If you are temporarily living in Mexico or are an expat in the country, consider getting a local credit card to avoid foreign transaction fees. At the very least, even when visiting for a short time, find out the fees and rules involved when using your U.S. credit card in Mexico.
Which U.S. Credit Cards Work in Mexico?
The major credit cards—Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted in most large cities and tourist areas across Mexico. Discover is accepted in some locations, too, but more rural areas and many small businesses in Mexico may only accept one kind of card or require cash.
Before you pack your bags, find out if your credit cards charge international transaction fees and how much you’ll end up paying. Extra transaction fees can add up quickly.
If you book travel accommodations in Mexico with one card ahead of time, you should feel confident that using that card won’t leave you frozen out of your account—but sometimes, it happens. As a backup plan, give other credit card issuers notice that you will be visiting Mexico. As a means of fraud protection, many banks will temporarily freeze your account if they see an unusual charge or a charge from an out-of-the-ordinary location. You can likely avoid this if you let them know ahead of time you will be traveling.
Why You Still Need Cash in Mexico
Check on your credit or debit card’s website to find ATMs near where you’re staying so you can withdraw cash when needed.
Mexico is still a cash-focused culture, even though credit/debit cards and cashless payment options are growing. Open-air markets, convenience stores, some museums, and even some gas stations may require payment in pesos. Don’t forget you’ll need pesos to tip.
Cash is important for getting around, too. Many taxicabs will only accept cash as payment, especially independent taxis and cabs in small towns and villages. U.S. credit cards and dollars are also not accepted on many toll roads, except in some tourist-heavy areas.
If you are traveling on a lot of toll roads, it may make sense to get anIAVE passahead of time. This electronic payment card gets you through toll areas quicker, gives you a discount on tolls, and allows you to prepay or automatically charge your Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card.
When You Are Back in the U.S.
If you’re someone who splits time between Mexico and the U.S., you can stay connected to people you love no matter which country you or they are in. Western Union makes cross-border money transfers and bill payments easy through our mobile app.
