Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Mexico City?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Mexico City? 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.
Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
Which city is cheaper, Mexico City 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 Mexico City is $138. 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 Mexico City 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.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $44 in Mexico City For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
While meal prices in Mexico City can vary, the average travelers spends about $18 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Mexico City should cost around $7.20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Mexico City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Oaxaca de Juarez $9.58
Mexico City $18
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
Typical Food prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two
$11
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Coffee and Snacks
$3.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traveling Spoon Mexican Tacos and Tortillas Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Mexico City Private Food Tour:
$60
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Private Contemporary Mexican Cooking Class Inspired by Family Recipes:
$68
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Mexico City Private Traditional Pre-Hispanic Cooking Class:
$83
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Private Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Coyoacan Apartment:
$86
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Wrestling show and a Mexican dinner:
$101
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Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class with a Local in Coyoacan:
$105
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Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Local Home:
$106
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Authentic Mexican Cooking Lesson With a Gastronomic Historian in Mexico City:
$109
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Taco Night Private Food Tour in Mexico City:
$112
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Traditional Mexican Cooking Class in a Beautiful Home:
$119
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Private Market Tour and Hands-On Home Cooking With a Local in Mexico City:
$123
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.
Mexico City'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 $8.84 per person, per day on transportation in Mexico City.
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
Typical Local Transportation prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
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Metro
$1.01
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Uber Ride
$3.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Business Transfer from Mexico City Airport (MEX) to Mexico City Center:
$158
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Private Business Transfer from Mexico City Center to Mexico City Airport (MEX):
$158
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Private Airport Transfer between Chiang Mai to/from Chiang Rai:
$156
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Private Departure Transfer from Mexico City hotels to Mexico City airport:
$103
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Departure Private Transfer Mexico City to Mexico City Airport MEX in an SUV:
$100
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Private Departure Transfer Mexico City to Mexico City Airport:
$88
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Sedan Car Private MX Airport Transfer:
$84
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Private Round Transfer from Mexico City Airport:
$74
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Mexico Airport Transfers : Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury Van:
$67
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Mexico Airport Transfers : Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury SUV:
$67
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Departure Private Transfers: Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury Van:
$67
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Mexico City Airport Round Shared Transfer:
$66
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or Mexico City?
Prices for flights to both Mexico City 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 Mexico City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $10 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
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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15-Day Trip in Mexico: North 2 South Adventures:
$1,553
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2 Days Private Guided Tour: City of the Gods, Xochimilco:
$192
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6-Night Best of Central Mexico Tour: Teotihuacan Pyramids, Taxco, Cuernavaca and Puebla from Mexico City:
$575
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7 Day-Monarch Butterfly Ecofriendly Tour in Mexico:
$2,369
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8-Day Best of Mexico Tour: Mexico City to Cancun:
$1,475
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Afternoon Private Tour: Teotihuacan:
$132
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Amazing 5 day Cycling & Adventure trip in Veracruz with NOMAD Adventures:
$2,254
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Anthropology Museum Teotihuacan Pyramids and Mexico City Private Tour:
$221
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Artist Studio Tour in Mexico City:
$140
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Atvforestal Special 2 to 3 hour Tour (2 Atv´s, 2 Riders):
$270
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Best of Mexico City Private Tour:
$129
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Buenos Aires by Night Private City Tour with Tango Show:
$190
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 Mexico City spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
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Full-Day Peña de Bernal Wine Tours:
$220
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and Mexico City, we can see that Mexico City 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 Mexico City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mexico City than you might in Oaxaca de Juarez.
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