When traveling to a new destination, it’s important to understand the local customs, including tipping practices. Tipping culture in Mexico, especially in popular tourist areas like Cancun and the Riviera Maya, can differ greatly from what you might be used to. In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of tipping in this area, focusing on appropriate amounts for various services, and how locals typically tip.
The Basics of Tipping Culture in Mexico
In modern Mexico, tipping is a common practice (but it has not always been this way). Although not mandatory, people highly appreciate tips in Mexico. It’s often seen as a way to show gratitude for exemplary service and ensure that service workers, who may rely on tips to supplement their income, are fairly compensated.
Think of it more as a polite gesture rather than just a thank-you for the service. Tipping is totally optional, and Mexicans are super polite about it—if you don’t leave a tip, no one will make a fuss. But it’s always nice to show some courtesy and leave a little extra when you can and if you are particularly happy about the service you received.
However, tipping in Mexico can vary depending on the service provided and the location.
People usually tip around 10-15% of the bill or service cost, but there’s no strict rule for this. Sometimes, restaurants might even include a tip of up to 20% in the bill, which is actually illegal. We’ll explain more about this below.
Restaurants and Cafes
Like we said, it’s customary to leave a tip of 10-15% of the total bill in restaurants and cafes. This percentage serves as a general guideline and you can adjust it based on the quality of service. In more upscale establishments, in popular tourist places, or if you’ve received exceptional service, a tip up to 20% is not uncommon.
Locals typically adhere to the 10-15% tip rule, and again, the amount can vary depending on the circumstances. For example, it is ok to tip 10% for serving 1-2 people, 15% if there were over 3-4 people or if the staff provided excellent service (your waiter went beyond and above ).
In most cases, 10% is good enough, but you should consider that big parties, menu alterations, prolonged stays (as in hogging a table), exceptional service, etc. may deserve 15% to 20%.
It’s also worth noting that some restaurants include a service charge on the bill. Technically, this is illegal, however it does happen sometimes, so be careful and always check your bill before adding a tip.
Tips Already Included in the Bill
Let’s talk about tips included in the bill. It is common knowledge that tips make up a significant part of the income for waitstaff in many restaurants and bars. However, including tips on the bill is actually illegal in Mexico. It’s up to you, not the restaurant, to decide how much to tip. The Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) fights against this practice, so you typically won’t see it in most regular restaurants. But in touristy areas, unfortunately it does happen.
Be sceptical if you’re told tips included in the bill are the restaurant’s policy. In most good restaurants, you’ll find a blank space on the bill where you can write in any tip amount you choose. And don’t let them deceive you by labeling it as a tax instead of a tip. There shouldn’t be any tax on a restaurant bill. In Mexico, the bill already includes the tax under the total as I.V.A. (VAT in English), so if you see an extra charge of 10% or more, it means that they are charging you the tip.
Remember, tip is “propina” in Spanish. And you’re not obligated to pay these included tips. It’s perfectly fine to calculate the total without the added tip and leave what you feel is appropriate. If you’re paying by card, you can ask to pay the bill without the tip and then leave the tip in cash, or request a new bill with the amount you want to pay. If anyone objects, just remember that this is a violation of your rights, and don’t hesitate to mention *the magic word* Profeco. When it comes to standing up for your rights, don’t worry about seeming impolite. If you get a bill with tips included, you can report it to Profeco by phone, email, chat, or social media. Profeco is a serious organization, and businesses would much rather resolve the issue with you directly than deal with a government regulator.
Food Delivery
In Mexico, delivery services are really popular. You don’t need to tip postal or Amazon couriers, but it’s customary to tip your pizza/restaurant delivery person.
Takeout
Tipping for takeout is not customary in Mexico. However, if you’re in a particularly generous mood on a given day – who’s there to stop you? 🙂
Bars and Nightclubs
When you’re out at bars and nightclubs, tipping can vary a bit. A good rule of thumb is to tip 10-20 MXN (about $0.50-$1 USD) per drink at the bar, or 10% of your total if you’re running a tab. If you’re enjoying table service, a tip of 15-20% is a nice way to show your appreciation, especially if the waiter or bartender has provided an excellent service.
Hotels and Resorts
Tipping practices may vary from one resort to another. Some luxury all-inclusive resorts might have a no-tipping policy, so that their guests would not have to worry about anything at all. Although in a lot of hotels, the staff would accept your tips with gratitude. You might check the resort policy regarding tips directly with the staff.
Bellhops and Porters:
For assisting with you with your luggage, it’s customary to tip 20-50 MXN (about $1-$2.50 USD). If you’ve received exceptional service or have a lot of heavy luggage, you might consider tipping more.
Housekeeping:
A tip of 20-50 MXN per day is standard. However, it is not generally required unless you actually meet with the staff. You might consider leaving the tip daily rather than at the end of your stay, as the housekeeping staff may rotate. Also, you can tip on checkout, as maids should never touch money in a room (so if you want to leave a daily tip, you might add a small note).
Concierge and Special Services:
When using the services of a concierge, give them a tip of 50-100 MXN (about $2.50-$5 USD), especially if they have gone above and beyond in assisting you.. For special services such as spa treatments or personal trainers, tipping 10-15% of the service cost is customary.
The Hotel Restaurants:
If you are at an all-inclusive, you can tip 20-50 peso per person too, if the service is good, but usually you don’t tip at a buffet.
