Should you visit Cairo 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 Cairo 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: Cairo or Marrakech?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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.
Which place is cheaper, Marrakech or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $27, while the average daily cost in Marrakech is $68. 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 Cairo and Marrakech in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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.
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:
Cairo Hotel Prices and
Marrakech Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
-
Metro Ride
$0.13
-
Taxi Ride
$0.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
-
private transfer from Cairo to Alexandria:
$130
-
private tour to Abusimble transfer to Luxor and visiting Edfu :
$175
-
one transfer from airport to Cairo Giza hotels or hotels to Cairo airport:
$27
-
VIP Meet and Assist upon arrival at Cairo Airport- (with Hotel Private Transfer):
$37
-
VIP Meet and Assist in Cairo Airport with Private Transfer to Cairo Hotels:
$49
-
Two-Day Private City Tour of Cairo, Giza Pyramids and Saqqara+Airport Transfer:
$220
-
Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cairo HTL-APT (CAI):
$33
-
Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cairo APT-HTL (CAI):
$33
-
Transfer your private departure from your hotel to Cairo Airport:
$20
-
Transfer to Cairo & Giza Hotels From Cairo Airport:
$35
-
Transfer from Hurghada to Cairo by van :
$235
-
Transfer from Hurghada To Luxor:
$110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech
Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Marrakech Transfer one way:
$22
-
From Private Transfer Airport to Your Hotel or Riad:
$8.86
-
Hammam and Massage Experience with Transfers:
$58
-
Hotel Transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca by Coach Bus:
$44
-
Marrakech Airport Private Transfer:
$13
-
Private Transfer Agadir airport - Marrakech:
$166
-
Private Transfer From Marrakech To Fez:
$211
-
Private transfer Marrakech medina to or from Agafay desert camps:
$22
-
Transfer Marrakech to Agadir & Marrakech to Agadir One way:
$116
-
private transfer : Marrakech from or to Oualidia Beach & hôtels:
$78
-
transfer Marrakech from/to Essaouira one way trip .:
$50
-
transfer from Marrakech city to Agadir city (AGA) one-way:
$83
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Marrakech?
Prices for flights to both Marrakech and Cairo 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
Cairo $7.32
Marrakech $12
Typical Food prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
-
Unusual Cairo Food Tour :
$15
-
Delicious food tour in Cairo:
$15
-
2-Hour Nile River Night Dinner Cruise from Cairo:
$16
-
Family Safari, ATV Quad Bike, Buggy, Dinner, Transfer - Hurghada:
$16
-
Dinner Cruise on the Nile with Private Transfer from Cairo:
$16
-
Super Safari ATV , Drive Buggy Car, Camel Ride, Dinner, Show-Hurghada:
$19
-
Dinner Cruise Cairo With Belly Dancer Show in The Nile River:
$20
-
Food Tour in Local Cairo Life with Egyptian tea:
$22
-
Romantic Nile View Dinner:
$23
-
Quad Bike ATV Camel Ride Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show:
$23
-
local oriental food tour from Cairo or Giza hotels:
$24
-
Private full day Giza Pyramids and Egyptian Museum with Nile Dinner Cruise:
$24
Typical Food prices in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
6 Hour Agafay Desert Sunset Tour with Camel Ride and Dinner:
$8.00
-
Private Desert Agafay Sunset, Camel Ride & Dinner from Marrakech:
$9.60
-
From Marrakesh: Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride, and Dinner:
$9.60
-
Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride with Dinner Show:
$10
-
Marrakesh: Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride, and Dinner:
$12
-
Dinner In Agafay Desert & Camel Ride with lovely Sunset :
$12
-
Desert Agafay Camel Ride with Dinner and Sunset:
$12
-
Live show and Dinner in Agafay Desert:
$14
-
Magical Dinner in Marrakech Desert and camel ride at sunset with Transportation:
$15
-
From Marrakesh : Atlas Mountains , Dinner With The Stars:
$15
-
Dinner and Camel Ride under the Starry Sky of Agafay Desert:
$17
-
Online Moroccan Cooking Class:
$17
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch:
$180
-
11 Days 10 Nights to Luxury Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise and Cairo:
$9,957
-
2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo :
$300
-
2 Days White Desert and Bahariya Oasis Tour:
$231
-
2 Days White Desert and Bahariya Oasis Tour:
$279
-
2 Days White, Black Deserts, and Bahariya Oasis Tour From Cairo :
$350
-
2 Days in Cairo & Giza Private Tour :
$80
-
2 Nights Cruise Aswan to Luxor INC Balloon by Flight from Cairo:
$1,145
-
2 days Tour To Luxor From Cairo By Flight With Hot air Balloon :
$670
-
2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums:
$219
-
2-Day Cairo Giza Highlights Guided Tour including Camel Ride All inclusive :
$40
-
2-Day Egypt Desert Rose Tour:
$329
Typical Entertainment prices in Marrakech
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Palace Tickets
$1.98
-
Golf at Atlas Golf
$56
Tours and Activities in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Atlas Mountains Tour from Marrakesh:
$3.40
-
Tour of a Moroccan Leather Workshop (by Germans):
$5.16
-
Skip the Line: Woven History Museum Ticket - musée Histoire Tissée:
$6.83
-
Marrakesh: Cactus Thiemann Entry Ticket:
$8.25
-
From Mountains & Ourika Valley Tour w/ Camel Ride:
$9.29
-
Ourika Valley Day Trip From Marrakech Private Day Tour:
$9.99
-
Exploring Palmerai on a Majestic sun set camel experience:
$12
-
Anima Garden Admission Ticket:
$13
-
Marrakech Camel Ride Experience with Pick-up:
$14
-
Deligh waterfall Ouzod day tour from marrakesh:
$15
-
Historical Marrakech Walking Tour:
$15
-
Marrakech Escorted Souk Tour:
$15
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
-
Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks:
$60
Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:
-
Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks:
$26
-
Moroccan Wine tasting from Marrakech at Atlas Mountains & Desert and Camel ride:
$111
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Marrakech, we can see that Marrakech is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Marrakech would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marrakech than you might in Cairo.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Marrakech?
Cairo is bigger, and its population is about 9.2 times larger than the population of Marrakech. When comparing the population of Cairo vs. 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 and the activities that interest you.
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