Which place is cheaper, La Serena 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 La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or La Serena? 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Oaxaca de Juarez Prices
Mexico PricesLa Serena Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOaxaca de Juarez $56La Serena $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $56, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $110. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOaxaca de Juarez $20La Serena $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOaxaca de Juarez $40La Serena $86
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or La Serena? 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 La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13La Serena $21
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
- Transfer from Oaxaca Airport to your accommodation: $43
- Shared transfer from Oaxaca Airport to your hotel: $11
- Secure Private Transfer : Downtown Oaxaca Airport (OAX): $21
- Private transfer from Oaxaca Airport to the hotel.: $66
- Private transfer from Oaxaca Airport to Oaxaca City: $51
- Private and safe transfer from the airport to the hotel in Oaxaca: $60
- Private Transfer from your Hotel in Oaxaca to the Oaxaca Airport: $14
- Private Transfer from the Airport to your Hotel in Oaxaca: $72
- Private Transfer from Hotel to Oaxaca Airport: $35
- Private Transfer Airport Hotel in Oaxaca: $29
- Oaxaca hotels to Oaxaca Airport(OAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Serena
Also for La Serena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfers from La Serena Airport: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $24La Serena $48
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
- “Las Nieves” Monte Albán, Arrazola, Cuilapam 6h Bike Tour: $128
- 3 Hour Oaxaca Private Tour, 100% customisable - Best Rated: $55
- 5 Hours Guided Day of The Dead Evening Walking Tour in Oaxaca: $109
- 8-Hour Monte Albán Tour from Oaxaca: $51
- Amazing Waterfall Adventure in the Sierra Madre Mountains: $80
- Among Flowers and Candles: A Tour of Oaxaca's Cemeteries: $86
- An adventure for the senses: Mezcal, fields and crafts.: $84
- Ancestral Mezcal Tour Experience-A pre Hispanic Heritage: $70
- Apoala Magic Waterfalls Hike and Swim Adventure: $132
- Art Workshops and Chocolate Shops Tour: $60
- Art Workshops and Chocolate Shops Tour in Oaxaca: $58
- Artisanal Mezcal Experience with Guided Tasting: $131
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Astronomical experience at the Astronias Observatory - La Serena: $100
- Astronomy and Astrophotography Tour: $55
- Elqui Valley Boutique Stargazing Experience with Astrophotography: $99
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour with Pisco Tasting and Lunch: $47
- Elqui Valley Tour: History and Flavors: $45
- Grand Tour Elqui Valley Cultural Treasures Mountains of Chile: $245
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Elqui Valley Tour with Pisco Tasting & Lunch: $83
- Punta Colorada Petroglyphs and Parrots Tour: $800
- Milky Way Sanctuary Stargazing Tour at Pangue Observatory: $225
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOaxaca de Juarez $15La Serena $23
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 La Serena, we can see that La Serena 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 La Serena 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena 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 La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or La Serena?
Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of La Serena. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and La Serena, 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.