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

Should you visit Antsiranana or Essaouira?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Antsiranana or Essaouira, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Antsiranana or Essaouira?

Antsiranana

Antsiranana is the capital of Madagascar's northernmost province, Diana, and until 1975 it was known as Diego Suarez. The city has a port that has become a site for naval repairs and is the largest in the entire Indian Ocean. The port is mainly used for tinned fish and bottled drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The city has a population of a little over 100,000. The French used the city as a military base after independence from 1960 until 1973, after the socialist revolution.

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 Adventure Tours to Madagascar, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Antsiranana?

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 Antsiranana is $87, 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 Antsiranana and Essaouira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Antsiranana $42
    Essaouira $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Antsiranana $84
    Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Antsiranana and Essaouira

Looking for a hotel in Antsiranana 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 Antsiranana


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: Essaouira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Antsiranana $14
    Essaouira $2.03

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira

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

  • Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech : $106
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $118
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $110
  • Transfer Essaouira Airport to Essaouira: $22
  • Quad day with meal: Sidi M'Barek 6 hours (free transfer): $152
  • Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $106
  • Private transfer Kaouki to Essaouira or Essaouira to Kaouki: $22
  • Private Transfer Essaouira-Taroudant: $221
  • Private Transfer Essaouira-Agadir: $96
  • Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $265
  • Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
  • From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Antsiranana or Essaouira?

Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Antsiranana 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
    Antsiranana $34
    Essaouira $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antsiranana

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

  • MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: COOKING CLASS: $58
  • MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: STREETFOOD TOUR: $59

Typical Food Prices in Essaouira

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


  • Baklava
    $1.42
  • Breakfast Crepes
    $0.51
  • 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 : $44
  • l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $66
  • Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
  • Essaouirra cooking class: $71
  • Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $72
  • Essaouira Cooking Class: $76
  • Essaouira Food Tour: $92
  • Essaouira Food Tour: $96
  • Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $98
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $172

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Antsiranana $18
    Essaouira $12

Tours and Activities in Antsiranana

For Antsiranana, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: CITY TOUR: $49

Tours and Activities in Essaouira

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

  • 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $59
  • 3 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga with Luxury Camp: $261
  • Essaouira : 1 Hour Quad Bike Tour and 1 Hour Dromedary Ride: $61
  • Essaouira : Half-day E-Experience from Mountains to Sea: $159
  • Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $66
  • Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $73
  • 1hour horseback riding experience -beach & forest: $30
  • 2 Hours Quad Bike Tour and 1 Hour Camel: $85
  • 3-Hour Camel Tour: $49
  • 3-Hour Quad Bike Tour: $98
  • Area Highlights 3 hours E-Bike Tour: $78
  • Full-Day Horse Riding Tour with Lunch: $125

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Antsiranana $9.70
    Essaouira $9.30


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


Which is Bigger, Antsiranana or Essaouira?

Antsiranana has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Antsiranana 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.