Tipping is always a concern for travellers. In Mexico, tipping is very common and expected, but there are no fixed rules for the amount of the tip. If someone is providing an extra service or favor for you, a tip would be expected and welcome.
You should always have loose change and low denomination bills with you in order to make the transaction effortless.
You should tip with the quantity that you feel comfortable with. I’ve provided some tip guidelines that should help get you started.
Basic guidelines for tipping in Mexico.
- Restaurants – the normal tip amount is 10% -15% of the bill. There is a national value added tax (IVA) of 15% included on all restaurant bills, this is not the tip, this is a tax. Many people leave a tip equal to the IVA, 15%, or leave 10% of the total bill that has the IVA tax included.
- Bellhops and luggage handlers – $ 10 – $ 20 pesos per bag.
- Hotel maids – $ 20 – $ 50 pesos per day.
- Taxis – Depends upon the city, type of taxi (meter or negotiated price). If a metered cab, a tip would be expected perhaps 10% of the total. If the taxi is a negotiated price no tip would be expected. If a fixed rate to destination cab (for example airport cabs) a tip would be appreciated $ 10 – $ 20 pesos.
- Gas station attendants – $5 – $ 10 pesos depending on the level of service
- Bars – 10% of the total bill
- Valet parking – $ 10 – $20
- Grocery store baggers – $ 5
Related Links
Mexican official (and unofficial) holidays
Lee Iwan Accumulated Experience 
Do they prefer receiving Pesos or US currency?
I am living here in Mexico for 4 years and the way I see people here are leeches…they will charge you for every thing even the most mundane stuff…take for instance the grocery baggers (why can’t the teller bag it him/her self) and i have to pay them for that…really now. And talking about the tellers they always round up the denomiations to favor them 0. 25, 0.24, 0.21 will be rounded to 0.30 come on now if your country doesnt have cents lower than 0.10 and can’t give you 0.05 cents back as your change then credit it to your membership card…and the list goes on how stingy, money grabbing, lazy, plastic and irresponsible these people are
With all due respect, why do you stay ?