Can You Spend American Dollars in Mexico or Do You Need Pesos

While traveling to Mexico, you might wonder if you can spend American dollars or if you need pesos. You can use American dollars in some tourist areas and with some vendors, but you'll likely get a worse exchange rate than if you use pesos.

Many restaurants, shops, and hotels in tourist areas accept US dollars, but be aware that you'll often receive change in pesos. This can be frustrating if you're not familiar with the currency.

Some vendors, especially in popular tourist spots, may quote prices in US dollars, but they'll often expect you to pay in local currency. To avoid confusion, it's best to ask if they accept US dollars and what the exchange rate is.

Discover more: Where Can I Exchange Egyptian Pounds for Us Dollars

You can exchange foreign currency, but not all financial institutions offer this service, and even if your bank does, the nearest branch may only have certain types of currency available or limited amounts.

Some exchange offices in Mexico, known as casas de cambio, take Euros at a reasonable rate, but you'll get an even better deal if you exchange your currency for Pesos.

In tourist areas like Playa del Carmen or Huatulco, you can often pay with dollars, but this isn't always the case outside of these areas.

Peso coins are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 pesos, while the smallest peso bill is 20 pesos.

You can withdraw dollars from some ATMs in Mexico, but this can come with hefty fees of over 10%, while withdrawing money from ATMs in banks or supermarkets usually incurs only small fees.

Only small fees are charged when withdrawing money from ATMs in banks and supermarkets, but publicly accessible ATMs in Mexico are susceptible to manipulation and card data theft.

The Mexican Peso is worth between 17-19 Pesos for 1 dollar and between 20-22 Pesos for 1 Euro.

For 1 Euro, you get between 20-22 Mexican Pesos, and for 1 dollar, you get between 17-19 Mexican Pesos.

Intriguing read: Types of Us Money

Paying in Mexico can be a bit tricky, but with some knowledge, you'll be just fine.

You can use dollars in some tourist areas, but it's not always accepted, and the exchange rates may not be great. In fact, many places will give you change in dollars or pesos, which can be frustrating.

It's best to exchange your euros for pesos in Mexican exchange offices, as you'll get a reasonable rate. You can find these offices in public areas, and they often have better rates than hotels.

When using your credit card, be careful at publicly accessible ATMs, as fees can be steep. Cruise ports and hotels charge high fees, and some ATMs even dispense dollars, which can add to the costs.

Only small fees are charged when withdrawing money from ATMs in banks and supermarkets. It's a good idea to withdraw cash from secure locations, like banks or supermarkets, to avoid scams.

Intriguing read: Why Can I Not Breathe through My Nose?

You can shop with your credit card in major supermarkets and souvenir stores, but be sure to keep an eye on your card.

The Mexican peso is worth between 20-22 pesos for every euro and between 17-19 pesos for every dollar. You can find peso coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 pesos, and bills in 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 pesos.

It's a good idea to ask if they have change before handing over a large bill, as some places might not have small bills or might not want to give you change. You can ask "¿Tiene cambio?" (do you have change?) to avoid any issues.

Some touristy areas in Mexico offer to accept US dollars instead of pesos, but be aware that they often charge a fee for this service. It's usually better to pay in local currency to avoid getting ripped off.

If you need to use dollars, make sure to check the conversion rate, and use a menu that has both USD and MXN prices. You can also use Google to convert the currency and see if the price in pesos is lower.

For another approach, see: Can You Use Credit Cards in Mexico

The Mexican peso is a currency you'll want to familiarize yourself with when traveling to Mexico. For 1 euro, you get between 20 – 22 Mexican pesos.

You can also exchange your dollars for pesos, with 1 dollar getting you between 17 – 19 Mexican pesos. Peso coins are available in 1, 2, 5, and 10 pesos. The smallest peso bill is 20 pesos.

To give you a better idea of the value, you can use online tools like Google to see how much your money is worth in Mexican pesos. Simply type in a conversion, like "100 USD to MXN" or "100 MXN to USD."

On a similar theme: Us Currency 20 Dollar Bill

You can pay with dollars in big tourist areas like Playa del Carmen or Huatulco, but it's not always accepted everywhere else.

In touristy establishments, the Euro is also accepted, but sometimes the exchange rates are much worse.

It's best to exchange your Euro for Pesos in Mexican exchange offices, where you'll get reasonable exchange rates.

Consider reading: Euro Conversion to American Dollars Chart

Hotels often have much worse exchange rates than public exchange offices, so it's worth comparing.

Be careful using your credit card at Mexican ATMs, as some charge hefty fees for withdrawals.

Cruise ports and hotels often charge high fees for credit card withdrawals, and some ATMs even dispense dollars with fees over 10%.

Withdrawing money from ATMs in banks and supermarkets usually incurs only small fees.

Keep in mind that publicly accessible ATMs in Mexico are susceptible to manipulation, so it's best to withdraw from ATMs located in closed buildings.

Shopping with a credit card usually works without problems, and major supermarkets and souvenir stores accept all major card systems.

If you pull out a large bill for a small purchase, you'll often be asked for something smaller, as many places don't have change or don't want to give it away.

Asking first if they have change (tiene cambio?) can make a big difference, and they'll be more likely to provide change if they want the sale.

A different take: Chime Card