Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Ouarzazate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Ouarzazate? 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: Eilat or Ouarzazate?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Ouarzazate $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, 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 Eilat and Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Ouarzazate $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Ouarzazate $42
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Ouarzazate $3.39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $187
- Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $310
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
- Ouarzazate Airport transfer: $22
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Eilat 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 dayEilat $35Ouarzazate $16
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$11
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: $33
- Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Ouarzazate $11
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $65
- Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
- Red Canyon: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
- Private Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation and Guide : $220
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: $126
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
- 4 day Fantastic Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech via desert: $466
- 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $1,514
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
- Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,086
- Desert by Quad: 5 Days of Pure Adventure from Ouarzazate: $2,897
- Experience of kasbah ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate city: $131
- Fez to Merzouga & Marrakech Combined 3 Day Desert Tour: $214
- From Agadir : 4-Day Private Desert Tour To Zagora & Merzouga: $574
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $384
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Ouarzazate -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Ouarzazate, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat 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 Eilat Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Ouarzazate?
Ouarzazate has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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.