Which place is cheaper, Sonoma or Oaxaca de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or Sonoma? 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 is a traditional, historic, and cultural city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.
Sonoma is a serene, relaxing, and scenic county. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include beaches, hiking, and shopping.
Both Sonoma and Oaxaca de Juarez have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Oaxaca de Juarez is better known for its museums, historical sights, and shopping, while Sonoma is more popular for its resorts, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Sonoma is more touristy than Oaxaca de Juarez and is known for its world-class winemaking and sustainable agriculture. Oaxaca de Juarez is well known for its indigenous cultures, historic center, and excellent food scene.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sonoma and Oaxaca de Juarez. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Oaxaca de Juarez is terrific for its historical sights. However, Sonoma is not known for its sights and museums.
With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Oaxaca de Juarez has many famous sights for visitors. 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.
Sonoma offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. While most people don't think of museums when they think of Sonoma, there are actually some interesting local options. The California Indian Museum, the Cotati Museum, and the Depot Park Museum are also local are fascinating.
Dining out at restaurants in both Oaxaca de Juarez and Sonoma can be an enjoyable experience.
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.
Sonoma has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Although wine may be the first thing you think about, the region is also filled with farm-to-table restaurants and award-winning dining options. The food is almost always fresh and local. You can sample many local ingredients such as vegetables, cheeses, olive oils, and fish.
The vibe at night is excellent in both Oaxaca de Juarez and Sonoma.
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.
Sonoma has plenty to do after the sun goes down. Lounges, wine bars, and live music venues offer a variety of activities for visitors during the evening hours.
Sonoma is great for its luxury resorts. However, Oaxaca de Juarez is not a resort destination.
Sonoma is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Spa hotels, charming inns, and beautiful resorts all offer a variety of options for visitors.
Oaxaca de Juarez is not a resort destination.
Sonoma is great for its beaches. However, Oaxaca de Juarez is not a beach destination.
Sonoma is considered a top beach destination. The county has a coastline that includes several great beaches as well as rocky shoreline. The beaches include secluded coves and picturesque cliffs as well as sand dunes and sandy beaches.
Oaxaca de Juarez is not a beach destination.
Oaxaca de Juarez is terrific for its historic old town charm. However, Sonoma does not have a historic old town.
Oaxaca de Juarez has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. 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.
Sonoma does not have a historic old town.
Sonoma is great for hiking. However, Oaxaca de Juarez is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors go to Sonoma for the hiking trails. In between wine tastings you can explore the area's stunning natural beauty. There are hikes through the vineyards, along the coast, or through forested parks. Some of the best hikes are found in Jack London State Historic Park, Sugarloaf State Park, and Armstrong Woods State Park.
Oaxaca de Juarez is not a hiking destination.
Oaxaca de Juarez is terrific for its shopping areas. Also, Sonoma is not as popular, but is still a nice county for shopping.
Many people travel to Oaxaca de Juarez specifically to go shopping. 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.
Sonoma is an extremely popular place for shoppers. You'll find a range of local vendors in the area, selling everything from jewelry to art, home decor, and olive oil.
Kids will enjoy a visit to either Oaxaca de Juarez or Sonoma.
Oaxaca de Juarez offers lots of family activities. 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.
Sonoma is a family-friendly place to visit. While most people think immediately of wine tours, there's actually a lot more to Sonoma County. Kids will enjoy the many outdoor activities in the area, which include beaches, parks, wildlife viewing, and more. There's also horseback riding and even ziplining opportunities.
Sonoma is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Oaxaca de Juarez is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.
Sonoma makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. It has long been a favorite honeymoon destination for couples who come for the vineyards and wine tours. There are also charming hotels, award winning restaurants, and beautiful beaches.
Oaxaca de Juarez is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.
Oaxaca de Juarez is terrific for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Sonoma is not known for backpackers.
A large number of backpackers visit Oaxaca de Juarez, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. 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.
Sonoma is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a few budget hotel options in the area, but not much in the form of hostels.
Oaxaca de Juarez is a city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Sonoma is not known for its public transit.
While Oaxaca de Juarez offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has colectivos, which are shared taxis. There are also buses and tuk tuks that you can use to get around.
Public transit is limited or non-existant in Sonoma. While there are buses, they are almost never used by tourists. There is the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley which you should purchase tickets for in advance.
Oaxaca de Juarez is a great city for its ease of walking around. However, Sonoma is not known for its walkability.
Oaxaca de Juarez is a very walkable destination. It's a walkable city that's fun to explore on foot, particularly in the historic center.
Sonoma is not a walkable city. You really must have a car to get around the area and explore it efficiently.
For even more information, also check out Is Oaxaca de Juarez Worth Visiting? and Is Sonoma Worth Visiting?.
It's fun to spend time in either Oaxaca de Juarez or Sonoma. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Oaxaca de Juarez due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Oaxaca de Juarez, and 2-4 days is enough time in Sonoma.
Families should spend more time in Oaxaca de Juarez than Sonoma. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Oaxaca de Juarez, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Sonoma than Oaxaca de Juarez. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sonoma that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Oaxaca de Juarez than Sonoma 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.
Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Oaxaca de Juarez. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
You'll find shopping and nightlife around the serene destination of Sonoma. Hikers are also drawn to this area. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. This county offers a variety of activities to choose from.
Oaxaca de Juarez is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
You'll find nightlife and food around the relaxing county of Sonoma. If you have a weekend, this county makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the food. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Oaxaca de Juarez. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Sonoma is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Oaxaca de Juarez. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
Sonoma is a great place to explore. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people head to the area for the food. 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 Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $46, while the average daily cost in Sonoma is $219. 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 Sonoma in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez or Sonoma? 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.
Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Sonoma 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.
For Oaxaca de Juarez, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sonoma.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Oaxaca de Juarez:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sonoma:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oaxaca de Juarez and Sonoma, we can see that Sonoma 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 Sonoma would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sonoma 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 Sonoma Expensive?.
Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Sonoma. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez and Sonoma, 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.