Planning a trip to Mexico? Let's talk about food prices in Cancun in 2021. Learn about the cost of food and drink, grocery shopping, and delicious Mexican fast food. What to try in Mexico and how to save money?
Mexico is not a cheap country for tourists. In different regions, food prices are not the same. Many people come to rest on the Caribbean coast in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. These are expensive resorts where food prices are 10-15% higher than in Mexico City, Quarnavaca or Guadalajara. In one of the cheapest cities in the country, Tlaxcale, food is 25-30% cheaper than in Cancun.
Exchange rate: 10 Mexican Pesos (MYR) ≈ 35 RUB.
What to try in Mexico
In the national cuisine, there are many dishes with meat, beans with hot chili peppers. The food here is very tasty. We recommend trying:
- Enchilada - rolled and baked corn tortilla with meat filling. Traditionally, the dish is served with a molé sauce made from peanuts, cocoa and chili peppers.
- Ambassador - hearty cactus leaf chowder with corn, pork and pumpkin seeds.
- Sopa de lima - aromatic lemon soup with chicken, tomatoes, avocado and red onion.
- Salsa - hot sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices.
- Freeholes - Bean pate, which is used as a side dish and sauce for chips.
- Tamale - tortilla made of corn flour with meat and other fillings. It is wrapped in green corn leaves and steamed.
- Chipile - pork with vegetables.
- Guacamole - a green appetizer made from avocado fruits, ripe tomatoes and onions.
- Marquecito - hot rolled waffle dessert with cheese and chocolate.
- Tequila - a strong alcoholic drink made from agave juice, popular all over the world.
- Liquado - a cocktail of freshly squeezed fruit juice and milk with ice.
Prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Mexico - 2021
How much does it cost to eat in Cancun? Food prices are high at one of the country's most popular resorts. Breakfast in the tourist area costs 95-100 MXN, and in the city center - 40-50 MXN.
The average bill in an inexpensive restaurant or cafe for one person is 120-150 MXN. For this money, you can eat quite satisfyingly: they will serve a main course with meat and vegetables, a couple of pieces of bread and a soft drink. For example, orange juice. Lunch for 250 MXN includes three courses. The portions are large, so you won't go hungry!
Prices in Cancun cafes and restaurants in 2021:
- Mexican soup - 80-100 MXN;
- salad - 100-120 MXN;
- tacos - 12-20 MXN;
- guacamole - 90-180 MXN;
- fajitas (chicken and pepper) - 110-250 MXN;
- ceviche - 150-270 MXN;
- paste - 100-180 MXN;
- beer - from 45 MXN;
- a glass of wine - 80 MXN;
- cocktail - 120-180
Mexican food overview
Prices for drinks in Mexico
The country loves coffee. A serving of cappuccino in a cafe or restaurant is offered for 25-30 MXN, and in McDonald's for 15 MXN.
Because of the heat, Mexicans and tourists are actively drinking carbonated drinks. In shops and stalls, a bottle or can of Coca-Cola 0.33 liters costs 10-15 MXN.
Locals love packaged juices - 8-15 MXN per liter. In addition, in Mexico you can taste delicious fresh juices for 10-28 MXN and fresh juices - 35-60 MXN. Cheap juices from fresh fruits and vegetables are sold in special establishments - hugotheria.
Prices for alcohol in Cancun stores in 2021:
- A bottle of red wine - 64-115 MXN.
- Mexican beer, 0.5L - 15-25 MXN.
- Imported beer, 0.33 L - 33 MXN.
- Berry rum, 1 l - 190 MXN.
- Mescal, 0.75 L - 100 MXN.
- Tequila bottle, 1 L - 160-250 MXN.
Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and Tripster websites. Individual and group, no crowds of tourists and in Russian.
Grocery Prices in Mexico Stores - 2021
The cheapest stores in Mexico are Walmart, Soriana and Chedraui supermarkets. In each of them, sales are regularly held, and then the prices for certain foods and drinks are reduced by 1.5-2 times.
