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

Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Jaco?

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

Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Jaco? 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 Jaco?

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.

Jaco

Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.

Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.

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 Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Jaco 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 Jaco is $104. 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 Jaco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Oaxaca de Juarez $20
    Jaco $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Oaxaca de Juarez $40
    Jaco $134
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and Jaco

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


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 Jaco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Oaxaca de Juarez $13
    Jaco -

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 Jaco

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

  • Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
  • Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
  • Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
  • Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
  • Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
  • From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
  • Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
  • Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70

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

Prices for flights to both Jaco 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
    Jaco $21

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

Typical Food Prices in Jaco

For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Hermosa BeachLlunch
    $3.94
  • Tsunami Sushi Dinner
    $18
  • Taco Bar Dinner
    $9.01
  • Pizza & Smoothie Lunch
    $6.31
  • Ice Cream
    $5.92
  • Breakfast Taco Bar
    $3.34
  • Fruit Plate
    $2.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco

For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
  • Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
  • Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Oaxaca de Juarez $13
    Jaco $60

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 Jaco

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


  • Dance Class
    $9.82
  • Surf Lesson
    $49
  • Bike Rental
    $9.82
  • Tortuga Island Tour
    $98
  • Massage
    $44

Tours and Activities in Jaco

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

  • Jungle & River ATV Adventure, 2 hours / Jacó: $95
  • Ocean views Zip Line Canopy Tour in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $71
  • "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
  • 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure Jaco: $75
  • 2 Hour Private Ranch Experience in Quebrada Amarilla: $120
  • 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
  • 2 hour ATV Tour & Waterfalls + Chocolate Experience : $110
  • 2 hour Double ATV Tour + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach : $99
  • 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $110
  • 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $95
  • 4×4 Waterfalls and Jungle Experience: $80
  • 4x4 Happy Jungle Booze Cruise: $115

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Oaxaca de Juarez $15
    Jaco $32

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 Jaco

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:


  • Wine
    $15
  • Night at the Bar
    $27


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


Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or Jaco?

Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and Jaco, 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.