Which place is cheaper, San Fernando or Oaxaca de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or San Fernando?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or San Fernando? 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 San Fernando?
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.
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOaxaca de Juarez $46San Fernando $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $46, while the average daily cost in San Fernando is $153. 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 San Fernando in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOaxaca de Juarez $20San Fernando $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOaxaca de Juarez $40San Fernando $148
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and San Fernando
Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or San Fernando? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13San Fernando $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Oaxaca: Private Transfer to Huatulco: $408
- From Oaxaca: Transfer to Puerto Escondido: $402
- Oaxaca: Santiago Apoala Waterfall Day Trip with Transfers: $344
- 4 Day Oaxaca Excursion with Transfer included: $300
- Private transfer from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido - new highway: $300
- Xoxocotlan Airport: Private Transfer to Oaxaca City: $88
- Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez-RoundTrip Transfer: $74
- Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
- Oaxaca Airport OAX to Oaxaca Hotels Round Trip Private Transfer: $72
- Round private transfer Airport to hotel in Oaxaca: $59
- Oaxaca International Airport - Private Transfer From/ to Oaxaca City: $56
- Oaxaca: Private transfer from Oaxaca airport to hotel: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or San Fernando?
Prices for flights to both San Fernando 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 $14San Fernando $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: Night Street Food Tour with Transfers and Tastings: $52
- Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class: $70
- Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $71
- 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
- Nixtamal Cooking Class & Tour To The San Agustin Center of Arts: $99
- Oaxaca: Day of the Dead Evening Walking Tour with Dinner: $108
- The Real Traditional Oaxaca Cooking class: $114
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13San Fernando $28
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
- 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
- Bicycle Tour through Oaxaca learning about its Urban Art and History: $19
- Bike tour to the Tule Tree and the Gastronomic Market: $20
- Cacao, Chocolate Experience in Oaxaca for Small Groups: $69
- Carnival, Crafts and Ancestral Mezcal Experience: $99
- Celebrating Day of the Dead in Xoxocotlan Tour: $177
- Combo two-day tours, Hierve el Agua Full day and Monte Alban full day: $105
- Crafts & Cuisine All Included Guided Day Tour from Oaxaca: $165
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOaxaca de Juarez $15San Fernando $22
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
- From Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery: $52
- Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery (Small groups): $66
- Artisanal Mezcal distillery in an authentic Zapotec village : $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and San Fernando, we can see that San Fernando 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 San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands, 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or San Fernando?
Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and San Fernando, 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.