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

Should you visit Islamabad or Merzouga?

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 Merzouga 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 Merzouga?

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.

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 Adventure Tours to Pakistan, The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Islamabad?

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 Islamabad is $52, 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 Islamabad and Merzouga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Islamabad $20
    Merzouga $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Islamabad $40
    Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Islamabad and Merzouga

Looking for a hotel in Islamabad 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 Islamabad


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: Islamabad Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Islamabad $7.65
    Merzouga -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad

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

  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer - DEPARTURE: $40
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
  • Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
  • Islamabad Airport Transfers: $54
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
  • Islamabad International Airport Departure Drop off Transfer: $55
  • Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55
  • Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
  • Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $110

Is it cheaper to fly into Islamabad or Merzouga?

Prices for flights to both Merzouga 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 $26
    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
  • Desert excursion with camel trek into the camp Dinner breakfast: $50
  • Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $51
  • Private trip 4x4 in Merzouga Lunch with Berber Pizza: $58
  • Cooking class in Merzouga Make Berber Madfouna in Sand: $58
  • From 1 Night in the luxury camp. Camel ride and dinner: $58
  • Merzouga Luxury AC/ Heating Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $64
  • Overnight At Luxury Desert Camp with Camel Ride and Dinner: $105
  • 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.
    Islamabad $9.45
    Merzouga -

Tours and Activities in Islamabad

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

  • Islamabad and Rawalpindi Sightseeing Tour: $70
  • Full Day Islamabad & Taxila UNESCO Site Tour: $78
  • Exclusive Luxury Private Tour: Discover the Gems of Islamabad: $80
  • Half Day Private Instagram Guided City Tour: $80
  • Islamabad City Tour: $80
  • Islamabad Offbeat, Private City Tour Islamabad: $82
  • Best of One-Day Sightseeing Tour: $85
  • Private Tour: Islamabad Full Day Customized Exploration Tour: $90
  • Rawalpindi guided private city tour, Old City Charm: $95
  • Best of Islamabad City Landmarks Exploration Tour (Private & Guided).: $95
  • Islamabad Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $95
  • Best of Islamabad Half Day Tour (Morn & Eve Slots): $100

Tours and Activities in Merzouga

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

  • 1 Hour Buggy Can-am Merzouga Desert Experience: $152
  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp: $64
  • 1 hour Quad in the Sahara: Merzouga Off Roading Experience: Nature & Wildlife: $80
  • 1 hour tour Quad biking experience: $100
  • 1/2 day 4x4 tour of Erg Chebbi: $93
  • 2 Hour Merzouga Buggy Adventure in the Sahara Dunes: $163
  • 2 Hour Quad Desert Experience with Sandboarding: $38
  • 2 days tour in Merzouga Erg Chabbi with 4WD Jeep and Camel Treck: $291
  • 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $113
  • 2-Days Merzouga tour from Errachidia: $200
  • 2-Hour Quad Desert Tour, Dunes Oasis, Nomads Family & Sandboard: $44
  • 2-Night Desert Camp Experience with Jeep Tour in Merzouga: $152

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Islamabad $2.88
    Merzouga -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Islamabad and Merzouga, we can see that Islamabad is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Islamabad 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 Islamabad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Islamabad 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 Islamabad Expensive? and Is Merzouga Expensive?.


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