Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or San Juan del Sur? 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 Juan del Sur?
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 Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Oaxaca de Juarez Prices
Mexico PricesSan Juan del Sur Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOaxaca de Juarez $55San Juan del Sur $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $55, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $72. 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 Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOaxaca de Juarez $19San Juan del Sur $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOaxaca de Juarez $38San Juan del Sur $52
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or San Juan del Sur? 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 San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $12San Juan del Sur $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4 Day Oaxaca Excursion with Transfer included: $300
- Discover Puerto Escondido One Day Trip Shuttle Coastal Transfer: $142
- From Oaxaca One way shared transfer to San Jose del Pacifico: $29
- From Oaxaca: Private Transfer to Huatulco: $465
- From Oaxaca: Transfer to Puerto Escondido: $436
- Oaxaca Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
- Oaxaca Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez - Round-Trip Transfer: $59
- Oaxaca Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- Oaxaca Airport: Private Transfer Service: $130
- Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
- Oaxaca city: Roundtrip Private/Shared Airport Transfer: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan del Sur
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Juan del Sur:
- Granada: One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur 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 $24San Juan del Sur $32
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
- 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
- Oaxaca Hidden Street Food Tour by The Lost Taco: $58
- Taste Oaxaca Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- FOOD TOUR IN THE ABASTOS MARKET: $61
- Oaxaca: Evening Street Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $66
- Authentic Oaxaca Eat Like a Local Street Food Tour: $69
- Oaxaca Streets Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
- Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class: $70
- Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan del Sur
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Juan del Sur.
- Mombacho Volcano Adventure Tour with Dinner: $235
- ATV Adventure with Lunch and Dinner: $500
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $12San Juan del Sur $15
Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
- Oaxaca Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $5.13
- Oaxaca: Colonial City Bus Tour: $5.81
- Oaxaca: Legends Tour Mezcalbús: $8.71
- Immerse Yourself in Oaxaca: Guided Cultural Walking Tour: $15
- Oaxaca Walking Tour: $20
- Oaxaca Walking Tour: $20
- Oaxaca: Monte Alban, Cuilapam, and Artisan Villages Tour: $21
- Monte Alban Half Day Guided Tour: $21
- First Day in Oaxaca – Guided Walking Tour: $21
- Monte Alban Only - Half Day Guided Tour - Oaxaca: $21
- Oaxaca Walking Tour: $21
- Oaxaca: Oaxaca City Beyond the Surface Walking Tour: $23
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $145
- Catamaran Cruise with Meals in San Juan del Sur: $220
- Horse Riding Adventure: $295
- Kayak and Paddle Boarding Adventure in San Juan del Sur: $105
- La Flor Beach Natural Reserve Bus Tour: $80
- Masaya Volcano Tour in Nicaragua: $130
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- Private Tour to Granada Colonial City and 365 Islets: $281
- Relaxed Coastal Boat Tour in San Juan del Sur: $250
- Ride the sky, Epic bicycle zipline tour: $45
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $150
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $201
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOaxaca de Juarez $14San Juan del Sur $13
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
- Sustainable Mezcal Tour at an Award Winning Family Distillery: $25
- 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
- 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: $71
- Personalized Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery: $107
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and San Juan del Sur, we can see that San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or San Juan del Sur?
Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and San Juan del Sur, 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.