Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Ephesus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ephesus or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Essaouira, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Ephesus or Essaouira?
Ephesus
The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).
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 Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $143Essaouira $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $143, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $46. 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 Ephesus and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $70Essaouira $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $140Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus 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: Ephesus Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $51Essaouira $1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer In Ephesus: $205
- Private Transfer From Kusadasi to Pamukkale: $196
- Private Transfers From Kusadasi: $173
- Kusadasi Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $169
- Akbuk Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $164
- Milas Bodrum Airport (BJV) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $140
- Kusadasi to Pamukkale Hotels Private Transfer: $136
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Town: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Selçuk, Ephesus, Şirince: $131
- VIP Transfer Kusadasi From/To Bodrum Airport: $128
- Private Transfer | KUSADASI - IZMIR Airport: $120
- Didim (Altinkum) Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $115
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $321
- Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $262
- Essaouira : Private Transfer from or to Agafay Desert: $160
- From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $150
- Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $138
- From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $123
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $102
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Transfert Marrakech to Agafay-Private Agafay to Marrakech : $87
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Ephesus 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 dayEphesus $33Essaouira $14
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches$0.15
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Dessert$0.17
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)$0.59
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Snacks$0.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus
For Ephesus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110
- Ephesus Tour with Cooking Class in the Village: $149
- Taste of Traditional Turkish Cuisine | Small Group Kusadasi Food Tour: $211
- Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $228
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.40
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Breakfast Crepes$0.50
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Fish for Lunch$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
- L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $55
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $59Essaouira $12
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- Ephesus Half Day Small Group Tour: $40
- Ephesus Shared Tour from Kuşadası Port: $130
- Ephesus Tour With Small Group From Kusadasi: $76
- Ephesus Tour from Kusadası Port: $44
- Ephesus small groups Tour For Cruisers (skip the line): $100
- Ephesus tours Sirince Village from Kusadasi Port with lunch: $63
- Ephesus tours and Virgin Mary's House Temple Artemis tours : $67
- Private Tour Ephesus for Cruise Guests : $250
- Private Tour to Ephesus, Virgin Mary, and Artemis Temple From Cruise Ship/Hotel: $120
- Small Group Pamukkale Day Tour from Selcuk or Kusadası : $93
- "Ephesus Tours" Port Kusadasi lunch guide bus shopping Caravanserai artemis : $58
- "No Better Way to Explore History - Affordable Ephesus Tour": $30
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $70
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
- Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
- Essaouira : Half-day E-Experience from Mountains to Sea: $129
- Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $65
- Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $65
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
- 3-Hour Quad Bike Tour: $87
- Area Highlights 3 hours E-Bike Tour: $61
- Atlantic Dune Buggy Adventure: $206
- Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $15Essaouira $9.16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:
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Beer$0.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus
Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip-the-line Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $53
- Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus&Sirince Village with Wine Tasting Shore Ex: $100
- Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $100
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Wine Tasting in the village and visit to Mother's Mary House: $130
- Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $134
- Virgin Mary Bread and Wine Tour included Lunch: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ephesus and Essaouira, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ephesus is in Europe and Essaouira 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 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 Ephesus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ephesus 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 Ephesus Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Essaouira?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus and Essaouira, 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.