Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Durban?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurban $52Ouarzazate $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Durban is $52, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $42. 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
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurban $24Ouarzazate $21
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurban $48Ouarzazate $42
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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durban $13Ouarzazate $3.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $45
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $485
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $106
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $307
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $187
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
- Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $23
- Ouarzazate Airport transfer: $22
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
-
Food Meals for one dayDurban $16Ouarzazate $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $40
Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
-
Dinner for Two$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ouarzazate.
- Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $65
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durban $16Ouarzazate $11
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 30-Minute Harbor Boat Cruise: $5.18
- 1-Hour Boat Cruise from Wilson's Wharf: $7.77
- Durban Point Waterfront: Luxury Canal Boat Cruise: $7.77
- Luxury Canal Boat Cruise - Fun Things Durban Ushaka: $8.29
- Magical Gondola Night Boat Cruise in Durban: $8.56
- Pontoon Boat Harbor Cruise: $9.84
- Durban Walking Tour: $26
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Tour: $39
- Durban Half-Day City Tour - Golden Mile, Botanical Gardens: $41
- Durban:Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $49
- Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $51
- Durban Shore Excursion: Private Small Group Durban City Tour: $63
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: $125
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
- 4 day Fantastic Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech via desert: $461
- 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $1,500
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
- Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,076
- Desert by Quad: 5 Days of Pure Adventure from Ouarzazate: $2,869
- Experience of kasbah ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate city: $130
- Fes-bound 3-Day Desert Tour departing from Marrakech: $249
- Fez to Merzouga & Marrakech Combined 3 Day Desert Tour: $212
- From Agadir : 4-Day Private Desert Tour To Zagora & Merzouga: $568
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurban $13Ouarzazate -
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $36
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.