Which place is cheaper, Casablanca or Essaouira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Essaouira or Casablanca?
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 Casablanca can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Essaouira or Casablanca?
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.
Casablanca
Casablanca is so much more than a classic Bogart movie with killer one-liners. It is also the largest, most cosmopolitan city in the country of Morocco. Sitting at the economic and industrial heart of this region, Casablanca has a population of approximately four million. Brush up on your high school French before visiting this lively city as it's the main language spoken by the locals. While this is the most liberal and progressive city in Morocco, remember to be cautious in this region of the world with your western views.
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 2-Week Tours in Morocco, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEssaouira $46Casablanca $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Essaouira is $46, while the average daily cost in Casablanca is $71. 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 Casablanca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEssaouira $26Casablanca $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEssaouira $52Casablanca $84
Compare Hotels in Essaouira and Casablanca
Looking for a hotel in Essaouira or Casablanca? 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 Casablanca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Essaouira $1.99Casablanca $11
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
- Transfer Essaouira Airport to Essaouira: $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport (ESU): $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
- Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $35
- Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $38
- From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $69
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech : $95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Casablanca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Casablanca:
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Train from Airport (for 2)$6.98
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Taxi Ride$7.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Casablanca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Casablanca:
- Transfer between Casablanca and Fez: $479
- Casablanca & Marrakech Private Transfer: $328
- Casablanca Airport Departure Private Transfer From Agadir: $307
- Transfert Arrival - Casablanca Airport to Marrakech City: $298
- Private Transfer from Casablanca (CMN) Airport to Meknes: $295
- Private Arrival Transfer: Casablanca Airport To Tangier: $290
- Private Transfer Casablanca - Maknes : $286
- Casablanca Airport Arrival to Agadir Private Transfer: $282
- From Fez: Private 1-Way Transfer to Casablanca: $277
- Private Transfer from Casablanca (CMN) Airport to Safi: $258
- From Casablanca Airport: Private Transfer to Marrakech 1 Way: $256
- Private Transfer from Casablanca (CMN) Airport to Beni-Mellal: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Essaouira or Casablanca?
Prices for flights to both Casablanca 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 $14Casablanca $19
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: $54
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $169
Typical Food Prices in Casablanca
Some typical examples of dining costs in Casablanca are as follows:
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Breakfast$2.99
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Lunch$8.97
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Dinner at Rick's Cafe (for Two)$32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Casablanca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Casablanca.
- Flavors of Morocco Food Tour in Casablanca: $30
- Couscous Cooking with a Local Family: $50
- Street Food Tour by Night: $60
- Casablanca City Night Tour and Traditional Moroccan Dinner: $64
- Street private Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $66
- Food Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $70
- Experience Casablanca Night Tour & Authentic Moroccan Dinner: $72
- Casablanca City Night Tour and Traditional Moroccan Dinner: $74
- Street Private Guided Food Tour with Tastings at Casablanca: $74
- Central Market Food Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $95
- Casablanca Food Tour - Moroccan Street Food Tour: $105
- Casablanca Private Night Tour with Traditional Dinner: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Essaouira $12Casablanca $8.90
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: $40
- Discover Essaouira Full-Day Tour: $43
- Essaouira Adventure Full-Day Excursion from Marakech: $47
- Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
- Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48
- Essaouira Tour - Half day visit to berber market : $56
Tours and Activities in Casablanca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Casablanca are as follows:
- "Fes to Casablanca Tour: Discover the Fascinating Journey": $307
- 10 Day Private Tour in Morocco Imperial Ceties+Sahara Desert: $2,408
- 13 Km Bike Tour in Lively Casablanca: $39
- 14 Days Authentic Morocco Tour: $269
- 2 Days Tour And Excursion From Casablanca To Chefchaouen: $225
- 2-Hour Casablanca Walking Tour : $38
- 3-Hour Private Casablanca Authentic Home Dining Experience: $100
- 4-Day Desert Tour From Casablanca To Marrakech Via Fes: $2,920
- 6 Days of Desert Wonders: A Tour from Casablanca's Gateway: $1,281
- 7 Days, 6 Nights - Imperial Cities, Blue City & Sahara Tour: $2,254
- A True Evening Hookah (Shisha) Lounging Experience in Casablanca: $46
- An Evening Hookah (Shisha) Lounging Experience in Casablanca: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEssaouira $9.16Casablanca -
Sample the Local Flavors in Casablanca
Also in Casablanca, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting and Lunch at the oldest Domaine from Casablanca: $299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Essaouira and Casablanca, we can see that Casablanca is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Casablanca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Casablanca 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 Casablanca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Essaouira or Casablanca?
Casablanca has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Essaouira and Casablanca, 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.