Oaxaca, Mexico
Mole, mezcal, and indigenous crafts around a lively highland zócalo.
Daily budget baseline: $70 USD. Food travelers and day trips to ruins and villages
How much does a trip to Oaxaca cost?
A practical midrange budget for Oaxaca is about $70 USD per traveler per day. For a 7-day trip for two people, ground costs land around $767 USD before long-haul flights—usually cheapest in June, July, August, and September.
- Daily budget baseline: $70 USD / traveler
- 7 days for 2 people: ~$767 USD ground costs (2nd traveler ≈ 62% of daily rate, shared room)
- Usually cheapest: June, July, August, and September
- Busiest months: October, December, and January
Sample food prices
- Mole negro — avg $12.00 USD
- Tlayuda — avg $7.00 USD
- Memelas — avg $3.00 USD
- Chapulines — avg $4.00 USD
Ground-cost planning assumptions dated July 2026. Use the calculator to personalize origin, dates, and group size. See how group size affects cost.
When is the best time to visit Oaxaca?
Aim for February, March, April, and November if you want the best overall window. June, July, August, and September usually bring lower trip costs, while October, December, and January draw the biggest crowds.
What are the top things to do in Oaxaca?
- Monte Albán — Zapotec mountaintop ruins overlooking the valley.
- Templo de Santo Domingo — Baroque church and cultural center.
- Zócalo — Shaded main square of cafés and street life.
- Mercado 20 de Noviembre — Market famous for grilled meats and moles.
- Hierve el Agua — Petrified waterfall pools in the hills outside town.
What's the food and dining like in Oaxaca?
Must-try food in Oaxaca usually includes Mole negro, Tlayuda, Memelas. Typical plates below help you budget meals before you go.
- Mole negro — Complex dark mole over chicken or turkey. (avg $12.00)
- Tlayuda — Crisp oversized tortilla with beans, cheese, and meat. (avg $7.00)
- Memelas — Thick masa discs topped with salsa and queso. (avg $3.00)
- Chapulines — Toasted grasshoppers seasoned with chili and lime. (avg $4.00)