Which place is cheaper, Isla de Ometepe or Oaxaca de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Isla de Ometepe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Isla de Ometepe? 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 Isla de Ometepe?
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.
Isla de Ometepe
Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOaxaca de Juarez $46Isla de Ometepe $34
The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $46, while the average daily cost in Isla de Ometepe is $34. 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 Isla de Ometepe in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOaxaca de Juarez $20Isla de Ometepe $13
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOaxaca de Juarez $40Isla de Ometepe $26
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and Isla de Ometepe
Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or Isla de Ometepe? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13Isla de Ometepe $11
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: $10
- Transfer from your Hotel in Oaxaca to the Oaxaca Airport: $14
- Transfer Airport Hotel n Oaxaca: $16
- Transfer Private Vehicle from Huatulco City - Huatulco Airport (HUX): $27
- Roundtrip Private/Shared Airport Transfer: $29
- Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Oaxaca Hotels to Oaxaca Airport OAX Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Oaxaca Airport OAX to Oaxaca Hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Oaxaca hotels to Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez-Arrival Transfer: $37
- Oaxaca de Juárez to Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX)-Departure Transfer: $37
- Private and safe transfer from the airport to the hotel in Oaxaca: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or Isla de Ometepe?
Prices for flights to both Isla de Ometepe 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 dayOaxaca de Juarez $14Isla de Ometepe $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 $13Isla de Ometepe $13
Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
- MTB Bike Tour to the Tule Tree (Through the country-side): $6.00
- Oaxaca Art Walk Tour: $15
- Bicycle Tour through Oaxaca learning about its Urban Art and History: $19
- Bike tour to the Tule Tree and the Gastronomic Market: $20
- Oaxaca: Oaxaca City Beyond the Surface Walking Tour: $23
- Private Mexican Engraving Workshop Experience: $24
- Oaxaca Walking Tour: Beyond the Surface: $26
- Monte Alban Walking Tour: $29
- Half day tour Monte Alban: $32
- Monte Alban Guided Half Day Tour: $32
- Oaxaca: Monte Alban Guided Archaeological Tour: $33
- Tour Monte Albán: $33
Tours and Activities in Isla de Ometepe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla de Ometepe are as follows:
- A great tour day for the ISLAND OF OMETEPE.: $80
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayOaxaca de Juarez $15Isla de Ometepe $8.85
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 Oaxaca de Juarez and Isla de Ometepe, we can see that Oaxaca de Juarez is more expensive. And not only is Isla de Ometepe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oaxaca de Juarez is in North America and Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe.
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 Isla de Ometepe Expensive?.
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.