A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Oaxaca de Juarez vs. Flores for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Flores?

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

Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Flores? 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 Flores?

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.

Flores

The town of Flores is located in Peten, Guatemala. The main hub is located on an island on Lago Peten Itza, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway. On the other side of the causeway are the towns of Santa Elena and San Benito, however, all three are often referred to as Flores. Most people visit the area for its proximity to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, though the town itself is also charming with colonial buildings and historic churches lining the cobbled streets.

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 3-Day Tours in Guatemala, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Flores 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 $46, while the average daily cost in Flores is $33. 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 Flores in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Oaxaca de Juarez $20
    Flores $8.62
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Oaxaca de Juarez $40
    Flores $17
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and Flores

Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or Flores? 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 Flores


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 Flores Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Oaxaca de Juarez $13
    Flores $7.86

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez

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

  • Xoxocotlan Airport: Private Transfer to Oaxaca City: $88
  • Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez-RoundTrip Transfer: $74
  • Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez-Arrival Transfer: $37
  • Transfer from your Hotel in Oaxaca to the Oaxaca Airport: $14
  • Transfer Private Vehicle from Huatulco City - Huatulco Airport (HUX): $27
  • Transfer Airport Hotel n Oaxaca: $16
  • Shared Transfer from Downtown Oaxaca to the Airport: $10
  • Safe transfer, City of Oaxaca to the airport: $199
  • Round private transfer Airport to hotel in Oaxaca: $59
  • Private transfer from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido - new highway: $268
  • Private and safe transfer from the airport to the hotel in Oaxaca: $50
  • Private Transfer from the Airport to your Hotel/house .: $89

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores

Also for Flores, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Round-Trip VIP Exclusive Transfer to Tikal from Flores: $137
  • Tikal Transfer and Tour Guide From Flores: $60
  • Transfer from Flores Guatemala to Caye Caulker Belize: $43
  • Bus transfer from Flores, Guatemala to Belize City: $20
  • Belize, Caye Caulke, San Pedro Van/ Ferry Transfer: $20
  • Private transfer Mundo Maya Airport to Flores Island Hotels: $10

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

Prices for flights to both Flores 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 $14
    Flores $13

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Oaxaca de Juarez $13
    Flores $20

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Flores

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Flores's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Tikal Entrance (for 2)
    $39
  • Map of Tikal
    $3.22

Tours and Activities in Flores

For Flores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Shared Guided Sunset Tour in Yaxhá from Flores: $25
  • 2-Day Tour to Tikal and Yaxhá from Flores Island: $220
  • Admire The Sunrise In Tikal - Private Tour From Flores: $214
  • Awaken to Tikals' Sunrise Exclusive Tour: $199
  • Basic Tour to Tikal Includes Transportation and Guide Service: $25
  • Enjoy The Sunset On Top Of A Mayan Pyramid In Yaxha - Private Tour From Flores: $199
  • 1-Day Tikal Tour Private Service From your Hotel: $185
  • From Flores Guided Tour to Tikal with transportation + lunch: $75
  • From 2-Day Tikal & Yaxhá Tour: $299
  • From Blue Crater private day tour: $160
  • From El Pucte Blue Crater Private Day Tour: $200
  • From Exclusive Tikal Group Tour: $77

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Oaxaca de Juarez $15
    Flores $21

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

Typical Alcohol Prices in Flores

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:


  • Two Margaritas
    $2.57


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and Flores, we can see that Oaxaca de Juarez is more expensive. And not only is Flores much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oaxaca de Juarez is in North America and Flores is in Central 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 Flores would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Flores 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 Flores.

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 Flores Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or Flores?

Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Flores. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and Flores, 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.