Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Merida?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Merida? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Merida
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
Which city is cheaper, Merida 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 $31, while the average daily cost in Merida is $59. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Oaxaca de Juarez and Merida in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $26 in Oaxaca de Juarez For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Merida can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $30, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $60.
Food
In Oaxaca de Juarez travelers spend around $9.58 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food in Merida costs travelers about $20 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Oaxaca de Juarez $9.58
Merida $20
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:
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Oaxaca Street Food Tour:
$13
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Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class:
$51
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OAXACA STREET FOOD TOUR, eat like a local.:
$55
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Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour:
$77
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MAIZ Cooking Class & Tour To The CASA Oaxaca:
$77
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Ancestral cooking class with market visit:
$259
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traveling Spoon Yucatecan Sopa de Lima Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Merida Market Tour and Cooking Class:
$69
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Private Yucatecan Cooking Lesson in a Local Merida Home:
$70
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Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit:
$77
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Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Merida with Transfers:
$95
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Merida Cooking, Pottery, Classes Tour~Also An Accessible Tour:
$99
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Wonders of the Mayab: Chichen Itza, Yokdzonot Cenote & Cooking Class:
$176
Local Transportation
To get around in Oaxaca de Juarez, the average visitor spends $8.61 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Merida's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $12 per person, per day on transportation in Merida.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$149
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Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels - Arrival Private Transfer:
$75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer: MERIDA - CHIQUILA (HOLBOX ISLAND) or CHIQUILA (HOLBOX ISLAND) - MERIDA:
$235
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BEST PRICE Merida City round-trip transfer. Hotel Airport.:
$100
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Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Roundtrip Private Transfer:
$72
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BEST PRICE Merida City one-way transfer Hotel Airport.:
$50
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Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida:
$46
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Mexico Private Transfer from Merida hotels to Merida airport:
$46
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotels to Merida Airport:
$38
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Private Arrival Transfer: Merida Airport to Hotels:
$38
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Merida hotels to Mérida International Airport (MID) - Private Departure Transfer:
$36
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Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Arrival Private Transfer:
$36
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Merida Airport to Hotels:
$12
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Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Merida Airport:
$12
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or Merida?
Prices for flights to both Merida 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.
Entertainment
In Oaxaca de Juarez, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $8.58 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Merida can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $11 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
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Gastronomy Experince with chef, Culture of Mezcal & Textiles. Private Tour.:
$199
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Mitla, Teotitlan and Santa Maria del Tule Sightseeing Tour from Oaxaca:
$32
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Monte Alban, Arrazola, Coyotepec and Cuilapam Full-Day Tour from Oaxaca:
$48
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Oaxaca City Sightseeing Tour: Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzman, Oaxaca Regional Museum and Benito Juarez Market:
$47
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Oaxaca City Tour:
$15
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Oaxaca City Tour:
$24
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Oaxaca Gallery Art Tour:
$43
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Oaxaca Private Foodies Delight Market Tour and Street Food:
$48
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Oaxaca Street Art Tour:
$24
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Private VIP Tour Oaxaca:
$40
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Romantic tour in Oaxaca:
$449
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The Best of Oaxaca Walking Tour & Mezcal Tasting:
$462
Typical Entertainment prices in Merida
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2-Day Tour Chichen Itza: Overnight Stay at Mayaland Resort from Merida:
$189
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2-Day Uxmal Tour from Merida with Overnight at Hacienda Uxmal:
$169
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4 Day Best of Merida Tour in a 3 Star Hotel:
$534
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4 Days of Ecotourism in Yucatán in a 3 Star Hotel:
$748
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4 Days of Minitour in Yucatán in a 3 Star Hotel:
$2,331
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5 Day Mayan Wonders of the Yucatan Tour in a 3 Star Hotel:
$736
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5 Day Unforgettable Yucatan Tour in a 3 Star Hotel:
$622
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6 Days Unforgettable Yucatan Tour: Merida to Cancun in a 3 Star Hotel:
$740
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7 Days Discovering Yucatán Tour: Mérida, Izamal and Cancún in a 3 Star Hotel:
$3,084
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Adventure in the Mayab: Bike, Swim, Stroll in Cenotillo & Izamal:
$121
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Amazing Cenotes of Santa Bárbara Adventure Tour:
$86
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Between Mangroves and Crocodiles: Day & Night Coast Experiences:
$252
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Oaxaca de Juarez, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $9.92.
Typically, people visiting Merida spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and Merida, we can see that Merida 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 Merida would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Merida than you might in Oaxaca de Juarez.
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