A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Alexandria vs. Essaouira for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Alexandria or Essaouira?

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 Alexandria and Essaouira can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Alexandria or Essaouira?

Alexandria

There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.

Essaouira

Essaouira is a beautiful beach town on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The city has a pleasant medina that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site and is interesting to explore. It's an 18th century fortified town with a lot of character and charm. The city is rich and culture and you'll find a handful of art galleries throughout the town. The city is also a gathering place for artists and musicians, particularly during the Gnaoua Festival of World Music, which takes place the last week of June. This event attracts about 450,000 visitors yearly.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Alexandria?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Alexandria Prices
    Egypt Prices
    Essaouira Prices
    Morocco Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Alexandria $20
    Essaouira $55

The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $20, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $55. 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 Alexandria and Essaouira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Alexandria $7.55
    Essaouira $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Alexandria $15
    Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Essaouira

Looking for a hotel in Alexandria or Essaouira? 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.

Hotels in Alexandria


Hotels in Essaouira


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: Alexandria Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Alexandria $2.35
    Essaouira $1.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $0.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:

  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Cruise Port to Cairo City Hotels: $253
  • Private transfer from Alexandria to Luxor: $248
  • Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria Borg Al Arab Airport To Cairo: $130
  • From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $83
  • Private Transfer From Alexandria City To Cairo Airport: $80
  • Private Transfer from 6 of October City to El Cairo (CAI) Airport: $51
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria Airport (HBE): $48
  • Borg El Arab Arrival & Departure Transfers: $40
  • Private Airport Transfer in Alexandria: $19
  • Alexandria Airport Transfer (HBE) Borg El Arab: $14
  • Private Transfer from or to Borg Al Arab Airport: $14
  • Private Day Trip To Egyptian Museum, Citadel & Old Cairo By Private Transfers: $8.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira

Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Excursion: 1H/Quad+1H/Camels (free transfer): $63
  • Agadir or taghazout: day in Essaouira with transfer: $45
  • Airport Transfer From Essaouira Airport To Medina: $21
  • Airport transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh : $244
  • Airport transfer, Departure : Essaouira, Arrival : Agadir: $118
  • Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $36
  • Essaouira transfer to Marrakech : $125
  • 1-Hour Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $36
  • 2-Hour Quad Ride (free transfer): $60
  • 3 Hours Quad Ride with Transfer: $81
  • 3-Hour Quad Ride (Free Transfer): $68
  • 3-hour Quad ride (free transfer): $71

Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Essaouira?

Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Alexandria 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Alexandria $11
    Essaouira $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.

  • Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $20
  • Alexandria Food Tour Top Rated: $40
  • Private Food Tour To The Famous Restaurant In Alexandria : $45
  • Alexandria food Tour taste the Egyptian traditional food: $60
  • From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94

Typical Food Prices in Essaouira

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:


  • Baklava
    $1.39
  • Breakfast Crepes
    $0.50
  • Fish for Lunch
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira

For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
  • Traditional Moroccan and Berber Cooking Classes : $52
  • l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $63
  • Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $66
  • Essaouirra cooking class: $67
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $191

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Alexandria $3.30
    Essaouira $12

Tours and Activities in Alexandria

Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Alamain Private Day Tour from Alexandria Port : $160
  • Day Tour to Alamein and Alexandria: $169
  • National Museum and Egyptian museum Private Tour in Egypt: $258
  • 10-Hour Historical Pyramids Tour from Alexandria Port: $130
  • 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $174
  • 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $155
  • 6-Hour Day Tour in Alexandria: $95
  • 6-Hour Day Tour to Alexandria Attractions with Pickup Included: $77
  • 8Days Egypt Tour package UltraLuxury Cairo,Alexandria&cruise: $4,190
  • Alamein and Alexandria Private Day Tour with Lunch: $200
  • Alamein full day tour from Alexandria: $95
  • Alexandria : Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria: $130

Tours and Activities in Essaouira

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.

  • From Marrakech : Ouzoud waterfalls guided trip and boat tour: $10
  • Souk Had Draa: Private Tour and Traditional Moroccan Breakfast: $21
  • Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $26
  • Private City Tour: $26
  • Full-Day Essaouira Tour from Marrakech: $26
  • Experience the Ultimate Adventure with our Surf Lessons in Essaouira: $29
  • Essaouira Donkey Tours : $33
  • Historical & Cultural Sightseeing Tour - half day: $35
  • Explore Essaouira's Secrets: A Guided Tour with a Local!: $35
  • Quad Adventure in 1 Hour: $36
  • Essaouira 2-Hour Camel Adventure Ride: $41
  • 3-Hour Camel Tour: $46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Alexandria $1.27
    Essaouira $9.14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Essaouira, we can see that Essaouira is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Essaouira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Essaouira than you might in Alexandria.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alexandria Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Essaouira?

Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria and Essaouira, 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.