Which place is cheaper, Cinque Terre or Essaouira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Essaouira or Cinque Terre?
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 Cinque Terre can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Essaouira or Cinque Terre?
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.
Cinque Terre
Located on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline, Cinque Terra consists of five seaside villages exuding a charm that dates back to medieval times. Fishing boats bob in the harbors, bringing fresh seafood to the tables of the region, while age old vineyards make for fragrant signature wines. Cinque Terre is considered to be a National Park, with its five villages earning a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their beauty and timelessness.
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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEssaouira $46Cinque Terre $149
The average daily cost (per person) in Essaouira is $46, while the average daily cost in Cinque Terre is $149. 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 Cinque Terre in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEssaouira $26Cinque Terre $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEssaouira $52Cinque Terre $154
Compare Hotels in Essaouira and Cinque Terre
Looking for a hotel in Essaouira or Cinque Terre? 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 Cinque Terre Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Essaouira $1.99Cinque Terre $17
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cinque Terre
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Cinque Terre:
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Ferry Day Pass$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cinque Terre
Also for Cinque Terre, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Cinque Terre to La Spezia by car or van: $142
Is it cheaper to fly into Essaouira or Cinque Terre?
Prices for flights to both Cinque Terre 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 $14Cinque Terre $44
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
Typical Food Prices in Cinque Terre
For Cinque Terre, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Whole Pizza$10
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Panini$4.02
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$56
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Fresh Focaccia$2.27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cinque Terre
For Cinque Terre, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Riomaggiore: $195
- Cinque Terre Food Tour (half day): $273
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Essaouira $12Cinque Terre $14
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cinque Terre
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cinque Terre's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Double Kayak Rental (One Hour)$11
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Bagni Eden Beach Club Umbrella$17
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Cinque Terre Card (One Day)$5.36
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Cinque Terre Card (Three Days)$13
Tours and Activities in Cinque Terre
For Cinque Terre, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hour Cinque Terre Sunset Cruise with Swim Stop: $163
- 2-Hour Boat Tour at sunset in the Cinque Terre with Pesto tasting and focaccia: $104
- 3-Hour Private Boat Tour of the Cinque Terre: $251
- Cinque Terre Hybrid Boat Tour: $109
- Cinque Terre Kayak Adventure from Riomaggiore: $98
- Cinque Terre Lunch boat tour: $218
- Cinque Terre Morning Tour: $131
- Cinque Terre Night Tour: $191
- Cinque Terre Paddleboarding cruise at sunrise or sunset: $218
- Cinque Terre Pesto experience in Riomaggiore: $49
- Cinque Terre Private Boat Tour: $218
- Cinque Terre Private half day tour with Official Tour Guide: $269
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEssaouira $9.16Cinque Terre $7.19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Cinque Terre
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Cinque Terre:
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Glass of Local Wine$3.11
Sample the Local Flavors in Cinque Terre
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cinque Terre:
- BarCa Winery Cinqueterre Tour with Wine Tasting & Pesto Class: $60
- Cinque terre wine tour and tasting with the somelier: $74
- Eco Hiking and Wine Tasting in Cinque Terre : $97
- Cinque Terre Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tastings: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Essaouira and Cinque Terre, we can see that Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Essaouira or Cinque Terre?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Cinque Terre. When comparing the sizes of Essaouira and Cinque Terre, 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.