Best Place to Exchange Money in Mexico City

Where to change money in Mexico City

Licensed casas de cambio (exchange houses) are easy to find around the Zócalo and the Alameda in the Centro Histórico and along Paseo de la Reforma. Récord's June 2026 guide warned against changing money with people in the street.

• CCD (Centro de Cambios y Divisas): Zócalo, Avenida Juárez and Paseo de la Reforma - Milenio's June 2026 list puts CCD at Plaza de la Constitución 13, facing the Zócalo. CCD's own page gives Locales 35 to 45 there (11:00 to 19:00, Sundays to 18:00), plus Avenida Juárez 32, Local 38, by the Alameda (08:00 to 20:00 daily) and Paseo de la Reforma 87-F (08:00 to 20:00, Sundays to 18:00). Hours listed in October 2026.
• Banks and guarded shopping centres - Banks will change notes, though Mexperience says some want you to hold an account, so ask first. Récord also suggested guarded malls such as Reforma 222, Antara Fashion Hall, Mitikah and Plaza Carso.

Changing money at the airport

Mexico City International Airport (MEX, locally AICM) has two terminals.

In October 2026 Globo Cambio listed three counters open 24 hours a day, all taking Visa and Mastercard: inside the Terminal 1 international baggage hall (local R-1), in the Terminal 1 South American and Caribbean arrivals area between gates 7 and 8, and in the public part of Terminal 2 international arrivals beside Gate 3. On value, guides split: Récord (June 2026) says airport rates usually trail the city's, while Mexperience disagrees.

ATMs and cards in Mexico City

Mexperience says Mexican cash machines usually let a foreign card take 5,000 to 10,000 pesos a time, so a larger amount may cost two fees. Récord recommends machines within bank branches, malls, hotels or the airport rather than ones facing the street, and the Foreign Office prefers daylight and modest amounts. If a terminal offers to bill you in pounds, decline and stay in pesos, as MoneySavingExpert advises.

Paying for transport in Mexico City

A Metro ride costs M$5, paid by touching the turnstile reader with a contactless Amex, Visa or Mastercard, or a phone or smartwatch. Infobae (October 2025) said every station takes cards, but Récord's January 2026 list left out Line 12, so carry a back-up: the Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada, M$15 from Metro and Metrobús station machines, which also covers the M$6 Metrobús fare. IDC reported in June 2026 that Metrobús readers take foreign contactless Visa cards too.

At the airport, Terminal Aérea Metro station is at Terminal 1, and Metrobús leaves from gate 7 (Terminal 1) and gate 2 (Terminal 2), 04:30 to 24:00, from 05:00 on Sundays. Authorised taxi desks after customs charge a fixed fare by zone, roughly M$250 to M$320 according to Lonely Planet (March 2026).

Good to know

• Lonely Planet treats 15 per cent as the normal tip in Mexico City restaurants and bars, up to 20 per cent for excellent service; tip guides in peso notes.
• Never flag a taxi down in the street, Lonely Planet says; have your hotel call one or use an app. The Foreign Office warns of pickpockets on public transport, and large backpacks and suitcases are banned on the Metro.