Mexican Travel & Getting Around

How much is it?

"¿Cuánto cuesta?" (how much does it cost?) is the essential shopping and market question. In markets you can follow with "¿en cuánto me lo deja?" to bargain politely. "¿Cuánto sale?" is a common Mexican variant.

Where is...?

"¿Dónde queda...?" is the natural Mexican way to ask where a place is — "¿dónde queda el baño?" (where's the bathroom?), "¿dónde queda el metro?" (where's the subway?). Here "quedar" means "to be located" — more idiomatic than the textbook "¿dónde está?".

How much do I owe you?

"¿Cuánto le debo?" (how much do I owe you?) is the polite way to ask what to pay — a taxi driver, a market vendor, a small shop. The formal "le" makes it respectful. For taxis without a meter, agree on the fare before you get in.

The tip (gratuity)

La propina is the tip. In Mexican restaurants 10–15% is customary and often not included — confirm with "¿la propina está incluida?". Tips are also appreciated by supermarket baggers ("cerillitos"), gas attendants, and hotel staff. Cash in pesos is best.