Where to Stay in Mexico City on a Budget?

If you’re someone who always loves to visit Mexico City but thinks that the hotels are crazy expensive, you’re mistaken. While you may see luxury and high-end hotels filling up this city, you’ll also find good options that won’t hurt your budget. As such, you may wonder where to stay in Mexico City if you’re on a budget.

The Centro Historico is the best place to stay on a budget. Here, you’ll find all types of hotels since it’s a central spot for first-time visitors and tourists exploring the city. Moreover, due to its popularity, many hotels here offer affordable rates that suit even people on a tight budget. 

While many people think traveling on a budget isn’t the best way to enjoy a destination, it’s not the same for Mexico City. This city is one of the best destinations, and you can enjoy it without hurting your wallet. The key is knowing where to stay to ensure you get the best option while keeping your expenses low.

Where to Stay in Mexico City on a Budget

Is Mexico City an Ideal Place to Visit?

As the capital of Mexico, Mexico City may seem like an expensive place to visit, especially with all those towering buildings and breathtaking museums around. 

However, looking deeper into the city, you’ll see plenty of accommodation options to make you enjoy your stay while maintaining a low expense. 

Also, you’ll find that plenty of spots and attractions are free to enjoy, or at least with only a bit of money to spend. 

Of course, one of the main expenses to consider is accommodation. As such, we made this guide to help you understand that traveling and enjoying this city on a budget is possible.

Best Neighborhood to Stay in Mexico City for Budget Travelers

As mentioned earlier, when it comes to budget travelers, Mexico City’s Centro Historico Area is the best neighborhood for budget travelers.

From the name itself, Centro Historico is situated in the center of the city, and it’s where most of the city’s attractions are packed. 

There are several attractions within the Centro Histórico, including the Templo Mayor Museum, the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

For this reason, it’s ideal for tourists visiting the city for the first time since it’s a walking distance from the main tourist spots. It’s also the ideal neighborhood to stay in if you only explore the city for a day or two.

Due to the popularity of this area, you’ll find all kinds of hotels lined up in this neighborhood. However, the hotels in this area are generally affordable, so you’ll find the best place here.

As a tourist hub, you’ll find decent hotels to high-end ones at Centro Historico. However, even the high-end hotels aren’t as expensive as the ones in luxury neighborhoods like La Condesa and Roma. 

What to Expect When Staying at Centro Historico?

When you book a hotel within Centro Historico, you’re up for a treat because all the famous tourist attractions in the city are within walking distance. 

As such, budgeting is easy since you don’t have to book an Uber or buy and load Metro cards. Also, it’s much more convenient since you don’t have to worry about complicated public transportation. 

Further, the hotels in the area are way cheaper than the rest of the city, giving you plenty of options even if you’re on a budget.

As a prominent tourist spot, you’ll also find many affordable restaurants and street food around the area. As such, even if your booked hotel doesn’t have an on-site restaurant, you can fill your tummy without spending too much.

The only downside when staying at Centro Historico is that it’s always crowded. Due to such, you’ll find it usually noisy, even at night. 

Another thing to note is that a tourist hub like Centro Historico, although generally safe, is where most pickpockets, petty scammers, and crimes are. So while it’s highly patrolled even at night, you might still want to be cautious with your valuables.

Best Budget-Friendly Hotels in Mexico City

Of course, Mexico City is home to hundreds of hotels. As such, you’ll have plenty of budget-friendly options, even outside Centro Historico. Here are a few hotel options to book if you’re traveling to the city on a budget:

Hotel Principal

Hotel Principal is an excellent budget-friendly option if you plan to stay in the Centro Historico neighborhood.

Hotel Principal is located in the center of Mexico City, just a stone’s throw from San Juan de Letrán Metro Station. As such, it’s easily accessible by public transportation.

Getting to the National Art Museum and the Palacio de Bellas Artes Museum takes less than five minutes. You’ll also find other nearby attractions if you want to explore more on foot.

