Which place is cheaper, Oaxaca de Juarez or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mar del Plata or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Mar del Plata and Oaxaca de Juarez can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.
Oaxaca de Juarez
Officially known as Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca is the capital and largest city in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It's a beautiful colonial city in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. The city has beautiful architecture and a variety of festivals as well as a tree lined square called El Zocalo. Oaxaca's economy is heavily dependent on tourism and it is a wonderful place to see Mexican art and handicrafts. There are many artists and artisans in Oaxaca and the contemporary art scene is on the rise. The artists combine the area's rich indigenous culture and tradition with a modern twist. While you're in the area you should definitely make a point of experiencing the area's wonderful museums, interesting architecture, charming hotels and unique twist on Mexican cuisine.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.78Oaxaca de Juarez $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, while the average daily cost in Oaxaca de Juarez is $46. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Mar del Plata and Oaxaca de Juarez in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15Oaxaca de Juarez $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30Oaxaca de Juarez $40
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Oaxaca de Juarez
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata or Oaxaca de Juarez? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Oaxaca de Juarez Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50Oaxaca de Juarez $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Oaxaca: Private Transfer to Huatulco: $408
- From Oaxaca: Transfer to Puerto Escondido: $402
- Oaxaca: Santiago Apoala Waterfall Day Trip with Transfers: $344
- 4 Day Oaxaca Excursion with Transfer included: $300
- Private transfer from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido - new highway: $268
- Safe transfer, City of Oaxaca to the airport: $199
- Oaxaca Airport: Private Transfer Service: $130
- Private Transfer from the Airport to your Hotel/house .: $89
- Xoxocotlan Airport: Private Transfer to Oaxaca City: $88
- Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez-RoundTrip Transfer: $74
- Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
- Oaxaca Airport OAX to Oaxaca Hotels Round Trip Private Transfer: $72
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Prices for flights to both Oaxaca de Juarez and Mar del Plata change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMar del Plata $3.81Oaxaca de Juarez $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oaxaca de Juarez
For Oaxaca de Juarez, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oaxaca Night Street Food Tour with Transfers and Tastings: $50
- Oaxaca: Night Street Food Tour with Transfers and Tastings: $52
- Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class: $70
- Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $71
- Central de Abastos Market Food Tour : $72
- Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour: $77
- AUTHENTIC OAXACA FOOD TOUR, eat like a local.: $89
- Food tour to the Tlacolula Market: $90
- Traditional Oaxaqueña Cooking with Grandma's Recipes: $90
- Cooking classes from the Isthmus with a Tehuana: $92
- Traditional Oaxacan Cooking Class (includes transportation): $94
- Traditional Cooking Class in Teotitlan Valle: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $2.27Oaxaca de Juarez $13
Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
- Full Day Waterfall Adventure in Sierra Madre Mountains of Oaxaca: $80
- 5 Hours Guided Day of The Dead Evening Walking Tour in Oaxaca: $94
- A Piece Of Oaxaca: Guided Tour with Crafts Elaboration: $143
- Amazing Monte Alban and City tour Private Tour: $200
- Amazing experience in the mountain of San Jose del Pacifico: $80
- Ancestral Carnival Tour 2025: $199
- Archaeological sites Tour and Red Pottery in Tlacolula : $170
- Art Workshops and Chocolate Shops Tour: $60
- Artisanal Mezcal Culture Tour for Tasting and History: $107
- Bicycle Tour through Oaxaca learning about its Urban Art and History: $19
- Bike tour to the Tule Tree and the Gastronomic Market: $20
- Boil the water tour: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78Oaxaca de Juarez $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Oaxaca de Juarez
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Oaxaca de Juarez:
- Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, Mitla and Mezcal Distillery Tour: $45
- Only Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery tour: $50
- Only Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery Tour: $50
- From Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery: $52
- Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery (Small groups): $66
- Personalized Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery: $107
- Artisanal Mezcal distillery in an authentic Zapotec village : $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Oaxaca de Juarez, we can see that Oaxaca de Juarez is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mar del Plata is in South America and Oaxaca de Juarez is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del Plata and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Oaxaca de Juarez would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oaxaca de Juarez than you might in Mar del Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Oaxaca de Juarez Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Oaxaca de Juarez. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and Oaxaca de Juarez, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.