Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Fez?
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 Fez or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fez and Essaouira can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Fez or Essaouira?
Fez
Fez is the historical capital of Morocco and has one of the country's most impressive and elaborate medinas. It's authentic and traditional atmosphere attracts travelers from all over the world. It's fun to wander the city's elaborate alleyways, sample the food, and soak up the sights and smells. In Fez's medina you'll find donkeys, carts, spices, and pottery. You'll find traditional foods, locals bartering for goods, and religious buildings that date back hundreds of years. The medina is also the world's largest car free urban zone.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Morocco.
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Fez Prices
Morocco PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFez $93Essaouira $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Fez is $93, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $60. 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 Fez and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFez $35Essaouira $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFez $70Essaouira $56
Compare Hotels in Fez and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Fez or Essaouira? 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: Fez Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fez $16Essaouira $2.17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Fez
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Fez:
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Taxi Ride$2.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fez
Also for Fez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Fes to Rabat (RBA) Airport: $291
- Private Transfer From Fes to Marrakech via Volubilis and Rabat: $280
- Transfer Fes to Safi: $274
- Transfer Fes Airport to Marrakech: $274
- One Way Private Transfer To Marrakech: $269
- Private Luxury High Way Transfers From Fes to Marrakech: $268
- From Fez : Transfer to Tangier via Chefchaouen the blue City: $240
- private one-way transfer from Fes to Marrrakech: $233
- Private Transfer from Fes to Tanger via Meknes and Volubilis: $233
- Private Transfer : Fez-Marrakech, Marrakech -Fez: $232
- Private Fes to Casablanca transfer with visit Volubilis and Rabat: $227
- Transfer From Fez to Marrakech ( private): $227
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- private transfer essaouira to casablanca or casablanca-essaouira: $286
- Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech: $112
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $125
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech: $117
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira: $117
- Private transfer Essaouira Taroudant.: $198
- Private transfer Essaouira Safi.: $109
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira 1 to 4 people: $109
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport: $136
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Agadir: $128
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $23
- From Agadir : Day in Essaouira with Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Fez or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Fez 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 dayFez $44Essaouira $25
Typical Food Prices in Fez
For Fez, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Yogurt$0.65
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Dinner for 2$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fez
For Fez, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fez Rooftop Sunset Tea & Dinner at Palais Traditionnel: $12
- Moroccan Lunch or Dinner with Henna in a Traditional Riad in Fes: $32
- Cooking Class Experience in Fes: $37
- Moroccan Cooking Class with Lunch in a Traditional Riad in Fez: $40
- Fez Cooking Class at a Traditional Riad with Market Visit: $40
- Flavors of Fez by Locals ( Cooking Class ): $41
- Flavors of Fez ( Cooking Class with Local Expert ): $41
- Family Dinner in Fes with Tea and Fun Stories: $45
- fez Cooking Class Moroccan cuisine with Market Visit: $47
- cooking classe in fes with ouliya: $47
- Fez Souk tour & traditional Home Cooking: $52
- Best cooking class in Fès with real Familly: $52
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.52
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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:
- Agadir Cooking Class Experience with Local Market Visit: $30
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
- Cooking class: How To Be a Real Moroccan Chef: $41
- Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner: $47
- Moroccan cooking class in Essaouira city: $52
- Kids Moroccan Cooking Class: $52
- Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience: $58
- Essaouira Family Dinner Experience: $65
- Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
- Essaouira Cooking Class: $76
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $213
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $216
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fez $9.81Essaouira $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Fez
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Fez's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Granary Fee$2.17
Tours and Activities in Fez
For Fez, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Day Private Fez Desert Tour to Merzouga: $227
- 2 Day Private Sahara Adventure from Fez to Merzouga and Back: $239
- 2 Days 1 Night Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech (Luxury Camp ): $152
- 2 Days Desert Tour Fez to Marrakech (Or back to Fez): $185
- 2 Days Desert Tour From Fes back to Fes: $198
- 2 Days Fes Desert Tour with Night luxury Tent & Quad/Camel ride: $147
- 2 Days Luxury Magic Morocco Desert Tour From Fes To Fes: $169
- 2 Days Tour From Fes To Marrakech Via Merzouga Desert: $152
- 2-Day Guided Sahara Desert Tour: Fes to Merzouga: $140
- 2-Day Luxury Sahara Tour: Fes to Marrakech or Fes: $105
- 2-Day Sahara Desert Adventure: Fes to Merzouga Tour: $150
- 2-Days Desert Tour From Fes to Fes or Marrakech With Camel Ride: $111
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- 1 Day Horseback Riding Tour with Overnight Stay in Berber Tent: $292
- 1 Hour Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira desert: $34
- 1-Day Quad Adventure in Essaouira near Marrakech: $206
- 1-hour buggy tour in Essaouira desert (2 places/buggy): $77
- 2 – Hours Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Desert with Moroccan Tea: $57
- 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $52
- Beginners surf experience in Essaouira: $34
- Buggy tour in the dunes of Cape Sim: $105
- Day Tour on Dromedary and Overnight Stay Near Essaouira Morocco: $292
- Discovery Tour around Essaouira by Electric Motorcycle: $113
- Electric Scramblers Motorcycle Tours from Sidi Kaouki: $140
- Essaouira Camel Ride, Quad Bike & Buggy Adventure: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFez $13Essaouira $9.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Fez
Also in Fez, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Full Day Boutique Winery and Wine Tasting Tour from Fez to Meknes: $174
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fez and Essaouira, we can see that Fez 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 Fez would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fez 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 Fez Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fez or Essaouira?
Fez has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Fez and Essaouira, 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.