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

Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Ouarzazate?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dar es Salaam and Ouarzazate can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Ouarzazate?

Dar es Salaam

Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.

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 Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Dar es Salaam?

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 Dar es Salaam is $462, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $59. 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 Dar es Salaam and Ouarzazate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dar es Salaam $424
    Ouarzazate $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dar es Salaam $848
    Ouarzazate $46
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Ouarzazate

Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam


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: Dar es Salaam Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dar es Salaam $13
    Ouarzazate $3.70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam

Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfers To/from Dar Es Salaam City Center Or To/from Your Hotel: $85
  • Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
  • Half-Day City Tour with Transfers: $59
  • Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
  • Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
  • Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR) Private Transfer to Dar es Salaam: $50
  • Private Airport Transfers in Dar: $60
  • Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with two way transfers: $250
  • Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
  • Zanzibar Airport Shared Taxi Transfer to Any Hotel: $10

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:

  • Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $194
  • Private Transfert Between Marrakech & Ouarzazate: $187
  • "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $119
  • Private transfer from Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou (round Trip): $81
  • Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $46
  • Private Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $30
  • Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Ouarzazate?

Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Dar es Salaam 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
    Dar es Salaam $31
    Ouarzazate $30

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: $59
  • Private Moroccan Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate: $61

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dar es Salaam -
    Ouarzazate $12

Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.

  • Dar es Salaam Architectural Guided Walking Tour and History: $22
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour: Experience & Insights Tanzanian culture: $37
  • Visit Sinda island with Samrun Marine Tours: $50
  • Beach Day Tour with Resort Access: $65
  • Private Mbudya Island Retreat Adventure from Dar Es Salaam: $82
  • Private Tour to Jozani Forest Reserve Half-Day Guided Tour from Zanzibar: $90
  • The Best/Top Rated Cultural City Tour in Dar es Salaam: $90
  • Jozani forest, Salaam Cave & The Rock Restaurant Tour in Zanzibar: $95
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
  • Dar es Salaam City Walking tour - Explore the Life of the Local People!: $100
  • Full Day Private Tour in Dar es Salaam City: $104
  • Zanzibar Spice Tour: $109

Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate

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

  • 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
  • 3 Days Group Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert: $117
  • 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $151
  • 3-Day Sahara Desert Adventure From Ouarzazate to Erg Chegaga: $502
  • 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $2,048
  • Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $23
  • Bike Tour in Skoura with Pottery Experience: $55
  • Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,195
  • From 2-Day Erg Lihdoui and Mhamid Desert Tour: $385
  • From 3 Days tour though Merzouga & Dades: $410
  • From 3-Day Merzouga to Erg Chebbi Tour: $495
  • From Todra Gorges and 1000 Casbahs Road Day Tour: $158

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dar es Salaam $7.48
    Ouarzazate -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Ouarzazate, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ouarzazate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ouarzazate 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 Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam than you might in Ouarzazate.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dar es Salaam Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Ouarzazate?

Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam 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.