A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bodh Gaya vs. Ouarzazate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bodh Gaya or Ouarzazate?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Bodh Gaya or Ouarzazate, 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 Ouarzazate?

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.

Ouarzazate

Morocco can be quite an energetic country, but if you're looking for more of a quiet getaway, consider Ouarzazate. Small by Moroccan standards, this town is built up mostly around a main street – the Avenue Mohammad V. Ouarzazate. The name "Ouarzazate" comes from the Berber language meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." It was once a crossroad for a African traders traveling to northern cities in Morocco and Europe. Today, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara, and its central location serves as a good home base touring the rest of Morocco.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in India, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Bodh Gaya?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bodh Gaya is $52, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $42. 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 Ouarzazate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bodh Gaya $22
    Ouarzazate $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bodh Gaya $44
    Ouarzazate $42
Compare Hotels in Bodh Gaya and Ouarzazate

Looking for a hotel in Bodh Gaya or Ouarzazate? 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 Bodh Gaya


Hotels in Ouarzazate


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 Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bodh Gaya $23
    Ouarzazate $3.39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya

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

  • Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Airport: $13
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:

  • Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $187
  • Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $310
  • Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
  • Ouarzazate Airport transfer: $22
  • "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107

Is it cheaper to fly into Bodh Gaya or Ouarzazate?

Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bodh Gaya $16
    Ouarzazate $16

Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:


  • Dinner for Two
    $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ouarzazate.

  • Private Berber Cooking Class at Fint Oasis with Lunch: $33
  • Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $66

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bodh Gaya $9.82
    Ouarzazate $11

Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya

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

  • Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
  • Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $32
  • Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $34
  • Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $39
  • Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $53
  • Excursion tour of Rajgir & Nalanda from Bodhgaya: $63
  • From Varanasi: Private Same Day Bodhgaya Tour: $144
  • Private guided tour of Bodh Gaya over 2 days : $175
  • Exclusive Guided Tour of Bodh Gaya: $227
  • Spiritual, Bodhgaya Tour (01 Night / 02 Days): $336

Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate

Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
  • 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $126
  • 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
  • 4 day Fantastic Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech via desert: $466
  • 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $1,514
  • Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
  • Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,086
  • Desert by Quad: 5 Days of Pure Adventure from Ouarzazate: $2,897
  • Experience of kasbah ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate city: $131
  • Fez to Merzouga & Marrakech Combined 3 Day Desert Tour: $214
  • From Agadir : 4-Day Private Desert Tour To Zagora & Merzouga: $574
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $384

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bodh Gaya $5.64
    Ouarzazate -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bodh Gaya and Ouarzazate, we can see that Bodh Gaya is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bodh Gaya is in Asia and Ouarzazate is in Africa, 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 Ouarzazate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ouarzazate 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 Bodh Gaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bodh Gaya than you might in Ouarzazate.

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 Ouarzazate Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bodh Gaya or Ouarzazate?

Ouarzazate has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Bodh Gaya and Ouarzazate, 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.

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