Drinks: 20 peso for a round for drinks, and even then you don’t need to tip every time if it is the same person bringing them.
If they bring you a check to sign, it will most probably have a line for the tip. Here, a 10% tip is the norm, depending on the service, of course.
Transportation
City Taxis
It’s not customary to tip taxi drivers in Mexico. And when tourists do, it actually makes things difficult for the locals (because taxis would pass up locals for tourists that tip).
However, sometimes it is ok to round up the amount and add a couple of pesos (for example, your ride fare was 48 MXN, you could round it up to 50 MXN). If your driver has provided you an outstanding service, helped with the luggage, you might want to tip them.
Uber Drivers
Basically, the same rule applies as with taxi drivers. However, some people do tip Uber drivers if they are nice, and also because when ordering a ride there is no favoritism, and Uber takes a pretty big cut. Also, even with the tip included, the total of the ride would usually be less than a regular taxi in Cancun would charge you.
Shuttle Services and Private Drivers
If you’ve used a shuttle service, tipping 50-100 MXN per person is usually a good guideline. For longer trips or tours, you might consider tipping more, especially if the driver has provided excellent service.
Tipping is Expected in some Unexpected Places
Packing Your Groceries
In Mexican supermarkets, your groceries at the checkout are packed by seniors. Many tourists mistakenly believe that the supermarket compensates them for this task, but in reality, the seniors are not on the supermarket’s payroll; they solely rely on tips for their work. This is part of a social project supported by the government, allowing seniors to earn a legal, tax-free supplementary income. So, it’s a nice gesture to leave a tip for them. Most people usually leave around 5-15 pesos, depending on the number of bags.
Door Openers (OXXO, CircleK, etc)
When you enter small stores like OXXO, you might see someone, sometimes even a child, holding the door open for you. These door openers don’t work for the store; they’re just hoping to earn a little extra. You’re not obligated to tip them, as it’s something they do on their own. However, if you have a few spare pesos from your change, it’s kind to tip them on your way out.
Bathroom Attendants
In Mexico, almost all bus station bathrooms require payment before you enter. Additionally, in places like shopping centers, ports, and airports, you might find an attendant inside who guides you to a free stall and provides paper towels. These bathrooms often have a tip jar, or you can tip the attendant directly. A few coins, around 5-10 pesos, will be greatly appreciated. If you have been to Germany, or you are from Germany, you’re probably familiar with this system.
Tip with Cash or Card?
Of course, cash is king. Always try to tip in cash even if the payment was with a credit card. However, a lot of places accept tips paid by card nowadays. When you are ready to pay the bill with a card and the waiter brings the card reader, they usually ask you how much tip you want to add to the bill, which is very convenient if you don’t have any cash on you.
Tip in Dollars or Pesos?
Always tip in pesos when you can. When staff receive foreign currency, they have to exchange it, and they lose money exchanging currencies. Of course they would accept it if you tip with USD, CAD, etc.
Do Locals Tip in Mexico?
Yes, Mexicans definitely do tip! The usual amount is around 10% of the bill, but it can vary depending on the quality of service.
However, in touristy areas, people expect generous tips from foreigners, even getting upset if you don’t leave one. But it’s important to remember that Cancun and the Riviera Maya are not representative of all of Mexico. They’re not even what you’d call the “real” Mexico. In Cancun, and in the state of Quintana Roo, a very large flow of tourists spoils vendors. In most other parts of Mexico, people genuinely appreciate tips and don’t just take them for granted.
Summing Up Our Tips on Tipping in Mexico:
- Tips in Mexico are voluntary, not obligatory (actually it’s illegal to force paying tips). So please tip whatever you’re comfortable tipping. Don’t overtip if you cannot afford it or if you aren’t getting optimal service.
- Stick to 10-15% tip golden rule (and remember that locals usually go for 10%).
- Always double check if the bill includes the tip! It’ll have a line for “propina”.
- Tip in pesos, preferably in cash.
The Rule-of-thumb for Tipping in Mexico:
- 10% – a standard tip for good service
- 15% – for very good service
- 20% – for exceptional or outstanding service and just because you can
Remember that tipping is not mandatory and you should never have to feel bad if a waiter expects more from you just because you’re a foreigner.
Ten percent is the standard for Mexicans, and 15% or more if the service was good to outstanding. However, we encounter servers regularly (especially in Cancun) that expect foreigners to tip according to American standards, i.e. 15% minimum, 20% or 25% as they do in the U.S.
Ten percent is the usual norm, though very touristy places will often expect more, just because they’re used to getting more from tourists that come from places that tend to tip more. That doesn’t mean you have to give more and you shouldn’t feel guilted into it.
If you tip higher than the average of people around you, surely you’re likely to get more attention from servers. The same is true when you tip less than people around you, you’re likely to get less service. However, don’t fuel a bad tipping culture by going anywhere above the 10-15%. Because that way you’re only making the staff pay attention to foreigners and ignore locals. It happens that establishments turn locals away in preference for foreigners because of the tipping practices.
If you’re intrigued by the fascinating stories and hidden wonders of Mexico, you won’t want to miss our article “22 Interesting Facts About Mexico.” It’s packed with surprising tidbits that will leave you amazed and eager to explore this beautiful country even further!
