MXN Calculator: how much you get in each currency
Updated May 2026. By FlightsMX · 6 min read.
Bottom line: MXN exchange rates May 2026 (Banxico official): $1 USD = ~MXN $17.50, €1 EUR = ~MXN $19.30, MXN $1 = COP $190, MXN $1 = ARS $85. At informal exchanges (Argentina cuevas, Cuba casa particular) you can gain 30-40% more than official bank — valid for Argentina (blue rate) and Cuba (informal CADECA).
In this guide
- Current MXN exchange rates (May 2026)
- Calculator — convert your amount
- Official vs. informal rates by country
- Why airport exchange is bad deal
- Best strategy per destination
- FAQs
Current MXN exchange rates (May 2026)
Source: Banxico official + average exchange houses May 2026.
| Currency | 1 unit = MXN | $1 USD = | MXN $1 = |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD (US dollar) | $17.50 | — | $0.057 |
| EUR (euro) | $19.30 | €0.91 | €0.052 |
| COP (Colombian peso) | $0.0053 | COP $3,300 | COP $190 |
| ARS (Argentine peso official) | $0.0146 | ARS $1,200 | ARS $85 |
| ARS blue (informal peso) | $0.0103 | ARS $1,700 | ARS $97 |
| PEN (Peruvian sol) | $4.65 | PEN $3.75 | PEN $0.215 |
| CLP (Chilean peso) | $0.0193 | CLP $905 | CLP $51.7 |
| GBP (British pound) | $22.40 | £0.78 | £0.045 |
| CUP (Cuban peso official) | $0.73 | CUP $24 | CUP $1.37 |
| CUP informal (Cuba real market) | $0.063 | CUP $280 | CUP $16 |
| BRL (Brazilian real) | $3.55 | BRL $4.93 | BRL $0.282 |
How to use this table
Example 1: How many Colombian pesos for MXN $1,000?
- 1,000 × COP $190 = COP $190,000
Example 2: How many dollars is my MXN $25,000 budget?
- 25,000 ÷ 17.50 = $US 1,429
Example 3: How many Argentine pesos for $US 500 at blue market?
- 500 × ARS $1,700 = ARS $850,000
Calculator — convert your amount
Convert MXN to other currency
To find amount in target currency = MXN [your amount] × [column rate]:
| Your MXN | USD | EUR | COP | ARS blue | PEN | CLP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MXN $100 | $5.71 USD | €5.18 EUR | COP $19,000 | ARS $9,700 | PEN $21.50 | CLP $5,170 |
| MXN $500 | $28.57 | €25.91 | COP $95,000 | ARS $48,500 | PEN $108 | CLP $25,850 |
| MXN $1,000 | $57.14 | €51.81 | COP $190,000 | ARS $97,000 | PEN $215 | CLP $51,700 |
| MXN $5,000 | $285.71 | €259 | COP $950,000 | ARS $485,000 | PEN $1,075 | CLP $258,500 |
| MXN $10,000 | $571 | €518 | COP $1,900,000 | ARS $970,000 | PEN $2,150 | CLP $517,000 |
Convert USD to other currency
| Your USD | MXN | EUR | COP | ARS blue | CLP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50 USD | MXN $875 | €45.5 | COP $165,000 | ARS $85,000 | CLP $45,250 |
| $100 USD | MXN $1,750 | €91 | COP $330,000 | ARS $170,000 | CLP $90,500 |
| $500 USD | MXN $8,750 | €455 | COP $1,650,000 | ARS $850,000 | CLP $452,500 |
| $1,000 USD | MXN $17,500 | €910 | COP $3,300,000 | ARS $1,700,000 | CLP $905,000 |
Official vs. informal rates by country
Argentina — 30-40% difference
| Concept | Rate | For Mexican |
|---|---|---|
| Official (Banco Nación) | ARS $1,200/USD | Foreign card gives this (bad) |
| Tourist card with charges | ARS $1,400/USD | Foreign card with +30% PAIS tax |
| Blue (informal cueva) | ARS $1,500-1,700/USD | YOUR best option ✅ |
| MEP (via bonds) | ARS $1,650-1,750/USD | Investors |
Mexican tourist difference: between official and blue = ~40% more purchasing power. See blue rate guide
Cuba — 12× difference (1,200%)
| Concept | Rate | For Mexican |
|---|---|---|
| Official (airport CADECA) | CUP $24/USD | Terrible deal |
| Informal (casa particular host) | CUP $260-280/USD | YOUR real option ✅ |
| MLC virtual | 1 MLC = 1 USD | For Cuban residents |
Difference: ~12× more Cuban pesos with informal rate. See Cuba currency guide
Colombia — small difference
| Concept | Rate | For Mexican |
|---|---|---|
| Official (Bank) | COP $3,300/USD | OK |
| Cuevas (Bogotá, Cartagena) | COP $3,350-3,400/USD | Marginally better |
| MX card at Colombia ATM | COP $3,250/USD (with 3-5% commission) | Mediocre |
Tip: In Colombia, withdraw COP at ATM with Mexican card = good deal. Difference vs. cuevas ~2-3%.
Chile — single rate, no parallel market
| Concept | Rate |
|---|---|
| Official (all exchange houses) | CLP $905/USD |
Chile has no significant informal market. Unit rate.
