Which place is cheaper, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or Essaouira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Essaouira or Chamonix-Mont-Blanc?
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 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Essaouira or Chamonix-Mont-Blanc?
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.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (usually shortened to Chamonix) is a resort area near the junction of France, Switzerland and Italy. At the base of Mont Blanc, the highest summit in the Alps, it's renowned for its skiing. Year-round, cable cars take visitors up to several nearby peaks with panoramic views, including Aiguille du Midi above town, and Pointe Helbronner, across vast glacier fields on the Italian border. Chamonix is one of the oldest ski resorts in France and is known as the "gateway to the European Cascades." With the sheer white heights of the Mont Blanc ridge as its sensational backdrop, the Chamonix Valley shows the Alps at their most dramatic. First discovered as a tourist destination by Brits William Windham and Richard Pococke in 1741, it has become a wintertime playground of epic proportions, more than satisfying the most demanding skiers as well as those who pack themselves into its boot-stomping bars. In summer, lift-accessible highland trails offer thrilling panoramas to hikers, mountain bikers and other high-altitude thrill seekers.
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 Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEssaouira $46Chamonix-Mont-Blanc $252
The average daily cost (per person) in Essaouira is $46, while the average daily cost in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is $252. 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 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEssaouira $26Chamonix-Mont-Blanc $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEssaouira $52Chamonix-Mont-Blanc $192
Compare Hotels in Essaouira and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Looking for a hotel in Essaouira or Chamonix-Mont-Blanc? 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 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Essaouira $1.99Chamonix-Mont-Blanc $43
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 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Also for Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Chamonix and Morzine to Milan Malpensa Airport: $229
- Private Departure Transfer from Chamonix to Milan Airport: $170
- Courmayeur Ski Club to Linate Airport (LIN) - Departure Transfer: $162
- Courmayeur, Italy to Malpensa Airport (MXP) - Departure Private Transfer: $153
- Chamonix-Morzine-Avoriaz to Geneva Airport GVA-Departure Transfer: $147
- Courmayeur to Milan Malpensa Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $137
- Chamonix (FR) to Geneva Airport (GVA)- Departure Private Transfer: $131
- Courmayeur to Turin Caselle Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $87
- Chamonix to Turin Caselle Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Essaouira or Chamonix-Mont-Blanc?
Prices for flights to both Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 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 $14Chamonix-Mont-Blanc $51
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 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
For Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Food Tour in Chamonix: $444
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Essaouira $12Chamonix-Mont-Blanc $86
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 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
For Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Altitude experience above Chamonix by eBike: $298
- Bespoke Private Chamonix Experience: $196
- Chamonix: Private Guided Walking Tour: $307
- Fly in Paragliding! Paragliding experience over Chamonix!: $171
- From Geneva: Chamonix Mont-Blanc Private Guided Tour: $416
- Geneva: Private Chamonix Mont Blanc Day Tour: $538
- Live an eBike Mountain Bike Experience in the Heart of Chamonix Mont-Blanc: $195
- Monte Bianco Skyway Experience : $144
- On an adventure with Rosalie - Nancy-sur-Cluses: $5.45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEssaouira $9.16Chamonix-Mont-Blanc $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Also in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tour with private driver - 10 hours: $823
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Essaouira and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, we can see that Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 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 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 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 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 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 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Essaouira or Chamonix-Mont-Blanc?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. When comparing the sizes of Essaouira and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, 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.