Cost of travel through Mexico: A detailed breakdown

Mexico felt like the true start to our Pan American adventure, driving from Canada to Argentina. After spending about a month driving from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, through Idaho, Oregon, and California, we finally arrived in Baja California in June 2022.

We dedicated a total of six months in Mexico, truly immersing ourselves in the country. We explored the food, culture, roads, and everything in between.

In this blog post, I will highlight how much we spent in Mexico, showcasing the major expenses and the strategies we used to save money.

Family Budget

In the 6 months we spent in Mexico, our budget came to

MX 320,321 pesos

or USD$ 17,366

or CAD$ 23,786

Broken down, this is an average of a little less than USD $100 per day for a family of 4 and a dog.

Pie chart showing the categories that we spent money on.

From the chart, it is easy to see that the categories we spent the most money on were

Gas

Eating out

Groceries

Van Maintenacne

Alcohol (sic)

Miscellaneous spending included a doctors visit when Sage our son got an ear infection as well as the cost of the ferry from Baja California to mainland Mexico via Mazatlán.

What to Expect When Buying Gas in Mexico

Expense for the 6 months was : MX 52597 (USD $ 2863)

Gas stations are abundant in Mexico and we never at any point felt as though we were in a place that was so remote that we couldn’t get any. The stations known as “gasolineras” are predominantly run Pemex which is state owned. However there are the other typical stations like BP and Shell.

Gas stations almost always have an attendant and you are not expected to pump your own gas. Gasoline is sold by the liter not gallon so be prepared to measure the difference.

Crossing into Mexico from California was a welcome change as the prices in California in places like San Francisco and Mono lake were just exorbitant.

A big huge tip when at the gas station is to always make sure that the attendant sets the pump to zero before they start fueling the vehicle as this avoids overcharging.

Another tip is to use cash if possible. The reason for this is because some station’s credit card machines do not work and they might not have any credit card machines and only accept cash.

As well we learned the hard way that it is easy to scam unknowing customers by double charging them. We were at a gas station where we paid by credit card and the attendant walked away to get a receipt and came back to us claiming that our payment did not go through. He suggested we pay in cash instead. Because we had been in Mexico for a while, we had our guard up and I opted to stand my ground and instead call my credit card company back in Canada. What the credit card company confirmed is that the payment did in fact go through and it was posted as a charge.

The attendant argued with us for a while before realizing that we were not falling for his antics. After that incident, we always paid in cash especially because not every gas station is in an area that might have service to call the credit card company.

One more tip is to always double and triple count the cash in front of the attendant before handing them the cash. There is not shortage of attendants trying to scam you and they end up having sophisticated methods of scamming.

At the pump outside of Cancun, the attendant was very friendly and chatting us up like most do, this guy though was playing us all along. The final price came to MX2000 and I was in the passenger seat and handed Jeremy in the drivers seat the money in four 500 peso notes. Jeremy did not look at the money and handed it to the attendant as they continued chatting.

The attendant right away held up the notes and showed Jeremy three 500 notes and one 5 peso note saying that we still had to give more. I confronted him right away and let him know that I was aware of what he was doing. I had specifically counted and recounted the notes before handing them to Jeremy.

Again, this attendant could tell I had no time for his antics and apologized. In the commotion and annoyance, he handed the 5 peso note to us and said goodbye, so I guess we came out on top by making 5 pesos. It is therefore very important to stay vigilant and assertive to avoid falling victim to such tactics.

Food budget in Mexico Expense for 6 months:

MX 48888 (USD $ 2660)

We absolutely fell in love with Mexican food. In fact on our 2 year road trip from Canada to Argentina, we found that Mexico had the best food. Mexican food is well known for its rich and diverse flavors, a tradition that has been passed down generations. What makes Mexican cuisine so exceptional is its use of fresh, vibrant ingredients like tomatoes, chilies, avocados, and cilantro, combined with traditional techniques such as slow-cooking and hand-pressing tortillas.

We truly had an unforgettable culinary experience as we wandered our way through Mexico. We did not shy away from trying the different foods. If locals were eating it, we were trying it as well.

Our tips for Saving Money on Eating Out in Mexico Eat Like a Local.

