Mexico City in 3 Days on a Budget (Daily Costs)
3 Days in Mexico City on a Budget
Three days covers the historic center, Chapultepec, and Coyoacan, the core of the Mexico City guide , for roughly 400 to 900 MXN ($23-51) a day depending on what you add. If you have more time, extend into the 4-day , 5-day , or 6-day version of this same plan, which adds a Roma/Condesa market day, Polanco’s free museums, and the Basilica de Guadalupe in that order.
Book these before you go:
- Casa Azul advance ticket , the official portal, mandatory, no walk-up window, sells out 2 to 4 weeks ahead
- Guided Xochimilco trajinera tour on Viator , if you want the boat arranged instead of haggling at the pier
- Hotels in Roma or Condesa on Booking.com , central to everything on this plan
| Day | Focus | Daily budget (MXN / USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Centro Historico | 400-550 MXN ($23-31) |
| Day 2 | Chapultepec + Anthropology Museum | 350-650 MXN ($20-37) |
| Day 3 | Coyoacan, Casa Azul, Xochimilco | 450-900 MXN ($26-51), boat cost splits with your group |
Day 1: Centro Historico on foot
Start at the Zocalo and step into the Metropolitan Cathedral, both free. Cross to the Templo Mayor site, 100 MXN, free Sunday for nationals and residents only, then eat street tacos al pastor for lunch, 12 to 25 MXN each. In the afternoon, walk to Palacio de Bellas Artes, 75 MXN for the murals, free Sunday for everyone, closed Mondays, ticket booth only, no online sales. If it is a Tuesday, Friday, or Sunday, close the night with lucha libre at Arena Mexico; otherwise wander Garibaldi Plaza for mariachi, free to walk, drinks extra.
Day 2: Chapultepec and the Anthropology Museum
Give Chapultepec Park a half day. Museo Nacional de Antropologia is the single best museum in the city and 210 MXN ($12), 105 MXN for nationals and residents, free Sunday for that same group only; check current hours on the official INAH site . Add Chapultepec Castle for another 210 MXN if your budget allows, or skip it and just walk the park’s lakes and paths for free. In the evening, head to Roma or Condesa, walk Parque Mexico, and have a mezcal, 80 to 150 MXN a pour, at a spot like La Clandestina.
Day 3: Coyoacan, Casa Azul, and Xochimilco
Casa Azul opens the day, 320 MXN ($18), advance ticket only, book weeks ahead through the official portal . Afterward, eat the comida corrida at Coyoacan’s market, 80 to 150 MXN, then head south to Xochimilco. The trajinera rate is 750 MXN ($43) per boat per hour for up to 18 riders, not per person, so a group of four to six brings the per-person cost well under a full boat’s headline price. Contract only at an official embarcadero.
Do you need to book Casa Azul before you arrive?
Yes, always. Casa Azul sells tickets only through boletos.museofridakahlo.org.mx, with no walk-up option at any price. Weekday slots book out 2 to 4 weeks ahead; around Day of the Dead or Christmas, plan closer to a month out. If your dates are gone by the time you check, a small-group tour on GetYourGuide bundles entry with a guide instead of the solo ticket hunt.
How much does this 3-day trip cost in total?
Excluding your hotel, plan on 1,200 to 2,100 MXN ($69-120) across the three days for entry fees, Metro fares, and food, before Xochimilco splits down with your group size. Add Casa Azul and Chapultepec Castle and you are at the top of that range; skip the castle and eat only street food and market fondas, and you land closer to the bottom.
Book Casa Azul the moment you book flights. Everything else on this plan, you can decide once you have landed and checked the weather.