Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Istanbul?
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 Istanbul or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Essaouira, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Istanbul or Essaouira?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
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 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $157Essaouira $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $157, 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 Istanbul and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $73Essaouira $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $146Essaouira $56
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $34Essaouira $2.14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Private Cultural Tours, Hotel Transfers Including: $299
- Istanbul Dolmabahçe Palace Private Tour with Transfers: $296
- Istanbul Old City Private Tour With Professional Guide & Transfer: $274
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökcen Airport: $268
- Istanbul Layover Tour: Private & Personalized with Transfers: $190
- Istanbul Private Airport Transfer: $182
- Istanbul Airport Cruise Port Hotel Transfer with Private Vehicle: $175
- Istanbul to Truva Troy Guided Day Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $167
- Private Transfers Between Istanbul New Airport - Istanbul Far Anatolian Side: $166
- Istanbul NEW Airport Private Transfer: $165
- Istanbul Private Airport Transfer: $157
- Private Transfers Between Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Ap - Istanbul EU Side Southwest: $154
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $23
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
- From Agadir : Day in Essaouira with Transfer: $33
- Essaouira P1: Quad ride / family & friends (free transfer): $34
- Essaouira Airport Private Transfer: $34
- Essaouira P17: Quad ride dunes beaches free transfer.: $34
- Essaouira P3: Quad and Buggy tour beach dunes free transfer: $34
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $40
- Essaouira to Marrakech:Private Transfer for a Hassle-Free Journey: $72
- Essaouira P13: 2h quad + 2h camel free transfer: $92
- "Essaouira to Agafay Desert Marrakech: Exclusive Private Transfer: $93
- Transferts Marrakech à Essaouira ou Essaouira à Marrakech: $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $58Essaouira $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $26
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Live Folk Dance & DJ Experience: $28
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $28
- Dinner and Turkish Night Show in Bosphorus Strait: $29
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Folk Dance and Live Performances: $29
- İstanbul Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show - Pvt. Table: $30
- Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $30
- Istanbul Night Life : Bosphorus Dinner Cruise - Unlimited Drinks: $31
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $31
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Dinner, Drinks & Show with Pickup: $32
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $33
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.50
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Breakfast Crepes$0.53
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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:
- Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner: $47
- Moroccan cooking class in Essaouira city: $52
- Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience: $52
- Sidi Kaouki Sunset Walk and Berber Tent Dinner by Atlantic: $52
- Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience: $58
- Essaouira Family Dinner Experience: $65
- Essaouira Street Food Tour: $69
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $70
- 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.Istanbul $38Essaouira $13
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- "Walk Through History: A Bespoke Istanbul Adventure": $149
- 1 Istanbul Tour: Highlights, Street Food & Hidden Pearls: $280
- 1 Perfect Day in Istanbul Private Guided Tour of the City’s Icons: $250
- 1 or 2 Day Private Istanbul Guided Tour: $80
- 1,2 or 3 DAY: Private Guided Istanbul Tour from CRUISE SHIP or HOTEL: $130
- 1-Day Private Istanbul Layover Tour: $240
- 2 Hours Afternoon Bosphorus Cruise: $12
- 2 Hours Bosphorus Cruise ((MORNING TOUR)): $23
- 2-Days Private Walking Tour in Istanbul: $300
- 2-Hour Scenic Bosphorus Cruise in Istanbul Throughout the Day: $12
- 3 Day Guided Private Tour in Istanbul: $200
- 4 Hours Istanbul Old City Walking & Shopping Tour: $150
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Essaouira to Marrakech Supratours bus tickets: $18
- Essaouira Camel Ride, Quad Bike & Buggy Adventure: $22
- Scenic Horseback Adventure Along Essaouira’s Beaches: $25
- Sunset Horse Ride Experience in Essaouira: $34
- 1 Hour Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira desert: $34
- Essaouira P6: Cape Sim quad bike tour: $34
- Quad Adventure in 1 Hour: $34
- Essaouira Experience Bike Quad: $41
- Essaouira 2-Hour Camel Adventure Ride: $41
- Wingfoil Experience in Essaouira with Bleuryde Watersports: $50
- 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $52
- Essaouira Dar Sultan Palace Horseback Tour Experience: $52
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $10Essaouira $9.82
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Bars, Dancefloors, & Beyond: $17
- Pub Crawler VIP Entry Rooftop Bars&Clubs with Party Bus: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $209
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Essaouira, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Essaouira 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 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 Istanbul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Istanbul 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 Istanbul Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Essaouira?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul 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.