Which place is cheaper, Marrakech or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $17Marrakech $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $17, while the average daily cost in Marrakech is $71. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $9.19Marrakech $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $18Marrakech $96
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Marrakech
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $2.93Marrakech $6.52
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- private transfer from Cairo to Alexandria: $70
- one transfer from airport to Cairo Giza hotels or hotels to Cairo airport: $27
- 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
- Transfer your private departure from your hotel to Cairo Airport: $20
- Transfer to Cairo & Giza Hotels From Cairo Airport: $35
- Transfer from Hurghada to Luxor (sharing ): $126
- Transfer from Cairo to Alexandria ( Private ): $55
- Transfer from Cairo to Ain El Sokhna : $70
- Transfer from Cairo or Giza Hotels to Cairo Airport: $13
- Transfer from Cairo Airports to Hotels in Cairo: $78
- Transfer from Cairo Airport to the Hotel: $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech
Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Marrakech Transfer one way: $23
- Airport Transfers in Marrakech: $17
- ESSAOUIRA Day Trip from Marrakech with Transfers: $31
- Hammam and Massage Experience with Transfers: $80
- Private Transfer From Marrakech To Fez: $216
- transfer Marrakech from/to Essaouira one way trip .: $102
- "Marrakech to Chefchaouen: Your Exclusive Private Transfer": $250
- Agadir : Private Transfer to Marrakech Comfort Convenience: $162
- Agadir private transfer from Imouzzer Ida Ou Tanane to Agadir airport (AGA): $109
- Agadir private transfer from Marrakech to Agadir airport (AGA): $171
- Agafay Desert 2h of Quad Bike Adventure With Tea & Transfer: $37
- Agafay Desert Pool Day with Shuttle Transfer: $85
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
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Food Meals for one dayCairo $4.66Marrakech $13
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $6.69
- Giza Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $11
- Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo with entertainment Shows Dine & Sail: $11
- Dinner Cruise On the Nile with Belly Dancing Show: $11
- Cairo Dinner Cruise on the River Nile with Belly Dancing Show: $11
- Cairo dinner Cruise with Belly dancer show: $11
- 2-Hour Nile River Dinner Cruise From Cairo: $11
- Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo with Belly Dancing and Hotel Transfer: $11
- Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo With Belly Dancing and Transfer : $11
- Night Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $11
- Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise with entertainment shows include pickup : $11
- Private Cairo Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $11
Typical Food Prices in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orange Juice on the Square$0.31
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Breakfast$1.24
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Dates$0.62
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Olives$0.93
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Sandwich$1.34
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Souvenir Spices$6.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride and Dinner from Marrakech: $15
- From Dinner in Agafay Desert with Sunset: $19
- Dinner in Agafay desert from Marrakech & camel riding: $19
- Cooking Lesson at the Ouirgane Ecolodge with Lunch: $19
- Sunset Dinner in the Agafay Desert: $20
- Agafay Desert Camel Ride and Dinner Show: $20
- From Sunset Dinner in the Agafay Desert: $20
- From Agafay Desert Sunset at Dinner And Fireshow: $21
- Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride and Dinner Show: $21
- Agafay Camel ride with Dinner from Marrakesh : $21
- Marrakech : Moroccan Cooking Class with our Executive Chef: $21
- Agafay Camel Ride Sunset and Dinner with Show: $21
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $5.65Marrakech $7.25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.83
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.38
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
- 2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo : $300
- 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $253
- 2-Day Tour Ancient Egypt and Old Cairo Highlights Tour: $290
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 3-Day Private Tour in Cairo : $196
- 3-Day Tour at Cairo & Giza : $200
- 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
- 4-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza & Alexandria: $209
- Alexandria Private Day Tour From Cairo: $60
- All Inclusive Full-Day Tour to Pyramids, Museum, mosque and Felucca: $79
- All Inclusive day tour to Giza pyramids, Egyptian museum and Felucca : $94
Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Palace Tickets$2.06
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Golf at Atlas Golf$58
Tours and Activities in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Marrakesh: Cactus Thiemann Entry Ticket: $8.58
- From Ourika Valley and Atlas Mountains Day Tour: $11
- Top Marrakech Souk Shopping Tour: Authentic Moroccan Souvenirs: $11
- High Atlas Adventure: Discover Ourika Valley and Berber Culture: $11
- Atlas Mountain, Berber Villages, & Valleys Tour: $12
- From Atlas Mountains and Ourika Valley Tour: $12
- Explore Ouzoud waterfalls Marrakech Guided Hike & Boat Experience: $13
- 2-Days Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora & Ait Ben Haddou: $15
- Private Walking Tour Visit in Marrakech with Licensed Guide: $15
- Marrakech Vibrant Souks: A private tour: $15
- withlocale Guide Marrakech city tour medina & souks : $16
- From Marrakesh: Ourika Valley & Atlas Mountains Day Tour: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.15Marrakech $15
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: $56
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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Marrakech Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Marrakech?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Marrakech. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and 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 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.