Numbers That Actually Matter (100-10,000)
The prices you'll really see in Mexico
Corazón, forget those textbook exercises with nice round numbers! Real Mexican prices end in 50, 90, 450... Let me teach you the numbers that matter when you're standing at the register with people waiting behind you!
Essential Price Numbers
Exchange rates fluctuate daily (typically 16-20 pesos per USD)
$350
trescientos cincuenta
~$18-22 USD
Common restaurant bill
$480
cuatrocientos ochenta
~$24-30 USD
Hostel dorm night
$750
setecientos cincuenta
~$38-47 USD
Nice dinner for two
$1,250
mil doscientos cincuenta
~$63-78 USD
Hotel room night
$2,500
dos mil quinientos
~$125-156 USD
Weekly grocery budget
$3,800
tres mil ochocientos
~$190-238 USD
Electronics purchase
$5,990
cinco mil novecientos noventa
~$300-374 USD
Phone/laptop price
$10,000
diez mil pesos
~$500-625 USD
Monthly rent budget
Critical Number Rules
mil (NOT un mil)
1,000
↻
Never add "un"
Just "mil pesos"
quinientos
500 (irregular)
↻
NOT "cincocientos"
Must memorize!
setecientos
700 (irregular)
↻
NOT "sietecientos"
Another exception
novecientos
900 (irregular)
↻
NOT "nuevecientos"
Third exception
trescientos cincuenta
350 (no "y")
↻
Never add "y" after hundreds
Common error!
cien vs ciento
100 exact vs 101-199
↻
"Cien pesos" (100)
"Ciento veinte" (120)
ATM Warning:
ATMs often give only 500 or 1000 peso notes! Banks must provide change even to non-customers - use them to break large bills.
Supermarket Navigation
From Soriana to OXXO - know every section
Mi amor, Mexican supermarkets can be overwhelming! But once you know the sections and key phrases, you'll shop like a local. And remember - OXXO is everywhere, but check their hours! Not all are 24/7 despite what people think.
Supermarket Sections
la carnicería
meat counter
↻
Take a number!
"Su turno"
la panadería
bakery
↻
Self-serve with tongs
Bolillo 5 pesos
lácteos
dairy
↻
Always refrigerated
Leche deslactosada popular
abarrotes
groceries/dry goods
↻
Rice, beans, oil
Bulk section
congelados
frozen foods
↻
Ice cream, vegetables
Last aisle usually
caja rápida
express checkout
↻
10 items or less
"10 artículos"
Essential Shopping Phrases
¿Dónde están los carritos?
Where are the carts?
↻
At entrance usually
Need coin/deposit
¿Tienen bolsas?
Do you have bags?
↻
Cost extra!
~5 pesos each
¿Aceptan tarjeta?
Do you take cards?
↻
Ask before shopping
Some cash only
¿Me da ticket?
Receipt please?
↻
Always ask!
For returns
¿Hay descuento?
Is there a discount?
↻
Senior/student discounts
"Tercera edad" = senior
¿Hasta qué hora abren?
Until what time open?
↻
Hours vary by location
Check locally!
Mexican Bakery System
1. Grab a metal tray (charola) and tongs (pinzas) at entrance
2. Select your pan dulce yourself - no asking!
3. Take tray to counter for bagging
4. Pay at separate cashier with your ticket
OXXO Reality Check:
NOT all OXXOs are 24/7! Tourist areas and gas stations often are, but residential locations may close at 11pm. Coffee is decent (~30 pesos). Alcohol sales stop at different times depending on location (Sunday 5pm in some areas). Always have small bills - they hate breaking 500s!
Fresh Food & Counter Service
Get exactly what you want from deli, bakery, and butcher
The fresh counters intimidate everyone at first! But the staff are usually patient. Take a number, watch others order, and don't be shy about pointing. "Ese, por favor" works perfectly!
Meat Counter - Carnicería
medio kilo de molida
half kilo ground beef
↻
For tacos!
500 grams
pechuga de pollo
chicken breast
↻
"Sin hueso" = boneless
Most popular
bistec para asar
grilling steak
↻
Thin cut Mexican style
"Delgadito"
chuletas de cerdo
pork chops
↻
"¿Cuántas?" = how many?
Count by pieces
¿Me lo muele?
Can you grind it?
↻
They'll grind any meat
Fresh is better
en filetes
sliced/filleted
↻
How you want it cut
"Más delgado" = thinner
Produce Department
jitomates
tomatoes (Mexico)
↻
NOT "tomates" here!
Regional difference
aguacates
avocados
↻
Check ripeness!
"¿Está maduro?"
plátanos
bananas
↻
Sold by kilo
Very cheap!
limones
limes (green)
↻
Yellow = "lima"
Backwards from English!
chiles jalapeños
jalapeño peppers
↻
Essential for salsa
Fresh or pickled
cilantro
cilantro/coriander
↻
Sold in bunches
"Un manojo"
Street Markets & Tianguis
Where locals shop for freshest produce
Important Cultural Note: Haggling is NOT standard practice at Mexican tianguis! Prices are typically fixed. Asking "¿Cuánto cuesta?" is normal, but trying to negotiate can be seen as rude. The vendors serve local communities with competitive prices already.
