Is Oaxaca expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Oaxaca is good value: cheaper than Mexico City's smart districts and far cheaper than the Caribbean coast resorts, with excellent food at market prices. A budget traveller needs about MX$930 (roughly €45) a day, mid-range about MX$2,400 and comfort about MX$6,000 per person. Rooms, day tours and cooking classes take most of the money; market meals and archaeological sites are cheap.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| 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.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Tlayuda at a street stall | about MX$80–150 |
| Market meal | MX$80–150 |
| Pasillo de Humo grilled meat, per person | about MX$150–250 |
| Monte Alban or Mitla entry | about MX$95 |
| Mezcal tasting flight of three | about MX$100–250 |
| Cooking class, 4–5 hours | about MX$1,500–2,500 |
| Valley day tour | about MX$600–900 |
| Mid-range double near Santo Domingo | MX$1,400–2,800 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation ranges from MX$400–900 in Centro hostels to MX$4,000–9,000 in boutique hotels in the historic centre, plus a lodging tax of a few percent. Day tours to Hierve el Agua and Mitla, a taxi for the day (about MX$1,500–2,500) and cooking classes are the big extras. Sites such as Monte Alban, Mitla and the Museo de las Culturas cost under MX$100 each, and market food is very cheap.
When it is cheaper
The rainy season, roughly June to September outside the Guelaguetza in late July, is the cheapest time for rooms. Prices rise sharply around Dia de Muertos, Christmas and Easter week.
How to spend less
- Eat at the Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Benito Juarez rather than restaurants on the Zocalo.
- Use colectivos to Tule, Teotitlan, Tlacolula and Mitla instead of private drivers.
- Join a group day tour for Hierve el Agua, which is hard by public transport.
- Buy crafts directly in the villages, where more money goes to the artisans.
- Book rooms months ahead for Dia de Muertos and the Guelaguetza to avoid the highest prices.
- Agree taxi fares before getting in.
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Common questions
Is Oaxaca expensive?
No. About MX$930 (roughly €45) a day on a budget and MX$2,400 mid-range per person.
How much does Monte Alban cost?
About MX$95 entry, plus about MX$100–150 for the return shuttle from the centre.
How much is a cooking class in Oaxaca?
About MX$1,500–2,500 for 4–5 hours, often with a market visit.