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 $57, while the average daily cost in Oaxaca de Juarez is $51. 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:
Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and
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:
-
Iguazu Falls 2-Day Tour with Airport Transfer:
$348
-
Transfer In + Transfer Out IGR Airport Puerto Iguazú Hotels Selva de Iryapu:
$145
-
Private Transfers Full Day Iguazú Falls:
$130
-
Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer:
$102
-
Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers:
$100
-
Transfers IGR from the (ARG) to IGU (BRA) with PasseioTur:
$80
-
Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In Transfer:
$79
-
Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu:
$78
-
Puerto Iguazu Airport (IGR) Private Transfer to Puerto Iguazu:
$27
-
Puerto Iguazu Airport Private Transfer:
$22
-
Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$17
-
One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer:
$11
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:
$82
-
Visit Puerto Escondido: Private Transfer from Oaxaca:
$588
-
Taxi Transfer from Downtown Oaxaca to the Airport:
$20
-
Shared Transfer from Downtown Oaxaca to the Airport:
$7.51
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotels to Oaxaca Airport:
$46
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: Oaxaca Airport to Hotels:
$46
-
Roundtrip Private Transfer from Oaxaca Airport (OAX) :
$43
-
Private and safe transfer from the airport to the hotel in Oaxaca:
$60
-
Private Transfer from your Hotel in Oaxaca to the Oaxaca Airport:
$13
-
Private Transfer from the Airport to your Hotel/house .:
$89
-
Private Transfer from the Airport to your Hotel in Oaxaca :
$67
-
Private Transfer Airport Hotel in Oaxaca:
$33
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 $6.30
Oaxaca de Juarez $22
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:
-
Madero Tango Iguazú - Premium Dinner (Foz do Iguaçu/Puerto Iguazú):
$30
-
Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu:
$36
-
El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show from Foz do Iguaçu:
$44
-
Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú:
$65
-
Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner:
$65
-
Iguazu: The Argentine Experience Dinner with Wine Pairing:
$69
-
Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner:
$98
-
Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner :
$117
-
Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour:
$120
-
Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive:
$155
-
Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class:
$157
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:
-
Private Oaxaca Street Food Tour - Best Rated :
$35
-
Tour with Legends Night Walk and Dinner Included:
$42
-
Central Oaxaca Food Tour:
$55
-
Electric Bike Food Tour in Oaxaca:
$56
-
Oaxacan Dinner on Agronomic Biodiversity:
$56
-
Food Tour at the Mercado de Abastos:
$57
-
Tradicional Oaxacan Dinner on Agronomic Biodiversity_01:
$60
-
Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class:
$65
-
Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class:
$66
-
Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu &Local Market Tour:
$70
-
Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour:
$75
-
Secret Food Tour: Oaxaca de Juárez:
$75
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:
-
1 day- Tour on both sides of the waterfalls:
$111
-
1-Day Private Tour In the Iguacu Falls of Brazil and Argentina :
$106
-
2-Day Private Tour Both Waterfalls ARG/BRA:
$182
-
2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires:
$590
-
3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour From Argentina and Brazil:
$299
-
Argentina: Full-Day Iguazu Falls and Great Adventure Tour:
$142
-
Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls:
$250
-
Argentine Side Iguassu Falls Private Tour Hotels in Puerto Iguazú:
$140
-
Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour:
$238
-
Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour:
$32
-
Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour:
$135
-
Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour:
$130
Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
-
Shared Santa Maria Del Tule Bike Tour:
$45
-
“Las Nieves” Monte Albán, Arrazola, Cuilapam 6h Bike Tour:
$120
-
3 Hour Oaxaca Private Tour, 100% customisable - Best Rated :
$45
-
5 Hours Guided Day of The Dead Evening Walking Tour in Oaxaca:
$109
-
7 Hrs Guided Day of the Dead Crafts & Gastronomy Tour from Oaxaca:
$199
-
Agave Adventures Mexico:
$94
-
Amazing Monte Alban and City tour Private Tour:
$200
-
Amazing Waterfall Adventure in the Sierra Madre Mountains :
$80
-
Amazing experience in the mountain of San Jose del Pacifico:
$200
-
An adventure for the senses: Mezcal, fields and crafts.:
$78
-
Ancestral Mezcal Experience + ceramics + Alebrijes + Market:
$199
-
Ancestral Mezcal Tour Experience A pre Hispanic Heritage:
$64
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Oaxaca de Juarez
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Oaxaca de Juarez:
-
Oaxaca Pub Crawl with Mezcal Shots and Live Music:
$18
-
Check out Hierve el Agua, Mitla, the Tule Tree, Rugs, and a Mezcal Distillery Tour:
$49
-
Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, Mitla and Mezcal Distillery Tour:
$50
-
From Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery:
$54
-
Only Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery tour:
$55
-
Only Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery Tour:
$55
-
Personalized Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery:
$100
-
Oaxaca: Mezcal Distillery Tour with Tastings:
$125
-
Mezcal Distillery Day Trip:
$134
-
Artisanal Mezcal distillery in an authentic Zapotec village :
$150
-
Oaxaca: Hierve el Agua, Mezcal Distillery, and Lunch Tour:
$272
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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