Mexico Tourist Tax Doubles, With More Increases Locked In Through 2028

(KMDL-FM) The cost of going on a cruise vacation to Mexico is going up. The Mexican government officially doubled its non-resident tourist tax as of August 1st of this year. It's not like it's a surprise; the increase in tourist tax has been proposed for more than a year. It finally passed in July of 2025, and in that passage last year was language that basically doubled the tax as of a few days ago.

A cruise ship docked at a pier with another ship in the background

Mexico Confirms the First of Many Non-Resident Guest Taxes in the Future

There are even more tourism tax increases planned for Mexico, with another hike officially on the books for August of 2027 and a doubling of the current double to be completed in 2028. So, in two short years, the cost for the "privilege" of visiting a Mexican port will have increased by 200%.

The reason Mexican ports need the additional revenue is so they can keep up with the demand of millions of travelers every year. The non-resident guest taxes go to pay for infrastructure at the port complexes. It also pays for things like public bathrooms and other areas where guests can roam freely in a secure environment.

people in market during daytime

We should note that this per-person tax will be enforced at all major Mexican tourist destinations, not just the cruise ports. So places like Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, and Costa Maya will also require the additional stipend for visitors.

How Much is Mexico's Non-Resident Visitor Tax? How Much More Will It Increase?

The current per-person non-resident visitor tax is posted at $10. If you're a family of five, you just paid $50 for the privilege of visiting Mexico, whether you get off the ship or not.

When you consider the fact that Mexican tourism officials say almost 4.8 million people have visited in the first half of this year, you can see that at $10 a head, the Mexican Government will be collecting tens of millions of dollars.

a group of people standing around a market

In July of 2027, the tourism tax will climb to $15 per person, and in July of 2028, the tax will be increased to $21 per person. The Mexican government has confirmed it has no plans to raise the tax again until at least 2030.

Mexico Isn't the Only Cruise Destination That Is Raising Visitor Taxes

If you're a cruise fan, don't harbor ill will toward Mexico; other ports are doing the same thing. Hawaii is raising its port taxes. Greece is making it more expensive to take a cruise to Mykonos or Santorini, and there have been several discussions concerning raising port taxes at several ports of call in Alaska.

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Needless to say, these are some of the "hidden expenses" you weren't exactly made aware of when you sign up for your trip, but you will most certainly be made aware of when it comes time to settle your onboard account.

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Of course, you could save your money on a cruise and just go out to eat. Seriously, here are our choices.