A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Goa vs. Merzouga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Goa or Merzouga?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Goa or Merzouga? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Goa or Merzouga?

Goa

Goa is a small but important state located on the west coast of India known as a popular beach resort and vacation area.

A large Portuguese influence can be found in Goa in the form of architecture as well as the cuisine, as it was formerly a Portuguese colony. Because of Goa's Portuguese history, there is a distribution of religion among the people, making it quite different than other states in India. About sixty-five percent of the population is Hindu, while about twenty-four percent is Catholic. Goa is one of the most peaceful states in India, with a very low crime rate. The best time to visit Goa is between November and February, as this is when the weather is most comfortable.

This is a popular tourist destination both for the Indian population as well as for tourists from around the world. The warm climate, beautiful beaches, friendly people, fun activities, and cultural diversity make it a popular destination for many types of travelers.

Merzouga

Let's say you want to truly get away. I don't mean putting your ear buds in on some beach with a stronger on the next chair over. I mean really get away, and find yourself deserted. Merzouga, Morocco lets you do just that. This land of sand dune after sand dune is ideal for anyone yearning to ride a camel to the ends of civilization. And you'll find plenty of options to get here with a tour, or even on your own.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai, The Best 2-Week Tours from New Delhi, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Goa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Goa is $34, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $23. 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 Goa and Merzouga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Goa $14
    Merzouga $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Goa $28
    Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Goa and Merzouga

Looking for a hotel in Goa or Merzouga? 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.

Hotels in Goa


Hotels in Merzouga


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: Merzouga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Goa $4.69
    Merzouga -

Is it cheaper to fly into Goa or Merzouga?

Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Goa 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 day
    Goa $14
    Merzouga $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.

  • Berber Pizza Cooking Class: $35
  • Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $51
  • Cooking class in Merzouga Make Berber Madfouna in Sand: $59
  • Merzouga Luxury AC/ Heating Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $64
  • Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
  • Merzouga Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour: $140
  • 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Goa $10
    Merzouga -

Tours and Activities in Goa

For Goa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Agra: Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Skip-the-Line Tour-All Inclusive: $6.76
  • Agra: Private Taj Mahal and Agra Local City Tour By Tuk-Tuk: $27
  • Kerala:- 04 Days, Munnar, Periyar, Kumarakom & Boat Cruise: $514

Tours and Activities in Merzouga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:

  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp: $64
  • 1 hour tour Quad biking experience: $100
  • 2 Hour Merzouga Buggy Adventure in the Sahara Dunes: $205
  • 2 Hour Quad Desert Experience with Sandboarding: $39
  • 2 days tour in Merzouga Erg Chabbi with 4WD Jeep and Camel Treck: $293
  • 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $114
  • 2-Hour Quad Desert Tour, Dunes Oasis, Nomads Family & Sandboard: $44
  • 2-Night Desert Camp Experience with Jeep Tour in Merzouga: $152
  • 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour from Errachidia to Merzouga Camp: $200
  • 3 Days Marrakech to Sahara Adventure Merzouga Dunes & Camel Trek: $116
  • 3 hour Jeep Tour in Merzouga Desert: $64
  • 3-Day Best Desert Tour from Fez to Marrakech via Merzouga: $293

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Goa $11
    Merzouga -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Goa and Merzouga, we can see that Goa is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Goa is in Asia and Merzouga is in Africa, 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 Merzouga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merzouga 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 Goa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Goa than you might in Merzouga.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Goa Expensive? and Is Merzouga Expensive?.