Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Johannesburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johannesburg or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Johannesburg and Essaouira 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: Johannesburg or Essaouira?
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
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 Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohannesburg $94Essaouira $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $94, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $46. 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 Johannesburg and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohannesburg $54Essaouira $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohannesburg $108Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg 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: Johannesburg Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johannesburg $16Essaouira $1.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Airport To Suncity Transfer And Return: $388
- Johannesburg Airport (JNB): Transfer to Pretoria hotels: $276
- Private Arrival Transfer: Johannesburg Airport to Mpumalanga: $273
- OR Tambo to Sun City Transfer : $227
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg To Pilanesberg: $214
- Johannesburg Airport (JNB): Transfer to Johannesburg hotels: $193
- Private Land Rover transfer to Sun City from Johannesburg and PTA: $190
- Suncity Transfer: $183
- Executive Airport Transfers - OR Tambo to Sandton : $174
- Private Airport Transfer: $118
- Private executive transfer to sun city or airport/hotels : $115
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg O.R.Tambo Airport(JNB) to Johannesburg hotels: $115
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Essaouira Airport: $21
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport : $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport (ESU): $22
- Transfer Essaouira Airport to Essaouira: $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
- Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $35
- Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $38
- From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $69
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Johannesburg 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 dayJohannesburg $17Essaouira $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $39
- Taste of Africa Food Tour: $49
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $96
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $186
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.40
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Breakfast Crepes$0.50
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Fish for Lunch$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
- L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $54
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $55
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
- Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $97
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $169
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johannesburg $21Essaouira $12
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Golf Tour, Sun City , Gary Player Course - Rated the Best: $219
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $29
- 10 Days Overland Tour-Johannesburg and Cape Town: $2,589
- 15 Days Johannesburg, Kruger National Park – Cape Town Tour: $3,884
- 3 Day Kruger National Park Tour from Johannesburg: $823
- 3 Days 2 Nights Panorama Tour & Kruger National park Safari: $797
- 3 Days Big 5 Kruger National Park Tour from Johannesburg: $1,176
- 4-Day Private Tour Johannesburg and Pretoria - See everything in 4 days : $209
- 4-Days Overnight Experience in The Panorama Route & Safari: $1,663
- 6 Days Johannesburg and Kruger National Park Tour: $1,553
- 6 Days of The Best of Johannesburg Experience: $932
- 6 Hours Ultimate Pilanesberg Open Vehicle Day Tour : $187
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Highlights Tour with Tasting the Ocean City: $19
- Full Day Tour From Marrakech To Essaouira Mogador: $21
- Private City Tour: $26
- From Marrakech: Guided tour of Essaouira the coastal city: $26
- KiteSurfing or Surfing Experience in Essaouira: $28
- Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $31
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
- Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $40
- Discover Essaouira Full-Day Tour: $43
- Essaouira Adventure Full-Day Excursion from Marakech: $47
- Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
- Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohannesburg $4.65Essaouira $9.16
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.02
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $111
- Experience Johannesburg Wine Tour Views and Luxury: $225
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Essaouira, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Johannesburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johannesburg or Essaouira?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Johannesburg 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.