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.
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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.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $30Merzouga $24
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $30, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $24. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $10Merzouga $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $20Merzouga $22
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.46Merzouga -
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$0.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Private City Transfer to Cairo and Giza: $4.09
- Private Transfer: Cairo Airport Arrival Any Hotel in Cairo Giza: $5.60
- Cairo Airport Private Transfer ( One-Way comfort ride ): $10
- Private Transfer to/from Cairo International Airport: $10
- Private Cairo Airport Transfers & Limousine to Anywhere in Cairo or vice versa: $10
- Cairo airport or Sphinx airport transfer: $10
- Private Transfer: Cairo Airport (CAI) to Hotel in Cairo/Giza: $11
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport: $12
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis: $12
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski: $12
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to The Nile Ritz-Carlton Hotel: $12
- Private Pickup transfer from InterContinental Cairo Citystars to Cairo airport: $12
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
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Food Meals for one dayCairo $16Merzouga $11
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.
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $4.00
- Cairo dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $6.30
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $6.30
- Cairo Food Tour – Discover Hidden Downtown Gems: $7.20
- Cairo Dinner Cruise in Nile River With Belly Dancer & Tanora show: $7.20
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $7.20
- Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Camel Ride,ATV Bike,Shopping, Dinner cruise: $8.00
- Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise Belly Dancer Tanora Show Dinner Buffet: $8.10
- Giza pyramids, Sphinx, ATV bike,Camel ride,Dinner cruise&shopping: $8.10
- Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $8.10
- Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea: $8.10
- Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $8.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- Berber Pizza Cooking Class: $35
- Merzouga Cooking Class Familye: $46
- Desert excursion with camel trek into the camp Dinner breakfast: $50
- Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $52
- Cooking class in Merzouga Make Berber Madfouna in Sand: $59
- Merzouga Luxury AC/ Heating Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $65
- Private trip 4x4 in Merzouga Lunch with Berber Pizza: $71
- Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
- 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $8.27Merzouga -
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$0.76
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$5.89
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full experience Tour Giza Pyramids,Sphinx, inside pyramids &tombs: $2.00
- Giza Pyramids Tour, Sphinx, Camel Ride and Shopping: $3.00
- Private Day tour in Khan Elkhalele Market with Shopping and Lunch: $3.00
- Top Day Giza Pyramids the Top complete Pyramids Tour in Cairo: $3.50
- VIP Shopping Private Tour Papyrus Perfume Bazaars and Cotton: $3.60
- Cheap Day tour Giza Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum,Felucca: $3.75
- Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx Day Tour: $4.00
- Full-Day Giza Pyramids,Sphinx, Saqqara&Memphis All-Inclusive Tour: $4.00
- Half Day Private Tour of the Giza Pyramids with Camel Ride, Lunch: $4.00
- Giza pyramids Tour with horse drawn carriage or camel ride: $4.00
- VIP Pyramid Tour Inside the 3rd Pyramid with Lunch and Camel Ride: $4.00
- Grand Egyptian Museum&Giza Pyramids All-Inclusive Tour with Lunch: $4.00
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- Merzouga 1 hour Quad bikes experience: $2.82
- Merzouga Desert Experience Camel Ride Private Tent and Bathroom: $3.54
- Quad Biking Desert Tour in Erg Chebbi Dunes: $3.54
- ATV Quads Adventure in Erg Chebbi, Merzouga: $12
- Merzouga Sunset Adventure: Camel, Quad, Buggy or 4WD: $23
- From Erg Chebbi "Buggy & Quad bike Tour ": $23
- Camel Ride Experience: $30
- Merzouga 4x4 Desert Experience: $34
- ATV Quad bikes in sahara dunes experience & sandboarding: $34
- Adventure in Merzouga with Quads, Jeep Tours, Camel Ride camping: $35
- Merzouga 4X4 Adventure : Nomad Family & Gnawa Music Experience: $37
- Desert 4×4 Tour Around Merzouga: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.34Merzouga -
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: $70
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?.
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.