between 6.5°C and 27°C, but it gets hotter the closer you get to May.
If you can only get vacation time around the rainy season, be prepared for short, strong bursts of rain around the afternoon, but they tend to clear up quickly. Expect a lot of humidity with temperatures between 7°C and 27°C. Beware, Mexico City also has a hurricane season between June and November, with the riskiest months being September and October, so be prepared for cancellations and monitor local news networks.
How Expensive Is Mexico City?
Mexico City can be a very affordable destination for travelers as long as you stick to districts like Centro Histórico. While Condesa and Roma are nice too, they can be a little more expensive since most tourists want to stay there.
Cash is king when it comes to money in Mexico City, so you’ll need to have some on you at all times. Some ATMs in the city have low withdrawal fees, like Inbursa Bank, which only charges MXN 22.04 (€1.09) per withdrawal. Avoid ATMs in corner stores and touristy areas, as they charge more, and stick to official banks. There are some currency exchanges around, some of which don’t charge commission, but they’ll usually give you a slightly lower rate, so you’ll pay for it in the end. Consider exchanging money in your home country before you arrive; it might be cheaper for you.
Local currency – Mexican Peso (MXN); €1 = 20.28
- Dinner/lunch – Small street food meal (e.g., three tacos) MXN 60.85 (€3) or a meal at a local restaurant MXN 101.42 (€5)
- Coffee – Between MXN 40.57 (€2) and 71.00 MXN (€3.50)
- Beer – Prices start at around MXN 45 (€2.22)
- Wine – Around MXN 100 (€4.44), but it depends on where you buy it
- Hostel dorm (6 bed) – MXN 162.28 (€8) a night
- Cheap hotel/apartment – MXN 263.70 (€13) a night
Start Planning Your Cheap Getaway to Mexico City!
As you can see, there’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a low-cost getaway to Mexico City. You won’t have to watch your money that much, especially when you’re eating from cheap torta stands, drinking in local cantinas, and following our affordable activities list.
That being said, you can easily get carried away in Mexico City, especially in fancy areas like Roma. Every time you leave your accommodation, only take the amount you’re willing to spend with a small emergency fund; your budget will always be safe then.
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