Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Durban?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Durban or Ouarzazate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Durban and Ouarzazate. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Durban or Ouarzazate?
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
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 Overlanding Trips in South Africa, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.
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Durban Prices
South Africa PricesOuarzazate Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurban $75Ouarzazate $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Durban is $75, 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 Durban and Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurban $29Ouarzazate $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurban $58Ouarzazate $46
Compare Hotels in Durban and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Durban 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.
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: Durban Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durban $16Ouarzazate $3.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Private Transfer Durban to Durban Airport DUR by Sedan: $99
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Durban Cruise Ship Transfers: $54
- Durban Private Airport Arrival Transfer: $68
- Durban airport to Durban city transfer: $39
- Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $51
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $126
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.16
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": $120
- Private transfer from Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou (round Trip): $81
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $46
- Private Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Durban or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Durban 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 dayDurban $32Ouarzazate $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taste of Africa Food Tour with Market Visit: $71
Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
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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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durban $19Ouarzazate $11
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 30-Minute Harbor Boat Cruise: $7.38
- Durban Point Waterfront: Luxury Canal Boat Cruise: $9.84
- Luxury Canal Boat Cruise - Fun Things Durban Ushaka: $10
- 1-Hour Boat Cruise from Wilson's Wharf: $11
- Pontoon Boat Harbor Cruise: $14
- 1-Hour Premium Ocean / Harbour Boat Cruise: $14
- Museum of Illusions Entry Ticket: $15
- Magical Gondola Night Boat Cruise in Durban: $16
- Art, Culture, and Market Tour with Food Tasting: $49
- From Half Day Durban City Tour: $60
- Half Day Durban City Tour: $63
- Local Markets and Culture Guided Walking Tour: $68
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: $118
- 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: $24
- 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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurban $15Ouarzazate -
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Stellenbosch and Franschoek Winelands Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour: $281
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durban and Ouarzazate, we can see that Durban 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 Durban would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durban 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 Durban Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Durban or Ouarzazate?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Durban 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.
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.