Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kampala or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Essaouira? 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: Kampala or Essaouira?
Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.
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 Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, 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 dayKampala $71Essaouira $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $71, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $47. 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 Kampala and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $60Essaouira $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $120Essaouira $54
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Kampala 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: Kampala Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.54Essaouira $2.06
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
- From Entebbe: 3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari with Transfers: $1,850
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $131
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $131
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Kampala Entebbe Airport Transfer: $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Excursion: 1H/Quad+1H/Camels (free transfer): $67
- Airport Transfer From Essaouira Airport To Medina: $22
- Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $142
- 1-Hour Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $37
- 2-Hour Quad Ride (free transfer): $65
- 3 Hours Quad Ride with Transfer: $83
- 3-Hour Quad Ride (Free Transfer): $73
- Guided Quad Biking Adventure with Transfer: $62
- Private Transfer from or to Agafay Desert: $165
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport : $45
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
- Private Transfer to Marrakech Comfort Convenience: $159
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Kampala 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 dayKampala $8.55Essaouira $14
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
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Lunch for 2$1.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Kampala Food Tour (KWT): $26
- Like a local cooking Tours: $26
- Cooking Class for Typical Ugandan Food in Kampala: $31
- Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
- Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
- Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
- Cooking Class Tour Kampala.: $60
- Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Kampala cooking tour: $133
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.44
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Breakfast Crepes$0.52
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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
- Traditional Moroccan and Berber Cooking Classes : $45
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $67
- Essaouirra cooking class: $71
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $72
- Essaouira Food Tour: $93
- Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $100
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $174
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $177
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Essaouira $12
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover the Magic of Uganda's Equator on a 1-Day Tour: $136
- Equator Tour: $100
- 1 -One Day Jinja Source of River Nile Tour Experience : $150
- 1 Day Best Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Birding Tour, Lake Victoria: $129
- 1 Day Jinja & Source of the Nile River tour (female guided): $250
- 1 Day Jinja source of the Nile tour: $290
- 1 Day Jinja tour special with Lunch: $170
- 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $150
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $290
- 1 Day Uganda Cultural & Farm Experience: $500
- 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $261
- 1 day Mabamba (Shoebill) bird watching tour - Shoebill & canoe tour: $205
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Full-day trip to Experience the magic of Mogador.: $14
- Private Tour of Souk Had Dra and Traditional Moroccan Breakfast: $22
- Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $27
- Private City Tour: $27
- Full-Day Essaouira Tour from Marrakech: $28
- KiteSurfing or Surfing Experience in Essaouira: $29
- Explore Essaouira's Secrets: A Guided Tour with a Local!: $30
- Historical & Cultural Sightseeing Tour - half day: $34
- Sports Tour: Wadi(river), Dunes and Panorama Essaouira: $34
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $49
- Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $49
- Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Essaouira $9.48
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
- Entebbe and club,pub and bar crawl experiences: $35
- Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
- Kampala Bar Crawl, Beer Tasting and Street Food (6 Hours): $71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Essaouira, we can see that Kampala 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 Kampala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kampala 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 Kampala Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Essaouira?
Kampala has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Kampala 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.