Mexico’s Tipping Culture

Tipping is woven into the fabric of Mexican social culture.  The tipping ritual is so commonplace that it is also plays a significant role in Mexico’s informal, cash-driven economy.

Most people working in Mexico’s service industries including porters at the airport, the waitress at the café/diner, the attendant in the rest-room and the service personnel at your hotel, earn modest wages and rely upon tips (in Mexico referred to as “La Propina”) to augment their weekly pay-packet.

In Mexico, La Propina is employed in all kinds of everyday situations.

Car parks in Mexico’s bigger towns and cities are often times kept under vigil by men (and it is almost always men) who ‘patrol’ the car park, helping drivers to find a free space, keeping an eye on the cars, and helping drivers to reverse out when they leave.   It’s optional, but customary, to pay 1 or 2 Pesos as you depart.

Arriving at one of the four intercity bus stations in Mexico’s capital, and proceeding as many do to the taxi kiosk for an authorized taxi fare, a line of waiting ‘porters’ will offer to carry your luggage, walk you to the rank, and hail the next cab for you.  They will open the taxi’s door and place your luggage in the car’s trunk.  It’s customary to tip the porter about 10 Pesos per bag (US$1).

Some restaurants – including some of the most well-to-do establishments – have an attendant working in the restroom.   As you wash your hands, they will politely hand you a towel to dry them.   Alongside the wash-basin, you may see a small box with a few coins sprinkled inside.  If you are dining at a restaurant, have a few pesos change at the ready, as it’s customary to leave a small gratuity for the attendant as you leave.

Other ‘informal’ tip situations include the porter at the hotel who carried your bags or called a taxi for you; the concierge for booking a table at a local restaurant; the person who washed your windscreen at the stop-light; and even the person packing your groceries at the local supermarket.

Many people leave their hotel’s room maid a small tip on the day they leave; US$1-5 equivalent in Pesos, for each night’s stay spent at the hotel, is usual depending on hotel’s category.

Ironically, despite the constant need to pay tips, small change seems to be a real difficulty to get hold of in Mexico when you need it most and appears in abundance when you don’t need any – see Related Article.

Frequent tipping takes getting used to, especially if you live in a country where tipping is not commonplace (most of Europe, for example) or where tipping is practiced but only in certain, specific circumstances.

Mexico’s tipping culture is impromptu and often spontaneous.  Tipping is always optional although the people serving you will appreciate a small token of your appreciation for good service.

Also See: Our guide to Tipping and Bargaining for guidance about whom, where, when and how much to tip in Mexico.