Cancún's hotel zone is expensive, but eating and travelling like a local in downtown Cancún and Playa del Carmen keeps costs down. Excursions to Chichén Itzá and cenotes are the main extra cost.
Is Cancún & Riviera Maya expensive?
Expensive for most visitors. Cancún's hotel zone is expensive, but eating and travelling like a local in downtown Cancún and Playa del Carmen keeps costs down.
Money, cards and tipping
Currency: Mexican peso (MXN). US dollars are accepted in many tourist places, but at poor rates; pay in pesos where possible.
Tipping: 10–15% in restaurants; a few dollars for hotel staff and tour guides.
Where to save money
- Eat in downtown Cancún's local restaurants and taco stands.
- Use public buses (R1 and R2) in the hotel zone.
- Book tours directly and compare prices.
- Visit the free public beaches.
- Avoid dollars-only tourist traps; use pesos.
Where it is worth spending
- A catamaran cruise with snorkelling.
- A guided Chichén Itzá tour with cenote swim.
- An all-inclusive resort day pass.
Free things to do in Cancún & Riviera Maya
- Public beaches such as Playa Delfines
- Walking the El Rey ruins in the hotel zone (small fee)
- Sunset at the Punta Cancún
- Watching the sea from the lagoon-side boardwalks
Prices, ticket rules and safety conditions change. Treat this as a starting point and check official sources and your government's travel advice before you go.
Cancún & Riviera Maya budget questions
What currency is used in Cancún & Riviera Maya?
Mexican peso (MXN). US dollars are accepted in many tourist places, but at poor rates; pay in pesos where possible.
Is tipping expected in Cancún & Riviera Maya?
10–15% in restaurants; a few dollars for hotel staff and tour guides.
How can I save money in Cancún & Riviera Maya?
Eat in downtown Cancún's local restaurants and taco stands. Use public buses (R1 and R2) in the hotel zone. Book tours directly and compare prices.