Which place is cheaper, Santa Marta 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 Santa Marta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Marta? 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 Santa Marta?
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.
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.
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 Eco Tours in Colombia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia.
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Oaxaca de Juarez Prices
Mexico PricesSanta Marta Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOaxaca de Juarez $56Santa Marta $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $56, while the average daily cost in Santa Marta is $49. 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 Santa Marta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOaxaca de Juarez $20Santa Marta $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOaxaca de Juarez $40Santa Marta $34
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Marta
Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Marta? 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 Santa Marta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13Santa Marta $6.53
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
- Transfer Private Hotel to Oaxaca Airport: $21
- Shared transfer from Oaxaca Airport to your hotel: $11
- Shared Transfer from Downtown Oaxaca to the Airport: $8.14
- Secure Private Transfer : Downtown Oaxaca Airport (OAX): $21
- Round private transfer Airport to hotel in Oaxaca: $47
- Private transfer from Oaxaca Airport to the hotel.: $66
- Private transfer from Oaxaca Airport to Oaxaca City: $51
- Private Transfer from your Hotel in Oaxaca to the Oaxaca Airport: $14
- Private Transfer from the Airport to your Hotel in Oaxaca: $73
- Private Transfer from Hotel to Oaxaca Airport: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:
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Gas$6.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta
Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Exclusive transfer Santa Marta - Cartagena: $229
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Port to Cartagena Airport (CTG): $218
- Cartagena to or from Santa Marta Private Transfer: $178
- Santa Marta to or from Cartagena Private Transfer: $149
- Calderon Beach Club Day Pass with Lunch & Transfer: $120
- Private transfer from Santa Marta to Tayrona Park area o Palomino: $110
- Playa Cristal Beach Day with Boat Transfer: $94
- Boat transfer to Parque Tayrona Cabo San Juan: $82
- Transfer to Playa Cinto & Playa Cristal: $82
- SHARED-CAR TRANSFER FROM SANTA MARTA TO CARTAGENA OR VICE VERSA: $77
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Cruise Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Port to Santa Marta Airport SMR: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Marta?
Prices for flights to both Santa Marta 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 $24Santa Marta $21
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
- Taste Oaxaca Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- 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: $72
Typical Food Prices in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$3.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Marta Street Food Tour: 7 Tastings with a Local Guide: $39
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City Half-Day: $65
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $69
- SamarioCaribeño Chef's Table Cooking Lesson and Breakfast: $87
- Flavors of Colombia - Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $114
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13Santa Marta $17
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
- ATV/Quad Adventure on the Mountain + Prehistoric Caves: $160
- Adventure in the Sierra Norte: El Tule, Teotitlan and Benito Juárez: $73
- 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: $133
- Archaeological sites Tour and Red Pottery in Tlacolula: $170
Tours and Activities in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Gabo Márquez" Tour - Aracataca and Cienaga: $205
- A Pearl In The Caribbean-walking tour in English: $18
- Adventures in Santa Marta private beaches by Paddle or kayak: $52
- Ancestral Thought Tour (Indigenous life in Kogui people) Santa Marta: $220
- Cabo San Juan Day Tour: $76
- Cacao Experience Tour: $49
- Cacao and Coffee Tour: $49
- Canopy Extreme Adventure at the Aquarium and Playa Blanca: $55
- Chocolate Motorcycle Tour: $180
- Cocoa tour and stay at the Sierra Limon Hostel: $75
- Coffee and Cocoa Tour in Minca!: $81
- Cultural Experience with the Tungueka Indigenous Community: $91
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOaxaca de Juarez $15Santa Marta $8.32
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
- 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
- Personalized Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery: $109
- Oaxaca: Mezcal Distillery Tour with Tastings: $134
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:
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Beer$0.72
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Beer$2.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Marta
Also in Santa Marta, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $30
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $30
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $30
When comparing the travel costs between Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Marta, we can see that Oaxaca de Juarez is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Oaxaca de Juarez is in North America and Santa Marta is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Santa Marta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Marta?
Santa Marta has a larger population, and is about 64% larger than the population of Oaxaca de Juarez. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Marta, 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.