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

Should you visit Ankara or Essaouira?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Ankara and Essaouira. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Ankara or Essaouira?

Ankara

Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.

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 Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Ankara?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $128, 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 Ankara and Essaouira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ankara $52
    Essaouira $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ankara $104
    Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Essaouira

Looking for a hotel in Ankara 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 Ankara


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: Ankara Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ankara $34
    Essaouira $1.98
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara

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


  • Metro Ride
    $0.04
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:

  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $102
  • Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $102
  • Ankara Private Departure Transfer from City hotels to Airport: $75
  • Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
  • Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $58
  • Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $48
  • Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $48
  • Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $48
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $47

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): $64
  • "Essaouira to Agafay Desert Marrakech: Exclusive Private Transfer: $90
  • Airport Transfer Essaouira - Marrakech : $283
  • Airport Transfer From Essaouira Airport To Medina: $21
  • Airport transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh : $246
  • Airport transfer, Departure : Essaouira, Arrival : Agadir: $119
  • Essaouira Airport Private Transfer : $31
  • Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $37
  • Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $133
  • Essaouira transfer to Marrakech : $126
  • 1-Hour Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $36
  • 2-Hour Quad Ride (free transfer): $62

Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Essaouira?

Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Ankara 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
    Ankara $51
    Essaouira $23
Typical Food Prices in Ankara

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:


  • A Quick Lunch
    $0.32

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 : $53
  • l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $64
  • Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
  • Essaouirra cooking class: $68
  • Essaouira Cooking Class: $70
  • Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
  • Essaouira Food Tour: $79
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $192

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ankara $31
    Essaouira $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara

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


  • Underground City
    $0.23

Tours and Activities in Ankara

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

  • Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $32
  • Ankara Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $30
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $214
  • Private Tour with a Local: $37
  • Private Walking tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $32
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $31
  • Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
  • Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165
  • Istanbul: Half-Day Tour with Topkapi Palace: $145
  • Private Ankara City Tours by an Archaeologist Tour Guide : $280
  • Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing: $235
  • İstanbul: Full-Day Tour with Grand Bazaar: $180

Tours and Activities in Essaouira

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

  • Souk Had Draa: Private Tour and Traditional Moroccan Breakfast: $21
  • Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $26
  • Private City Tour: $26
  • KiteSurfing or Surfing Experience in Essaouira: $27
  • Experience the Ultimate Adventure with our Surf Lessons in Essaouira: $30
  • Donkey Tours A Unique Adventure Through Scenic Landscapes: $33
  • Explore Essaouira's Secrets: A Guided Tour with a Local!: $35
  • Historical & Cultural Sightseeing Tour - half day: $35
  • Essaouira 2-Hour Camel Adventure Ride: $37
  • Quad Adventure in 1 Hour: $37
  • 3-Hour Camel Tour: $47
  • 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $48

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ankara $14
    Essaouira $9.10


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Essaouira, we can see that Ankara is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ankara 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 Ankara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ankara 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 Ankara Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ankara or Essaouira?

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