Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Arusha?
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 Arusha or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Essaouira can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Arusha or Essaouira?
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
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 G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $189Essaouira $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $60. 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 Arusha and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $126Essaouira $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $252Essaouira $56
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Arusha 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: Arusha Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Essaouira $2.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $288
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $149
- Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- private transfer essaouira to casablanca or casablanca-essaouira: $284
- Transferts Marrakech à Essaouira ou Essaouira à Marrakech: $97
- Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech: $111
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $124
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $139
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech: $116
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira: $116
- Private transfer Essaouira Taroudant.: $197
- Private transfer Essaouira Ouarzazate.: $232
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira 1 to 4 people: $109
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport: $136
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech: $112
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Arusha 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 dayArusha $40Essaouira $25
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $45
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
- Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.50
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Breakfast Crepes$0.53
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Fish for Lunch$16
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
- Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner: $47
- Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience: $52
- Essaouira Street Food Tour: $68
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $70
- Essaouira Cooking Class: $75
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $214
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $44Essaouira $13
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day trip to Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour: $127
- 1 day trip Materuni Waterfall, Village & Coffee Walking Tour: $127
- 4 Hours Cycling Tour in Shimo La Mungu Crater: $50
- 8-Hour Lake Chala Guided Tour from Moshi or Arusha: $260
- A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro: $160
- Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
- Arusha City Tour Markets Culture and Maasai Experiences: $22
- Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
- Arusha Full Day Tour to Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $140
- Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
- Arusha Guided Tour: Culture, History, Markets & Hidden Gems: $18
- Arusha National Park Half Day Tour: $197
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- 1 Day Horseback Riding Tour with Overnight Stay in Berber Tent: $290
- 1 Hour Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira desert: $34
- 1-Day Quad Adventure in Essaouira near Marrakech: $205
- 1-Hour Scenic Quad Bike Tour: Discover Essaouira’s Coastline: $35
- 1-hour buggy tour in Essaouira desert (2 places/buggy): $77
- 2 – Hours Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Desert with Moroccan Tea: $57
- 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $52
- 2-Hours Buggy Adventure in Essaouira desert (2 places per buggy): $96
- 2-hour quad adventure between beach and dunes: $58
- 3-Days Desert Tour From Fes to Marrakech: $197
- 3H Buggy Adventure – Dunes, Ocean & Sunset Ride: $231
- Beginners surf experience in Essaouira: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10Essaouira $9.82
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Essaouira, we can see that Arusha 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 Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha 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 Arusha Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Essaouira?
Arusha has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Arusha 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.