Which place is cheaper, La Rochelle or Essaouira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Essaouira or La Rochelle?
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 La Rochelle can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Essaouira or La Rochelle?
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.
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a lovely French city in the province of Charente-Maritime. It's located in western France and is a seaport on the Bay of Biscay. Most people who visit the city enjoy exploring the "Vieux Port" or Old Harbour area. This area is the heart of the city and it is a beautiful neighborhood that has many seafood restaurants and nice architecture. It's particularly enjoyable to walk around during the evening hours. Ile de Re is connected to the city by a bridge and is also a nice place to visit. If you head out of town, the surrounding countryside is very rural. North of the city is Venise Verte, which is very marshy and has many small canals. It's a popular area for inland boating.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEssaouira $46La Rochelle $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Essaouira is $46, while the average daily cost in La Rochelle is $122. 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 La Rochelle in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEssaouira $26La Rochelle $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEssaouira $52La Rochelle $144
Compare Hotels in Essaouira and La Rochelle
Looking for a hotel in Essaouira or La Rochelle? 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 La Rochelle Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Essaouira $1.99La Rochelle $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $321
- Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $262
- Essaouira : Private Transfer from or to Agafay Desert: $160
- From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $150
- Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $138
- From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $123
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $102
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Transfert Marrakech to Agafay-Private Agafay to Marrakech : $87
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Rochelle
Also for La Rochelle, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from La Rochelle Port to Nantes Airport (NTE): $88
- Private Transfer from La Rochelle Cruise Port to Nantes Hotels: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Essaouira or La Rochelle?
Prices for flights to both La Rochelle 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 $14La Rochelle $37
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 $12La Rochelle $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
Tours and Activities in La Rochelle
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for La Rochelle.
- 3 Hour La Rochelle Private Tour: $90
- 1.5 Hour Guided Tour in Poitiers: $98
- Discover Discovery Walking Tour of La Rochelle: $44
- Guided tour of La Rochelle The splendor of merchants in the 18th century: $22
- La Rochelle "The Heritage" Segway Tour - 1h30: $59
- La Rochelle : Discovery Stroll and Reading Walking Tour: $2.13
- La Rochelle : Private Custom Private Walking Tour With a local: $60
- La Rochelle : Private Custom Walking Tour With a Local Guide: $50
- La Rochelle Grand Format Segway Tour: $87
- La Rochelle Heritage Segway Tour: $60
- La Rochelle Lighthouse at the end of the world Segway Tour: $44
- La Rochelle Seaside Segway Tour: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEssaouira $9.16La Rochelle $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Essaouira and La Rochelle, we can see that La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Essaouira or La Rochelle?
La Rochelle has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Essaouira and La Rochelle, 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.