A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico Oaxaca de Juarez vs. Ensenada for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Ensenada?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Ensenada? 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 Ensenada?

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.

Ensenada

Ensenada is on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Tijuana. It's the only deep water port in the state of Baja California and as such, it is an important commerical fishing port as well as a cruise ship destination. The city has a population of almost 500,000 and is located just 78 miles south of San Diego. The city sits between the ocean and a small mountain range. The surrounding area is known for its wine production, which produces some of the best wine in Mexico.

Which city is cheaper, Ensenada or Oaxaca de Juarez?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $33, while the average daily cost in Ensenada is $70. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Oaxaca de Juarez and Ensenada in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Oaxaca de Juarez $14
    Ensenada $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Oaxaca de Juarez $28
    Ensenada $66
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and Ensenada

Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or Ensenada? 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.

Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez


Hotels in Ensenada


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 Ensenada Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Oaxaca de Juarez $9.12
    Ensenada $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez

Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
  • Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $149
  • Roundtrip Shared Airport Transfer: $26

Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or Ensenada?

Prices for flights to both Ensenada 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Oaxaca de Juarez $10
    Ensenada $28

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 Street Food Tour: $13
  • Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $51
  • OAXACA STREET FOOD TOUR, eat like a local.: $55
  • Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour: $77
  • MAIZ Cooking Class & Tour To The CASA Oaxaca: $77
  • Oaxaca: Traditional Oaxacan Cooking Class with Market Visit: $91
  • Oaxaca: Classic Downtown Food Tour: $102
  • Ancestral cooking class with market visit: $259

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Oaxaca de Juarez $9.10
    Ensenada $7.67

Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.

  • Oaxaca City Tour: $15
  • Oaxaca City Tour: $24
  • Oaxaca Street Art Tour: $24
  • Tour Monte Albán: $28
  • Oaxaca: Half-Day City Tour: $32
  • Mitla, Teotitlan and Santa Maria del Tule Sightseeing Tour from Oaxaca: $32
  • Oaxaca: Monte Alban Guided Archaeological Tour: $38
  • Oaxaca: Ocotlan de Morelos Cultural Experience and Tour: $38
  • Private VIP Tour Oaxaca: $40
  • Oaxaca Gallery Art Tour: $43
  • Oaxaca City Sightseeing Tour: Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzman, Oaxaca Regional Museum and Benito Juarez Market: $47
  • Oaxaca Private Foodies Delight Market Tour and Street Food: $48

Tours and Activities in Ensenada

Here are a few actual costs in Ensenada for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 4 days Dirt Bike Tour at Baja North: $2,515
  • Dirt Bike One Day Tour from Ensenada to San Felipe (Point to Point): $875
  • Ensenada Shore Excursion: Blowhole and La Bufadora Tour with Horseback Riding: $132
  • Ensenada Shore Excursion: City Tour & La Bufadora: $68
  • Ensenada Shore Excursion: Entre Santos and El Cielo Winery Tours with Lunch: $160
  • Ensenada Shore Excursion: Wine and Cheese Tour with Lunch in Ojos Negros Valley: $225
  • Ensenada Travels Tours: $64
  • Tuk Tuk, Beach and Bar Tour: $90
  • Ensenadas Ziplines , Pai Pai Zoo and Bufadora Private tour.: $300
  • Family-Friendly Baja Wine and Food Adventure: $425
  • Ford model T tours: $100
  • From La Bufadora Geyser Tour: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Oaxaca de Juarez $11
    Ensenada $7.83

Sample the Local Flavors in Ensenada

Also in Ensenada, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Private wine tour: $65
  • Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tasting Tour: $75
  • Private Full-Day Wine Tour in Valle de Guadalupe: $89
  • From Ojos Negros Valley Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour: $94
  • Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tour, All Inclusive by AKA Expeditions.: $140
  • Valle de Guadalupe Off The Beaten Path Wine Tasting: $505

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and Ensenada, we can see that Ensenada is more expensive. And not only is Oaxaca de Juarez much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Ensenada would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ensenada than you might in Oaxaca de Juarez.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Oaxaca de Juarez vs. Ensenada Travel Comparison

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