Which place is cheaper, Marseille or Dakar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dakar or Marseille?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dakar or Marseille, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Dakar or Marseille?
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.
Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Senegal, The Best Luxury Tours to Senegal, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDakar $61Marseille $158
The average daily cost (per person) in Dakar is $61, while the average daily cost in Marseille is $158. 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 Dakar and Marseille in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDakar $32Marseille $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDakar $64Marseille $152
Compare Hotels in Dakar and Marseille
Looking for a hotel in Dakar or Marseille? 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: Marseille Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dakar $5.37Marseille $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:
- Transfer - Dakar <-> Saint-Louis (One way): $197
- Transfer - DSS Airport <-> Dakar (One way): $66
- Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Dakar (two directions): $82
- DSS Airport Transfer <-> Dakar (Return): $120
- Blaise Diagne Int Airport (DSS): Transfer to Dakar hotels: $211
- AIBD-DAKAR transfer: $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Marseille
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
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Metro Pass$3.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- “Airport-Marseille Center Transfers: Luxury and Comfort VTC.”: $88
- Airport Marseille Transfer to Marseille Old Port: $91
- Aix en Provence-Transfer from or to Marseille Airport: $103
- Arles-Transfer From or To Airport MARSEILLE: $219
- Arrival Private Transfer Marseille Airport MRS to Marseille city or Port by Van: $102
- Arrival Transfer: MRS Airport to Marseille in Business Car: $109
- Arrival Transfer: MRS Airport to Marseille in Luxury Van: $114
- Cannes Private Transfer to Marseille Airport: $646
- Departure Private Transfer Marseille city or Port to Marseile Airport MRS by Van: $101
- Departure Private Transfer from Marseille city to Marseille Cruise Port by Van: $101
- Departure Transfer: Marseille to MRS Airport in Business Car: $109
- Marseille Airport (MRS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Marseille Hotel or Address): $216
Is it cheaper to fly into Dakar or Marseille?
Prices for flights to both Marseille 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
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Food Meals for one dayDakar $20Marseille $45
Typical Food Prices in Dakar
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dakar:
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Breakfast$4.11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dakar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dakar.
- Senegalese Street Food Tour in Dakar: $115
Typical Food Prices in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orangina$2.68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Web-cooking workshop / French cuisine or French pastry: $35
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Marseille! (Cours Julien): $64
- Sunset Boat Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $73
- Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $74
- Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
- Bakeries, Chocolate & Patisseries Food Tour: $94
- Marseille Sunset Apéro Food tour: $97
- Evening Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Sunset Sailing Dinner in the Frioul Archipelago: $102
- Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Marseille Miam Miam Food tour: $104
- Marseille Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $108
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dakar $14Marseille $41
Tours and Activities in Dakar
Here are a few actual costs in Dakar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mamelles Lighthouse and Ngor Island (Walking Tour): $130
- 2-day tour Lac rose- desert of Lompoul: $290
- Accro Baobab Adventure Ticket Entry: $38
- Dakar City Tour and Goree Island: $162
- Pink Lake and Turtle Village Half-Day Tour: $200
- Private City Tour: $109
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $30
- Day trip Goree island and Dakar city tour : $159
- From Dakar or Saly: Half-Day Tour to Pink Lake: $138
- From Dakar/Saly: Half-Day Bandia Wildlife Reserve Tour: $247
- Full Day Goree Island And Dakar City Tour(Minimum 2 Participants): $142
- Full Day Private Tour in move, eat, act like a local: $109
Tours and Activities in Marseille
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Marseille:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $4.31
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.31
- Marseille Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.37
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Marseille Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self-guided Like a Local Highlights Day Tour: $9.58
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Game & Sightseeing: $9.94
- Panier District Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Humorous and Informative Tour of the Historic Center of La Ciotat: $11
- Mucem Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDakar $9.00Marseille $29
Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
- Marseille Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $22
- Marseille Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $27
- Marseille Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $43
- New Year's Eve Bar Crawl Marseille France: $65
- Short Day Tour around Aix en Provence and Wine Tasting : $119
- Bandol and Cassis: Full Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Luberon: Full-Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille: $146
- Full-Day Wine Tour around Luberon from Marseille: $146
- Marseille Shore Excursion - Full Day Wine Tour in Provence: $164
- Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion : Avignon & Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour: $164
- Côtes du Rhône Wine tour: Avignon, Palace of the Popes: $165
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dakar and Marseille, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Dakar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dakar is in Africa and Marseille is in Europe, 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 Dakar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dakar 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille than you might in Dakar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dakar Expensive? and Is Marseille Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dakar or Marseille?
Dakar has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Marseille. When comparing the sizes of Dakar and Marseille, 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.
When is the best time to visit Dakar or Marseille?
Marseille has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dakar experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Dakar or Marseille in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Dakar as well as Marseille. Dakar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.
In July, Dakar is generally a little warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Dakar average around 28°C (82°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dakar this time of the year. In the summer, Dakar often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Dakar gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun.
Dakar usually gets more rain in July than Marseille. Dakar gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDakar 28°C (82°F)Marseille 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Dakar or Marseille in the Autumn?
Both Marseille and Dakar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dakar throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Dakar is much warmer than Marseille in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dakar averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
It's quite sunny in Marseille. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dakar. Dakar usually receives more sunshine than Marseille during autumn. Dakar gets 260 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Dakar usually receives less rain than Marseille. Dakar gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDakar 28°C (82°F)Marseille 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Dakar or Marseille in the Winter?
Both Marseille and Dakar during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dakar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Marseille in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In the winter, Dakar is much warmer than Marseille. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dakar in January average around 22°C (72°F), and Marseille averages at about 7°C (44°F).
It's quite sunny in Dakar. In the winter, Dakar often gets more sunshine than Marseille. Dakar gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun.
Dakar usually gets less rain in January than Marseille. Dakar gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDakar 22°C (72°F)Marseille 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Dakar or Marseille in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dakar and Marseille. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dakar year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Dakar is generally much warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Dakar average around 21°C (70°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In Dakar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dakar usually receives more sunshine than Marseille during spring. Dakar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Dakar usually receives less rain than Marseille. Dakar gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDakar 21°C (70°F)Marseille 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Marseille and Dakar
| Dakar | Marseille | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
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.