Why Revolut is my favorite for everyday spending
When I need pesos day to day—for food, taxis, restaurants or small withdrawals—Revolut is the first thing I reach for. The rate is better than both my bank and the ATM, and the whole setup runs from my phone.
How I do it, step by step
Step 1: Create a Revolut account
If you don’t already have Revolut, download the app, verify your identity with a passport or driver’s license, and link a phone number. It takes 10–15 minutes.
Step 2: Top up from your home bank
- In the Revolut app I find my account details in Revolut (under “Add money” or “Top up”).
- I log into my home bank, make a normal transfer to my Revolut account details, and send funds.
- The money usually arrives the same day, often within minutes.
Step 3: Exchange to MXN in the app
- I open Revolut and tap Exchange.
- I choose from my home currency to MXN.
- I see the rate before I confirm. On weekdays it’s almost identical to the real market rate.
- I confirm, and the pesos land in my pesos wallet immediately.
Important: On weekends and at night, Revolut adds a small markup (around 0.5–1%). So I prefer to exchange on weekdays, Monday to Friday, during business hours.
Step 4: Use pesos in Mexico
I can now:
- Pay by card in shops and restaurants
- Withdraw pesos at ATMs (free up to a monthly limit on the free plan)
- Send pesos to others on Revolut
What I have to watch out for
- Free ATM withdrawals are limited: On the free plan I can withdraw around 200 EUR (or the equivalent in MXN) per month without a fee. Above that I pay 2%.
- Always choose “without conversion” at a Mexican ATM: when it asks whether to convert via Revolut or the ATM, I always choose Revolut (decline conversion).
- Weekends cost more: exchange on weekdays if you can.
- Don’t withdraw huge amounts at once: you save nothing, and you become a bigger target for theft.
Pros
- Best rate of all the options I’ve tried
- Very fast—a top-up arrives in minutes
- Convenient in-app, everything in one place
- You skip carrying cash around
- A free virtual card while you wait for the physical one
Cons
- You have to trust an app and a foreign fintech
- Weekend markup on exchanges
- Limited free ATM withdrawals on the free plan
- If you lose your phone, you temporarily lose access
- Premium plans cost money (but often worth it if you exchange a lot)
What it actually costs me
For a withdrawal of 5,000 MXN on a weekday, within my free monthly allowance, it costs me almost nothing beyond a tiny spread on the rate. That’s far better than either an ATM with a home bank card or an exchange office.
My recommendation
If you live in or travel often to Playa del Carmen, get on Revolut. It’s the easiest and cheapest way to handle everyday money, and it replaces both the ATM and the exchange office for most of what I need.
For large transfers (over a few thousand dollars) I still recommend Wise instead—I’ve written a separate post about that.
💛 A small honest note from me
If you found this post useful and are thinking about trying Revolut yourself, I’d be really glad if you used this referral link to create your account:
👉 Create a Revolut account here
It costs you nothing extra, and you often get a little bonus as a welcome. For my part, I get a small commission that helps me keep the blog alive—no hidden ads, no dishonest sponsored content.
Here’s how affiliate links work: when someone clicks my link and creates an account, Revolut gives me a small thank-you for the tip. I only recommend things I use myself, and you pay nothing extra. It’s a normal way to support independent bloggers, and it’s the only way I can keep writing honest guides like this one.
Thank you if you use the link. If not—totally fine, and thanks for reading! 🌴
