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

Should you visit Johannesburg or Merzouga?

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 Merzouga 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 Merzouga?

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.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in South Africa, The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Merzouga 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 $104, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $21. 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 Merzouga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johannesburg $53
    Merzouga $10
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johannesburg $106
    Merzouga $20
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Merzouga

Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg 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.

Hotels in Johannesburg


Hotels in Merzouga


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 Merzouga Hotel Prices.

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

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:

  • O.R. Tambo International Airport to city transfer(JNB): $22
  • Airport Shuttle and Private Transfers: $23
  • 24 hour Private Airport Shuttle and Transfer: $26
  • 24 Hour Private Transfer Sandton to OR Tambo: $26
  • Tour operator. airport and hotels transfers chauffeur and safari tours services.: $30
  • 1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $34
  • OR Tambo Airport Private Transfer To Sandton: $34
  • Johannesburg : Airport transfers: $36
  • Luxury Car Johannesburg Airport Private Transfer: $38
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Johannesburg APT-HTL (JNB): $38
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Johannesburg HTL-APT (JNB): $38
  • Private One-Way Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:

  • 1 way Errachidia airport transfer: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Merzouga?

Prices for flights to both Merzouga 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 $28
    Merzouga $10

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: $76
  • Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $77
  • Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $97
  • Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $120

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga

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

  • 1-Night in Desert Camp With Dinner & camel ride: $44
  • Moroccan Berber Pizza Cooking Class in Khamelia: $67
  • 1-Night in the luxury camp. camel ride & Dinner: $69
  • Overnight in Luxury camp with camels dinner: $71
  • Merzouga Orange Dunes ATV Sandsurf Camels with 5 Stars Dinner: $73
  • One Night in Private Camp in the Sahara Desert in Merzouga with Dinner: $84
  • Merzouga Desert Tour, Quad Sandboarding Camel Ride & Dinner: $130
  • Quad Biking, Sandboarding, Camel & Sunset Dinner: $145

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johannesburg $20
    Merzouga -

Tours and Activities in Johannesburg

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:

  • Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto: $17
  • Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $18
  • Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $24
  • Architectural Walking Tour: $25
  • Guided Walking Tour in Johannesburg: $25
  • Soweto Township Tour: $29
  • Braamfontein Street Art & Culture Tour: $29
  • Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $29
  • Johannesburg Street Art & Museum Walking or E-scooter Tour : $30
  • Half-Day Walking Tour in Soweto: $32
  • JHB Maboneng- Street Art Tour and the Roof Top Restaurants: $34
  • Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $34

Tours and Activities in Merzouga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:

  • Merzouga 4x4 tour - Excursion around dunes: $21
  • Camel Ride Experience: $26
  • Merzouga Excursions 4×4 desert tour : $28
  • Merzouga : Adventure Quad Bike Safari, & Sandboarding: $33
  • Merzouga : Adventure Quad Bike Safari, & Sandboarding: $33
  • Merzouga Desert Quad bike Adventure with Sand boarding: $42
  • Sahara ATv Experience -1.H Quad OR buggy : $42
  • Overnight in Desert Camp Berber Experience in Merzouga Desert & Camel Ride: $50
  • Erg Chebbi Dunes Quad Biking Tour: $52
  • Merzouga one hour Quad bike Adventure Tour: $52
  • Merzouga 4X4 Half-Day Tour with Lunch: $55
  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp : $58

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johannesburg $4.58
    Merzouga -

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: $8.05
  • Wine Tasting: $10
  • Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $12
  • Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $131


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Merzouga, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 Merzouga.

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