A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Alicante vs. Merzouga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Alicante or Merzouga?

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 Merzouga can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Alicante or Merzouga?

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.

Merzouga

Let's say you want to truly get away. I don't mean putting your ear buds in on some beach with a stronger on the next chair over. I mean really get away, and find yourself deserted. Merzouga, Morocco lets you do just that. This land of sand dune after sand dune is ideal for anyone yearning to ride a camel to the ends of civilization. And you'll find plenty of options to get here with a tour, or even on your own.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Alicante?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Alicante is €127, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is €16. 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 Merzouga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Alicante 42
    Merzouga 9.57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Alicante 84
    Merzouga 19
Compare Hotels in Alicante and Merzouga

Looking for a hotel in Alicante or Merzouga? 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 Alicante


Hotels in Merzouga


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 Merzouga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Alicante -
    Merzouga -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alicante

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alicante:

  • Alicante Airport(ALC) to Alicante City: Arrival Private Transfer: $33
  • Alicante to Alicante Airport (ALC)- Departure Private Transfer: $33
  • Private Transfer - Alicante Cruise Port to Alicante Airport (ALC): $39
  • Private Transfer - Alicante Airport (ALC) to Alicante Cruise Port: $39
  • Private Transfer: Alicante Airport (ALC) to Alicante: $47
  • Roundtrip Transfer Airport-Hotel in Alicante cars of up to 8 passengers: $55
  • Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Monforte del Cid: $55
  • Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Gran Alacant: $63
  • Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to San Vicente del Raspeig: $63
  • Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Arenales del Sol: $63
  • Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to El Plantio Golf Resort: $63
  • Private Transfer from El Plantio Golf Resort to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:

  • 1 way transfer: $62

Is it cheaper to fly into Alicante or Merzouga?

Prices for flights to both Merzouga 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Alicante 72
    Merzouga 5.55

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga

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

  • One Night in Private Camp in the Sahara Desert in Merzouga with Dinner: $65
  • Sunset With Dinner And Berber Music in Merzouga Desert With 4WD : $65
  • Day Trip By Camels In Erg Chebbi Dunes, Lunch With Berber Pizza: $76
  • Merzouga Orange Dunes ATV Sandsurf Camels with 5 Stars Dinner: $85
  • Camel trek with 1 Night in Luxury camp with Dinner+ Sundbording: $87
  • 5 Hour Sunset Tour with Camel Ride and Dinner In Desert: $87
  • Visit The Nomads, Gnawa Music, Rally In Dunes, Berber Pizza : $104
  • Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
  • Overnight in Luxury Camp With camel Trek & Dinner: $107
  • From Fes: 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip(Luxury Tent & Dinner): $124
  • From Fes: 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip w/Luxury Tent & Dinner: $127
  • 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Alicante 53
    Merzouga -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Alicante

Here are a few typical costs in Alicante for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Food and Tapas Tour (for 2)
    54
  • Catamaran Cruise (for 2)
    67
  • Wine Tasting Tour (for 2)
    120
  • 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:

  • Tour of Alicante Bullring & Bullfighting Museum with Audioguide: $9.81
  • Tour de historias y leyendas del Castillo de Santa Bárbara: $13
  • Alicante Discovery Tour from Benidorm: $28
  • Seven Secrets of Alicante Discovery Tour: $31
  • Alicante Historic Small Group Tour with Tapas Tasting: $32
  • Alicante Food and Tapas Tour with a Local Guide : $32
  • City. Discover Alicante by E-Bike & walking tour: $32
  • Calas and Beaches E-Bike Tour with Snorkeling: $32
  • City and Beach Bike Tour: $32
  • Alicante City & Beach Bike Tour : $33
  • 2-Hour Late Afternoon Catamaran Cruise: $34
  • Highlights Bike Tour: $34

Tours and Activities in Merzouga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:

  • Camel Ride Experience: $27
  • Merzouga Desert Quad bike Adventure with Sand boarding: $38
  • Merzouga 4x4 Desert Excursion - Sahara 4WD Adventure: $43
  • Merzouga 4x4 Desert Tours & Excursions: $46
  • Extreme Adventure with Harness Zorbing in Merzouga dunes: $48
  • Merzouga one hour Adventure Tour: $54
  • Merzouga 4x4 tour - Excursion around dunes: $54
  • Merzouga Experience -1.5h Quad buggy : $55
  • Merzouga 4X4 Half-Day Tour with Lunch: $55
  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp : $60
  • From Quad bike tour to the peak of Erg Chebbi dune: $62
  • One Hour Sahara Desert Quad Biking tour: $62

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Alicante -
    Merzouga -

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 Merzouga, we can see that Alicante is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alicante is in Europe and Merzouga 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 Merzouga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merzouga 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 Merzouga.

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


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