Local Tip
Heading for Tijuana? The Blue Line trolley ends at San Ysidro Transit Center, by the border crossing. Since 1 October 2026 an adult ride costs $3, payable by tapping a bank card on the validator.
Where to change money in San Diego
The airport lists cash machines but no exchange desk, and the one specialist branch we could confirm in the city is CXI's, in Mission Valley. For pesos, head to the border district of San Ysidro.
- CXI, Mission Valley 1640 Camino Del Rio North, Level 1 of the shopping centre, between Hot Topic and Torrid; open 11am to 8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am to 9pm Friday and Saturday, 11am to 7pm Sunday. CXI trades more than 80 currencies and also takes a few coins, including £1 and £2 pieces and 10 and 20 peso coins. Paying by card means showing official ID.
- San Ysidro Boulevard, for pesos Border Report described the street just north of the crossing as lined with exchange houses in 2020 and 2023. A 2019 NBC 7 San Diego investigation found customers paying commissions they had not noticed, so ask how many pesos you will get after every charge before handing over dollars.
Changing money at the airport
San Diego International Airport (SAN) has cash machines on the departure and arrival levels of both terminals (1 and 2), plus the Rental Car Center. Neither its services page nor its shop and dine directory, both checked on 2 October 2026, shows an exchange desk, and third-party guides disagree about who, if anyone, runs one. Arrive with a card your bank has cleared for American ATMs rather than relying on a bureau.
ATMs and cards in San Diego
Of the five taxi companies the airport authorises, only Yellow Radio Service lists every major credit card as accepted; American Radio Service, Orange Radio Service, San Diego Dispatch and USA Radio Dispatch take cards on request, so tell the driver you will pay by card before setting off. Uber, Lyft, Wingz and PrimeTime are the authorised rideshare firms, and their fares go on the card held in the app.
Paying for transport in San Diego
Bus and Trolley fares rose on 1 October 2026: an adult one-way trip is now $3, up from $2.50, and a rise to $3.25 is approved for 1 October 2027. Tapping a contactless bank card, phone or watch on a PRONTO validator takes one adult fare and covers transfers for two hours, but has no daily cap, and each passenger needs a separate card. A PRONTO card ($2 one-off fee, sold by ticket machines near the airport information centres) or the PRONTO app stops charging at the $7 day pass. Cash works on buses, without change, and at ticket machines, but carries no transfer.
Route 992 leaves both terminals every 15 minutes, 4:30am to 1am, for Kettner Boulevard and West Broadway, across the road from Santa Fe Depot, where three Trolley lines, the COASTER and Amtrak meet. The free San Diego Flyer goes to Old Town instead.
Good to know
- Walking into Tijuana counts as entering Mexico by land, so the FCDO says British nationals must complete Mexico's immigration form online first. Get your passport stamped in and out: the entry stamp is needed to leave.
- Keep some cash for the way back: the FCDO warns that Mexico may levy a departure tax on land as well as air travellers, and some border crossings take only cash.
Key Areas in San Diego
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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San Diego travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in San Diego?
For turning notes into dollars, CXI at 1640 Camino Del Rio North, Mission Valley; the airport has ATMs but lists no exchange desk. For pesos, use the exchange houses on San Ysidro Boulevard, checking the final amount after fees.
Can I pay for San Diego buses and the Trolley by tapping a bank card?
Yes. A tap of a contactless card, phone or watch pays the $3 adult fare, with two hours of transfers. Taps are never capped, so for a busy day a PRONTO card or the app, which stop at $7, works out cheaper.
How do I get from San Diego Airport to the Mexican border?
Ride Route 992 to the stop facing Santa Fe Depot, then the Blue Line trolley south to its last stop, San Ysidro Transit Center (700 E. San Ysidro Blvd.). One tapped card covers both legs if you change within two hours.
Checked October 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: San Diego International Airport · San Diego MTS · San Diego MTS (Participate MTS) · San Diego MTS / NCTD / SANDAG · Voice of San Diego · Currency Exchange International (CXI)
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