Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Alicante?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Alicante 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 Alicante and Essaouira can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Alicante or Essaouira?
Alicante
Alicante is a gorgeous coastal city in the Costa Blanca region, on the east coast of Spain. The region is famous for its white sandy beaches, the party-haven of Benidorm and the stunning palm tree-lined boulevard in the city of Alicante. I have been visiting Alicante for close to 20 years, so, it has become almost a second home to me. Here are my top tips to have the best vacation in Alicante.
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 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlicante €127Essaouira €43
The average daily cost (per person) in Alicante is €127, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is €43. 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 Alicante and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlicante €42Essaouira €24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlicante €84Essaouira €48
Compare Hotels in Alicante and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Alicante 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.
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: Alicante Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alicante -Essaouira €1.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alicante
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alicante:
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Puerto Lumbreras : $281
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to La Azohia: $269
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to La Drova (urbanisation): $254
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Bolnuevo: $254
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to la Manga Puerto Maestre: $245
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Cehegin: $245
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to La Manga strip dos Mares: $237
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Cabo de Palos: $237
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Gandia: $237
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Campo sol Golf Resort : $226
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Orba: $218
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Oliva: $218
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfert Marrakech to Agafay-Private Agafay to Marrakech : $87
- Airport Transfer From Essaouira Airport To Medina: $22
- Essaouira : Private Transfer from or to Agafay Desert: $160
- Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $38
- Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $138
- Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $36
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport (ESU): $22
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $70
- From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $321
- From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $123
Is it cheaper to fly into Alicante or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Alicante 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 dayAlicante €72Essaouira €13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alicante
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alicante.
- Secret Flavors Food Tour: $31
- Paella and Sangria Cooking Workshop: $60
- Paella and Sangría Cooking Workshop: $64
- Central Market Guided Food Tour with Tapas Bars: $70
- Alicante Food Tour: $71
- Fuse Spanish With Italian For Dinner In Mutxamel: $89
- Alicante PRIVATE Food Tour With Locals: 10 Food & Drink Tastings Included: $136
- Cooking Class with Private Chef and Local Wine: $176
- Alicante cooking class with a private chef: $180
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava€1.31
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Breakfast Crepes€0.47
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Fish for Lunch€14
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
- L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $55
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alicante €53Essaouira €11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Alicante
Here are a few typical costs in Alicante for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Food and Tapas Tour (for 2)€54
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Catamaran Cruise (for 2)€67
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Wine Tasting Tour (for 2)€120
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Walking Tour (for 2)€60
Tours and Activities in Alicante
Here are a few actual costs in Alicante for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Alcoy Walking Tour on the Modernist Route: $202
- Alicante - Old Town Private Walking Tour: $385
- Alicante : E-Bike Coast Tour, Román Fishpond and Snorkeling: $37
- Alicante : Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $49
- Alicante Charming Villages Tour: Villajoyosa and Altea: $75
- Alicante City & Beach Bike Tour : $33
- Alicante Discovery Tour from Benidorm: $28
- Alicante Evening Tapas tour: $82
- Alicante Food and Tapas Tour with a Local Guide : $32
- Alicante Highlights Bike Tour(min 2p) MEDIUM CYCLE LEVEL REQUIRED: $35
- Alicante Highlights Private Tour with Castle : $76
- Alicante Historic Small Group Tour with Tapas Tasting: $32
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Highlights Tour with Tasting the Ocean City: $19
- Full Day Tour From Marrakech To Essaouira Mogador: $21
- Private City Tour: $26
- From Marrakech: Guided tour of Essaouira the coastal city: $26
- Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $31
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
- Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41
- Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
- Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48
- Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlicante -Essaouira €8.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Alicante
Also in Alicante, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Santa Bárbara Castle Wine Tasting with Cold Cuts: $28
- Vineyards of Wine Tasting Tour: $73
- Alicante Wine Tour with Wine Tasting : $74
- Private Tour of Vinalopó Castles and Wine Tasting: $82
- Food Walking Tour with Wine Tasting and Tapas: $144
- Alicante Wine Tasting and Tapas for Foodies: $147
- Total Alicante walking tour, tapas and wine tasting: $267
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alicante and Essaouira, we can see that Alicante is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alicante is in Europe and Essaouira 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 Essaouira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Essaouira 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 Alicante would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alicante than you might in Essaouira.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alicante Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Alicante or Essaouira?
Alicante has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Alicante 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.
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.