What a night costs
| 🛏️ Hostel dorm bed | $10–$18/night |
| 🚪 Private room (hostel/guesthouse) | $25–$45/night |
| 🏨 Budget hotel / Airbnb room | $35–$60/night |
Full backpacker daily budget for Mexico (bed + food + local transport + fun): about $40/day shoestring or $65/day flashpacker.
Where to stay
Centro Histórico, anywhere walkable to the Zócalo.
Local tip
💡 Book ahead for Día de los Muertos (late Oct) — the city sells out months out.
The clean-bed formula
Filter to rating ≥ 8.3 with 150+ reviews, then read the recent negative reviews — that's where the cleanliness truth lives. Prefer free-cancellation rates; plans change, especially yours.