Food prices in Mexico (for example, Cancun):
- milk, 1 l - 15 MXN;
- loaf of white bread, 400 g - 20 MXN;
- rice, 1 kg - 13 MXN;
- eggs, 10 pcs. - 21-22 MXN;
- cheese, 1 kg - 107 MXN;
- yogurt, 240 g - 5-10 MXN;
- chicken breast, 1 kg - 91 MXN;
- grilled chicken, 1 pc. - 80 MXN;
- Mexican sauce, bottle - 12-20 MXN;
- apples, 1 kg - 38 MXN;
- bananas, 1 kg - 11-12 MXN;
- oranges, 1 kg - 11-12 MXN;
- pineapple, 1 kg - 12-16 MXN;
- papaya, 1 kg - 16-25 MXN;
- mango, 1 kg - 25-51 MXN;
- avocado, 1 kg - 35-50 MXN;
- grapefruit, 1 kg - 15-20 MXN;
- tomatoes, 1 kg - 14 MXN;
- cucumbers, 1 kg - 18-20 MXN;
- potatoes, 1 kg - 20-25 MXN;
- sugar, 1 kg - 23 MXN;
- bottle of water, 1.5 l - 12 MXN.
Prices for groceries in the Cancun store
Mexican fast food
Food “on the go” occupies a special place in traditional Mexican cuisine. The city streets are full of small eateries and individual vendors selling delicious freshly prepared fast food. There are such establishments near markets, tourist centers, beaches and bus stations.
Here are the prices for street food in Cancun in 2021:
- Cake, Mexican version of a hamburger with meat, avocado, tomatoes and herbs - 20-30 MXN.
- Taco, corn flour cakes with fish, beans, meat and cheese fillings - 8-10 MXN.
- Burrito, soft wheat tortillas wrapped in fried meats, beans, rice, tomatoes, and spicy avocados - 25-30 MXN.
- Boiled corn - 10 MXN.
- Churros, sweet choux pastry, 5 pcs. - 20 MXN.
- French fries - 15-20 MXN.
- Hot chocolate - 50 MXN.
- Patty - 15 MXN.
- Ice cream - 12-20 MXN.
- Sliced fruits in bags or cups - 25 MXN.
What a tourist needs to know
The hot climate makes adjustments to the opening hours of local restaurants and shops. In the middle of the day, Mexicans have a long siesta and rest. It starts at 15:00 and lasts 2-3 hours.
If you are hungry, look for eateries that have happy hours. From 13:00 to 16:00 they cut prices and serve cheap meals. The Habaneros restaurant is popular among Cancun residents - they offer inexpensive set meals during the day for 45-55 MXN.
Mexican restaurants, which are designed for locals, serve only in Spanish. If you are not a connoisseur of Spanish, be prepared that the waiter will bring something different from what you wanted.
Usually, while diners are waiting for the main course, they are served snacks. This can be a light vegetable soup or nachos with guacamole.
Each supermarket has its own bakery. Dozens of types of cakes, pastries, pies, rolls and tortillas are baked and sold in it. Try it, delicious!
Tipping is part of Mexican culture. The incomes of the majority of the population are small, so for many Mexicans, money for tea is a desirable form of income. For good service in cafes and restaurants, it is customary to leave 10-15% of the order amount.
How to save money on food in Mexico
- Low food prices in Mexico - in fast food establishments... In Cancun, these are Taqueria Coapenitos, Ty-Coz and Johnny Rockets. True, at lunchtime long queues line up for them. You can also eat on a budget at McDonald's. A set for one costs 85 MXN.
- Lot inexpensive traditional restaurants located in the center of Cancun. Popular with tourists are La Destileria, El Pescado Ciego, Tacun, La Dolce Vita, Los Arcos and Lorenzillos.
- If you don't want to spend money on restaurants and cafes, rent an apartment with a kitchen and cook yourself.
- The lowest food prices in Mexico are in the markets. Keep in mind that traders only understand Spanish and rarely speak English. The best in Cancun is the market on Mercado, 28.
- Small OXXO stores are open throughout Cancun. They work around the clock, and prices are the same everywhere: a sandwich - 20-25 MXN, coffee - 16-20 MXN, hot dog - 13-14 MXN, a bottle of water, 1.5 liters - 11 MXN.
