A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Johannesburg vs. Meknes for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Johannesburg or Meknes?

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 Meknes 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 Meknes?

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.

Meknes

So you love a bustling nightlife with fine restaurants and meaningful historical buildings, but you hate all the tourists. Well, it maybe time to visit Meknes, Morocco. Since most travelers head straight to Fez, that leaves Meknes relatively untouched and remains free of the usual hassles that plague other major destinations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, and The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Meknes or Johannesburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $107, while the average daily cost in Meknes is $56. 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 Meknes in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johannesburg $54
    Meknes $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johannesburg $108
    Meknes $52
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Meknes

Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg or Meknes? 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.

Hotels in Johannesburg


Hotels in Meknes


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 Meknes Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johannesburg $16
    Meknes $1.45
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:

  • Johannesburg Airport (JNB) to Johannesburg Round-Trip Transfer: $222
  • Pilanesberg Transfer from Johannesburg and Pretoria : $220
  • Private Land Rover transfer to Sun City from Johannesburg and PTA: $195
  • Transfers Between OR Tambo and Pilanesburg : $195
  • Suncity Transfer: $193
  • Executive Airport Transfers - OR Tambo to Sandton : $179
  • Private Transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria hotels: $158
  • Airport Transfers from Cradle of Humankind Muldesdrift to Jo'burg: $146
  • Private Transfer, Airports to Cradle of Humankind & Muldersdrift : $146
  • Abseiling & Return Transfer Included Lanseria: $134
  • Johannesburg Quad Biking & Return Transfer: Haartebeespoort: $134
  • Go Karting & Transfer to Lanseria Included: $134

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Meknes

Also for Meknes, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • One Way Transfer from Fes To Chefchaouen Via Volubilis: $114
  • Private Transfer from fez to Rabat or from Rabat to Fes: $126

Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Meknes?

Prices for flights to both Meknes 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Johannesburg $29
    Meknes $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.

  • Unique street food tour from at least 6 different cultures!: $50
  • Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $50
  • Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $78
  • Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $79
  • Zulu Food Cooking and Dining Experience with a local Chef: $81
  • A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
  • Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $99
  • Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $107
  • Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $123

Typical Food Prices in Meknes

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Meknes:


  • Popcorn
    $0.20
  • Spices
    $2.49

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Meknes

For Meknes, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Fes Medina :Grocery shopping & cooking Class with Fatima: $96

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johannesburg $21
    Meknes $3.54

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: $226
  • Half-Day Safari Tour of the Magaliesberg Mountains by Zipline: $121
  • Private Full Day Johannesburg apartheid museum and Soweto Tour : $110
  • Soweto Private half day tour: $74
  • (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $52
  • 1 Day Pilanesberg Safari with Tour Guide: $271
  • 2 Days Kruger Fly-in Big 5 Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $995
  • 2-Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $934
  • 2-Day Kruger Overland Big 5 Safari Tour: $841
  • 3 Day Kruger Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $933
  • 3 Days 2 Nights Panorama Tour & Kruger National park Safari: $825
  • 4 Day Kruger Fly in Big 5 Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $1,454

Tours and Activities in Meknes

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Meknes.

  • From Fez: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes Full Day Tour: $16
  • Guided city Tour: $33
  • Guided Tour with Entrance Fees: $33
  • Fes to Volubilis via Meknes and Moulay Idriss Day Tour: $40
  • From Fez Guided Day Trip All Inclusive Tickets: $103
  • From Rabat: Volubilis and Meknes Full-day Tour: $259

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johannesburg $4.69
    Meknes $2.61

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: $8.24
  • Wine Tasting: $11
  • Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $12
  • Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $135

Typical Alcohol Prices in Meknes

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Meknes:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $4.57


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Meknes, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. And not only is Meknes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Meknes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Meknes 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 Meknes.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Johannesburg Expensive? and Is Meknes Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johannesburg or Meknes?

Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Meknes. When comparing the sizes of Johannesburg and Meknes, 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.