Transportation is one of the top expenses when traveling so I often take aim at it in order to reduce my travel costs. Sometimes you have to get from one town to another; other times it’s just around town. In Mexico, like many other countries in the world, there are a variety of methods in which to move.

The one I use most, because it costs the least is walking. I will walk two miles to avoid paying a taxi $2. I know, it doesn’t necessarily make sense, but it’s one of the areas in which I really don’t care about luxury. Besides, walking is healthy, and it gives me a chance to explore a place in better detail than I would in a cab. Many times I’ve found a barber shop or laundromat I would otherwise be looking for in a few days. In that way, walking actually saved me time.

Another budget option I frequently utilize is the bus. In Mexico, the local and long distance buses are far cheaper than any other mode of transportation. Typically, a taxi will cost around $10 for a local trip that I can do on the bus for about five cents. No amount of time savings in a taxi is going to convince me to pay that difference. The added benefit of taking the bus is that you get to see the locals, not just on the bus but as you pass through neighborhoods you wouldn’t see if going direct to your destination via taxi.

There exists in Mexico a hybrid of the bus and the taxi called the “collectivo”. This can be a taxi, a van, or a pickup truck that waits for a certain number of people to be on board before heading to a destination. It generally follows a fixed route, and will drop off and pick up people along the way, just like a bus. Riding a collectivo gives you an even more intimate experience with locals as you’re often crammed inside and bent half way over as you navigate passing your money via others to the driver and trying to get glimpses out the window so that you can get off at your destination.

If you are a person who prefers the destination to the journey, then the taxi is the way to go. Taxis are generally cheap in Mexico. Just remember to agree on a price before you get in. It helps to do research or talk to others beforehand so that you know what a reasonable price is. The rare city in Mexico uses metered taxis so be sure to ask the rate first.

As an aside, authorized airport taxis are the most expensive in Mexico. They are also generally the finest taxis you’ll ride in, having air conditioning, seats whose fabric isn’t ripped, and door handles that work from the inside. They charge you a premium primarily because they have to pay the airport in order to offer service there. You can often avoid this charge by simply walking outside the toll gate of the airport and catching one of the local taxis waiting there.

Flying is typically the most expensive way to travel, but in Mexico there are a few budget airlines like Volaris, Viva Aerobus which you’ve probably never heard of. It’s worth comparing prices and duration to see if it can be done cheaper and faster by plane. If you book more than a month out, you can often get a flight for the same price as a bus. I usually take the bus for distances up to 6 hours, but after that a plane becomes more practical, because you know how I feel about overnight buses.

For getting back and forth to the states, I can sometimes reduce flight costs by using a budget Mexican airline to a major US hub, like Los Angeles, and then onto my US destination at a fare cheaper than flying from Mexico to other US destinations. You’re also not competing with all the snowbirds, who are unaware of these Mexican airlines. An even cheaper option is to fly to Tijuana and cross into the US before transferring to LAX or San Diego to complete your journey. I’ve saved as much as $400 doing it this way.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite vehicle, the bicycle. This is often a good alternative to walking and taking taxis. It gives you the freedom to explore and trips to the market or beach can be made more efficiently without sacrificing the experiencing of the place. Check rental rates for half day versus multiple days. On more than one occasion in Asia, I’d find a bike rental near the train station and rent for the duration of my visit. Not only did this give me transportation while visiting, it saved me bus or taxi fare to and from the station.

Finally, you can rent your own vehicle transportation. Being American, my mind’s logic falls on a rental car for personal transportation, but many countries have scooters and motorcycles you can rent for a fraction of the cost of renting a car. You get further savings on gas money and insurance, if it’s even required. Naturally, renting your own vehicle gives you the most freedom, but it often is the most expensive transportation option since you have to factor in gas, parking, tolls, fines and traffic.

You can weigh the cost/benefits of each one, but I find walking and taking the bus to be my two favorites. They are the most healthy as you get both the physical exercise and the mental exercise of trying to figure out how it’s done. In my opinion, that is the most efficient way to travel.