¡Los tianguis! This is where you get the freshest produce and best prices, mi amor. The vendors shout their deals, everything's colorful and lively. Sunday mornings are magical - arrive early for the best selection!
Market Navigation
¿A cómo el kilo?
How much per kilo?
↻
Mexican way to ask
NOT "cuánto cuesta"
¿Me da prueba?
Can I taste?
↻
Totally normal!
Fruit vendors expect it
¿Qué lleva?
What will you take?
↻
Vendor's question
Time to order!
póngame medio
give me half kilo
↻
Polite command
Common at markets
¿Es lo último?
Is that final price?
↻
Only at craft markets
NOT for food!
marchanta/marchante
customer (vendor term)
↻
How they call you
Friendly address
Tianguis Shopping Reality
Precios fijos
Fixed prices
↻
Standard practice
Fair for locals
¿Cuánto por todo?
How much for all?
↻
Bundle discount possible
When buying lots
casero/caserita
regular customer
↻
Build relationships
Better service
Domingo temprano
Sunday morning
↻
Best time to go
Freshest produce
Common Market Items
frutas y verduras
fruits & vegetables
↻
Main attraction
Super fresh!
ropa de paca
secondhand clothes
↻
Great deals!
Check quality first
artesanías
handicrafts
↻
Support local!
Some bargaining OK here
herramientas
tools
↻
Test before buying
No returns!
Market Safety:
Keep money in different pockets, bring your own bag (they charge for plastic), go early for best selection. Watch for pickpockets in crowds. Never flash large bills!
Phone Setup & Electronics
Get connected immediately - it's essential!
Listen carefully - getting your phone working is PRIORITY ONE! In Mexico, we say "chip" not SIM card. Telcel has best coverage everywhere but costs more. AT&T Mexico is cheaper with good city coverage. OXXO sells both!
Phone & Data Essentials
chip prepago
prepaid SIM
↻
50-79 pesos
At any OXXO
recarga de 200
200 peso top-up
↻
Monthly data
"Paquete Amigo"
liberado
unlocked phone
↻
Essential!
Or won't work
megas ilimitados
unlimited data
↻
For social media
WhatsApp free!
sin saldo
no credit left
↻
Time to recharge!
Check *133#
contraseña del WiFi
WiFi password
↻
Ask everywhere!
Usually on wall
Electronics You'll Need
cargador
charger
↻
Phone or laptop
~200-500 pesos
adaptador
plug adapter
↻
US plugs work!
Same outlets
cable USB
USB cable
↻
Type-C most common
~100-200 pesos
audífonos
headphones/earbuds
↻
Bluetooth or wired
"Inalámbricos" = wireless
batería portátil
power bank
↻
Essential for travel
~500-1000 pesos
funda
phone case
↻
Every phone model
~150-300 pesos
Phone Setup Process:
1. Check phone is "liberado" (unlocked)
2. Buy "chip" at OXXO (50-79 pesos)
3. Buy "recarga" (200 pesos = 2-3GB monthly)
4. Text plan code to activate (ask vendor)
5. WhatsApp works immediately - everyone uses it!
Telcel vs AT&T:
Telcel: 99% coverage, works everywhere but costs more. AT&T: Cheaper, good in cities, but spotty rural coverage. For tourists, Telcel is worth the extra cost!
Payment Problems & Solutions
When things go wrong at checkout
Mi amor, payment problems happen to EVERYONE! "No hay cambio" (no change) is practically Mexico's motto. Always carry 50s and 20s. And when they give wrong change, speak up immediately - don't be shy!
Common Payment Issues
No hay cambio
No change available
↻
Mexico's anthem!
Have small bills
Me falta cambio
Short on change
↻
Count immediately!
"Falta cincuenta"
No pasa la tarjeta
Card won't go through
↻
Try 3 times
Then cash
Se cayó el sistema
System is down
↻
Common excuse
Cash only then
Le di un billete de 200
I gave you a 200 bill
↻
Stand your ground!
Don't back down
¿Me puede dar ticket?
Can I have receipt?
↻
Always ask!
For returns
Problem Resolution Phrases
Está mal el cambio
The change is wrong
↻
Say immediately!
"Disculpe, pero..."
Me cobró de más
You overcharged me
↻
Show receipt
Point to price
Hacer una devolución
Make a return
↻
Need receipt!
Within 30 days
¿Meses sin intereses?
Interest-free installments?
↻
Credit cards only
3, 6, 12 months
Cash Crisis Solutions
¿No tiene cambio?
Don't you have change?
↻
Common question
They ask YOU!
Billetes de 20 y 50
20 and 50 peso bills
↻
Best for OXXO
They love these
¿Redondear?
Round up for charity?
↻
"No, gracias" is fine
Optional!
Guarde el 500
Save the 500 bill
↻
For big purchases only
Hard to break
En la gasolinera
At the gas station
↻
Pemex makes change!
Reliable option
Pago con tarjeta
Paying by card
↻
When no change
Backup plan
Where to Break Large Bills:
• Pemex gas stations (always have change)
• Hotel front desks (even if not a guest)
• Busy central markets
• Banks (legally must provide change)
• Bus terminal ticket windows
Ley Seca Warning:
Alcohol sales stop during elections and some holidays! Called "ley seca" (dry law). No beer at OXXO, no alcohol anywhere except restaurants with food. Fines are 882-2,687 pesos if caught selling!