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

Should you visit Tulum or Oaxaca de Juarez?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and Oaxaca de Juarez can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Tulum or Oaxaca de Juarez?

Tulum

When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.

Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.

This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Oaxaca de Juarez or Tulum?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $121, while the average daily cost in Oaxaca de Juarez is $46. 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 Tulum and Oaxaca de Juarez in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tulum $59
    Oaxaca de Juarez $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tulum $118
    Oaxaca de Juarez $40
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Oaxaca de Juarez

Looking for a hotel in Tulum 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 Tulum


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: Tulum Hotel Prices and Oaxaca de Juarez Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tulum $28
    Oaxaca de Juarez $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:

  • Round-trip Private Transfer Cancun Airport to TULUM - up to 9 pax: $299
  • Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
  • Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
  • Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $213
  • Private Transfer From Cancun Airport - Tulum: $208
  • Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Akumal, Tulum: $193
  • Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $184
  • Tulum to Mahahual - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $162
  • Tulum to Bacalar - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $154
  • Private Transfer: Tulum to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $139
  • Departure Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan - Minibus: $117
  • Horseback Riding in the Jungle w/ Transfers and Lunch: $100

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez

Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Roundtrip Private/Shared Airport Transfer: $30
  • Oaxaca hotels to Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
  • Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez-Arrival Transfer: $37
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Oaxaca Airport to Hotels: $46
  • Private and safe transfer from the airport to the hotel in Oaxaca: $50
  • Oaxaca: Private transfer from Oaxaca airport to hotel: $54
  • Oaxaca International Airport - Private Transfer From/ to Oaxaca City: $56
  • Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $73
  • Xoxocotlan Airport: Private Transfer to Oaxaca City: $90
  • Transfer to Salina Cruz Surf Camps from Huatulco International Airport (HUX): $120
  • Private transfer from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido - new highway: $299
  • Oaxaca: Santiago Apoala Waterfall Day Trip with Transfers: $304

Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Oaxaca de Juarez?

Prices for flights to both Oaxaca de Juarez and Tulum 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
    Tulum $34
    Oaxaca de Juarez $14
Typical Food Prices in Tulum

Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:


  • Lunch
    $2.98

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.

  • Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $79
  • Vegan Walking Food Tour with Tasting: $81
  • Mexican Cooking from Scratch and Mezcal Tasting in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
  • Authentic Mexican Food Tour in Tulum: $146
  • Gourmet Experience: 5 Course Dinner, Cocktail Class and Wine Pairing: $159
  • Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299

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: $54
  • Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class: $72
  • Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $73
  • Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour: $77
  • Casa Crespo Afternoon Cooking Class with Market Visit: $77
  • AUTHENTIC OAXACA FOOD TOUR, eat like a local.: $89
  • Traditional Oaxaqueña Cooking with Grandma's Recipes: $90
  • Cooking classes from the Isthmus with a Tehuana: $92
  • Traditional Cooking Class in Teotitlan Valle: $96
  • Traditional Oaxacan Cooking Class (includes transportation): $96
  • The Real Traditional Oaxaca Cooking class: $116
  • Oaxaca: Traditional Oaxacan Food Cooking Class: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tulum $31
    Oaxaca de Juarez $13

Tours and Activities in Tulum

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:

  • Luxury Tour to Chichen Itza and 2 Cenotes Only From Tulum: $128
  • Romantic tour in Tulum: $169
  • 2 Cenotes Guided Snorkeling Adventure in Tulum: $149
  • 2 tanks Cenote Diving Adventure in Tulum for Certified Divers: $180
  • 5 Hours Mayan Snorkeling Experience in Tulum: $90
  • 5x1: Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $76
  • ATV Adventure and Horseback Ride with Ziplines, Cenote from Tulum: $105
  • ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines & Cenote Swim: $137
  • ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $137
  • ATV Tour with Ziplines and Cenote Swim Experience in Quintana Roo: $95
  • ATV, Zipline and Cenote at Extreme Adventure with Tulum Pickup: $89
  • Adventure in the Mayan Jungle with ATV and Zip Line in Tulum: $90

Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez

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

  • Oaxaca Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $9.11
  • Oaxaca: Oaxaca City Beyond the Surface Walking Tour: $24
  • Private Mexican Engraving Workshop Experience: $24
  • Monte Alban Walking Tour: $30
  • Half day tour Monte Alban: $33
  • Monte Alban Guided Half Day Tour: $33
  • Oaxaca: Monte Alban Guided Archaeological Tour: $33
  • Tour Monte Albán: $34
  • Oaxaca: Ocotlan de Morelos Cultural Experience and Tour: $35
  • Monte Albán Walking Tour: $35
  • Walking Tour in the Historic Center of Oaxaca: $35
  • Mitla Half Day Guided Tour: $39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tulum $25
    Oaxaca de Juarez $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:

  • 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
  • Wine Tasting at Pan y Vino Tulum: $59

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: $54
  • Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery (Small groups): $57
  • Mezcal distillery guided tour: $88
  • Mezcal Distillery Day Trip: $147
  • Artisanal Mezcal distillery in an authentic Zapotec village : $150


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


Which is Bigger, Tulum or Oaxaca de Juarez?

Oaxaca de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum 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.