Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu 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: Puerto Iguazu or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen.
Which place is cheaper, Oaxaca de Juarez or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $56, while the average daily cost in Oaxaca de Juarez is $54. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Oaxaca de Juarez in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu 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.
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.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers:
$399
-
Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls:
$185
-
Puerto Iguazú: Jungle Fly Adventure with Transfers:
$166
-
Falls Package Both Sides with Transfers:
$160
-
Iguazu Falls in 2 Days: Argentina & Brazil with Transfers:
$99
-
Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer:
$97
-
Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers:
$86
-
Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers:
$85
-
Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu:
$83
-
Iguazu Falls Argentina Brazil Duty Free Shop with Transfers:
$66
-
Wanda Mines Guided Tour with Transfer / From Iguassu Falls:
$56
-
Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR:
$40
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 Private Hotel to Oaxaca Airport:
$21
-
Transfer Oaxaca Centro Boerve del Agua:
$30
-
Shared Transfer from Downtown Oaxaca to the Airport:
$7.92
-
Secure Private Transfer : Downtown Oaxaca Airport (OAX):
$21
-
Round private transfer Airport to hotel in Oaxaca:
$46
-
Private transfer from Oaxaca Airport to Oaxaca City:
$50
-
Private and safe transfer from the airport to the hotel in Oaxaca:
$60
-
Private Transfer from your Hotel in Oaxaca to the Oaxaca Airport:
$14
-
Private Transfer from the Airport to your Hotel in Oaxaca:
$70
-
Private Transfer Oaxaca Airport to Hotel or Airbnb 24/7:
$79
-
Private Transfer Airport Hotel in Oaxaca:
$28
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Prices for flights to both Oaxaca de Juarez and Puerto Iguazu 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 day
Puerto Iguazu $6.26
Oaxaca de Juarez $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner:
$34
-
Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu:
$39
-
ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class:
$70
-
Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú:
$75
-
Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner:
$75
-
Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner:
$125
-
Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour:
$130
-
Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -:
$152
-
Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive:
$155
-
FD Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Dinner Tango Show -no transfer:
$211
-
Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show:
$232
-
Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class:
$244
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
-
Taste Oaxaca Food Tour with 15+ Tastings:
$59
-
FOOD TOUR IN THE ABASTOS MARKET:
$61
-
Oaxaca: Evening Street Food Tour with 14+ Tastings:
$66
-
Oaxaca Streets Food Tour with 14+ Tastings:
$69
-
Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class:
$70
-
Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class:
$70
-
Central Oaxaca Food Tour:
$70
-
Bike Ride and Street Food Tour in Oaxaca:
$70
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires:
$1,290
-
3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour From Argentina and Brazil:
$255
-
Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls:
$260
-
Argentine Gastronomy Experience in Iguazú:
$95
-
Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour:
$261
-
Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour:
$160
-
Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú:
$108
-
Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour:
$48
-
Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu:
$49
-
Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included:
$77
-
City Tour in Iguassu from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour:
$90
-
Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience:
$44
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
-
8-Hour Monte Albán Tour from Oaxaca:
$51
-
Amazing Monte Alban and City tour Private Tour:
$200
-
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.:
$82
-
Ancestral Mezcal Tour Experience-A pre Hispanic Heritage:
$68
-
Apoala Magic Waterfalls Hike and Swim Adventure:
$129
-
Archaeological sites Tour and Red Pottery in Tlacolula:
$170
-
Art & Flavors of Oaxaca Experience:
$141
-
Art Workshops and Chocolate Shops Tour:
$59
-
Art Workshops and Chocolate Shops Tour in Oaxaca:
$58
Alcohol
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:
$41
-
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:
$70
-
Personalized Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery:
$106
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and Oaxaca de Juarez, we can see that Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu is in South America and Oaxaca de Juarez is in North 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 Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Oaxaca de Juarez Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and 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 along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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