A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Oaxaca de Juarez vs. Santa Monica for Attractions, Food, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica? 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.

Oaxaca de Juarez

Oaxaca de Juarez is a historic, cultural, and authentic city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a energetic, active, and lively town. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Monica: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Monica than Oaxaca de Juarez. While Oaxaca de Juarez is larger than Santa Monica, Santa Monica has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Monica is very popular for its beaches, while Oaxaca de Juarez attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, and shopping. Santa Monica is more touristy than Oaxaca de Juarez and is popular for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also well known for the Santa Monica Pier. Oaxaca de Juarez is famous for its indigenous cultures, historic center, and excellent food scene.

How is Oaxaca de Juarez different from Santa Monica?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Monica and Oaxaca de Juarez. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Oaxaca de Juarez is an amazing city to visit for its sights and museums. Also, Santa Monica is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Oaxaca de Juarez are among the most recognizable in the world. There are many museums and historical sights in the city and nearby. The Oaxaca Cathedral is located on the city's main square, Zocalo. Also worth visiting is the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán and the Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude. Just a few kilometers outside of the city is the historic settlement of Monte Albán as well as the Ex-Monastery of Santiago Apóstol. Also check out the Rufino Tamayo Museum and Museo Casa Juárez.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Santa Monica. There's a thriving arts scene and a number of museums around town. Check out the Museum of Flying, the California Heritage Museum, or the Santa Monica History Museum.

Is the Food Better in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Oaxaca de Juarez is an amazing city to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Santa Monica is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Oaxaca de Juarez is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. This is a city for foodies. Of all the destinations in Mexico, this one always tops the list for its cuisine. The food is influenced by traditional ingredients like corn and many of the recipes have been passed on through the generations. Local dishes include mole, Oaxaca cheese, coloradito, and tlayudas.

Santa Monica has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. You'll find a diversity of restaurants in the area, many of which make use of the town's many farmer's markets. The restaurant scene has a beachy vibe with a lot of outdoor dining opportunities. There are also a range of cuisines to choose from such as Mexican, Italian, casual, and upscale.

Is Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is high quality in both Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Monica.

Many people head to Oaxaca de Juarez for the nightlife scene. The nightlife scene starts late in the evening and can continue into the early hours. Many people meet up around Oaxaca Zocalo and it's very lively in the evenings. You'll often find live music and a fun atmosphere. As the night progresses, many people make their way to Santo Domingo, which is where you'll find a number of bars and clubs.

Santa Monica has plenty to do after the sun goes down. There's a relaxed and laid back vibe to the nightlife scene. Many venues offer outdoor seating and live music in a casual setting. You can hang out on a patio and enjoy the California climate while you sip cold drinks and the beach town atmosphere.

Is Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Beaches?

Santa Monica is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, Oaxaca de Juarez is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Santa Monica. Santa Monica Beach is large and lined with bike trails. It's also filled with activity and you'll find many water sports, beach volleyball, and surfing in the area. There's also the famous Santa Monica Pier, which has an amusement park aquarium, Ferris wheal, dining, and shopping.

Oaxaca de Juarez is not a beach destination.

Is Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for its Old Town?

Oaxaca de Juarez is an amazing city to visit for its old town. However, Santa Monica does not have a historic old town.

Oaxaca de Juarez offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The historic center is filled with colonial Spanish architecture. It's laid out in a grid pattern and there are many historic monuments. The surrounding region also has a history that dates back 1500 years.

Santa Monica does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Oaxaca de Juarez is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Santa Monica is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Oaxaca de Juarez make it a world-class shopping destination. The region's indigenous populations are known for the artisan crafts and handmade items. Many visitors enjoy shopping at the city's markets, where you'll find handmade ceramics, hand blown glassware, and more.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Santa Monica. It's easy to pass the time shopping in Santa Monica. There are independent vendors, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. Head to Montana Avenue or Main Street for some of the best shopping.

Is Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Families?

Santa Monica is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Oaxaca de Juarez is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Santa Monica is a very family-friendly destination. Many families spend their days hanging out on the beaches, soaking up the sun, and even trying to surf. There's a boardwalk as well as bike paths that are perfect for people watching. You should also check out the Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, which is a thrilling amusement park.

Oaxaca de Juarez is a family-friendly place to visit. For trampolines, bouncy houses, and other fun activities, head to El Llano Park on a weekend. There's also an outdoor playground and other fun activities for kids at Museu Infantil de Oaxaca. Kid-friendly restaurants are abundant, and if the kids enjoy hiking, you can head out of town for a day trip.

Is Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Monica make for a high quality place to visit.

Oaxaca de Juarez is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The city is famous for its cuisine, so food lovers will enjoy dining their way through town. There are also great hotels, beautiful gardens, and fascinating architecture.

Santa Monica is a very popular place to visit for couples. Fun days on the beach, peaceful walks at sunset, and a wild nightlife scene make this the perfect couples destination for couples who enjoy activity and excitement.

Is Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Oaxaca de Juarez is an amazing city to visit for backpackers. Also, Santa Monica is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Oaxaca de Juarez. There are many very affordable hostels around town. The city is a mecca for backpackers in Mexico, and you'll find plenty of people to hang out with and great restaurants to explore.

Santa Monica is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's no shortage of activities in the area, whether you're into surfing, partying, or sunbathing. There's also at least one hostel that's great for budget travelers and backpackers.

Is Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Oaxaca de Juarez is a popular place for its public transit. However, Santa Monica does not have public transit.

Oaxaca de Juarez has a few public transit options. The city has colectivos, which are shared taxis. There are also buses and tuk tuks that you can use to get around.

Santa Monica does not have public transit. The Metro E Line connects the city to downtown Los Angeles. There's also the Big Blue Bus as well the Santa Monica Circuit, which are small electric carts that offer free rides between Wilshire Boulevard and Marine Street, and from the ocean to Fifth Street.

Is Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica a more walkable city?

Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Monica are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Oaxaca de Juarez is very walkable. It's a walkable city that's fun to explore on foot, particularly in the historic center.

Santa Monica is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable, particularly in the more touristy areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Oaxaca de Juarez Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Monica Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Monica or Oaxaca de Juarez?

How long in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Monica. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Oaxaca de Juarez than in Santa Monica. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Oaxaca de Juarez, and 1-3 days is enough time in Santa Monica.

Families should spend more time in Santa Monica than Oaxaca de Juarez. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Santa Monica, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Oaxaca de Juarez than Santa Monica. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Oaxaca de Juarez that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Oaxaca de Juarez than Santa Monica if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Oaxaca de Juarez.

One day in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

In Oaxaca de Juarez, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this traditional city offers. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the funfilled destination of Santa Monica. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

A weekend in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Oaxaca de Juarez is a fun place to experience. Visiting the old town is also a must. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find shopping and museums around the energetic town of Santa Monica. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. It's also a great beach destination, too. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the beaches. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Five days in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

In Oaxaca de Juarez, many people enjoy the museums and nightlife that this traditional destination offers. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. So, five days is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Santa Monica is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

A week in Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Oaxaca de Juarez is a popular place to visit. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Santa Monica is a great place to explore. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people head to the area for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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 from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Monica, we can see that Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and Santa Monica, 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.