Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Antalya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Antalya or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Antalya or Essaouira? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Antalya or Essaouira?
Antalya
Antalya is the largest city along Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the eighth largest city in the country with over one million people in the metropolitan area. The city dates back to about 200 BC when it was settled by the Attalid Dynasty of Pergamon and soon conquered by the Romans. The city was ruled by several different groups and most recently was transferred to Italian suzerainty following World War I. It became part of Turkey following the War of Independence. The city has seen an influx of development in recent years and it has grown into a tourism mecca with more than 12 million visitors in 2014.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Anzac Day Tours in Turkey, 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 dayAntalya $147Essaouira $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Antalya is $147, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $46. 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 Antalya and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntalya $55Essaouira $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntalya $110Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Antalya and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Antalya 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: Antalya Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antalya $110Essaouira $1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antalya
Also for Antalya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- antalya to cappadocia/cappadocia to antalya private transfer: $416
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Serik Transfer - Bus/Coach: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Kundu Transfer - SUV: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Belek Transfer - Bus/Coach: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Manavgat Transfer - Comfort: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Lara Transfer - SUV: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Kaleici Transfer - Bus/Coach: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Antalya City Center Transfer - Bus/Coach: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Beldibi Transfer - Bus/Coach: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Kundu Transfer - Limousine: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Antalya City Center Transfer - Limousine: $292
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Konyaalti Transfer - Limousine: $292
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $102
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
- Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $262
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
- From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
- From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $150
- From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $123
- From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $321
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $70
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Antalya or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Antalya 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 dayAntalya $25Essaouira $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antalya
For Antalya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pamukkalea and Salda Lake Tour with Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner: $40
- Traditional Turkish Tastes at Antalya Food Tour: $47
- Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show with Dinner: $73
- Full day trip to Pamukkale from Side with dinner: $104
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.40
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Breakfast Crepes$0.50
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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
- 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.Antalya $46Essaouira $12
Tours and Activities in Antalya
For Antalya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full-Day Adventure 3 in 1 activity from Antalya to Köprülü Canyon National Park: $52
- Tour of waterfall (unıque): $71
- 2 Days Cappadocia Tour From Antalya With Cave Hotel Overnight: $60
- 2 in 1 Tour in Antalya Rafting and Buggy Safari Tour with Lunch : $40
- 3 in 1 Rafting Buggy Safari and Zipline Adventure in Antalya: $38
- 4-Hour Antalya Short Shopping Tour: $15
- 4-Hour Guided Antalya Aquarium Tour : $68
- 6-Hour Kemer Pirate Boat Tour with Open-Buffet Lunch from Antalya: $25
- 7 Hour Adventure on The Land of Legends Theme Park (Antalya): $120
- 9 hours Antalya Canyoning and Rafting Tours: $43
- A Walking Adventure in Antalya: $175
- Adrasan & Suluada (Turkish Maldives) Island Boat Tour: $28
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $70
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
- Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
- Essaouira : Half-day E-Experience from Mountains to Sea: $129
- Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $65
- Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $65
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
- 3-Hour Quad Bike Tour: $87
- Area Highlights 3 hours E-Bike Tour: $61
- Atlantic Dune Buggy Adventure: $206
- Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAntalya $20Essaouira $9.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antalya and Essaouira, we can see that Antalya is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Antalya 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 Antalya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antalya 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 Antalya Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antalya or Essaouira?
Antalya has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Antalya 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.