Should you visit Dakar or Marrakech?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dakar or Marrakech, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Dakar
Located in West Africa, Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and an Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Main attractions include the city's markets, the Dakar Grand Mosque, Goree Island, the IFAN Museum, the African Renaissance Monument, beaches, and the Senegal Zoo.
Marrakech
Marrakech is on of the most popular travel destinations in Morocco. It is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat and is located near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains only a few hours from the Sahara Desert. It's a beautiful city that is often referred to as the "Pink City" because of the pale pink color of many of the city's buildings. These striking colors make the city particularly beautiful during the evening hours when the low sun creates a very dramatic lighting.
Which city is cheaper, Marrakech or Dakar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dakar is $48, while the average daily cost in Marrakech is $55. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Dakar and Marrakech in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Dakar is about $50 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $74 in Marrakech For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Dakar is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $4.22 per person, per day, on local transportation in Dakar.
Marrakech's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $5.04 per person, per day on transportation in Marrakech.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:
-
Saly: DSS Airport to Saly Private Transfer:
$71
-
Private Transfer from Dakar to Blaise Diagne Airport (DSS):
$233
-
Departure Private Transfer to Dakar Airport DSS by Sedan, Minivan or Minibus:
$79
-
DSS Airport to Dakar City Private Transfer:
$89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech
Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
1- Way Private Transfer From Marrakech to Essaouira:
$299
-
1- Way Private Transfer from Marrakesh to Essaouira:
$62
-
2 Hours Marrakech Relaxing Massage and Hamamm with Transfer:
$119
-
3 Day Sahara Tour from Marrakech to Desert and Chefchaouen (Private transfers):
$883
-
4-Days Holiday package Marrakech and Zagora desert including airport transfers:
$322
-
A private transfer from Marrakech to Agadir or vice versa:
$168
-
A private transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca airport or vice versa:
$143
-
A private transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca city center or vice versa:
$168
-
A private transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira airport or vice versa:
$118
-
A private transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira city or vice versa:
$118
-
A private transfer from Marrakech to Fez or vice versa:
$409
-
Adventure Toubkal Trek for 3 days (with Marrakech hotel transfers):
$292
Is it cheaper to fly into Dakar or Marrakech?
Prices for flights to both Marrakech and Dakar 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
The price of a meal in Dakar can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $15 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $6.00 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
In Marrakech travelers spend around $10 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Dakar $15
Marrakech $10
Typical Food prices in Dakar
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dakar:
Typical Food prices in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Virtual Cooking Class with Moroccan Family:
$16
-
Moroccan Cooking experience In Atlas Mountains Cook with a Berber family:
$29
-
Cooking Class In Atlas Mountains From Marrakech Cook With A Berber Family:
$30
-
Berber Life Cooking and Culture Experience:
$32
-
Marrakech Food Tasting Experience Including Dinner:
$34
-
Berber Life Cooking Class and Culture Experience:
$35
-
Moroccan Cooking Workshops:
$35
-
Cooking class with Berber family in Atlas Mountains Day trip from Marrakech:
$36
-
From High Atlas Berber Cooking Class:
$36
-
Day Trip Atlas Morocco Berber Experience & Cooking Class From Marrakech:
$37
-
Cooking Class with A Berber Family From Marrakech:
$37
-
Moroccan Cooking Class With Chef Najlae !:
$40
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Dakar typically cost an average of $11 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Marrakech can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $5.61 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Dakar
Here are a few actual costs in Dakar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
12 Days Tour :Birdwatching in Senegal:
$4,200
-
14 Days 13 Nights Senegal Safari Tour:
$3,522
-
15 Days Tour :Birding around Senegal:
$4,500
-
3-day saint-Louis / Lompoul desert experience ( 2 nights):
$765
-
3Days 2Nights Dakar, Pink Lake, St louis, Lompoul Desert Experience:
$981
-
5 days and 4 nights tour of senegal:
$1,200
-
6 Days 5Nights Dakar, Pink Lake, Touba,Niokolo Koba, dindefello Falls Adventure:
$1,189
-
A Fun tour of the vibrant and busy Dakar City:
$205
-
Dakar CITY TOUR:
$149
-
Dakar City Tour and Goree Island:
$135
-
Dakar Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
-
Dakar half Day tour:
$349
Typical Entertainment prices in Marrakech
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Palace Tickets
$1.99
-
Golf at Atlas Golf
$56
Tours and Activities in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Skip the Line: Museum Mohammed VI for the Water Civilization Admission Ticket:
$4.98
-
Marrakech City Tour and Majorelle Garden by car - Half Day - shared (8 pers):
$12
-
Marrakech Hidden Sights And Souks - Half Day Tour:
$13
-
Anima Garden Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket:
$15
-
Marrakech Shopping Tour - Private Tours (Half day):
$15
-
Group shared day tour to Ourika valley & Atlas Mountains:
$15
-
Marrakech Delicious Food Tasting Experience:
$16
-
Historical Guided Tour:
$18
-
Walking tour of the old city:
$19
-
Full-Day Guided Tour to Ouzoud Waterfalls with Boat Ride:
$19
-
Marrakech city tour With official Local Guide:
$19
-
Camel ride tour in Marrakech:
$19
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Dakar may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.07 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Marrakech spend on average $12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:
-
Full-Day trip to Essaouira - Includes Food&Wine tasting:
$150
When comparing the travel costs between Dakar and Marrakech, we can see that Marrakech is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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