Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Jaisalmer?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaisalmer or Ouarzazate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Jaisalmer or Ouarzazate? 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 Ouarzazate?
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.
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 Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, 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 dayJaisalmer $37Ouarzazate $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $37, 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 Jaisalmer and Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaisalmer $14Ouarzazate $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaisalmer $28Ouarzazate $42
Compare Hotels in Jaisalmer and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Jaisalmer 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: Jaisalmer Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaisalmer $12Ouarzazate $3.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Bikaner : Private Transfer To Jaisalmer: $60
- From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Bikaner: $55
- From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Sam / Khuri Sand Dunes: $18
- From Jaisalmer : Transfer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $43
- Jaipur to Jaisalmer Transfer: $170
- One Way Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Transfer: $44
- One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
- One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $12
- One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Hotel To Airport: $12
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $10
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:
- Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $310
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate 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 $13Ouarzazate $16
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day SunSet Tour with Dinner: $26
- Jaisalmer Heritage Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $28
- Half Day Camel Safari Sunset with Dinner Tour (Non Touristic): $30
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $33
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Half Day Desert Safari with Camel ride & dinner: $42
- 4×4 Jeep Safari And Camel Safari With Dinner On Sand dunes: $48
- DiNnER !N G0LdEN DE$ERT 0F jASeLMeR: $55
- DiNnER iN HeVeN /aT Golden Desert of Jaisalmer: $55
- Away from the Crowd Dinner on dunes/ In Non Touristic Desert: $55
- Half Day City Tour of Jaisalmer visit Sunset by Camel Ride with Dinner: $56
- Half Day City Tour of Jaisalmer Sunset at Sand Dunes & Dinner: $64
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: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaisalmer $12Ouarzazate $11
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$3.60
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- Temple Tour Of Jaisalmer Rajasthan: $6.15
- Jaisalmer Walking Tour: A Stroll Through Time and Culture: $12
- Explore Jaisalmer with Professional Tour Guide: $12
- Explore Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Colorful Markets of Jaisalmer (3 Hour Guided Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer- Guided Walking Tour: $13
- Experience Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Vibrant Markets of Jaisalmer (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Golden City Photography Guided Tour to Capture City Hues: $13
- Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer Guided Walking Tour: $13
- Explore Jaisalmer in Nightlights -2 Hour Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Jaisalmer Photography Tour for Instagram- 2 Hour Guided Tour: $14
Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate
Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
- 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $126
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
- 4 day Fantastic Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech via desert: $466
- 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $1,514
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
- Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,086
- Desert by Quad: 5 Days of Pure Adventure from Ouarzazate: $2,897
- Experience of kasbah ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate city: $132
- Fez to Merzouga & Marrakech Combined 3 Day Desert Tour: $214
- From Agadir : 4-Day Private Desert Tour To Zagora & Merzouga: $574
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $384
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaisalmer $9.25Ouarzazate -
When comparing the travel costs between Jaisalmer and Ouarzazate, we can see that Ouarzazate is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Jaisalmer is in Asia and Ouarzazate is in Africa, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaisalmer Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jaisalmer or Ouarzazate?
Jaisalmer has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Jaisalmer 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.