Oaxaca on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Oaxaca is very good on a budget, with cheap markets, colectivos and inexpensive sites. A realistic minimum is about MX$930 (roughly €45) per person a day: MX$350 for a bed, MX$350 for food, MX$150 for sights and MX$80 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | MX$350 | MX$1,000 | MX$2,800 |
| Food & drink | MX$350 | MX$700 | MX$1,500 |
| Sights & tickets | MX$150 | MX$400 | MX$900 |
| Local transport | MX$80 | MX$300 | MX$800 |
| Per person, per day | MX$930 | MX$2,400 | MX$6,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Oaxaca day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The gilded interior of the church of Santo Domingo de Guzman.
- Walking the pedestrian Andador Macedonio Alcala to the Zocalo.
- The painted houses and murals of Jalatlaco.
- Evening crowds in the Zocalo and the Llano park.
- The Tlacolula Sunday market and the Friday market at Ocotlan.
- Family workshops of barro negro in San Bartolo Coyotepec and alebrijes in San Martin Tilcajete.
Cheap eats
- Tlayuda from a charcoal grill: about MX$80–150.
- Memelas with beans and quesillo at a market: a cheap breakfast.
- Pasillo de Humo grilled meat with tortillas: about MX$150–250 per person.
- Tejate, the cold maize and cacao drink sold in markets.
- Oaxacan hot chocolate with pan de yema.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Centro hostels, from about MX$400–900 for a room or less for a dorm bed. Jalatlaco has good-value guesthouses within walking distance of the centre.
Getting around cheaply
The centre is walkable. Colectivos and buses serve the valley villages for small fares. From the airport, shared vans cost less than taxis (about MX$200–450). ADO buses link Mexico City in about 6.5 hours.
A sample budget day
- Morning: shuttle to Monte Alban and site entry (about MX$220).
- Lunch: memelas and tejate at Mercado Benito Juarez (about MX$100).
- Afternoon: Santo Domingo church and Jalatlaco walk (free).
- Evening: tlayuda at a street stall and a small mezcal tasting near the Zocalo (about MX$250).
- Total: about MX$930 including a MX$350 bed share.
More ways to save
- Go to Monte Alban at opening and check the last shuttle time on your ticket.
- Visit Tlacolula on Sunday for cheap market food and the valley's biggest market.
- Share a taxi for the day with others for Mitla and Hierve el Agua.
- Sip mezcal at small mezcalerias rather than hotel bars.
- Carry cash for markets and colectivos.
- Choose the rainy season for low prices; storms usually come in the afternoon.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
Can you visit Oaxaca on a budget?
Yes. Hostels, market food and colectivos keep a day to about MX$930.
How do I get to the villages cheaply?
By colectivo or bus to Tule, Teotitlan, Tlacolula and Mitla; Hierve el Agua is easier with a tour.
How do I get from the airport?
Shared airport vans or taxis, about MX$200–450, for the 10 km to the centre.