Which place is cheaper, Fez or Dharamsala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dharamsala or Fez?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dharamsala or Fez? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Dharamsala or Fez?
Dharamsala
With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.
Fez
Fez is the historical capital of Morocco and has one of the country's most impressive and elaborate medinas. It's authentic and traditional atmosphere attracts travelers from all over the world. It's fun to wander the city's elaborate alleyways, sample the food, and soak up the sights and smells. In Fez's medina you'll find donkeys, carts, spices, and pottery. You'll find traditional foods, locals bartering for goods, and religious buildings that date back hundreds of years. The medina is also the world's largest car free urban zone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDharamsala $35Fez $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Dharamsala is $35, while the average daily cost in Fez is $53. 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 Dharamsala and Fez in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDharamsala $23Fez $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDharamsala $46Fez $56
Compare Hotels in Dharamsala and Fez
Looking for a hotel in Dharamsala or Fez? 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: Dharamsala Hotel Prices and Fez Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dharamsala $5.14Fez $4.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
- Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $35
- Chandigarh to Dharamshala Transfer: $85
- Airport to Dharamshala transfer: $50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Fez
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Fez:
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Taxi Ride$1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fez
Also for Fez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer Arrival OR Departure: $11
- Transfer from Airport Fez to an Hotel in Fez (Including SIM Card): $11
- Private Arrival Transfer from Fes Saiss Airport to your Hotel or Riad: $12
- Airport Transfers in Fes (private service): $12
- transfers from Airport fez saiss to your hotel in the city center (Door to Door): $13
- transfer from/to the Airport of Fez (door to door): $14
- Airport transfers in Fez (Door to Door): $14
- Private VIP Transfer from Airport to Fes City or Vice Versa: $15
- Private VIP Transfer from Airport to Fes City or Vice Versa: $16
- Private Transfer: Fes from or to Airport. : $20
- Private Transfer from Airport to Fes City or Vice Versa: $22
- Private Departure Transfer: Fez Hotel to Fez Airport: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Dharamsala or Fez?
Prices for flights to both Fez and Dharamsala 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 dayDharamsala $8.36Fez $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dharamsala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dharamsala.
- Flavors of Dharamshala: 2-Hour Guided Street Food Tour: $26
Typical Food Prices in Fez
For Fez, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Yogurt$0.60
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Dinner for 2$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fez
For Fez, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lunch/Dinner with Moroccan family : $27
- Moroccan Romantic Dinner in Fez: $33
- Baking Workshops at Fez Cooking School at Palais Amani: $42
- Private Home hosted Experience in Morocco with Dinner Included: $43
- cooking classe in fes with ouliya: $44
- Cooking Class with Bread Workshop and Pastry in Fes: $44
- Cooking Class - Moroccan cuisine: $49
- Tour to Fez Morocco with Lunch or Dinner: $53
- The Best Cooking Class in Fez: $55
- Cooking Local Tajine Class in Fez: $55
- fez cooking tour: $57
- Full Day Fes Cooking Class Experience: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dharamsala $5.57Fez $6.19
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
- Best of Dharamshala with a local - Full Day Guided Tour: $128
- Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $81
- Cultural tour - Dharamshala & Mcleodganj for full day: $30
- Dharamshala Dalhousie Tour from Amritsar: $299
- Dharamshala Mcleodganj Tour: $48
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $25
- Guided Andretta Artists' VIllage Tour: $98
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $42
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $42
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $98
- McLeodGanj Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Fez
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Fez's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Granary Fee$1.99
Tours and Activities in Fez
For Fez, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fes Shared Full-Day Guided Tour : $13
- Shared Group Day Tour to Ourika Valley from Marrakech: $15
- Cultural tour in Fez: $15
- Private Shopping Tour in the Souks of the Old Medina: $16
- 4 Hours Private Guided Tour in Fez: $16
- Fez Rampart Tour Including Chouara Tannery: $18
- Half-Day Guided Tour in Fes : $19
- A FEScinating group tour : $20
- Fes Guided tours, Cultural tour: $20
- Ancient Medina, Fes Morocco - Walking Tour - Private - Half Day: $21
- Shared Fez Guided Tour : $21
- Private Fes Shopping tour : $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDharamsala $5.57Fez -
Sample the Local Flavors in Fez
Also in Fez, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Full-Day Boutique Winery and Wine Tasting Tour from Fez: $252
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dharamsala and Fez, we can see that Fez is more expensive. And not only is Dharamsala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dharamsala is in Asia and Fez 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 Dharamsala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dharamsala 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 Fez would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fez than you might in Dharamsala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dharamsala Expensive? and Is Fez Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dharamsala or Fez?
Fez has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Dharamsala. When comparing the sizes of Dharamsala and Fez, 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.
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.