Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Aqaba or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba 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: Aqaba or Essaouira?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
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 Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Aqaba Prices
Jordan PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $157Essaouira $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $57. 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 Aqaba and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Essaouira $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba 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: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Essaouira $2.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Sheikh Hussein Crossing Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $250
- Private Transfers To Petra: $200
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Sheikh Hussein Border or vice versa: $193
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Dead Sea Hotels: $160
- Transfers , Meet & Assistance at Wadi Araba Crossing Border: $153
- Hassle-Free Aqaba South Beach to Wadi Rum Transfer – 24/7 Service: $150
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Wadi rum: $140
- Aqaba Airport (AQJ) to Petra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $137
- Private Transfer Between Aqaba and the Dead Sea: $136
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Amman Hotels: $133
- Private Transfer from Wadi Rum to Amman Airport: $133
- Private Transfers from Wadi Rum Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $129
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Essaouira P13: 2h quad + 2h camel free transfer: $90
- Essaouira P17: Quad ride dunes beaches free transfer.: $33
- Essaouira P2: dunes wipe & beaches in quad with transfer: $33
- Essaouira P3: Quad and Buggy tour beach dunes free transfer: $33
- Essaouira P4: excursions EN Quad (free transfer): $33
- Essaouira to Agafay Desert Marrakech Exclusive Private Transfer: $90
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport: $31
- From Agadir : Day in Essaouira with Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Agadir: $125
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Taroudant: $228
- Private Transfer Marrakech Aéroport to Marrakech: $23
- Private Transfer aéroport essaouira to essaouira city: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Aqaba 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 dayAqaba $73Essaouira $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Traditional Bedouin Cooking Experience in the Desert: $50
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $80
- "Wadi Rum Jeep Tour + Bedouin Camp & Dinner Under the Stars: $80
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $85
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner: $100
- 2 Day Wadi Rum Tour: Traditional Dinner and Starlit Cave Camp: $115
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.43
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Breakfast Crepes$0.51
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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:
- Agadir Cooking Class Experience with Local Market Visit: $30
- Cooking class: How To Be a Real Moroccan Chef: $40
- Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner: $46
- Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience: $51
- Sidi Kaouki Sunset Walk and Berber Tent Dinner by Atlantic: $51
- Essaouira Cooking Class At Home: $51
- Essaouira Berber Cooking Class & Organic Farm Tour Al Aaila Farm: $54
- Cooking Class in Essaouira Countryside: $57
- Essaouira Family Dinner Experience: $64
- Essaouira Street Food Tour: $67
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $68
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Essaouira $12
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 02 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $52
- 03 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $61
- 04 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $73
- 05 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $68
- 2 Days & 1 Night | Jeep & Hike Tour in Wadi Rum Desert | Magic Bedouin Star: $258
- 2 Days Tour | Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea From Amman.: $190
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
- 2 To 5 Hours Glass Bottom Boat Private Tour At Read Sea: $90
- 2 hours Jeep tour in Wadi Rum with Bedouin guide (incl. bottled water and tea): $100
- 2-day Hiking Adventure and Jeep Tour from Wadi Rum: $193
- 3 Hour Wadi Rum Highlights Jeep Tour: $89
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Essaouira to Marrakech Supratours bus tickets: $18
- Small Group Surf Lesson in Essaouira 3 Hour Experience: $28
- Full-Day Essaouira Tour from Marrakech: $28
- Quad bike tour discovery in Essaouira for two hours: $30
- Scenic Horseback Adventure Along Essaouira’s Beaches: $31
- 1 Hour Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira desert: $32
- Beginners surf experience in Essaouira: $33
- Essaouira P6: Cape Sim quad bike tour: $33
- Sunset Horse Ride Experience in Essaouira: $33
- 1-Hour Scenic Quad Bike Tour: Discover Essaouira’s Coastline: $34
- Quad Adventure in 1 Hour: $37
- 2-Hour Beach & Dunes Quad Tour with Tea: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Essaouira $9.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Essaouira, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East 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 Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba 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 Aqaba Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Essaouira?
Aqaba has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba 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.