Paying Your Bills in Mexico: A Practical Guide

You can pay bills in Mexico without a bank account using OXXO stores (Mexico's ubiquitous convenience chain with 20,000+ locations), just walk in with your bill reference number and pay cash at the register for any utility including CFE electricity, water, internet, and phone service (instant receipt, no fees, takes 2 minutes). This OXXO system is how most Mexicans without bank accounts pay bills, and it works perfectly for new expats during their first few months before setting up local banking.

The Main Bills You'll Encounter

CFE (Electricity): The national power company. Bills come monthly.

Water/Sewage: Usually included with property tax (predial) if you own, or paid separately if renting.

Internet/Phone: Companies like Telcel, Movistar, Infinitum (part of Telmex).

Rent: Usually paid directly to landlord or property manager.

How to Pay Without a Bank Account

OXXO Stores: The most common solution. OXXO is a convenience store chain everywhere in Mexico. You can walk in with your bill reference number and pay cash for almost any utility at their register. No bank account needed.

• CFE bill → pay at OXXO
• Water → pay at OXXO
• Internet → pay at OXXO
• Phone → pay at OXXO

It's instant. You get a receipt. Done.

7-Eleven: Also accepts bill payments, though less convenient than OXXO (fewer locations).

Supermarkets: Walmart, Soriana, and other supermarkets have customer service desks where you can pay utilities.

Getting Your Bill Reference Numbers

When you sign up for utilities, you get a reference number. Keep this safe. You'll need it to pay.

For CFE: Your reference number is on every bill. It looks like a long string of digits.

For water: Usually comes on property tax bill or separate invoice.

For internet/phone: Company gives you an account number. Use that as your reference.

Rent Payments

Rent is typically paid one of two ways:

Direct to landlord: Hand them cash monthly (very common, especially in smaller cities).

Bank transfer: If landlord has Mexican bank account, you can send via CLABE (once you have a bank account) or use services like Wise to send from abroad.

If you don't have a bank account yet, most landlords will accept cash payments. Make sure you get a written receipt.

Setting Up a Bank Account

Once you have temporary residency or a stable address, get a Mexican bank account. This makes everything easier.

Major banks: BBVA México, Santander, Scotiabank, Inbursa.

You'll need:

• Passport
• Proof of residency (lease agreement or utility bill)
• Sometimes proof of income (recent bank statement from home country)

Once you have an account:

• Many utilities auto-bill your account
• You can set up automatic transfers to your landlord
• Banking becomes much simpler

Pro Tips

Keep bills organized: Store reference numbers in your phone or a document. You'll need them.

Budget for deposits: Many utilities (electricity, water) require a deposit when you first sign up. Budget an extra $200-300 USD for these.

Know your consumption: CFE bills can be shockingly high in summer (AC) or winter (less in Mexico). Check your usage.

Language help: If language is a barrier, ask your landlord to help explain bills or go to the utility office with you.

Stay current: Utilities in Mexico are cut off quickly for non-payment. Pay on time.

The Reality

Paying bills in Mexico without a bank account is annoying but doable. The OXXO system works perfectly well for short-term. Once you're more settled, get a bank account and automate everything.

Most expats do this in their first few weeks and forget about it within a month.

Related Mexico Resources

• Mexico City Complete Guide
• Banking & Financial Services in Mexico City
• The Best Way to Exchange Money in Mexico City
• Add Your Business to ExpatsList