A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Islamabad vs. Marrakech for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Islamabad or Marrakech?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Islamabad and Marrakech 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: Islamabad or Marrakech?

Islamabad

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, specially built in the 1960's to replace the former capital, Karachi. Most of the city's population are employees of the government, though many people come from all over Pakistan to enjoy the city's peaceful atmosphere and green spaces, museums, and monuments.

Marrakech

Marrakech is on of the most popular travel destinations in Morocco. It is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat and is located near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains only a few hours from the Sahara Desert. It's a beautiful city that is often referred to as the "Pink City" because of the pale pink color of many of the city's buildings. These striking colors make the city particularly beautiful during the evening hours when the low sun creates a very dramatic lighting.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Pakistan, The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Marrakech or Islamabad?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Islamabad is $42, while the average daily cost in Marrakech is $69. 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 Islamabad and Marrakech in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Islamabad $20
    Marrakech $46
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Islamabad $40
    Marrakech $92
Compare Hotels in Islamabad and Marrakech

Looking for a hotel in Islamabad or Marrakech? 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 Islamabad


Hotels in Marrakech


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: Islamabad Hotel Prices and Marrakech Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Islamabad $7.68
    Marrakech $6.30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad

Also for Islamabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $110
  • Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
  • Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
  • Premium Services: Islamabad Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfers.: $170
  • Islamabad Round Trip Airport Transfer & Customizable Day Trip: $95
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer: $35
  • Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech

Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer From Marrakech To Fez: $447
  • Private Transfer From Fez To Marrakech: $447
  • One way transfer from Fes to Marrakech: $363
  • Private Transfer between Marrakech and Casablanca: $308
  • City to City Transfer - Marrakesh > Merzouga: $300
  • Private Transfer From Casablanca to Marrakesh: $280
  • Private Premium Transfert From / To Marrakech To / From Merzouga: $271
  • Private Transfer From Marrakech To Agadir Or Agadir To Marrakech : $268
  • Transfert Departure Marrakech City to Casablanca Airport: $265
  • City to City Transfer - Marrakesh > MHamid: $260
  • Transfer Marrakech to Fes: $255
  • Private Transfer from Safi to Casablanca (CMN) Airport: $253

Is it cheaper to fly into Islamabad or Marrakech?

Prices for flights to both Marrakech and Islamabad 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
    Islamabad $15
    Marrakech $13

Typical Food Prices in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Orange Juice on the Square
    $0.30
  • Breakfast
    $1.20
  • Dates
    $0.60
  • Olives
    $0.90
  • Sandwich
    $1.29
  • Souvenir Spices
    $6.18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Magical dinner in agafay desert with camel ride: $19
  • Marrakech desert: Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner Show: $21
  • Restaurant Dinner Experience with Hotel Pickup: $21
  • All-inclusive Dinner and camel ride experience in Agafay desert : $22
  • Dinner Show in Agafay Desert with Quad Bike & Camels: $22
  • Typical Moroccan Dinner at the inhabitant in Marrakech: $22
  • Sunset in Agafay: Dinner, Camel, Quad-Book Adventure with Viator: $22
  • Desert Dinner, Camel Ride, Sunset & Show: $23
  • Dinner in Desert Marrakech and Camel ride at Sunset: $23
  • Moroccan Cooking Class with a Local Chef: $24
  • From Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner with Live Show: $25
  • From Camel Ride Sunset Dinner and Show Desert: $26

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Islamabad $9.48
    Marrakech $7.01

Tours and Activities in Islamabad

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Islamabad.

  • Best of Islamabad Half Day Tour With Meal At Monal Restaurant (Morn & Eve Slots): $100
  • From 15 Day Trekking Tour of Thalay and Nangma: $3,070
  • From 9-Day Colors of Hunza Valley Cultural Tour: $2,065
  • From Full Day Guided Taxila Ruins Exploration Tour: $150
  • From Full Day Historical Peshawar Guided City Tour: $160
  • From Skardu and Baltistan Cultural Tour with Food: $2,339
  • Full Day Private City Tour Of Islamabad: $98
  • Full Day Private Guided Tour of Taxila Gandahara Civilization : $140
  • Full Day Private Murree Nathiagali Tour : $187
  • Full-Day Sightseeing Tour Of Islamabad: $85
  • Full-day Essential Islamabad Tour: $150
  • Islamabad City Tour With Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument & Lunch : $110

Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Palace Tickets
    $1.99
  • Golf at Atlas Golf
    $56

Tours and Activities in Marrakech

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

  • 3 Day Private Desert Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga Dunes With Camel Trek: $271
  • 3 Days Tour - Marrakech To Fez via Sahara Desert Erg chebbi: $205
  • Agafay Desert: Three Valley Guided Tour From Marrakech : $21
  • Atlas Mountains, Berber Villages & Waterfall Tour: $25
  • Best Marrakech Private walking tour: $29
  • Biking Tour in atlas Mountain day trip form Marrakech : $140
  • City Tour Marrakech with guide 1/2 day: $20
  • Desert Agafay & Berber Villages Day Tour From Marrakech including Camel Ride: $49
  • Food Tasting Tour in Marrakech medina : $70
  • Full Day Desert Agafay & Atlas Mountains Tour With Camel Ride : $48
  • Full Day Guided Tour in Ouzoud Waterfalls : $29
  • Full day tour Ourika Valley And Atlas Mountains : $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Islamabad $2.88
    Marrakech $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:

  • Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $28
  • Moroccan wine tasting workshop in Marrakech: $70


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

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


Which is Bigger, Islamabad or Marrakech?

Marrakech has a larger population, and is about 40% larger than the population of Islamabad. When comparing the sizes of Islamabad and Marrakech, 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.