Comparison · Mexico City vs Oaxaca · Mexico
Mexico City vs Oaxaca
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gobierno CDMX, CC0
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Choose Mexico City for Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and free sights; choose Oaxaca for Mole, Mezcal, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Oaxaca is generally less expensive, and the two are about 365 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 365 km
- Less expensive
- Oaxaca
- Best time for Mexico City
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for Oaxaca
- October–March
Side by side
| Mexico City | Oaxaca | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and Frida Kahlo | Mole, Mezcal and Monte Albán |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | October–March |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$220 | $80–$150 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 27°C (81°F) | April, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 21°C (70°F) | January, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MEX, NLU, TLC | OAX |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Mexico City for…
Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and free sights. Mexico City sits at about 2,240 metres in a high valley ringed by volcanoes, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Its historic centre around the Zócalo holds the Templo Mayor ruins, the cathedral and Diego Rivera's murals, while Chapultepec…
Choose Oaxaca for…
Mole, Mezcal, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Oaxaca de Juárez is a low-rise colonial city of green cantera stone in a highland valley at about 1,550 metres, surrounded by Zapotec and Mixtec villages. Its UNESCO-listed centre runs from the laurel-shaded Zócalo up the pedestrian Andador Macedonio Alcalá…
Top sights compared
| # | Mexico City | Oaxaca |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zócalo | Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán |
| 2 | Metropolitan Cathedral | Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca |
| 3 | Templo Mayor | Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca |
| 4 | National Palace murals | Monte Albán |
| 5 | Palacio de Bellas Artes | Zócalo and Cathedral |
Food compared
| Mexico City | Oaxaca |
|---|---|
| Tacos al pastor | Mole negro |
| Chilaquiles | Tlayuda |
| Tamales and atole | Tasajo and cecina |
| Tlacoyos | Quesillo |
Which is cheaper?
Oaxaca is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$150 per person there, against $120–$220 in Mexico City (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Oaxaca on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Mexico City and Oaxaca are about 365 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Mexico City and 5 in Oaxaca.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mexico City or Oaxaca cheaper?
Oaxaca is usually less expensive: about $80–$150 a day mid-range against $120–$220 (estimates).
+Is Mexico City or Oaxaca better for a first trip?
Pick Mexico City for Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and free sights, or Oaxaca for Mole, Mezcal, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter.
+How far is Mexico City from Oaxaca?
About 365 km in a straight line.