Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Ouarzazate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Ouarzazate can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Ouarzazate?
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
Ouarzazate
Morocco can be quite an energetic country, but if you're looking for more of a quiet getaway, consider Ouarzazate. Small by Moroccan standards, this town is built up mostly around a main street – the Avenue Mohammad V. Ouarzazate. The name "Ouarzazate" comes from the Berber language meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." It was once a crossroad for a African traders traveling to northern cities in Morocco and Europe. Today, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara, and its central location serves as a good home base touring the rest of Morocco.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Ouarzazate $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $42. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Abu Dhabi and Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Ouarzazate $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Ouarzazate $42
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Ouarzazate? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Ouarzazate $3.39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Car Rental$31
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Taxi to Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
- Abrahamic Family House Tour with Transfer: $89
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Abu Dhabi Hotel or Address): $131
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Round-Trip Private Transfer: $79
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi: $100
- Abu Dhabi Airport Departure Transfer (Abu Dhabi Hotels to Abu Dhabi Airport): $131
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To or From Anywhere within Abu Dhabi: $70
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer to Hotel or Vice Versa: $65
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Airport AUH to Abu Dhabi City by Luxury Van: $95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Ouarzazate Airport transfer: $22
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $187
- Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $310
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Abu Dhabi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAbu Dhabi $45Ouarzazate $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Dubai: Dhow Cruise Marina Multi Cusine Dinner & Tanura Show: $35
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $42
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $45
- Dubai Best Dhow Cruise Dinner Marina: $46
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $49
- Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $50
- Desert Tour with BBQ Dinner and Hotel Transfer: $51
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and all Camp Activities : $72
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $77
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari (Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Sand Skii): $80
Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
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Dinner for Two$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ouarzazate.
- Private Berber Cooking Class at Fint Oasis with Lunch: $33
- Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Ouarzazate $11
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Qasr Al Hosn: Entry Tickets with 1 GB Data eSIM: $8.16
- Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $8.17
- Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn: $8.37
- Abu Dhabi 4G & 5G Data Roaming for Tourist: $11
- Louvre Join an Express Tour: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi with Tourist Shuttle Bus & eSIM: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Admission Ticket: $18
- Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
- Shop & Eat in Abu Dhabi’s Markets Like a Local Walking Tour: $19
- Abu Dhabi Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big UAE Quiz (1 Day Pass): $19
Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate
Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
- Royal Private Tour of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou: $22
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
- Private Quad Experience in the Ouarzazate Desert: $71
- Marrakech day tour to Ouzoud falls: $73
- From marrakech : 3 Days Luxury Desert Tour To Merzouga: $100
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
- From Marrakech : Merzouga 3 day desert tour with camel ride: $103
- From Marrakech: 3 Days Desert Tour To Erg Chebbi Merzouga: $105
- Private One Day Tour AIT BENHADDOU and TELOUET via Ouarzazate: $110
- Private tour Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate. Lunch included.: $119
- 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $126
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Ouarzazate -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Ouarzazate, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Ouarzazate is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Ouarzazate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ouarzazate and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Ouarzazate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Ouarzazate?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Ouarzazate, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.