A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico Playa del Carmen vs. Oaxaca de Juarez for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Oaxaca de Juarez?

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

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Oaxaca de Juarez? 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: Playa del Carmen or Oaxaca de Juarez?

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Oaxaca de Juarez or Playa del Carmen?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $79, while the average daily cost in Oaxaca de Juarez is $45. 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 Playa del Carmen and Oaxaca de Juarez in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Playa del Carmen $38
    Oaxaca de Juarez $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Playa del Carmen $76
    Oaxaca de Juarez $38
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Oaxaca de Juarez

Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Oaxaca de Juarez? 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.

Hotels in Playa del Carmen


Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez


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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices and Oaxaca de Juarez Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Playa del Carmen $23
    Oaxaca de Juarez $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:

  • Live the amazing Private Boat Trip to Isla Mujeres + Transfer from Cancun: $2,250
  • Chetumal to Tulum - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $330
  • Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila Ferry Dock: $299
  • One Way Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Coba: $276
  • Playa del Carmen to Tulum - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $266
  • To Holbox from Playa del Carmen & Riviera Maya -Private transfer: $248
  • Airport Transfers to Akumal - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $236
  • Airport Transfers to Playa del Carmen - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $224
  • Private Transfer From Chetumal to Mahahual With a 2 Hour Stop: $222
  • Airport Transfers to Puerto Aventuras - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $221
  • Private Transfer to Cenote at Tulum: $213
  • Round Trip Private Transfer (Costa Mujeres): $199

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: $407
  • Oaxaca Airport OAX to Oaxaca Hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $37
  • Oaxaca Airport OAX to Oaxaca Hotels Round Trip Private Transfer: $73
  • Oaxaca Airport: Private Transfer Service: $60
  • Oaxaca Hotels to Oaxaca Airport OAX Departure Private Transfer: $37
  • Oaxaca International Airport - Private Transfer From/ to Oaxaca City: $56
  • Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
  • Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $73
  • Oaxaca de Juárez to Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX)-Departure Transfer: $28
  • Roundtrip Private/Shared Airport Transfer: $29
  • Oaxaca hotels to Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
  • Oaxaca to Mexico City - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $384

Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Oaxaca de Juarez?

Prices for flights to both Oaxaca de Juarez and Playa del Carmen 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Playa del Carmen $23
    Oaxaca de Juarez $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.

  • Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $56
  • Private Cooking Class Paella Preparation: $63
  • Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $65
  • Walking Food Tour: $65
  • Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $68
  • Inlakech Food Tour. Try the best local food in Playa!: $70
  • Playa del Carmen Food Tour: $71
  • crazy walking food tour Inlakech Playa del Carmen: $72
  • Vegan Mexican Walking Food Tour: $73
  • Seafood Tour in Playa del Carmen: $92
  • Hands-on Mexican Cooking Class: $92
  • PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $99

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: $50
  • Oaxaca: Night Street Food Tour with Transfers and Tastings: $55
  • Tour with Legends Night Walk and Dinner Included: $56
  • Visit to the Tlacolula Market in Matamoros and cooking class: $65
  • AUTHENTIC OAXACA FOOD TOUR, eat like a local.: $69
  • Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class with Market Tour: $70
  • Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $70
  • Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour: $77
  • Mexican Cooking Classes in Oaxacan : $80
  • Cooking classes from the Isthmus with a Tehuana: $83
  • Traditional Oaxacan Cooking Class (includes transportation): $86
  • Traditional Oaxaqueña Cooking with Grandma's Recipes: $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Playa del Carmen $16
    Oaxaca de Juarez $12

Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen

Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • ATV Mayan Jungle Adventure: $110
  • Electric fatbike ecological tour in the Mayan lands: $146
  • Full-Day Tour 4x1 to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen with Lunch: $59
  • Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
  • Scuba Diving tours: $170
  • Skip the line: Regular Ticket Playa del Carmen: $86
  • Tulum Ruins, Turtle Sightseeing & Underground Cenote from Tulum: $145
  • VIP Cenote Scuba Tour, Certified Divers Only: $230
  • (4x1) Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del carmen in a full day tour: $54
  • 3 Cenotes Tour: $87
  • 3 Hour Tour ATV Single with Underground River from Tulum : $101
  • 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef: $199

Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.

  • Private Mexican Engraving Workshop Experience: $24
  • Montealban Tour: $28
  • Monte Alban Guided Half Day Tour: $32
  • Oaxaca: Monte Alban Guided Archaeological Tour: $33
  • Tour Monte Albán: $33
  • Oaxaca: Ocotlan de Morelos Cultural Experience and Tour: $34
  • Walking Tour in the Historic Center of Oaxaca: $35
  • Only Monte Alban Tour: $35
  • Only Monte Alban Tour: $35
  • Zapotec Wonders Tour: $35
  • Monte Albán/half day tour: $36
  • Monte Alban, Cuilápan, Arrazola and Coyotepec full day tour: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Playa del Carmen $20
    Oaxaca de Juarez $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:

  • Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $106

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
  • 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): $65
  • Mezcal distillery guided tour: $89
  • Personalized Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery: $106
  • Mezcal Distillery Day Trip: $142
  • Artisanal Mezcal distillery in an authentic Zapotec village : $150

How are these travel costs calculated?

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

Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Oaxaca de Juarez?

Oaxaca de Juarez is bigger, and its population is about 4.8 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the population of Playa del Carmen vs. Oaxaca de Juarez, 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 and the activities 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.
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Playa del Carmen vs. Oaxaca de Juarez Travel Comparison

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