Hola Reader,

I'm sure your inbox is absolutely teeming with Amazon Prime deals and people sharing their favourite products for you to buy but that's not why I'm here.

I'm here to talk about how to save money, not spend it.

I get a lot of emails and DMs about Mexico and one question that I see come up over and over is "is Mexico cheap?", and one comment I hear over and over is how surprised some people are by the cost of things.

So today, we're going to talk about how to tell if you're overpaying in Mexico.

Is Mexico Really Cheap?

Mexico is a big country, 13th in the world by land mass in fact. So of course prices vary depending on where you are, just like in most countries around the world.

But the two main things driving the price disparity are:

-Popular tourist destinations are generally more expensive than lesser known or up and coming destinations.

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-There is a wealth disparity in Mexico which means even certain neighbourhoods will see big differences in the cost of basic things like bottled water.

The truth is, a trip to Mexico can be as expensive or inexpensive as you make it depending on where you go and how you spend your money.

And I'm going to teach how to tell if you're about to pay more for things than you're expecting.

Questions To Ask Yourself

1) Who is the customer here?

If you find yourself in a shop or restaurant with only English writing and prices in USD, you can go ahead and assume you're going to pay at least 50% more than a local price.

Locals often won't (and sometimes can't) pay the tourist prices so if you don't see locals, or the place isn't created with them in mind you're likely going to overpay.

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2) Do you see prices?

Most places in Mexico have prices listed. Whether you're in a brand name store or a market stall, prices are usually on display.

Sometimes that means signs, sometimes it means little stickers, but if you have to ask for a price then you can assume you're getting a price just for you. If you don't see prices then I would keep it moving.

(Memories of my first trip to Mexico City when a server at a bar told me there was no menu and we ended up paying double 🤔)

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3) How is the quality?

This one is a little trickier to explain since it's not a one-size-fits-all tip but here we go.

I mentioned earlier that there is a wealth disparity in Mexico and along with that means a price disparity. Tourism aside, there are well-to-do Mexicans who have a taste for the finer things and are willing to pay more for higher quality.

It's not uncommon to visit restaurants and see USDA grading on the steak selection or find luxury boutique hotels in places that English-speaking tourists don't usually visit. A great example of this is Santiago de Querétaro.

This city in Central Mexico is one of the wealthiest cities in the country. Private planes, sports cars, and designer labels can be spotted here daily.

It's a very popular place for Mexicans to visit but most English-speaking tourists overlook it (which is a shame, because it's a wonderful, charming place of historic importance).

So if something costs more than you are expecting, consider the quality before deciding if it's overpriced.

If you're shopping, find out if what you're looking at is handmade vs machine made, or if it's made in Mexico vs imported. Most vendors will be quick to boast about handmade Mexican goods so it shouldn't be hard to find out.

In terms of accommodation consider things like soundproofing, water purification, service level, and location.

If you see a boutique hotel in a prime location, with soundproofing, rainfall shower, fridge in the room, triple purified water from all taps, concierge services, highspeed WiFi, and Mexican products in the bathroom, expect a higher price tag, but also expect it to be worth every penny.

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Being An Informed Traveller

Asking yourself these questions before you commit to spending money will help you stay in control of how you spend your money and could save you some pesos along the way.

As a traveller or tourist it can be hard to find your way off the tourist trail, especially because everything on the tourist trail is designed to keep you on it.

So if you'd like some tips on how to find savings and local businesses hit reply and let me know! If this is something you'd like to read I'll send some handy ways to save money in Mexico over next week.

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Hasta luego,

-Ashlea

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