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

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Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Isla Mujeres?

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

Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Isla Mujeres? 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 Mujeres?

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 Mujeres

About eight miles from the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Mujeres is an island in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. The town, of the same name, has a population of about 13,000. Tourism has grown in the area since the 1970s and today it is a significant part of the island's economy. As such, there are plenty of amenities that cater specifically to visitors. The island's proximity to Cuba make it a common transit point for Cubans in route to the United States.

Which place is cheaper, Isla Mujeres 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 $45, while the average daily cost in Isla Mujeres is $143. 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 Mujeres in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Oaxaca de Juarez $19
    Isla Mujeres $76
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Oaxaca de Juarez $38
    Isla Mujeres $152
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and Isla Mujeres

Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or Isla Mujeres? 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 Isla Mujeres


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 Isla Mujeres Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Oaxaca de Juarez $12
    Isla Mujeres $34

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: $13
  • Transfer from your Hotel in Oaxaca to the Oaxaca Airport: $14
  • Transfer Airport Hotel n Oaxaca: $14
  • Transfer Private Vehicle from Huatulco City - Huatulco Airport (HUX): $27
  • Oaxaca de Juárez to Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX)-Departure Transfer: $28
  • Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez-Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Roundtrip Private/Shared Airport Transfer: $29
  • Oaxaca Hotels to Oaxaca Airport OAX Departure Private Transfer: $37
  • Oaxaca hotels to Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
  • Oaxaca Airport OAX to Oaxaca Hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $37
  • Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotels to Oaxaca Airport: $46

Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or Isla Mujeres?

Prices for flights to both Isla Mujeres 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
    Isla Mujeres $45

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: $56
  • Tour with Legends Night Walk and Dinner Included: $56
  • Visit to the Tlacolula Market in Matamoros and cooking class: $65
  • AUTHENTIC OAXACA FOOD TOUR, eat like a local.: $69
  • Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $70
  • Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class with Market Tour: $70
  • Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour: $77
  • Mexican Cooking Classes in Oaxacan : $80
  • Cooking classes from the Isthmus with a Tehuana: $83
  • Traditional Oaxacan Cooking Class (includes transportation): $86
  • Traditional Oaxaqueña Cooking with Grandma's Recipes: $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Oaxaca de Juarez $12
    Isla Mujeres $20

Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez

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

  • Private Mexican Engraving Workshop Experience: $24
  • Montealban Tour: $28
  • Monte Alban Guided Half Day Tour: $32
  • Oaxaca: Monte Alban Guided Archaeological Tour: $33
  • Tour Monte Albán: $33
  • Oaxaca: Ocotlan de Morelos Cultural Experience and Tour: $34
  • Only Monte Alban Tour: $35
  • Walking Tour in the Historic Center of Oaxaca: $35
  • Only Monte Alban Tour: $35
  • Zapotec Wonders Tour: $35
  • Monte Albán/half day tour: $36
  • Monte Alban, Cuilápan, Arrazola and Coyotepec full day tour: $36

Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:

  • Romantic tour in Isla Mujeres: $126
  • Scuba Diving Adventure WITHOUT CERTIFICATION! Try it today!: $175
  • “ Tour in Isla Mujeres “ Transparent boat ride: $40
  • 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience : $84
  • Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $42
  • Exciting Swim with Whale Sharks Private VIP Tour : $1,829
  • Half Day Whale Shark and Manta Ray Snorkel Adventure in Isla Mujeres with Lunch: $185
  • Half Day to Isla Mujeres (LITE TOUR IM): $79
  • Half-Day Guided Tour to Parque Nacional Isla Contoy: $129
  • Isla Contoy Private Day Tour, from Cancun: $1,685
  • Isla Mujeres MUSA Snorkeling Experience: $47
  • Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Oaxaca de Juarez $14
    Isla Mujeres $25

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: $53
  • Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery (Small groups): $65
  • Mezcal distillery guided tour: $89
  • Personalized Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery: $106
  • Mezcal Distillery Day Trip: $142
  • Artisanal Mezcal distillery in an authentic Zapotec village : $150

Sample the Local Flavors in Isla Mujeres

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

  • Isla Mujeres Golf Cart Bar Crawl : $141

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and Isla Mujeres, we can see that Isla Mujeres 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 Isla Mujeres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Isla Mujeres than you might in Oaxaca de Juarez.

Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or Isla Mujeres?

Oaxaca de Juarez is bigger, and its population is about 21 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the population of Oaxaca de Juarez vs. Isla Mujeres, 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 and the activities 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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
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Oaxaca de Juarez vs. Isla Mujeres Travel Comparison

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