Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Ouarzazate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Ouarzazate, 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 Ouarzazate?
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.
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 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, 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 dayIstanbul $126Ouarzazate $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $42. 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 Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Ouarzazate $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Ouarzazate $42
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Ouarzazate $3.39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meet & Greet Service: $85
- Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Private Transfer Service: $35
- Saw Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers for Old City & Taksim Hotels: $55
- 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Sabiha Gokcen Airport: $75
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Airport Istanbul Private Transfer IST or SAW Airport : $34
- Airport transfer Istanbul: $46
- Arrival & Departure Private Transfer in Istanbul: $43
- Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Van: $70
- Bursa Uludağ Mountain Tour From Istanbul w/Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $35
- CARPEDIEM : SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT LUXURY TRANSFER (Arrival/Departure): $45
- Daily Green Bursa Tour with Cable Car & Transfer from Istanbul: $73
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $187
- Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $309
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate 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 $31Ouarzazate $16
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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Pastries$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show from Istanbul: $16
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $17
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $21
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $29
- Half Day Sunset Luxury Yacht Dinner Cruise Tour in Istanbul: $29
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
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$11
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.Istanbul $79Ouarzazate $11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.93
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.35
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.08
- Istanbul in a day: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.06
- Hippodrome and Blue Mosque Guided Tour: $8.73
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.62
- The Royal Adventure Highlights Exploration Game: $11
Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate
Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
- Royal Private Tour of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou: $22
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
- Private Quad Experience in the Ouarzazate Desert: $57
- Marrakech day tour to Ouzoud falls: $73
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
- From Marrakech : Merzouga 3 day desert tour with camel ride: $103
- Private One Day Tour AIT BENHADDOU and TELOUET via Ouarzazate: $109
- From Marrakech: 3 Days Desert Tour To Erg Chebbi Merzouga: $116
- From marrakech : 3 Days Luxury Desert Tour To Merzouga: $116
- Private tour Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate. Lunch included.: $119
- 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Ouarzazate -
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl Big Nightout . Rooftop parties,party Bus & Nightlife: $22
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $80
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $245
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $844
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Ouarzazate, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul 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 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 Ouarzazate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Ouarzazate?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul 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.