A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arusha vs. Marrakech for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Arusha or Marrakech?

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 Marrakech 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 Marrakech?

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.

Marrakech

Marrakech is on of the most popular travel destinations in Morocco. It is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat and is located near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains only a few hours from the Sahara Desert. It's a beautiful city that is often referred to as the "Pink City" because of the pale pink color of many of the city's buildings. These striking colors make the city particularly beautiful during the evening hours when the low sun creates a very dramatic lighting.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Marrakech or Arusha?

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 Arusha is $189, while the average daily cost in Marrakech is $102. 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 Marrakech in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    Marrakech $58
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    Marrakech $116
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Marrakech

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Marrakech? 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 Arusha


Hotels in Marrakech


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 Marrakech Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Marrakech $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): $294
  • Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $130
  • Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport Transfers with Private Day Tours: $60
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
  • Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
  • Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
  • Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech

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

  • transfer: $94
  • airport transfers: $24
  • VIP Transfer Luxury Mercedes limo from Marrakech Airport Hotels: $58
  • VIP Moroccan Hammam & Relaxing Massage with Transfer - Marrakech: $116
  • Transfert de Marrakech vers Aeroport Mohamed 5 Casablanca: $130
  • Transfers from or to Marrakech Airport and Marrakech: $9.47
  • Transfers between Menara Airport and Marrakesh: $8.29
  • Transfers Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira to Marrakech: $72
  • Transfer from Marrakech to Imlil: Airport Transfer to Imlil - Taxi to Imlil: $71
  • Transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca airport: $30
  • Transfer from Marrakech to Casa-Airport or Casa-Airport to Marrakech: $164
  • Transfer from Marrakech city or Marrakech airport to Casablanca city: $176

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Marrakech?

Prices for flights to both Marrakech 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Arusha $40
    Marrakech $29
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • 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:

  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
  • Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
  • Homestay + Cooking + Animal Care + Fruit Harvesting + Much More: $197

Typical Food Prices in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Orange Juice on the Square
    $0.33
  • Breakfast
    $1.31
  • Dates
    $0.65
  • Olives
    $0.98
  • Sandwich
    $1.41
  • Souvenir Spices
    $6.75

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech

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

  • Marrrakech desert tour dinner show & camel ride with sunset: $6.00
  • Morocco's Top Cooking Classes For Authentic berber Cuisine in the Atlas Mountain: $13
  • Desert Agafay Marrakech Sunset Camel Ride, Dinner Sw Hotel Pickup: $14
  • Agafay desert quad &camel ride with dinner show: $14
  • Agafay Sunset Camel Ride & Dinner Under the Stars from Marrakech: $14
  • Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride with Dinner Show: $15
  • Cooking Class in the hearth of the Atlas Mountain from Marrakech With locals: $15
  • Agafay Desert Quad & Camel Rides with Dinner Show: $17
  • Agafay Golden Hour Escape – Camel Ride & Dinner from Marrakech: $18
  • Magical Dinner in Agafay Desert with a Sunset Camel Ride: $18
  • Agafay Desert Sunset and Dinner Show with Camel Ride: $18
  • Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride, and Dinner Show: $18

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Marrakech $11

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
  • 1-Day Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour and Chemka Hot Spring: $100
  • 1-Day Trip Tarangire N.P Small group Tour Tanzania sharing Safari: $270
  • 8-Hour Lake Chala Guided Tour from Moshi or Arusha: $260
  • A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro: $160
  • Amazing Lake Duluti Day Trip Experience: $70
  • Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
  • Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Arusha City town tour: $101
  • Arusha Full Day Tour to Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $140

Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Palace Tickets
    $2.18
  • Golf at Atlas Golf
    $62

Tours and Activities in Marrakech

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

  • "Mogador Camel Expedition Ecotour | Private & Luxury: $195
  • 1-day private tour from Marrakech to Kasbah Ait Benhaddou & Telouet: $142
  • 1-night Atlas Mountain Experience from Marrakech with Hike and Camel Ride: $130
  • 1000 & 1 Night at the Agafay Desert - White Camel Camp Experience: $275
  • 2 Day Check-out Tour from Marrakech to Zagora: $80
  • 2 Day Desert Tour From Marrakech To Zagora Marrakech Desert Tours: $150
  • 2 Day Mt. Toubkal Trekking Tour from Marrakech: $224
  • 2 Day Private Tour to Ouarzazate: $189
  • 2 Day Zagora Adventure from Marrakech Quad Biking and Camel Ride: $282
  • 2 Day Zagora Tour from Marrakech Including the Atlas Mountains, Camel Trek and Desert Camp: $272
  • 2 Day in Atlas Mountains Tour from Marrakech: $150
  • 2 Days / 1 Night Zagora Desert Tour , Group & private: $114

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $10
    Marrakech $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:

  • Marrakech Nightlife Adventure: The Ultimate Pub Crawl: $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Marrakech, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Marrakech much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Marrakech would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Marrakech 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 Marrakech.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Marrakech Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Marrakech?

Marrakech has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Marrakech, 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.