Oaxaca is one of Mexico's most culturally rich states, home to 16 recognized indigenous groups, the archaeological capitals of Monte Albán and Mitla, and a coastline stretching from the surf town of Puerto Escondido to the calm resort bays of Huatulco. Oaxaca de Juárez, the colonial capital, is celebrated for mole, mezcal, and some of the finest regional cooking in the country.
Local currency: Mexican Peso (MXN).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Oaxaca.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $10-18/night (dorm bed in Oaxaca city or Puerto Escondido)
- Budget
- $22-45/night (basic private room or beach cabana)
- Midrange
- $55-120/night (boutique hotel in Oaxaca city Centro or beachfront hotel)
- Luxury
- $150-450+/night (design hotel in Oaxaca city or resort in Huatulco)
Food
- Street
- $1-2 per taco or tlayuda snack, $3-5 for a full street meal
- Local
- $4-9 for comida corrida (set lunch) at a local fonda
- Midrange
- $12-25 for dinner at a sit-down restaurant with a drink
- Fine
- $45-90+ for a tasting menu at one of Oaxaca city's higher-end contemporary Oaxacan restaurants
Transport
- Bus
- $0.40-0.50 per Oaxaca city bus ride; $0.80-3 per colectivo ride
- Taxi
- $2-6 for a short Uber or taxi ride within Oaxaca city or a coastal town
- Airport
- $13-18 for a taxi from OAX airport to central Oaxaca city
- Daytrip
- $18-30 for an ADO bus to Puerto Escondido; $80-150+ for a private day tour to Hierve el Agua or the mezcal villages
Activities
- Museum
- $2-6 entry to most Oaxaca city museums
- Sites
- $4-5 for Monte Albán and other archaeological sites
- Tour
- $20-50 for a guided mezcal tasting tour or Oaxaca city walking tour
- Excursion
- $40-90 for a day trip combining Hierve el Agua, Mitla, and a mezcal palenque, or a Huatulco bay-hopping boat tour
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Oaxaca costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$266-315 for 7 days (hostels, street food, colectivos and buses, free attractions)
Midrange traveller
$700-840 for 7 days (mid-range hotels, restaurant meals, some taxis, a few tours)
Luxury traveller
$2,240+ for 7 days (design hotels or beach resorts, fine dining, private tours and transfers)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat comida corrida at local fondas away from the Zócalo — $4-7 for soup, a main, rice, and a drink
Take colectivos instead of taxis for valley day trips to Mitla, Teotitlán del Valle, or Hierve el Agua — a fraction of a private tour's cost
Book Guelaguetza-week and Día de los Muertos accommodation in Oaxaca city 3-4 months in advance to avoid last-minute price spikes
Buy mezcal directly from palenques in villages like Santiago Matatlán rather than tourist shops in Oaxaca city for lower prices
Take the ADO bus rather than flying between Oaxaca city and the coast — the toll autopista now makes the trip about 3-4 hours
Visit Oaxaca city's Mercado 20 de Noviembre food hall for authentic, low-cost Oaxacan cooking including grilled meats and tlayudas
Travel during shoulder months (February-April, mid-November) for good weather without festival-level accommodation prices
Stay in Oaxaca city's Centro or Jalatlaco to walk everywhere instead of paying for taxis
On the coast, choose Mazunte or Zipolite over Puerto Escondido's beachfront strip for noticeably cheaper cabana-style lodging
Split the cost of a private colectivo or shared tour van for Hierve el Agua and mezcal village visits with other travelers
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Oaxaca City Zócalo and Cathedral
Sit in the main plaza, listen to marimba bands, and step into the Metropolitan Cathedral at no cost
Templo de Santo Domingo Exterior and Gardens
Admire the baroque facade and stroll the adjoining ethnobotanical garden grounds free of charge (garden tours have a modest fee)
Andador Turístico (Macedonio Alcalá)
Walk the pedestrian corridor lined with galleries, colonial buildings, and street performers between the Zócalo and Santo Domingo
Puerto Escondido Zicatela Beach Walk
Watch surfers tackle the Mexican Pipeline break along the famous beach at no cost, best around sunset
Mazunte Sunset at Punta Cometa
Hike the short coastal headland trail for one of the coast's best free sunset viewpoints
Mercado Benito Juárez and 20 de Noviembre
Browse Oaxaca city's classic markets, sampling free tastes of mole, chapulines, and chocolate from vendors
Jalatlaco Neighborhood Walk
Explore this colorful, mural-lined colonial barrio just east of Oaxaca city's center
Zipolite Beach
Free public access to Mexico's famous clothing-optional beach and its laid-back stretch of sand
San Agustín Etla Textile and Art Center Grounds
Wander the grounds of the restored former textile factory turned contemporary art center outside Oaxaca city
Cerro del Fortín Viewpoint
Climb up to the hillside amphitheater and lookout above Oaxaca city for panoramic views at no cost