Budget — Oaxaca

Oaxaca is one of the best-priced Mexican destinations: a city of international cultural reach that still runs on Mexican prices — particularly for food, charming accommodation and transport. The reference budget of €50/day comfortably covers most travelers.

Accommodation offers an exceptional range for the price. Posadas and downtown guesthouses with patios and gardens offer double rooms for €40–70 per night — addresses that would cost twice as much in Mexico City. Boutique hotels in restored colonial houses (Quinta Real, Casa Antonieta, La Betulia) run €80–150 in high season. Hostels in the center offer dorms at €10–15 and private rooms at €25–40.

Food is Oaxaca's signature argument: a quality-to-price ratio that is essentially unmatched at this level of cooking. A full lunch in a comedor at the Abastos market (a plate of mole negro with rice and tortillas, agua fresca) costs 80–150 pesos (€4–8). The Mercado 20 de Noviembre — the covered market specializing in grilled meats — serves a banquet of tasajo and quesillo for 200–300 pesos (€10–16) for two. Mid-range restaurants around the zócalo charge 200–400 pesos per plate (€10–21). The internationally cited fine-dining tables (Casa Oaxaca, Levadura de Olla) offer tasting menus at 800–1,500 pesos per person (€42–79) — a third the price of a Paris equivalent.

Artisanal mezcal deserves its own line item: a flight of five mezcals at a good downtown mezcalería runs 150–350 pesos (€8–18). A bottle of quality artisanal mezcal (400–600 ml) sold directly at the Matatlán or San Dionisio Ocotepec palenques costs 250–600 pesos (€13–32) — far less than in Europe.

Transport and activities stay very accessible. The shuttle to Monte Albán costs 50 pesos round trip (€2.50). A colectivo to Teotitlán del Valle costs 20 pesos (€1). A day-long car rental (for Hierve el Agua and the villages) runs 600–800 pesos (€32–42). Entry to the archaeological sites (Monte Albán, Mitla) costs 65–95 pesos (€3.50–5). Artisan workshops are typically free to visit — buying directly from the artisan is the norm, with no sales pressure.

Summary: the backpacker (€30–35/day) eats at the market, sleeps in a hostel, takes colectivos and visits Monte Albán. The comfort traveler (€50–70/day) gets a room in a charming posada, varied restaurants and a village excursion. The food traveler (€80–120/day) includes two fine-dining dinners and a mezcalería crawl — an investment that's worth every peso in Oaxaca.