Eat like a local: One rule that we have is that if we walk around looking for a restaurant, we will settle for the one with the largest number of locals inside it. This is a sure way to tell where the good food is especially because most of the restaurants are not on google. We indulged on street food at almost every occasion we could find. Mexican street food is delicious, authentic, and incredibly affordable.
Tacos, tortas, tamales, and elotes (corn on the cob) are must-tries. Street vendors often serve fresh and flavorful meals for just a few pesos.
Markets: Mercados or local markets offer a variety of inexpensive and tasty options. Markets are fantastic as the have multiple food stands selling different foods. Again we tended to go for the busy stalls.
Comida Corrida: Set menus are found in many local eateries. they are a common thing in all of Latin America and comprise of a soup or salad, a main dish and a drink for a fixed price.
These meals tend to be very quick and very cheap however since the menus are set, there is not much for options. Typically the eatery makes the food ahead of time and only serves it to the clients as they come so everyone is eating the same thing. The sense of community we felt at these types of eateries was fantastic though so we found ourselves frequenting these types of places throughout Latin America.
Avoid tourist traps: To stay within our budget and not be too stretched, we avoided tourist traps at all cost. These are restaurants in heavily touristy areas which tend to have higher prices. because the demand is there. As well, we avoided this places on the weekends where the menus could be different with higher prices.

Buying groceries in Mexico.

Expense for the 6 months: Mx 39701 (USD $ 2156)

Buying groceries in Mexico is a delightful experience steeped in tradition and freshness. We enjoyed the grocery shopping experience because it did not just mean going to one supermarket. It involved immersing ourselves in different spaces that allowed us to make a perfect meal. We would start off by buying meat directly from the butcher. This was we ensured the freshness of the meat.

We also found that meat from a supermarket sometimes would have a slight scent of the store or perfumed soap. I came to find this happened all over Latin America and it could be because of the ventilation in the stores. We also on multiple occassions bought pre packaged meat from the store only to open it and find it had a rotten smell. We thought this could be because most people went to the butcher instead of the supermarket.

As well, a butcher’s expertise ensured we got the perfect cut for our meal, whether it's for grilling or slow-cooking. Because of that we opted to buy meat from the butcher. Once done with the butcher, we would head to the “ fruteria y verduraria”- fruit and vegetable market. Always a fantastic place as we were always greeted with a riot of colors and aromas—piles of ripe mangoes, vibrant papayas, and juicy pineapples tempting our senses.

Besides the visual excitement, battering and haggling for prices felt like a game worth playing. Here, bargaining is a cultural norm, ensuring you get the best prices for your selection of fruits and vegetables. We found most vendors loved the banter back and forth which was also a way for us to practice Spanish.

The tiendas or convenient stores are where we bought the dry goods and van products like toilet paper, soap etc.

There are Walmarts all over Mexico which came in handy when we needed goods that would not be found in other stores like good peanut butter.

Panaderias are bakeries and the absolute best way to grab fresh made pastries and breads. As well in almost every Mexican town or city, the bread man drives around in their vehicle playing a very distinct jingle announcing they have the fresh bread for the day. Buying from these experiences was a great way to really immerse ourselves in the culture.

What to expect when driving through Mexico

In the 6 months we drove through Mexico, we had one severe breakdown that led to us halting for 3 weeks in Pinal de Amores in the state of Queretaro. The passenger side CV joint broke off while driving up a hill one fine morning in August. The reason why we stopped for 3 weeks was because it was impossible to find the spare part for our Ram Promaster in Mexico and it had to be shipped from USA. Besides that, we were in a very small town with no mechanic that had space or time or equipment to work on our American made vehicle. We ended up getting help from a pseudo mechanic who worked into the night to figure it out for us. Besides that, we had a complete check up resulting in new brakes in Oaxaca.

To toll or not to toll

Mexico has an extensive network of toll roads all over the country. However, the choice between toll roads (cuotas) and non-toll roads (libres) can significantly impact the driving experience. Toll roads are generally well-maintained, offering smoother, faster, and more direct routes between major cities .

They also tend to have better safety features, such as emergency services, rest areas, and clearer signage. However, the cost of using these roads can add up, especially for long distances, and toll booths can sometimes lead to minor delays.

Non-toll roads, on the other hand, are free to use but can vary greatly in quality. While some non-toll roads are well-paved, others can be narrow, bumpy, and poorly maintained. This will typically add to the time it takes to get from one point to another. We almost always took the libre- non toll roads because we were in Mexico for an adventure and we had the time.

