Which place is cheaper, Marseille or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beirut or Marseille?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut and Marseille. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Beirut or Marseille?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.26Marseille $158
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.26, while the average daily cost in Marseille is $158. 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 Beirut and Marseille in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Marseille $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Marseille $152
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Marseille
Looking for a hotel in Beirut or Marseille? 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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Marseille Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Marseille $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport to Beirut: $46
- Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $18
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- Hiking Day Trip to Chouwen Lake with Hotel Transfers: $86
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.89
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer: $13
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $15
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $201
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $10
- Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel: $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Marseille
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
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Metro Pass$3.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfert aéroport de Marseille -> Marseille centre/hôtels: $194
- Transfert Aéroport Marseille vers : $226
- Transfer from Marseille Airport to Train Station / Ports / Hotels: $164
- Transfer between Marseille airport and Marseille city: $85
- Transfer Marseille city center to Marseille Airport: $87
- Transfer Marseille Provence Airport ↔ Cruise Port: $104
- Transfer Marseille Airport to Marseille city center: $90
- Transfer : $85
- Taxi aéroport Marseille cassis transfer port Cruise: $151
- Provence airport transfers: $131
- Private transfer from Marseille Airport to Cavaillon: $280
- Private transfer by car: Marseille airport to / from Cassis-La Ciotat: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Marseille?
Prices for flights to both Marseille and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $0.71Marseille $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $30
- Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers: $142
Typical Food Prices in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orangina$2.68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Web-cooking workshop / French cuisine or French pastry: $35
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Marseille! (Cours Julien): $64
- Sunset Boat Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $73
- Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $74
- Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
- Bakeries, Chocolate & Patisseries Food Tour: $94
- Marseille Sunset Apéro Food tour: $97
- Evening Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Sunset Sailing Dinner in the Frioul Archipelago: $102
- Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Marseille Miam Miam Food tour: $104
- Marseille Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $108
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26Marseille $41
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Days Lebanon Holiday Tour Package: $250
- 3 Hours ATV Rental Guided Tour in Nature: $130
- 3 days tour package : Jeita grotto-Byblos-Baalbek & Beirut tour: $295
- 3-Day Tour of Beirut with Pick Up: $250
- ATV (2 Seat) Full Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $150
- ATV (2 Seat) Half Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $120
- All in 1 Lebanon Local Multi day Tour, 3 days: $289
- Baalbek Tour: $111
- Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Group Tour: $95
- Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Guided Full-Day Tour from Beirut: $90
- Baatara Gorge Waterfall, Jeita Grotto and Byblos Tour: $170
- Beirut 3 museums + mini walking tour: $50
Tours and Activities in Marseille
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Old Marseille" district tour and treasure hunt: $27
- 2H: City-Tour Marseille: $274
- 3h Kayak Tour at Calanques National Park: $68
- A Day in Provence Small Group Tour from Marseille: $180
- Accrobranche - Ecopark Adventures Marseille Saint-Jérôme: $26
- Aix-en-Provence: Half-Day Shore Excursion Tour: $646
- All Inclusive Food & History Tour of Marseille with Local Guide: $144
- Beer tasting experience in Marseille: $43
- Bookbinding experience in the Vieux Port: $93
- Calanques National Park Kayak Day Tour: $113
- Calanques Trilogy Electric Bike Tour from Marseille: $66
- Canyoning Half Day Tour from La Ciotat : $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Marseille $29
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour at Chateau Musar and Ixsir : $50
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour: $56
- Uncorking Splendor: A Journey Through Private Wine Tasting Tours: $60
- Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries: $60
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting : $60
- Wine Tasting and Culture : $69
- Wine Tasting and Hiking in the Cedars forest : $69
- From Full Day Wine Tasting in the Bekaa Valley Tour: $90
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut: $91
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour to Chateau Musar and Ixsir Winery: $100
- Full-Day Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour from Beirut: $103
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
- Marseille Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $22
- Marseille Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $27
- Marseille Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $43
- New Year's Eve Bar Crawl Marseille France: $65
- Short Day Tour around Aix en Provence and Wine Tasting : $119
- Bandol and Cassis: Full Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Luberon: Full-Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille: $146
- Full-Day Wine Tour around Luberon from Marseille: $146
- Marseille Shore Excursion - Full Day Wine Tour in Provence: $164
- Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion : Avignon & Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour: $164
- Côtes du Rhône Wine tour: Avignon, Palace of the Popes: $165
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Marseille, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East and Marseille is in Europe, 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille than you might in Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Marseille Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Marseille?
Beirut has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Marseille. When comparing the sizes of Beirut and Marseille, 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.
When is the best time to visit Beirut or Marseille?
Marseille has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Beirut experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Beirut or Marseille in the Summer?
Both Marseille and Beirut are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Beirut throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Beirut is a little warmer than Marseille. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beirut in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Marseille averages at about 24°C (75°F).
It's quite sunny in Marseille. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beirut. Beirut usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during summer. Beirut gets 369 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Beirut usually receives less rain than Marseille. Beirut gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeirut 27°C (81°F)Marseille 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Marseille in the Autumn?
Both Marseille and Beirut during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Beirut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Marseille because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Beirut is generally much warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Beirut average around 25°C (77°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Beirut. In the autumn, Beirut often gets more sunshine than Marseille. Beirut gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun.
Beirut usually gets less rain in October than Marseille. Beirut gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeirut 25°C (77°F)Marseille 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Marseille in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Beirut and Marseille. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Beirut year-round. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.
Beirut is much warmer than Marseille in the winter. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and Marseille fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
Beirut usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during winter. Beirut gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun in the winter.
Beirut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Beirut usually receives more rain than Marseille. Beirut gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeirut 13°C (55°F)Marseille 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Marseille in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Beirut as well as Marseille. Beirut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Beirut is a little warmer than Marseille. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beirut in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Marseille averages at about 13°C (56°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beirut this time of the year. In the spring, Beirut often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Beirut gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun.
Beirut usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Marseille. Beirut gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeirut 17°C (63°F)Marseille 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Marseille and Beirut
| Beirut | Marseille | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
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.