Peru — small informal advantage
| Concept | Rate |
|---|---|
| Official | PEN $3.75/USD |
| Lima street changers | PEN $3.80/USD |
Minimal advantage. Use card for most.
USA / Eurozone / UK — official only
USD, EUR, GBP have no parallel markets. Single rate. Exchange at Mexican bank before traveling or use card for convenience.
Why airport exchange is bad deal
Airports where you shouldn’t exchange
Official exchanges at airports:
- AICM (CDMX) → Banamex/Santander official exchange: 2-4% worse than online
- GDL → similar
- MTY → similar
- International airports: 4-8% commission worse than local options
Why you lose
- Operator margin (3-5%)
- Additional commission (2-4%)
- Airport rent passed to you
- Buyers in hurry = captured market
When you SHOULD exchange at airport
- Only USD $50-80 for emergency (taxi, food on arrival)
- In airports in countries with no local alternative (not Mexico)
Best alternative per destination country
| Destination | Best option |
|---|---|
| USA, UK, Eurozone | Exchange at Mexican bank before traveling OR use Mexican credit card (1-3% better commission) |
| Argentina | USD cash + cueva in Buenos Aires (blue rate) |
| Cuba | USD cash + exchange with casa particular host |
| Colombia | Mexican card at Colombia ATM (3-5% commission) |
| Chile, Peru, Brazil | Mexican card at local ATM |
Best strategy per destination
Strategy A: USD cash + local exchange houses
For: Argentina, Cuba
- Bring $US 1,500-3,000 cash
- Exchange gradually at cuevas/casa particular
- Benefit: blue rate / casa-particular rate
Strategy B: Mexican credit card + local ATM
For: Colombia, Chile, Peru, Brazil
- Banamex/Santander have 3-5% commissions at international ATM
- BBVA Mexico “Tarjeta Negocios” has reduced 2% commission
- Mexican American Express Platinum: no international ATM commission (best option)
Strategy C: Exchange at Mexican bank before traveling
For: USA, UK, Eurozone, Japan
- Buy USD/EUR at Mexican bank (Banamex, Santander) with anticipated order
- Commission: 1.5-3%
- Better than airport exchange
Strategy D: Western Union for emergency
For: Any destination emergency
- Your family sends MXN in MX → you receive local currency at destination
- Commission: 5-12%
- Exchange rate: close to official
Strategy E: USDT crypto (advanced)
For: Argentina, Brazil
- Buy USDT (Tether) on Bitso Mexico with MXN
- Sell USDT at destination via Binance P2P
- Exchange rate: close to blue
- Only for crypto-experienced users
FAQs
What’s cheapest rate to send MXN to Argentina (family)?
Wise (TransferWise): commission ~$US 3-8 per transfer, rate close to Argentine official. Better than Western Union for amounts > $US 500. For Argentina specifically: crypto USDT transfer via Bitso → Buenos Aires P2P is cheapest.
Does my American Express Platinum card have international ATM commission?
NO if you have Platinum Card issued in USA. YES 2-4% commission if Mexican. Verify with your issuer before.
Does my Banamex Visa work at ATM in Cuba?
NO. Cuba blocked for US-based cards (includes Mexican via US-routed Visa). Bring cash USD.
How long to exchange USD to ARS blue in Buenos Aires?
Local Palermo cueva: 10-20 minutes typical. Western Union send from MX: 1-2 hours to receive AR peso. Crypto USDT-to-ARS: 5-30 minutes typical via Binance P2P (depends on counterparty).
Worth buying EUR at Mexican bank before traveling to Spain?
Yes. Banamex/Santander Mexico sell EUR with commission ~1.5-3%. Better than exchanging EUR at Barajas Madrid airport (4-7% worse).
Tipo de cambio AMEX paying $US 500 to euros in Spain?
Mexican AmEx at European restaurant:
- Auto conversion by merchant (DCC): ~+5-8% worse than real
- Mexican Amex conversion (no DCC): ~+2-3% worse than real
- Tip: Always reject DCC (“currency conversion”) and let Amex pay in EUR. Save 3-5%.
Reliable BRL (Brazil) rate at Mexican bank?
Yes. Brazil has stable single rate. Buy BRL at Mexican bank before traveling (commission 2-3%) or withdraw BRL at Brazil ATM with Mexican card (3-5% commission).
Does my Mexican passport work as ID for foreign cueva exchange?
Sometimes. In legitimate Argentina/Cuba cuevas, yes ask for passport. At street changers (not recommended): don’t ask for ID. ALWAYS bring passport.
Will MXN appreciate or depreciate 2026?
May 2026 trend: MXN slightly appreciated vs. USD ($17.50 vs. $19 1 year ago). Factors: high Banxico interest rate (10.25%), controlled inflation. For Mexican travelers to USA/EU: slight extra discount vs. 1 year ago.
Sources
- Banxico — Official exchange rates (May 2026)
- OANDA — Historical exchange rates (May 2026)
- Wise — International transfer rates (May 2026)
- American Express Mexico — ATM commissions (May 2026)
- Central Bank of Argentina — Official rate (May 2026)
- Central Bank of Cuba — Official rate (May 2026)
Related reading
Edited by FlightsMX. Rates fluctuate daily — this is a snapshot.