Which place is cheaper, Pamplona or Essaouira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Essaouira or Pamplona?
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 Pamplona can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Essaouira or Pamplona?
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.
Pamplona
Pamplona is a city in northern Spain located on the snow-capped foothills of the Pyrenees Range. With the backdrop of mountains, the city is surrounded by a setting ideal for skiing, mountaineering, hiking, wildlife and breathtaking scenery. Yet Pamplona itself is a place full of lively culture and stunning architecture. With a long history, the place is embedded in tradition and perhaps most famous for its annual "running of the bulls" celebrated in July, also known as the San Fermin festival.
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 3-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEssaouira $46Pamplona $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Essaouira is $46, while the average daily cost in Pamplona is $141. 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 Pamplona in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEssaouira $26Pamplona $72
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEssaouira $52Pamplona $144
Compare Hotels in Essaouira and Pamplona
Looking for a hotel in Essaouira or Pamplona? 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 Pamplona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Essaouira $1.99Pamplona $26
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
- Airport Transfer From Essaouira Airport To Medina: $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport (ESU): $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
- Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $36
- Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $38
- From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $70
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
- Transfert Marrakech to Agafay-Private Agafay to Marrakech : $87
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pamplona
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pamplona:
- Private Transfer from Pamplona Airport to Laguardia town: $282
- Private Transfer from Pamplona city to San Sebastian: $244
- Private Transfer from Pamplona city to San Sebastian Airport: $244
Is it cheaper to fly into Essaouira or Pamplona?
Prices for flights to both Pamplona 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
-
Food Meals for one dayEssaouira $14Pamplona $44
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
-
Baklava$1.40
-
Breakfast Crepes$0.50
-
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 Pamplona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pamplona are as follows:
-
Lunch for 2$11
-
Ice Cream$4.82
-
Coffee$1.39
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Essaouira $12Pamplona $36
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: $41
- Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
- Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48
- Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
Tours and Activities in Pamplona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pamplona are as follows:
- Biarritz and French Basque coast small group tour, lunch included: $260
- Bilbao and Guggenheim Museum small group tour: $218
- From San Sebastian: Pamplona City Tour: $91
- Logroño historic&cultural guided walking tour: $32
- Pamplona - Private Historic Walking Tour: $427
- Pamplona Private Tour with Castle of Javier : $240
- Pamplona pintxo tasting paired with Spanish wines small group tour: $72
- Private City Tour Pamplona: $174
- Private tour of Fuenterrabia and San Sebastian.: $283
- Private tour of Getaria, Zumaia, Zarautz and Orio. : $204
- Private tour of Lourdes and the three sacred temples: $240
- Private tour of the jewels of Bilbao, with Guggenheim and pintxos tasting. : $251
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEssaouira $9.16Pamplona $33
Sample the Local Flavors in Pamplona
Also in Pamplona, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half Day Rioja Wine Tour: $218
- Wine tour of La Rioja, with two winery visits, and La Guardia. : $221
- Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Logroño: $240
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Pamplona: $240
- Wine Tour: Winery & Traditional Lunch From Logroño: $251
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery & Traditional Lunch From Pamplona: $251
- Rioja Wine Tour: $283
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Essaouira and Pamplona, we can see that Pamplona 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 Pamplona 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 Pamplona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pamplona 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 Pamplona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Essaouira or Pamplona?
Pamplona has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Essaouira and Pamplona, 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.