Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Bodh Gaya?
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 Bodh Gaya or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Bodh Gaya or Essaouira, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Bodh Gaya or Essaouira?
Bodh Gaya
Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.
Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.
Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.
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 Cultural Tours in India, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Bodh Gaya Prices
India PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBodh Gaya $55Essaouira $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Bodh Gaya is $55, 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 Bodh Gaya and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBodh Gaya $19Essaouira $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBodh Gaya $38Essaouira $56
Compare Hotels in Bodh Gaya and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Bodh Gaya 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: Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bodh Gaya $20Essaouira $2.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya
Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3 Day Private Bodhgaya Sightseeing Tour with Transfer: $120
- Private Airport Transfer Gaya to or from Bodhgaya Hotel: $25
- Gaya Airport (GAY) Private Transfer to Gaya City/Hotels: $25
- Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Airport: $13
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13
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: $290
- Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech: $114
- Transfer services between Essaouira Airport and the city center: $18
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $127
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $142
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech: $118
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira: $107
- Private transfer Essaouira Taroudant.: $201
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira 1 to 4 people: $109
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport: $139
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech: $115
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Taroudant: $237
Is it cheaper to fly into Bodh Gaya or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Bodh Gaya 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 dayBodh Gaya $24Essaouira $25
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.51
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Breakfast Crepes$0.54
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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: $31
- Cooking class: How To Be a Real Moroccan Chef: $41
- Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner: $48
- Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience: $53
- Kids Moroccan Cooking Class: $53
- Sidi Kaouki Sunset Walk and Berber Tent Dinner by Atlantic: $53
- Essaouira Cooking Class At Home: $53
- Souk Stories Essaouira Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Essaouira Berber Cooking Class & Organic Farm Tour Al Aaila Farm: $65
- Essaouira Family Dinner Experience: $66
- Essaouira Street Food Tour: $70
- Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bodh Gaya $8.58Essaouira $13
Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya
For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $43
- Bodhgaya Full Day Tour: $63
- Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $52
- Exclusive Guided Tour of Bodh Gaya: $227
- Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $31
- Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $49
- Guided Tour of Bodhgaya Temples and Buddha Sites: $130
- Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
- Half Day Private Guided Tour in Bodh Gaya & Dungeshwari Caves: $88
- Private Guided Tour of Bodhgaya with Hotel Pickup: $46
- Private Guided Vaishali Day Tour from Bodhgaya: $121
- Private Rajgir and Nalanda Tour from Bodhgaya to Patna: $144
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: $296
- 1-Day Quad Adventure in Essaouira near Marrakech: $210
- 1-hour buggy tour in Essaouira desert (2 places/buggy): $78
- 2 – Hours Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Desert with Moroccan Tea: $58
- 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $53
- 2 Seater Dune and Ocean Buggy Tour: $59
- 2-hour quad adventure between beach and dunes: $59
- 3-Days Desert Tour From Fes to Marrakech: $201
- 3H Buggy Adventure – Dunes, Ocean & Sunset Ride: $236
- Beginners surf experience in Essaouira: $34
- Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $76
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBodh Gaya $4.93Essaouira $9.94
When comparing the travel costs between Bodh Gaya and Essaouira, we can see that Essaouira is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Bodh Gaya is in Asia and Essaouira is in Africa, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bodh Gaya Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bodh Gaya or Essaouira?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Bodh Gaya 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.