Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Dahab?
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 Dahab 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 Dahab 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: Dahab or Merzouga?
Dahab
Dahab is a small town on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is located about 85 kilometers north of Sharm el-Sheikh and sits on the Gulf of Aqaba. It's a popular destination with divers and backpackers alike, and offers some of the best snorkeling and diving that you'll find in the Red Sea. It's a great alternative to the resort driven Sharm el-Sheikh, and is popular with independent travelers who are looking for affordable accommodation. There are some upmarket options however, predominantly in the Laguna area, but budget facilities are not hard to find.
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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Dahab Prices
Egypt PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $16Merzouga $23
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $16, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $23. 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 Dahab and Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $5.71Merzouga $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $11Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Dahab 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: Dahab Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $1.80Merzouga -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Dahab Hotel to Sharm ElSheikh Airport : $40
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
- Dahab To/from Sharm El Sheikh Private Transfer : $45
- Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 4: $90
- Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $116
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:
- 1 way Errachidia airport transfer: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Dahab 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 dayDahab $7.83Merzouga $11
Typical Food Prices in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)$1.88
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Juice$0.10
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Breakfast for Two$0.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $43
- Desert excursion with camel trek into the camp Dinner breakfast : $50
- 1-Night in Desert Camp With Dinner & camel ride: $56
- Overnight Stay in Luxury Desert Tent with Dinner: $61
- Sunset With Dinner And Berber Music in Merzouga Desert With 4WD : $64
- Berber Cooking Class in Merzouga Desert: $70
- Moroccan Berber Pizza Cooking Class in Khamelia: $73
- Day Trip By Camels In Erg Chebbi Dunes, Lunch With Berber Pizza: $81
- Overnight in Desert Camp Camel Ride, Dinner & Show: $83
- 1-Night in the luxury camp. camel ride & Dinner: $86
- Overnight in Luxury camp with camels dinner: $91
- Merzouga Desert Tour, Quad Sandboarding Camel Ride & Dinner: $141
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $4.31Merzouga -
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jeep Safari to Canyon Salama Day Tour from Dahab: $16
- Mount Sinai Hike and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $20
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
- Full-Day Hike Tour at St. Catherine's Monastery: $30
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- Half Day Tour to the Blue Hole with Snorkeling: $35
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $42
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $49
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Mount Sinai Sunrise and St Catherine Monastery Tour from Dahab: $50
- Saint Catherine's Monastery half-day Tour with Lunch from Dahab: $60
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- Private Desert Tour and Visit to Nomadic Families: $104
- 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Buggy Experience: $149
- 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Quad Biking Tour & Sandboarding: $70
- 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp : $64
- 2 Hours Merzouga Desert Quad Bike Adventure: $142
- 2 days tour in Merzouga Erg Chabbi with 4WD Jeep and Camel Treck : $174
- 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $119
- 2-Day Desert Tour with Return to Marrakech: $193
- 2-Days Merzouga tour from Errachidia: $200
- 3 Days Private Desert Tour in Merzouga with ATV and Sandboarding : $278
- 3 Days Tour From Marrakech To Sahara Desert Of Merzouga: $115
- 3-Day Best Desert Tour from Fez to Marrakech via Merzouga: $290
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $2.47Merzouga -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and Merzouga, we can see that Merzouga is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dahab would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dahab 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 Merzouga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Merzouga than you might in Dahab.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dahab 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.