A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cairo vs. Merzouga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cairo or Merzouga?

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 Merzouga 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 Merzouga?

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.

Merzouga

Let's say you want to truly get away. I don't mean putting your ear buds in on some beach with a stronger on the next chair over. I mean really get away, and find yourself deserted. Merzouga, Morocco lets you do just that. This land of sand dune after sand dune is ideal for anyone yearning to ride a camel to the ends of civilization. And you'll find plenty of options to get here with a tour, or even on your own.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Cairo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $30, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $22. 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 Merzouga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $10
    Merzouga $10
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $20
    Merzouga $20
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Merzouga

Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Merzouga? 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 Cairo


Hotels in Merzouga


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 Merzouga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.46
    Merzouga -
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo

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


  • Metro Ride
    $0.08
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.29

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:

  • VIP Meet and assist with transfer from Cairo and SPX Airport: $7.50
  • Private Arrival Transfer From Cairo Airport: $8.80
  • Cairo CAI Airport Private Transfer to/from Cairo/El Omraniya: $8.82
  • Cairo Airport (CAI) Private Transfer From or To All Cairo Hotells: $9.16
  • Private Transfer To/From Cairo Airport: $10
  • Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel in Cairo& Giza: $10
  • Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel Vise Versa: $10
  • Private Cairo Airport Transfer to City Center: $11
  • Private Transfer from Cairo Airport: $12
  • VIP Private Cairo Airport Transfer To Or From Cairo , Giza Hotels: $12
  • Private Pickup transfer from Cairo Pyramids Hotel to Cairo airport: $12
  • Cairo Airport Arrival or Departure private Transfer: $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:

  • Merzouga Luxury Camp & With Transfer included: $74

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Merzouga?

Prices for flights to both Merzouga 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 $16
    Merzouga $10
Typical Food Prices in Cairo

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


  • Juice
    $0.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo

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

  • Giza Pyramids Sphinx , ATV, camel ride Plus Nile Dinner Cruise: $3.00
  • Explore Giza Pyramids with Camel, ATV, Dinner Cruise, & Shopping: $5.00
  • 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
  • Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $7.00
  • Cairo Dinner Nile Cruise with Belly Dancer Show on Nile River: $7.00
  • Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
  • Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
  • Giza pyramids, sphinx &ATV +Nile Dinner cruise: $8.00
  • 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing: $8.00
  • Cairo (Dance, Sing and Eat ) Nile Dinner Cruise Show &Open Buffet: $8.00
  • Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise Belly Dancer Tanora Show Dinner Buffet: $8.00
  • Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $8.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga

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

  • Merzouga Cooking Class Familye: $43
  • Desert excursion with camel trek into the camp Dinner breakfast: $50
  • Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $50
  • Private trip 4x4 in Merzouga Lunch with Berber Pizza: $57
  • From 1 Night in the luxury camp. Camel ride and dinner: $57
  • Merzouga Luxury AC/ Heating Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $63
  • Overnight At Luxury Desert Camp with Camel Ride and Dinner: $69
  • Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
  • Merzouga Desert Camp with Camel trek & Dinner and 4x4 Experience: $115
  • Merzouga Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour: $137
  • Erfoud Desert Tour, Sunset, Dinner, Camel Ride, Visit the Nomads: $148
  • From 2-Nights In Luxury Camp with Camel Trek & Dinner.: $171

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $8.29
    Merzouga -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo

Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entry to Camel Market for Two
    $0.77
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $5.90

Tours and Activities in Cairo

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

  • Top Day 5 Hours Day Tour Pyramid Saqqar Pyramid Memphis City: $2.00
  • Private VIP Giza Tour+ New Musuem + Market: $3.59
  • Shopping Tour to all the Egyptian governments shops handmade: $4.00
  • Best-Selling Giza Pyramids Tour: Camel Ride, Lunch &Private Guide: $4.00
  • Egyptian Spicy Shop and Egyptian Cotton Shopping Private Tour: $5.00
  • Egyptian Spicy Shop Shopping Private Tour: $5.00
  • Saqqara , Memphis and Dahsur Day Tour: $5.00
  • VIP Private Tour Giza Pyramid camel ride and inside 3rd Pyramid: $5.00
  • Luxury Private Pyramids Tour with Lunch and Camel Ride: $5.00
  • 3-Hour Private Tour of Papyrus and Perfumes in Ancient Egypt: $5.00
  • ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,camel ride , inside 3rd Pyramid: $5.00
  • ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,camel ride , inside Pyramid: $5.00

Tours and Activities in Merzouga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:

  • 4×4 Jeep Tour in Merzouga: $3.44
  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp: $3.44
  • Merzouga Sunset Adventure: Camel, Quad, Buggy or 4WD: $23
  • From Sunset Camel Trek & Sandboarding Adventure.: $29
  • Camel Ride Experience: $29
  • Merzouga dunes quad biking & Sandboarding Experience: $32
  • Merzouga Quad Biking Experience: $32
  • ATV Quad bikes in sahara dunes experience & sandboarding: $33
  • Desert 4×4 Tour Around Merzouga: $34
  • 2 Hour Quad Desert Experience with Sandboarding: $36
  • 4x4 tours in Merzouga: $37
  • Merzouga Private 3 Hours Jeep Tour: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.35
    Merzouga -

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: $69
  • Cairo Autumn Downtown Food & Bar Crawl with Drinks: $109


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Merzouga Expensive?.