Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Aswan?
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 Aswan or Merzouga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Aswan or Merzouga? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Aswan or Merzouga?
Aswan
Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.
Merzouga
Let's say you want to truly get away. I don't mean putting your ear buds in on some beach with a stronger on the next chair over. I mean really get away, and find yourself deserted. Merzouga, Morocco lets you do just that. This land of sand dune after sand dune is ideal for anyone yearning to ride a camel to the ends of civilization. And you'll find plenty of options to get here with a tour, or even on your own.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Aswan Prices
Egypt PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAswan $31Merzouga $24
The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $31, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $24. 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 Aswan and Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAswan $10Merzouga $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAswan $20Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Merzouga? 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: Aswan Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aswan $5.70Merzouga -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- Private Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $7.00
- Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Private Transfer: $7.00
- Private transfer from/to Aswan train station: $7.00
- Private Airport Transfer in Aswan: $7.00
- Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
- Private Aswan Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $10
- Aswan Hotel to Airport: Reliable Private Transfer Service: $10
- Aswan Airport Transfer To Hotel: $11
- Private Aswan Airport Transfer Service: $12
- Private Airport Transfer in Aswan: $13
- Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Aswan: $13
- Private Transfer from Aswan Airport to Anywhere in Aswan: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Aswan 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 dayAswan $16Merzouga $11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
- Savor Nubian Cuisine: Lunch or Dinner in a Local Village: $50
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
- Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
- Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
- Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
- Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $47
- From 1 Night in the luxury camp. Camel ride and dinner: $60
- Cooking class in Merzouga Make Berber Madfouna in Sand: $60
- Merzouga Luxury AC Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $66
- Sunset With Dinner And Berber Music in Merzouga Desert With 4WD : $66
- Private Trip By Jeep In Merzouga Desert, Lunch with Berber Pizza: $90
- Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
- 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aswan $9.77Merzouga -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:
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Temple Kom Ombo for Two$1.26
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
- Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $10
- Shared Half-Day tour of The Nubian Village: $10
- Private 2 Hour Guided Tour to Philae Temple from Aswan: $15
- Nubian Museum Tour: $15
- Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
- Half Day Philae Temple and High-Dam Private Tour in Aswan: $18
- 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
- Philae Temple Secrets: Private Aswan Adventure: $20
- High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, & Philae Private Tour: $20
- Nubian Village Tour: $20
- Aswan Engineering Marvels Private High Dam & Obelisk Tour: $20
- "Aswan Gems: Private Tour of Dam, Obelisk & Philae Temple": $20
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- Merzouga Quad and Buggy Desert Tour: $40
- ATV Quad bikes experience & sandboarding : $41
- Merzouga Jeep Tour with or without local lunch: $42
- Merzouga 4x4 Desert Excursion - Sahara 4WD Adventure: $45
- 4WD Desert tour Adventure Experience: $45
- Merzouga 4x4 Tour Excursion Around Erg Chebbi Dunes: $47
- Ultimate Desert Adventure – Quads, Buggies, Motorcycles & Camels!: $47
- Merzouga Explorer Tour: Desert Life, Nomads and Gnawa Music: $48
- Merzouga Desert Excursion - Sahara 4x4 Adventure: $48
- Merzouga Desert Quad bike Adventure with Sand boarding: $48
- Sahara Desert Quad & Buggy Adventure in Merzouga: $48
- Sanding Ball in Experience the sand dunes on a zorbing activity: $54
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAswan $1.12Merzouga -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Merzouga, we can see that Aswan is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Merzouga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merzouga 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 Aswan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aswan than you might in Merzouga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aswan Expensive? and Is Merzouga Expensive?.
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.