Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Drakensberg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Drakensberg or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Drakensberg or Essaouira? 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: Drakensberg or Essaouira?
Drakensberg
Drakensberg, whose name derives from the Dutch and means "mountains of the dragons," is a mountainous region which encompasses a vast amount of South Africa's interior, extending into neighboring countries as well. It hugs the eastern border of Lesotho, attracting visitors for hiking, backpacking, and admiring the natural wonders of the landscape.
Essaouira
Essaouira is a beautiful beach town on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The city has a pleasant medina that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site and is interesting to explore. It's an 18th century fortified town with a lot of character and charm. The city is rich and culture and you'll find a handful of art galleries throughout the town. The city is also a gathering place for artists and musicians, particularly during the Gnaoua Festival of World Music, which takes place the last week of June. This event attracts about 450,000 visitors yearly.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
-
Drakensberg Prices
South Africa PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDrakensberg $117Essaouira $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Drakensberg is $117, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $61. 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 Drakensberg and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDrakensberg $43Essaouira $28
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDrakensberg $86Essaouira $56
Compare Hotels in Drakensberg and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Drakensberg or Essaouira? 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: Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Drakensberg $78Essaouira $2.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- private transfer essaouira to casablanca or casablanca-essaouira: $288
- Transferts Marrakech à Essaouira ou Essaouira à Marrakech: $99
- Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech: $113
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $126
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech: $117
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira: $117
- Private transfer Essaouira Taroudant.: $200
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira 1 to 4 people: $109
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport: $137
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech: $114
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Agadir: $129
- From Agadir : Day in Essaouira with Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Drakensberg or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Drakensberg 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 dayDrakensberg $33Essaouira $26
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
-
Baklava$1.52
-
Breakfast Crepes$0.54
-
Fish for Lunch$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Agadir Cooking Class Experience with Local Market Visit: $31
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
- Cooking class: How To Be a Real Moroccan Chef: $41
- Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner: $48
- Moroccan cooking class in Essaouira city: $53
- Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience: $59
- Essaouira Street Food Tour: $69
- Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $70
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $217
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Drakensberg $9.91Essaouira $13
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- 1 Day Horseback Riding Tour with Overnight Stay in Berber Tent: $294
- 1-Day Quad Adventure in Essaouira near Marrakech: $208
- 1-hour buggy tour in Essaouira desert (2 places/buggy): $78
- 2 – Hours Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Desert with Moroccan Tea: $55
- 2-Hours Buggy Adventure in Essaouira desert (2 places per buggy): $93
- 3-Days Desert Tour From Fes to Marrakech: $249
- Beginners surf experience in Essaouira: $34
- Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $75
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $61
- Day Tour on Dromedary and Overnight Stay Near Essaouira Morocco: $294
- Discovery Tour around Essaouira by Electric Motorcycle: $114
- Electric Scramblers Motorcycle Tours from Sidi Kaouki: $141
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDrakensberg $4.30Essaouira $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Drakensberg and Essaouira, we can see that Drakensberg is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Essaouira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Essaouira 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 Drakensberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Drakensberg than you might in Essaouira.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Drakensberg Expensive? and Is Essaouira 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.