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 $186Essaouira $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $186, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $58. 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 $124Essaouira $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $248Essaouira $54
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 $2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3-Day Zanzibar to Arusha, Road Transfer to Serengeti: $3,000
- 4Days Mount Meru Climbing with free airport transfer: $1,480
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $291
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $158
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer | Pick Up & Drop up | With BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD: $100
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
- Airport transfer: $45
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Tanzanite Experience Museum and Shopping Tour with Transfer: $32
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: $126
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $126
- Quad day with 6h adrenaline meal (free transfer): $129
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $113
- Private transfer Essaouira to Marrakech or Marrakech / essaouira : $106
- Private transfer Essaouira Safi.: $110
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport: $138
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Essaouira Airport: $23
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Agadir: $129
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $24
- From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $55
- From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $159
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)$2.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
- Local Tanzanian Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia: $50
- Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
- Full Day Arusha Guided City Tour with Cooking, Waterfall, Coffee: $140
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.47
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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:
- Traditional Moroccan and Berber cooking classes: $59
- Cooking with views of Essaouira: $59
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $71
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $72
- Essaouirra cooking class: $74
- Essaouira Cooking Class: $76
- Essaouira Food Tour: $87
- Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $105
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $217
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $43Essaouira $13
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Arusha National Park Guided Day Tour From Arusha: $290
- Marangu waterfall & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD : $150
- Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD : $167
- Materuni Waterfalls,Coffee and Chemka Hotspring Tour: $100
- Private Tour to Marangu Waterfalls, Chagga Caves, Coffee tour & Hot Springs: $127
- 1 Day Small group Tour Tanzania sharing Safari - Tarangire N.P: $270
- 12 Days Best Of Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Beach Tour: $8,745
- 12 Days Tanzania Wildlife Photographic Safari Experience: $8,595
- 1Day Safari Tour Tarangire National Park Join Group: $279
- 2-Day Migration Safari with a Hot Air Balloon Adventure.: $2,397
- 3 Days Safari Adventure Explore the Wild Heart of Africa: $1,436
- 3-Day Experience Wildlife and Hot Air Balloon Adventures: $2,655
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.: $75
- Souk Had Draa: Private Tour and Traditional Moroccan Breakfast: $24
- 1-Day Quad Adventure in Essaouira near Marrakech: $208
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $62
- 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $53
- 3 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga with Luxury Camp: $202
- Day Tour on Dromedary and Overnight Stay Near Essaouira Morocco: $294
- Essaouira 2-Hour Camel Adventure Ride: $41
- Essaouira : 1 Hour Quad Bike Tour and 1 Hour Dromedary Ride: $65
- Essaouira Donkey Tours : $29
- Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $71
- Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10Essaouira $9.65
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.