Mexican Peso · $ · Official currency of Mexico
The Mexican peso ($) has a long history tracing back to the 'piece of eight' Spanish dollar used during 16th-century Spanish colonial rule. A 1993 currency reform exchanged 1,000 old pesos for 1 new peso, establishing today's system.
Six denominations circulate: $20, $50, $100, $200, $500, and $1,000 pesos. The $20 and $50 notes are made of polymer, while the rest are cotton paper. Notes feature Mexico's ecosystems and cultural heritage on the reverse.
Card payments are widely accepted at tourist spots, but cash is still needed at local markets and in smaller towns. Exchanging at a bank or a licensed exchange office (casa de cambio) in the city usually gets a better rate than at the airport. It's also worth getting in the habit of holding notes up to the light to check the watermark as a counterfeit check.
You can view the real banknote designs on the Banco de México's official page.
See Mexican Peso banknotes at today's exchange rate →