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Oaxaca vs San Cristóbal de las Casas cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇲🇽 Oaxaca
🇲🇽 San Cristóbal de las Casas
At a glance
- Where San Cristóbal de las Casas is clearly cheaper: Hotel night (47%↓), Cocktail & wine (46%↓), Street food (25%↓)
- Where Oaxaca is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (68%↓), SIM card (25%↓), Scooter rental (20%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Oaxaca is easier to travel (2.8 vs 3.0). Biggest gap: safety — Oaxaca 2 vs San Cristóbal de las Casas 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Oaxaca | San Cristóbal de las Casas | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | MX$ 120$6.45 | MX$ 100$5.38 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −17% |
| Street food1 item | MX$ 60$3.23 | MX$ 45$2.42 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −25% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | MX$ 300$16.1 | MX$ 250$13.4 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −17% |
| Coffeeone cup | MX$ 60$3.23 | MX$ 50$2.69 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −17% |
| Beerone bottle | MX$ 50$2.69 | MX$ 45$2.42 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −10% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | MX$ 130$6.99 | MX$ 70$3.76 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −46% |
| Bottled water | MX$ 15$0.81 | MX$ 14$0.75 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −7% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | MX$ 22$1.18 | MX$ 22$1.18 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | MX$ 70$3.76 | MX$ 70$3.76 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | MX$ 45$2.42 | MX$ 50$2.69 | Oaxaca −10% |
| Transitone ride | MX$ 10$0.54 | MX$ 10$0.54 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | MX$ 200$10.8 | MX$ 250$13.4 | Oaxaca −20% |
| Hotel night3-star | MX$ 1,700$91.4 | MX$ 900$48.4 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −47% |
| Studio rent (month) | MX$ 7,500$403 | MX$ 7,500$403 | similar |
| Laundry | MX$ 25$1.34 | MX$ 28$1.51 | Oaxaca −11% |
| SIM card1 week data | MX$ 150$8.06 | MX$ 200$10.8 | Oaxaca −25% |
| Haircutcut | MX$ 120$6.45 | MX$ 120$6.45 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | MX$ 600$32.3 | MX$ 450$24.2 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −25% |
| Half-day tourper person | MX$ 400$21.5 | MX$ 450$24.2 | Oaxaca −11% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | MX$ 95$5.11 | MX$ 300$16.1 | Oaxaca −68% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Oaxaca or San Cristóbal de las Casas?
San Cristóbal de las Casas is 16% cheaper than Oaxaca. Daily budget $145 vs $94.1; a month $1,751 vs $1,817.
Which is easier to travel, Oaxaca or San Cristóbal de las Casas?
Oaxaca is easier: Oaxaca 2.8/5 vs San Cristóbal de las Casas 3.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Oaxaca and San Cristóbal de las Casas?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Oaxaca is about $1,751 and San Cristóbal de las Casas about $1,817 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.