Which place is cheaper, Biarritz or Essaouira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Essaouira or Biarritz?
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 Essaouira and Biarritz can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Essaouira or Biarritz?
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.
Biarritz
Biarritz is an elegant seaside town on southwestern France's Basque coast that has been a popular resort since European royalty started visiting the area in the 1800s. It is located on France's Atlantic Coast in the Bay of Biscay. Half ritzy coastal resort, half summer surfer's hang-out, the seaside resort of Biarritz has been a favorite seaside getaway ever since Napoleon III and his Spanish-born wife Eugenie arrived during the mid-19th century. To entertain her court, the empress built a grand palace, which is now a luxurious hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant. Other than this exquisite villa by the sea, the names of the streets in Biarritz also hint at the city's royal past: Avenue de l'Imperatrice, Avenue de la Reine Victoria, and Esplanade Elizabeth II. Mansions decked with steeples and spectacular windows recall the city's 19th-century splendors. Though the royal influence of Biarritz has faded, the city is still a popular tourist destination for those looking for a classic summer holiday. Pristine sandy beaches, beautiful coastal villas, and stylish restaurants offer a sophisticated ambience. Wide seafront promenades and well-placed benches allow visitors to soak up the stunning natural landscape. Biarritz is also the capital of surfing in Europe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, The Best Tours for Seniors to France, and The Best Contiki Tours to France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEssaouira $46Biarritz $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Essaouira is $46, while the average daily cost in Biarritz is $141. 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 Essaouira and Biarritz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEssaouira $26Biarritz $79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEssaouira $52Biarritz $158
Compare Hotels in Essaouira and Biarritz
Looking for a hotel in Essaouira or Biarritz? 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: Essaouira Hotel Prices and Biarritz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Essaouira $1.99Biarritz $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $102
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
- Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $262
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
- From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
- From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $150
- From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $123
- From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $321
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $70
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Biarritz
Also for Biarritz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Biarritz : Optimized transfer to/from Bordeaux: $749
- San Sebastian: Optimized transfer to Biarritz & surroundings: $262
- Private transfer from Biarritz BIQ airport to San Sebastian: $229
- Private Transfer from Biarritz city to San Sebastian : $167
- Private Transfer from Biarritz city to San Sebastian Airport: $167
- Arrival Private Transfer BIQ Airport to Biarritz by Luxury Vehicle: $85
- Chauffeured Transfer between Biarritz Airport, Train Station and City Center: $71
- Biarritz : Private transfer to/from airport & train Station: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Essaouira or Biarritz?
Prices for flights to both Biarritz and Essaouira 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 dayEssaouira $14Biarritz $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Biarritz
For Biarritz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Biarritz Food Tour Gastronomique- Taste 10 Basque specialties: $76
- Bayonne Food Tour: Journey Through Flavors (with food and drinks): $97
- Traditional Bayonne Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Basque Country Food Tour: $240
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Essaouira $12Biarritz $17
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
Tours and Activities in Biarritz
For Biarritz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Basque tour of Biarritz: $49
- Bayonne Food Gastronomic Tour - Taste 10 Basque specialties: $97
- Bayonne Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $279
- Biarritz guided walking & gourmet tour: $74
- Biarritz, Bayonne, and Basque Country: Private Driving Tour: $957
- 2-Hour Private Guided Walking Tour: $187
- City Exploration Game & Tour on your Phone: $6.36
- Complete Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $8.45
- E-bike Guided Tour With Sunset local Aperitif Ride: $32
- E-bike Guided Tour to Small California: $37
- French Basque Country Coastline tour in a 70'sVW Van: $457
- French Basque Country Private Day Tour in an 70's VW Combi: $599
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEssaouira $9.16Biarritz $8.62
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Essaouira and Biarritz, we can see that Biarritz is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Essaouira is in Africa and Biarritz is in Europe, 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 Biarritz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Biarritz 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 Essaouira Expensive? and Is Biarritz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Essaouira or Biarritz?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Biarritz. When comparing the sizes of Essaouira and Biarritz, 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.