Which place is cheaper, Cannes or Essaouira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Essaouira or Cannes?
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 Cannes can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Essaouira or Cannes?
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.
Cannes
While Cannes was once little more than a small fishing village, today it is a popular, glamorous seaside town frequented by celebrities. It's the place to see and be seen, particularly during the Cannes Film Festival in the month of May. During this time the city comes alive with celebrities from all over the world. While Cannes has its share of exclusive clubs, bars and restaurants, there are alternatives for budget travelers, so don't shy away. There's a beautiful area, Le Suquet, which is nice to visit with its cobblestone streets and stunning views. It's also fun to pass some time people watching by the marina. You never know who you'll spot. At night, the city comes to life with casinos and luxurious restaurants and clubs that give the area a vibe of exclusivity.
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 Bicycle Tours in France, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEssaouira $46Cannes $147
The average daily cost (per person) in Essaouira is $46, while the average daily cost in Cannes is $147. 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 Cannes in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEssaouira $26Cannes $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEssaouira $52Cannes $160
Compare Hotels in Essaouira and Cannes
Looking for a hotel in Essaouira or Cannes? 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 Cannes Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Essaouira $1.99Cannes $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
- Airport Transfer From Essaouira Airport To Medina: $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport (ESU): $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
- Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $36
- Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $38
- From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $70
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
- Transfert Marrakech to Agafay-Private Agafay to Marrakech : $87
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cannes
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cannes:
- Cannes-Mandelieu Airport (CEQ): Transfer to Port de la Santé: $433
- Villefranche-sur-Mer-Port de la Santé: Transfer to Cannes: $399
- Private Transfer to/from Marseille: $310
- Cannes Private Transfer from Cannes city centre to Nice Airport: $295
- Private Transfer to/from Saint-Tropez: $225
- Private Transfer to/from Monaco: $181
- Cannes-Mandelieu Airport (CEQ) to Port de la Santé- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $175
- Private Direct Transfer From Cannes to Monaco: $139
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Nice Airport: $128
- Transfer Nice Airport French Riviera: $125
- Private One-way Transfer From Cannes to Nice, 2h Stop in Antibes: $124
- Private Transfer: Cannes to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Van: $116
Is it cheaper to fly into Essaouira or Cannes?
Prices for flights to both Cannes 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 $14Cannes $49
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.Essaouira $12Cannes $32
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Highlights Tour with Tasting the Ocean City: $19
- Full Day Tour From Marrakech To Essaouira Mogador: $21
- Private City Tour: $26
- From Marrakech: Guided tour of Essaouira the coastal city: $26
- Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $31
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
- Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41
- Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
- Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48
- Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
Tours and Activities in Cannes
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cannes are as follows:
- Watch the Fireworks from the boat. Unique experience: $1,593
- Cannes 2 Hours : Privat City Tour in a French Vintage Bus: $315
- Cannes 2.5-Hour E-bike Tour: $74
- Cannes : Ferrari experience: $214
- Cannes : Traditional Food Group Walking Tour: $102
- Cannes Discovery: walking Tour Led by a Local Expert: $38
- Cannes E-Bike Guided Tour: $75
- Cannes Experience private boat tour Islands French Riviera: $631
- Cannes Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $52
- Cannes Luxury Catamaran Half or Day Cruise with lunch option: $96
- Cannes Royal Regatta Catamaran cruise: $107
- Cannes Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $9.84
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEssaouira $9.16Cannes $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Cannes
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cannes:
- St Paul de Vence, Antibes & Wine Tasting from Cannes: $130
- Grasse, Valbonne & Gourdon: Day Tour with Wine Tasting: $139
- French Riviera: Provencal Wine Tours: $759
- Wine Tasting, Cannes, Coco Chanel, Perfume Factory & Grasse: $1,273
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Essaouira and Cannes, we can see that Cannes 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 Cannes 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 Cannes would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cannes 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 Cannes Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Essaouira or Cannes?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Cannes. When comparing the sizes of Essaouira and Cannes, 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.