Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Cefalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cefalu or Merzouga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cefalu and Merzouga. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Cefalu or Merzouga?
Cefalu
Cefalu is a fishing village and beach resort that is located on the northern coast of Sicily, Italy. It sits on the Tyerrhenian Sea and is just 70 kilometers from Palermo and 185 kilometers from Messina. The town has a small population of under 14,000 residents but is a significant tourist destination on the island of Sicily. The city is flooded with millions of tourists every year from around Sicily, elsewhere in Italy, and abroad. During the summer months it is not uncommon for the city's population to triple, putting a lot of pressure on the main streets and roads around town. The city is popular as a beach resort with a youthful vibe and an active nightlife.
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 Adventure Tours to Italy, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCefalu €119Merzouga €16
The average daily cost (per person) in Cefalu is €119, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is €16. 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 Cefalu and Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCefalu €87Merzouga €9.57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCefalu €174Merzouga €19
Compare Hotels in Cefalu and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Cefalu 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: Cefalu Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cefalu €4.29Merzouga -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cefalu
Also for Cefalu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Costa Verde HOTEL Cefalù, for Palermo airport, Private Transfer: $87
- Alberi del Paradiso, Cefalù for APT Palermo or vice versa, Private Transfer: $98
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Cefalù or vice versa: $104
- Club Med Cefalù to Palermo airport or vice versa, Private Transfer: $109
- Le Calette, Cefalù to Palermo airport or vice versa, Private Transfer: $109
- Hotel Kalura, Cefalù for Palermo airport or vice versa, Private Transfer: $109
- Departure Private Transfer Cefalù to Palermo Airport PMO by Business Car or Van: $156
- Transfer Palermo Airport - Cefalù and vice versa: $174
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:
- 1 way transfer: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Cefalu or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Cefalu 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 dayCefalu €28Merzouga €5.55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cefalu
For Cefalu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in a Sicilian countryhouse: $251
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- One Night in Private Camp in the Sahara Desert in Merzouga with Dinner: $65
- Sunset With Dinner And Berber Music in Merzouga Desert With 4WD : $65
- Merzouga Orange Dunes ATV Sandsurf Camels with 5 Stars Dinner: $85
- Camel trek with 1 Night in Luxury camp with Dinner+ Sundbording: $87
- Visit The Nomads, Gnawa Music, Rally In Dunes, Berber Pizza : $98
- Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
- Overnight in Luxury Camp With camel Trek & Dinner: $107
- From Fes: 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip(Luxury Tent & Dinner): $124
- From Fes: 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip w/Luxury Tent & Dinner: $127
- 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cefalu €5.71Merzouga -
Tours and Activities in Cefalu
For Cefalu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Etna tour from Cefalù: $62
- Nebrodi and Halaesa valley jeep tours: $125
- Safari Jeep Wild Adventure: $136
- High Madonie wild jeep adventure: $163
- Madonie wild adventure: $224
- Cefalu Etna wild jeep experience: $272
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- Overnight in Desert Camp Berber Experience in Merzouga Desert & Camel Ride: $82
- Private Adventure to Merzouga Risani from Erfoud : $142
- Private Desert Tour and Visit to Nomadic Families: $98
- 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Buggy Experience: $140
- 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Quad Biking Tour & Sandboarding: $64
- 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp : $60
- 1/2 day 4x4 tour of Erg Chebbi: $82
- 2 Hours Merzouga Desert Quad Bike Adventure: $113
- 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $112
- 2-Day Desert Tour with Return to Marrakech: $182
- 3 Days Tour From Marrakech To Sahara Desert Of Merzouga: $86
- 3 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga with Luxury Camp: $218
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCefalu €11Merzouga -
Sample the Local Flavors in Cefalu
Also in Cefalu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Castelbuono Tour and Wine Tasting in a Medieval Abbey: $49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cefalu and Merzouga, we can see that Cefalu is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cefalu is in Europe and Merzouga is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Cefalu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cefalu 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 Cefalu 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.