These free roads pass through small towns and rural areas which usually provided a more scenic and culturally immersive experience. It was where we got to see the real Mexico. It was in passing through these free roads that we got the chance to stop in the local markets and local eateries.

The toll roads on the major highways will typically have fast food places like Burger King and McDonalds both of which tend to me more expensive in Mexico as well as offered unauthentic food. Our experience of getting to know the local life more intimately far exeeded the speed and convinience of toll roads.

A word of caution, fellow adventurers: non-toll roads in Mexico are infamous for their topes—speed bumps that pop up like sneaky ninjas! These topes have a knack for appearing out of nowhere, so keeping your eyes peeled is crucial. They're often stationed at the town's entrance and exit, but some mischievous ones like to surprise you in the middle of nowhere. I can't even count the number of times we hit a tope and were sent flying!

The funniest part? Almost every town conveniently has a mechanic shop right after a tope, as if they're just waiting to fix your tope-related mishaps. It's like a hidden business partnership between topes and mechanics—keeping you on your toes and your vehicle in their shops.

Van life Accomodation in Mexico:

Campgrounds Expense for 6 months Mx 31305 (USD $1700)

As of 2022, the app I-Overlander was a tremendous help for us as overlanders. It is an community driven app that has a almost every kind of information that a traveler seeks from accommodations to gas stations to food and supermarkets as well as warning about dangerous places.

We will forever be grateful for all the people that came before us and contributed to the app. We also take the time to contribute to it with absolute mindfulness. Because the app has user generated reviews, we were able to assess the comments before we went to a place.

Finding campgrounds in Mexico for campervans is an exciting part of the adventure, offering a mix of scenic spots and cultural immersion.

Campgrounds, campamentos, are scattered throughout the country, with many located in popular tourist destinations, coastal areas, and near natural attractions like national parks and beaches. These campgrounds often provide essential amenities such as water hookups, electricity, restrooms, and showers, making them comfortable and convenient for extended stays.

Some even offer Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and communal areas where you can meet fellow travelers. Camping fees would range anywhere from MX100-500 depending on the area as well as the amenities. As well the peninsula of Baja has amazing wild camping spots but we have to offer caution as there has been reports of robberies in some of the area.

Entertainment in Mexico

Mexico offers a vibrant and diverse range of entertainment options to suit every taste and budget. We got to experience museums, water falls, national parks as well as local festivals and events.

National Parks: Mexico's national parks, have a modest entry fee or are sometimes free which makes it easy to visit them . We spent sometime watching Volcan Popocatepetl huff and puff away in Parque Nacional Iztaccihuatl. Others like the stunning Copper Canyon and the lush jungles of Palenque, provide breathtaking scenery and opportunities for hiking, wildlife watching,
Museums: For history and art lovers, Mexico's museums are a treasure trove. There are countless museums all over Mexico. What we found to be amazing is that they typically did not charge for young children.
Local Fiestas and Festivals: Experience Mexico’s vibrant culture through its local fiestas and festivals, such as the Day of the Dead celebrations, which are free to attend and offer a unique glimpse into the country's traditions and community spirit.
Live Music and Dance: There will always be music playing on the streets in every Mexican town or city. We got to experience traditional mariachi bands in plazas or attend a ballet folklórico performance, showcasing Mexico's regional dances.
Natural waterparks: These can tend to be expensive compared to the other entertainment options because they tend to be on private properties. Some examples are Grutas Tolantongo and Cenotes in the Yucatan
Ruins:Visiting the Mayan ruins in Mexico is a journey back in time to one of the most fascinating civilizations in history. Sites like Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Palenque are the famous ones. However there are multiple other and they all showcase the architectural brilliance and cultural richness of the ancient Maya. Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, impresses with its iconic pyramid, El Castillo, and the intricately carved Temple of the Warriors.
Tulum offers stunning coastal views, with its ruins perched on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Palenque, hidden in the lush jungles of Chiapas, reveals intricate carvings and expansive plazas.

Lesser known ruins like Teotihuacan (Mx city) and Monte Alba (Oaxaca) are a great alternative without the large crowds.
Entrance fees to these sites typically range from MXN 80 to MXN 900, providing an affordable and unforgettable glimpse into Mexico's ancient past. While on the costlier side of it, they are an unforgettable experience

With a mix of affordable and enriching experiences, Mexico was a wonderful country to explore.