Which place is cheaper, Cajamarca or Oaxaca de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Cajamarca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Cajamarca? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Oaxaca de Juarez or Cajamarca?
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.
Cajamarca
Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Oaxaca de Juarez Prices
Mexico PricesCajamarca Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOaxaca de Juarez $54Cajamarca $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $54, while the average daily cost in Cajamarca is $97. 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 Oaxaca de Juarez and Cajamarca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOaxaca de Juarez $19Cajamarca $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOaxaca de Juarez $38Cajamarca $52
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and Cajamarca
Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or Cajamarca? 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: Oaxaca de Juarez Hotel Prices and Cajamarca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $12Cajamarca $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from Downtown Oaxaca to the Airport: $7.89
- Private Transfer from your Hotel in Oaxaca to the Oaxaca Airport: $14
- Secure Private Transfer : Downtown Oaxaca Airport (OAX): $20
- Transfer Private Hotel to Oaxaca Airport: $21
- Private Transfer Airport Hotel in Oaxaca: $28
- Oaxaca city: Roundtrip Private/Shared Airport Transfer: $29
- From Oaxaca One way shared transfer to San Jose del Pacifico: $29
- Oaxaca hotels to Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
- Transfer Oaxaca Centro Boerve del Agua: $30
- Private transfer from Oaxaca Airport to Oaxaca City: $50
- Oaxaca Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $58
- Oaxaca Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez - Round-Trip Transfer: $58
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or Cajamarca?
Prices for flights to both Cajamarca and Oaxaca de Juarez 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 dayOaxaca de Juarez $24Cajamarca $53
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: Walking Traditional Food Tour with Ancestral Drinks: $26
- Private Oaxaca Street Food Tour - Best Rated: $35
- Food Tour at the 20 de Noviembre Market (All Inclusive): $52
- Oaxaca: Guided Food Tour with Local Chef and food experts: $54
- Legends and Ghosts Sightseeing Tour in Downtown Oaxaca with Dinner: $55
- FOOD TOUR IN THE ABASTOS MARKET: $61
- Oaxaca: Evening Street Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $66
- Oaxaca Streets Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
- Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $69
- Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class: $70
- Bike Ride and Street Food Tour in Oaxaca: $70
- Oaxaca: 10 Mexican Salsas Cooking Class with Taco Tasting: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $12Cajamarca $29
Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
- Oaxaca Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- Oaxaca: Colonial City Bus Tour: $5.81
- Oaxaca City Tour: History, Markets, and Local Flavors: $7.60
- Oaxaca: Legends Tour Mezcalbús: $8.71
- Immerse Yourself in Oaxaca: Guided Cultural Walking Tour: $15
- Oaxaca Walking Tour: $20
- Oaxaca Walking Tour: $20
- Oaxaca: Monte Alban, Cuilapam, and Artisan Villages Tour: $21
- Monte Alban Half Day Guided Tour: $21
- Oaxaca: Oaxaca City Beyond the Surface Walking Tour: $23
- Monte Alban Only - Half Day Guided Tour - Oaxaca: $23
- Bike Adventure to the World's Widest Tree: $25
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- Half-Day Private Cajamarca City Tour: $57
- Half-Day Private Tour to Cumbemayo, The Stone Forest: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOaxaca de Juarez $14Cajamarca $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Oaxaca de Juarez
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Oaxaca de Juarez:
- Oaxaca Pub Crawl with Shots and Party Games: $19
- Oaxaca Pub Crawl: $19
- Oaxaca: Sustainable Mezcal Tour at an Award-Winning Family Distillery: $24
- Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, Mitla and Mezcal Distillery Tour: $55
- Breakfast in Tlacolula; Ancestral and industrial mezcal distillery: $55
- Hierve el Agua, Mitla, El Tule Tree, Rugs, Mezcal Distillery Tour: $58
- Hierve el Agua and distillery of mezcal tour: $60
- Oaxaca: Hierve el Agua & Mezcal Distillery Small-Group Tour: $70
- Distillery Tour and Agave Fields by Mal de Amor Mezcal: $70
- Oaxaca: Mezcal Distillery Tour with Tastings: $134
- Mezcal Distillery Day Trip: $140
- Artisanal Mezcal distillery in an authentic Zapotec village: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and Cajamarca, we can see that Cajamarca is more expensive. And not only is Oaxaca de Juarez much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oaxaca de Juarez is in North America and Cajamarca is in South 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 Oaxaca de Juarez would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Oaxaca de Juarez 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 Cajamarca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cajamarca than you might in Oaxaca de Juarez.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oaxaca de Juarez Expensive? and Is Cajamarca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or Cajamarca?
Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 94% larger than the population of Cajamarca. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and Cajamarca, 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.