Which place is cheaper, Casablanca or Essaouira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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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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Essaouira Prices
Morocco PricesCasablanca Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEssaouira $60Casablanca $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Essaouira is $60, while the average daily cost in Casablanca is $92. 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 $28Casablanca $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEssaouira $56Casablanca $92
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 $2.16Casablanca $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Essaouira Airport: $22
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $23
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $24
- From Shared Transfer to Marrakech: $25
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $28
- Essaouira Airport Private Transfer : $33
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport : $34
- Quad/Seaside Tour (free transfer): $37
- Quad tour forest beach dunes (free transfer): $37
- Quad ride / family & friends (free transfer): $37
- 1-Hour Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $39
- Agadir or taghazout: day in Essaouira with transfer: $48
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)$7.56
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Taxi Ride$8.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Casablanca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Casablanca:
- Transfer between Casablanca and Fez: $322
- Transfer Private From Casablanca To Chefchaouen: $298
- Private Arrival Transfer: Casablanca Airport To Tangier: $290
- Private Transfer from Casablanca (CMN) Airport to Safi: $273
- Private transfer from Casablanca to Marrakech: $268
- Transfer Private From Casablanca To Tangier: $263
- Transfer From Casablanca To Chefchaouen: $259
- Private Transfer from Casablanca (CMN) Airport to Oualidia: $254
- Private Transfer from Casablanca (CMN) Airport to Marrakech: $254
- Private Transfer from Casablanca (CMN) Airport to Beni-Mellal: $254
- Transfer Casablanca to Essaouira: $251
- Private Transfer from Casablanca to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport: $243
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 $25Casablanca $36
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.51
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Breakfast Crepes$0.54
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Fish for Lunch$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience: $50
- Cooking with views of Essaouira: $57
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $68
- Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $72
- Essaouirra cooking class: $73
- Essaouira Food Tour: $84
- Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $101
- Moroccan cooking classes in Essaouira with Service Photo et Vidéo Pro: $104
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $210
Typical Food Prices in Casablanca
Some typical examples of dining costs in Casablanca are as follows:
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Breakfast$3.24
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Lunch$9.72
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Dinner at Rick's Cafe (for Two)$35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Casablanca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Casablanca.
- Traditional Cooking Courses in Casablanca : $53
- Old local Market visit+Moroccan cooking class with a local family: $59
- Casablanca After Sunset Traditional Photoshoot and Dinner Show: $67
- Authentic Moroccan Food Tour in Casablanca with Dinner: $68
- Private CousCous Cooking Class in a Traditional Family Home: $70
- Casablanca City Night Tour and Traditional Moroccan Dinner: $78
- Casablanca Food Tour: $103
- Central Market Food Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $107
- Food Tour with Tastings in Quartier Habous: $108
- Casablanca Private Night Tour with Traditional Dinner: $138
- Beach view cooking class: $138
- Casablanca Food Tour - Marché Central & Seafood Lunch: $140
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Essaouira $13Casablanca $9.65
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- From Marrakech : Ouzoud waterfalls guided trip and boat tour: $11
- Souk Had Draa: Private Tour and Traditional Moroccan Breakfast: $23
- Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $28
- Private City Tour: $28
- Full-Day Essaouira Tour from Marrakech: $28
- Essaouira Donkey Tours : $28
- Explore Essaouira's Secrets: A Guided Tour with a Local!: $35
- Sunset Horse Ride Experience in Essaouira: $36
- Historical & Cultural Sightseeing Tour - half day: $38
- Essaouira 2-Hour Camel Adventure Ride: $40
- Quad Adventure in 1 Hour: $40
- 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $51
Tours and Activities in Casablanca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Casablanca are as follows:
- 2-Days Private Tour of Chefchaouen and Fez, from Casablanca: $275
- 11 Km Guided Bike Tour in Lively Casablanca: $39
- 21 Km Guided Bike Tour in Exploring the Vibrant City: $59
- An Evening Hookah (Shisha) Lounging Experience in Casablanca: $47
- Casablanca 4 Hours Private Tour with Port Pick up: $138
- Casablanca : 6 Days Tour To Marrakech Via Fez & Merzouga: $978
- Casablanca Airport Layover Tour with Return to Airport or Hotel Dropoff: $67
- Casablanca City Private Tour: $86
- Casablanca City Tour with Hassan II Mosque Ticket: $56
- Casablanca City Tour with Hassan II mosque ticket: $52
- Casablanca City Tour with Hotel Pickup and drop off: $33
- Casablanca City Tour: Hassan II Mosque, Arab League Park & Sights: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEssaouira $9.93Casablanca -
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.