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

Should you visit Dubai 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 Dubai and Ouarzazate can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dubai or Ouarzazate?

Dubai

Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.

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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Dubai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Dubai Prices
    UAE Prices
    Ouarzazate Prices
    Morocco Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Dubai $289
    Ouarzazate $58

The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $58. 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 Dubai and Ouarzazate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dubai $170
    Ouarzazate $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dubai $340
    Ouarzazate $46
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Ouarzazate

Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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 Dubai


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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dubai $13
    Ouarzazate $3.63
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:


  • Taxi Ride
    $12
  • Airport Taxi
    $12
  • Sea Taxi
    $0.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai

Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • "Airport Transfers to or from Dubai with SUV Car": $95
  • 1 Day 1 Park (Motiongate or Legoland) with Private Transfer: $185
  • 1-Hour Quad Biking Tour with Transfer from Dubai: $140
  • 3-Hour Ice Skating Experience in Dubai with optional Transfer: $70
  • 4 Hour Dubai Layover Tour with Private Airport Transfers On Time: $125
  • AYA Universe Dubai Tickets with Transfer Option: $37
  • AYA Universe Light and Sound Park in Dubai with Optional Transfer: $64
  • AYA Universe and Dubai Frame Tour with Private Transfer: $155
  • Abu Dhabi City Tour with Grand Mosque Including Transfers: $56
  • Abu Dhabi City Tour with Louvre Museum With Free shuttle Transfer: $55
  • Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Tour with Hotel Transfer: $50
  • Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Mosque Ferrari World Tour and Transfers: $169

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:

  • Private Transfert Between Marrakech & Ouarzazate: $187
  • "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
  • Private transfer from Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou (round Trip): $80
  • Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $46
  • Private Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Ouarzazate?

Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Dubai 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
    Dubai $96
    Ouarzazate $30
Typical Food Prices in Dubai

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:


  • French bread
    $0.95
  • Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice
    $10
  • Lemon Mint Tea
    $4.36
  • Coffee & Cake
    $6.54
  • Smoothie
    $5.45
  • Shawarma
    $1.91

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai

For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Dubai Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, Camel Ride and BBQ Dinner: $11
  • Dhow Cruise With Dinner at Al Jaddaf Dubai: $14
  • Dubai Desert Safari | Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $14
  • VIP Dubai Red Dune Desert Safari 4x4, Camel Ride and BBQ Dinner: $14
  • VIP Red Dune Safari Dubai,Pick/Drop,Camel Ride, Quad & BBQ Dinner: $15
  • VIP Red Dune Safari with Pick/Drop BBQ Dinner Camelride sandbord: $15
  • Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
  • VIP Red Dune Safari with Pick/Drop BBQ/Dinner Camelride Sandbord: $15
  • VIP Red Dune Safari, Pick/Drop, Camel Ride,BBQ Dinner & Quad Bike: $15
  • Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $16
  • Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Creek with pickup drop option: $16
  • Virtual Online Cooking Class - Cook Your Classic Curry with Chef Gomez: $16

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: $58
  • Private Moroccan Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate: $61

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dubai $19
    Ouarzazate $11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai

For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Visit to the Dubai Museum
    $0.82

Tours and Activities in Dubai

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.

  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Dubai: $5.82
  • A Self-Guided Tour of Dubai’s Origins in Deira: $5.99
  • Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.86
  • Dubai Walking Tour 1h00 and 9 audio reviews: $7.26
  • Global Village Dubai Ticket with optional transport: $9.00
  • Dubai Butterfly Garden Tickets: $11
  • Al Shindagha Museum Tickets: $13
  • Al Shindagha Museum Ticket: $13
  • Dubai Burj Khalifa Lake Ride and Fountain Show Experience: $14
  • Al Shindagha Museum Dubai Admission Ticket: $14
  • Dubai Global Village Tickets: $15
  • AL Shindagha Museum Admission Tickets: $16

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 Desert Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga Dunes: $120
  • 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
  • Desert Adventure in Skoura: $35
  • From 2-Day Erg Lihdoui and Mhamid Desert Tour: $385
  • From 3 Days tour though Merzouga & Dades: $410

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dubai $23
    Ouarzazate -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:


  • A Couple Drinks
    $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Ouarzazate, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Ouarzazate 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 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dubai or Ouarzazate?

Dubai has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Dubai 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.