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

Should you visit Cairo or Ouarzazate?

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 Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate?

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.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate 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 $33, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $60. 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 Ouarzazate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $11
    Ouarzazate $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $22
    Ouarzazate $48
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Ouarzazate

Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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 Cairo


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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.80
    Ouarzazate $3.76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo

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


  • Metro Ride
    $0.08
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:

  • Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh : $290
  • Private transfer from Cairo Airport to The Nile Ritz-Carlton Hotel: $12
  • Private transfer from The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo to Cairo airport: $12
  • Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx Half Day Tour With Private Guide & Transfers : $135
  • Transfers From Cairo Airport: $13
  • 01 way Transfer from hotel in Cairo to Alexandria: $35
  • 1 Day Aswan Abu Simple Tour with Transfer Included: $300
  • 1 Hour ATV Quad Bike Ride At Giza Pyramids With Private Transfer : $30
  • 1 Way Pick up transfer from Cairo to Hurghada by private Car: $60
  • 1 Way Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Le Meridien Heliopolis: $18
  • 2 Days Private Guided Tours of Cairo and Giza with Free Cairo Airport Transfers: $200
  • 2 Days Private Guided Tours of Cairo and Giza with Free Cairo Airport Transfers: $280

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:

  • "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $115
  • Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $30
  • Private Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Ouarzazate?

Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate 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 $18
    Ouarzazate $31
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.

  • Great tour toThe Grand Museum of Giza and Nile River DinnerCruise: $5.00
  • Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
  • 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
  • Cairo dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $7.00
  • Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $7.00
  • Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
  • night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
  • Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $9.00
  • food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $9.00
  • Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea: $9.00
  • 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing : $9.00
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $9.00

Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate

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


  • Dinner for Two
    $12

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: $48

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $9.09
    Ouarzazate $12
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
    $0.84
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $6.47

Tours and Activities in Cairo

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

  • ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,camel ride , inside 3rd Pyramid: $1.00
  • Cheap Day tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx With Camel Rid : $2.00
  • Cheap Day tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx With Camel Rid With lunch: $2.50
  • Best Egypt Tour Giza Pyramids Sphinx lunch fees camel 9rd pyramid: $3.50
  • VIP privatr tour Giza pyramids sphins &Saqqara and Memphis : $3.50
  • Chep Day Tour Pyramids Giza, Memphis, Saqqara and Camel: $4.00
  • All inclusive Tour To Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel Ride, Lunch: $4.50
  • Private Tour in Pyramids of Giza with Lunch and Camel Ride: $4.50
  • Egyptian Spicy Shop and Egyptian Cotton Shopping Private Tour: $5.00
  • Full Experience Giza pyramids,Sphinx,Camel ride&inside Pyramid : $5.00
  • Shopping Tour Discover Khan El Khalili & More: $5.00
  • Private shopping tours from Cairo/Giza hotel with expert guide : $5.00

Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate

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

  • Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $24
  • 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
  • Ouzoud Waterfall Day Tour from Marrakech: $32
  • Private half-day mountain bike tour discover Palmeraie Skoura: $33
  • Royal Private Tour of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou: $42
  • Guided tour of the Palmerie de Skoura by electric mountain bike : $54
  • Private Quad Experience in the Ouarzazate Desert: $54
  • Marrakech Palm Grove 2-Hour Quad Biking Adventure.: $54
  • Marrakech Half-Day Guided City Tour : $72
  • Private One Day Tour AIT BENHADDOU and TELOUET via Ouarzazate: $119
  • 3 Days Group Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert: $119
  • Private Full-Day Tour of Ouarzazate and Oasis Fint: $173

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.48
    Ouarzazate -

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 Ouarzazate, we can see that Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cairo or Ouarzazate?

Cairo has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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.