Which place is cheaper, Huaraz 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 Huaraz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz?
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.
Huaraz
Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.
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Oaxaca de Juarez Prices
Mexico PricesHuaraz Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOaxaca de Juarez $56Huaraz $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $56, while the average daily cost in Huaraz is $69. 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 Huaraz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOaxaca de Juarez $20Huaraz $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOaxaca de Juarez $40Huaraz $44
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and Huaraz
Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13Huaraz $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4 Day Oaxaca Excursion with Transfer included: $300
- Discover Puerto Escondido One Day Trip Shuttle Coastal Transfer: $143
- From Oaxaca One way shared transfer to San Jose del Pacifico: $29
- From Oaxaca: Private Transfer to Huatulco: $465
- From Oaxaca: Transfer to Puerto Escondido: $436
- Oaxaca Airport (OAX) Private Transfer to Oaxaca City: $56
- Oaxaca city: Roundtrip Private/Shared Airport Transfer: $29
- Oaxaca de Juárez to Oaxaca Airport (OAX) - Departure Transfer: $30
- Oaxaca hotels to Oaxaca Airport(OAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $30
- Private Transfer Airport Hotel in Oaxaca: $29
- Private Transfer from Hotel to Oaxaca Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from the Airport to your Hotel in Oaxaca: $72
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.38
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or Huaraz?
Prices for flights to both Huaraz 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 $24Huaraz $33
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
- Night Walk of Urban Legends ghosts and Dinner in Oaxaca: $45
- 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 Hidden Street Food Tour Led by Local food experts: $63
- Oaxaca: Evening Street Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $66
- Oaxaca Streets Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
- Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class: $70
- Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $71
- Central Oaxaca Food Tour: $72
Typical Food Prices in Huaraz
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:
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Lunch$6.55
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Chips$1.64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13Huaraz $21
Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
- Oaxaca: Colonial City Bus Tour: $5.81
- Oaxaca City Tour: History, Markets, and Local Flavors: $7.82
- Oaxaca: Legends Tour Mezcalbús: $8.71
- Immerse Yourself in Oaxaca Guided Cultural Walking Tour: $14
- Immerse Yourself in Oaxaca: Guided Cultural Walking Tour: $15
- Free Tour Oaxaca Essential : History and Tips of a Local Guide: $18
- Oaxaca Walking Tour: $20
- Oaxaca Walking Tour: $20
- Oaxaca: Monte Alban, Cuilapam, and Artisan Villages Tour: $21
- Oaxaca Walking Tour: $22
- Tour to Monte Alban, Black Mud, Waist Loom and Alebrijes: $22
- Oaxaca: Oaxaca City Beyond the Surface Walking Tour: $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz
Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Climbing Gear$18
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Day Tour Laguna Llanganuco, Parón Lagoon, & Trek to Laguna 69: $150
- 3D2N Parón Lake, Pastoruri Glacier and Lake 69 Trek Adventure: $105
- 5DTop Tours from Huaraz Chavin-Llanganuco-Paron-Pastoruri: $88
- Chavín de Huántar Full-Day Cultural Tour from Huaraz: $45
- Discover Peru's Ancient Civilization at Chavín de Huántar Tour: $25
- From Llanganuco Lagoon fullday tour: $65
- From Nevado Pastoruri Tour fullday tour: $65
- Full day,Trekking Puya Raimondi and Pastoruri Glacier Adventure: $25
- Full-Day Private Tour to Laguna 69: $260
- Full-day tour, Trekking Adventure to Laguna Paron at 4200meters: $28
- Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Full Day Tour: $36
- Huaraz Bike Tour Escapade in the Andes: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOaxaca de Juarez $15Huaraz $17
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: $72
- Oaxaca: Mezcal Distillery Tour with Tastings: $134
- Mezcal Distillery Day Trip: $144
- Artisanal Mezcal distillery in an authentic Zapotec village: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and Huaraz, we can see that Huaraz 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 Huaraz 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 Huaraz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Huaraz 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 Huaraz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or Huaraz?
Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and Huaraz, 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.