The distance from Zocalo Square to this hotel is only a mile or two. You’ll find more attractions such as the Cathedral and other famous spots from there.

Address: Calle de Bolívar 29, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone Number: +525555211333
Website: Hotel Principal

Casa Decu

If you plan to stay in the Condesa neighborhood, Casa Decu is an excellent budget-friendly option. 

Casa Decu is a convenient hotel in Condesa in Mexico City, just around two miles from Chapultepec Castle and less than two miles from The Angel of Independence. It’s also less than three miles from the National Museum of Anthropology, located around a mile from the hotel. 

The Casa Decu offers a terrace for guests to enjoy. There is a gym at the accommodation as well as laundry facilities available for guests to use. It’s also one of the best boutique hotels to find in the city.

Address: Culiacan 10, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX,
Mexico
Phone Number: +525581169821
Website: Casa Decu

Hotel MX Roma

Hotel MX Roma is an excellent budget-friendly option if you plan to stay in the Roma neighborhood. 

With an attractive location in Mexico City’s Roma district, Hotel MX Roma is around a mile from the Angel of Independence and the U.S. Embassy.

If you want to visit Chapultepec Park and Castle, both are only around two miles away.

With a terrace and family rooms, guests will also find this property equipped with many amenities.

Address: Merida 81, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone Number: +525555259336
Website: Hotel MX Roma

Hotel Martí

If you’re planning to stay in the Escandon neighborhood, Hotel Martí is an excellent budget-friendly option. 

This Mexico City hotel is well located in Escandon within 2.3 miles of the Angel of Independence, 2.5 miles of Chapultepec Castle, and 3.1 miles of Chapultepec Forest. 

It’s only three miles from the hotel to the National Museum of Anthropology and four miles to the United States Embassy.

If you want to visit the Museum of Memory and Tolerance, it’s only around four miles away from the hotel.

Address: C. Mutualismo 76, Escandón I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11800 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone Number: +525555150816
Website: Hotel Martí

Posada Viena Hotel

Posada Viena Hotel is an excellent budget-friendly option if you plan to stay in the Juarez neighborhood. 

Hotel Posada Viena is a stylish property in the heart of Mexico City, just half a mile from the Cuauhtémoc Metro Station and less than three feet from Chapultepec Avenue. 

A characteristic feature of the Posada Viena is the colorful Mexican-style decor and an on-site restaurant that serves Argentine cuisine.

Address: Calle Marsella 28, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone Number: +525555927312
Website: Posada Viena Hotel

Rioma Tennyson 86

If you plan to stay in the Polanco neighborhood, Rioma Tennyson 86 is an excellent budget-friendly option. 

This Rioma Tennyson 86 is situated in a very convenient location in the Polanco district of Mexico City, near the National Museum of Anthropology, the Soumaya Museum, and the Chapultepec Forest. 

This 4-star hotel boasts a garden, air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi access, and private bathrooms in every room.

Address: Suite, Tennyson No.86, Polanco, Col. Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo, 11550 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone Number: +525589910180
Website: Rioma Tennyson 86

La Casita de Coyoacán

If you plan to stay in the Coyoacan neighborhood, La Casita de Coyoacan is an excellent budget-friendly option.

La Casita de Coyoacán is set in a rural vibe amidst the city and features a garden, a terrace, a shared lounge, and free private parking. 

This accommodation provides guests with a 24-hour front desk, a shuttle service, a shared kitchen, and free WiFi access throughout the accommodation.

Address: Tlatetilpa 14, San Lucas, Coyoacán, 04030 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone Number: +525529386335
Website: La Casita de Coyoacán

Conclusion

It may sound surprising, but Mexico City has a lot of accommodation options to offer, even for tourists on a budget. These options should be near major tourist attractions. 
With this article, we hope you understand that enjoying the city is possible, even with a small budget. The only thing to do now is to pick your hotel and plan your trip to the city. If you want more about accommodation options, read our guide: Where to Stay in Mexico City?

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