Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Gran Canaria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Gran Canaria or Ouarzazate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gran Canaria or Ouarzazate? 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: Gran Canaria or Ouarzazate?
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is one of Spain's Canary Islands, located just off the coast of northwestern Africa. It is the third largest of the islands, and is known for its variety of volcanic beaches. This island is sometimes called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found, which allow for a range of activities like hiking, biking, surfing, and scuba diving.
Ouarzazate
Morocco can be quite an energetic country, but if you're looking for more of a quiet getaway, consider Ouarzazate. Small by Moroccan standards, this town is built up mostly around a main street – the Avenue Mohammad V. Ouarzazate. The name "Ouarzazate" comes from the Berber language meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." It was once a crossroad for a African traders traveling to northern cities in Morocco and Europe. Today, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara, and its central location serves as a good home base touring the rest of Morocco.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGran Canaria €125Ouarzazate €40
The average daily cost (per person) in Gran Canaria is €125, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is €40. 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 Gran Canaria and Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGran Canaria €63Ouarzazate €20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGran Canaria €126Ouarzazate €40
Compare Hotels in Gran Canaria and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Gran Canaria or Ouarzazate? 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: Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gran Canaria €46Ouarzazate €3.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gran Canaria
Also for Gran Canaria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Buggy Tour of 2 hours in the afternoon with Transfers only South Zone: $71
- El Salobre: Horse Riding Adventure with Transfer Options: $32
- From Playa del Inglés: Guided Jet Ski Tour & Hotel Transfers: $160
- Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) to Playa del Ingles - Arrival Transfer: $33
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from El Salobre to Las Palmas (LPA) airport: $47
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Fataga to Las Palmas (LPA) airport: $79
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Gáldar to Las Palmas (LPA) airport: $64
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Ingenio to Las Palmas (LPA) airport: $31
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from La Milagrosa to Las Palmas (LPA) airport: $43
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Las Palmas airport (LPA) to Agüimes: $31
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Las Palmas airport (LPA) to Amadores: $61
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Las Palmas airport (LPA) to Anfí del Mar: $61
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€1.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $309
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $187
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Gran Canaria or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Gran Canaria 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 dayGran Canaria €34Ouarzazate €15
Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
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Dinner for Two€10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ouarzazate.
- Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gran Canaria €20Ouarzazate €9.88
Tours and Activities in Gran Canaria
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Gran Canaria.
- Walking tour Vegueta (old town Las Palmas): $7.49
- Walking tour old town Las Palmas Vegueta: $7.64
- Las Palmas: Old Town Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.45
- Agüimes: Cocodrilo Park Zoo Entry Ticket: $11
- Banana Plantation Guided Tour & Tasting: $13
- Angry Birds Activity Park Entry Ticket: $14
- Holiday World Maspalomas Wooland Ticket: $14
- Skip the Line: Holiday World Maspalomas Wooland Ticket: $14
- Maspalomas: Bowling Session Entry Ticket at Holiday World: $15
- Taurito: Lago Taurito Water Park Entrance Ticket: $17
- Puerto de Mogan: Friday Market Experience: $24
- Winery Tour, Wine Museum, and Tasting: $24
Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate
Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
- 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $125
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
- 4 day Fantastic Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech via desert: $464
- 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $1,508
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
- Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,082
- Desert by Quad: 5 Days of Pure Adventure from Ouarzazate: $2,884
- Experience of kasbah ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate city: $131
- Fez to Merzouga & Marrakech Combined 3 Day Desert Tour: $213
- From Agadir : 4-Day Private Desert Tour To Zagora & Merzouga: $571
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $382
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGran Canaria €7.14Ouarzazate -
Sample the Local Flavors in Gran Canaria
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gran Canaria:
- Spanish Tapas and Wine Tasting Tour in Mogan: $52
- Spanish Cured Meats & Wine Tasting Tour in Mogan: $60
- Gran Canaria Picnic Experience & Wine Tasting: $102
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gran Canaria and Ouarzazate, we can see that Gran Canaria is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Gran Canaria is in Europe and Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ouarzazate 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 Gran Canaria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gran Canaria than you might in Ouarzazate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gran Canaria Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gran Canaria or Ouarzazate?
Gran Canaria has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Gran Canaria and Ouarzazate, 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.