Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Jaisalmer?
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 Jaisalmer or Merzouga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Jaisalmer or Merzouga? 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: Jaisalmer or Merzouga?
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.
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 India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Jaisalmer Prices
India PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaisalmer $41Merzouga $23
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $41, 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 Jaisalmer and Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaisalmer $12Merzouga $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaisalmer $24Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Jaisalmer and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Jaisalmer 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.
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: Jaisalmer Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaisalmer $11Merzouga -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $11
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Khuri Sand Dunes: $19
- Jaiselmer to Bikaner drop Private Transfers Car service: $27
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
- One Way Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Transfer: $42
- One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $45
- From Jaisalmer : Transfer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $48
- Bada Bagh Sunset Tour with Private Transfer: $50
- From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Bikaner: $55
- 2-Night Camel Safari with Meals & Transfers: $55
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Bikaner: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Jaisalmer 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 dayJaisalmer $20Merzouga $11
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Jaisalmer Food Tour: Taste the Flavors of the Golden City!: $14
- Jaisalmer Heritage & Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $25
- Camel Trails Sunset Safari with Dinner: $29
- Jodhpur Camel & Jeep Safari with Sunset, Folk Dance, Dinner: $30
- Half-Day Camel Tour with Dinner: $34
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $35
- Dinner on the Dunes & Camel Safari: $36
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Jeep Safari, Camel Ride, Dinner and Folk Dance: $42
- Half-Day Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Dinner: $45
- Thar Desert: Camel Ride, Sunset, and Dinner with Stargazing: $54
- Jeep Safari,Camel Ride,Buffet Dinner & Folk Dance: $55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $51
- Private trip 4x4 in Merzouga Lunch with Berber Pizza: $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
- 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaisalmer $11Merzouga -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sam Sand Dunes for Two$3.15
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- City Sightseeing with Experienced Guide: $3.16
- Agra: Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour w/Fatehpur Sikri: $4.50
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise and Agra Fort Private Tour: $7.00
- Jaisalmer Walking Tour: A Stroll Through Time and Culture: $11
- Explore Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $11
- Colorful Markets of Jaisalmer (3 Hour Guided Tour): $11
- Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer Guided Walking Tour: $11
- Cultural & Heritage Trails of Jaisalmer (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- 5.5 Hour City Walking Tour with a Guide: $12
- Experience Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer- Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Vibrant Markets of Jaisalmer (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- 1 Hour Merzouga Buggy Desert Tour: $70
- 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp: $64
- 1 hour tour Quad biking experience: $100
- 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: $292
- 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $113
- 2-Hour Quad Desert Tour, Dunes Oasis, Nomads Family & Sandboard: $44
- 3 Days Marrakech to Sahara Adventure Merzouga Dunes & Camel Trek: $115
- 3 hour Jeep Tour in Merzouga Desert: $64
- 3-Day Best Desert Tour from Fez to Marrakech via Merzouga: $292
- 4×4 Jeep Tour in Merzouga: $2.80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaisalmer $8.09Merzouga -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaisalmer and Merzouga, we can see that Jaisalmer is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer Expensive? and Is Merzouga Expensive?.
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.