What currency is used in Oaxaca?

Oaxaca uses the Mexican peso (MXN).

How much does a day in Oaxaca cost?

Roughly $30-50 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $70-120 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Oaxaca?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Oaxaca without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Oaxaca travel guide

Mexico

Colonial streets in painted stone, the home of mole and mezcal, and Zapotec villages within reach. A city where people come for a week and stay a season.

Essentials

Language: Spanish, with Zapotec and Mixtec in many villages; English mostly in tourist businesses
Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)
Plugs: Types A and B, 127 V
Emergency number: 911
Tipping: Around 10 to 15 percent is customary in sit-down restaurants, and small tips for guides and drivers are appreciated.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $30-50, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $70-120, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Oaxaca

Centro: the zócalo, churches and markets, all walkable.
Jalatlaco: cobbled and colourful, with cafés and street art.
Xochimilco: a quieter barrio north of the centre with an old aqueduct.

Getting around Oaxaca

The centre is best on foot. Colectivos and shared taxis reach the surrounding villages, markets and ruins such as Monte Albán.

Best time to visit Oaxaca

October to April, the dry season, with Día de Muertos at the start of November.

Top things to do in Oaxaca

Explore the hilltop Zapotec city of Monte Albán, early before the sun gets strong
See the gilded Templo de Santo Domingo and the cultural museum in its former monastery
Choose your meat in the smoky grill hall of Mercado 20 de Noviembre and eat it on the spot
Join a guided tour of the ethnobotanical garden behind Santo Domingo
Take a cooking class and learn to make a mole from scratch

What to eat in Oaxaca

Mole negro: a dark, rich sauce of chillies, chocolate and spices
Quesillo: Oaxacan string cheese wound into a ball
Chapulines: toasted grasshoppers with lime, chilli and salt
Tejate: a cold, frothy drink of maize and cacao with pre-Hispanic roots

Day trips from Oaxaca

Hierve el Agua: mineral cliffs that look like frozen waterfalls, with pools on top, about two hours by road; check it is open before going
Teotitlán del Valle: a Zapotec village of rug weavers, about 40 minutes away
Mitla: ruins known for their stone fretwork mosaics, about an hour away

Local etiquette

Say 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' when you walk into a shop or small eatery. Ask before photographing people, especially in villages and markets.

Staying connected

Telcel prepaid SIMs are sold in OXXO convenience stores and phone shops, and Wi-Fi is standard in cafés and guesthouses.

Staying safe

The centre is generally calm, but petty theft happens in busy markets and at festivals, so keep phones out of back pockets. Protests and road blockades are common in Oaxaca state and can delay buses, so leave slack on travel days.

A local tip

Try tlayudas from the evening street grills and visit a village mezcal maker with a local.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Oaxaca on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Oaxaca for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Oaxaca, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Oaxaca

What currency is used in Oaxaca?: Oaxaca uses the Mexican peso (MXN).
What is the emergency number in Oaxaca?: In Oaxaca, call 911.
When is the best time to visit Oaxaca?: October to April, the dry season, with Día de Muertos at the start of November.
How much does a day in Oaxaca cost?: Roughly $30-50 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $70-120 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Oaxaca?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Oaxaca without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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