A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kolkata (Calcutta) vs. Essaouira for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kolkata (Calcutta) or Essaouira?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kolkata (Calcutta) or Essaouira, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Kolkata (Calcutta) or Essaouira?

Kolkata (Calcutta)

Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal, India. Featuring colonial architecture, galleries, temples, and festivals, the city has flourished from its roots as an East India Company trading post in the 18th Century to a thriving metropolis. Today Kolkata is a diverse center of culture and bustling activity.

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 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Kolkata (Calcutta)?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kolkata (Calcutta) is $37, 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) and Essaouira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kolkata (Calcutta) $17
    Essaouira $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kolkata (Calcutta) $34
    Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Kolkata (Calcutta) and Essaouira

Looking for a hotel in Kolkata (Calcutta) 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.

Hotels in Kolkata (Calcutta)


Hotels in Essaouira


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: Kolkata (Calcutta) Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kolkata (Calcutta) $5.11
    Essaouira $1.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kolkata (Calcutta):

  • Path of Knowledge: A Heritage Walking Tour of Kolkata with Private Transfer: $165
  • Build Your Own: custom private tour of Kolkata with transfers: $69
  • Private Transfer Kolkata Airport CCU To Kolkata Hotels Drop: $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira

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

  • Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport : $22
  • Airport Transfer From Essaouira Airport To Medina: $22
  • Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
  • Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport (ESU): $22
  • Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
  • Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $36
  • From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
  • From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $70
  • Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $81
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $94
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $94
  • Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $103

Is it cheaper to fly into Kolkata (Calcutta) or Essaouira?

Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Kolkata (Calcutta) 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
    Kolkata (Calcutta) $14
    Essaouira $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kolkata (Calcutta).

  • Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $35
  • Cooking experience in Authentic Bengali House with Lunch/Dinner: $41
  • Alleyway Food Tour: $42
  • Traditional Bengali Cooking Class in Kolkata in a Local Home: $64

Typical Food Prices in Essaouira

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


  • Baklava
    $1.40
  • Breakfast Crepes
    $0.50
  • 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: $55
  • Essaouira Cooking Class: $66
  • Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $171
  • 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $173

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kolkata (Calcutta) $15
    Essaouira $12

Tours and Activities in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kolkata (Calcutta) are as follows:

  • 02 Days Guided Private Tour of Kolkata : $225
  • 2 days private tour of kolkata city and Bishnupur by car: $280
  • All inclusive full day tour of kolkata: $105
  • Capturing the City of Joy; Full Day Kolkata Street Photography Tour: $85
  • Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour: $37
  • Custom Private Guided Kolkata Sightseeing Trip w/ Optional Add ons: $147
  • Explore Kolkata- Private Full Day Tour: $90
  • Full Day City Tour Of Kolkata With Guide: $55
  • Full Day Kolkata City Tour : $76
  • Full Day Pilgrimage Tour of Ganga Sagar from Kolkata: $100
  • Full Day Private Sightseeing Tour of Kolkata: $284
  • Guided Kolkata Sightseeing Trip by Car, Walk & Sunset Cruise Excursion Trip: $111

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
  • Private City Tour: $26
  • From Marrakech: Guided tour of Essaouira the coastal city: $26
  • Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $31
  • 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
  • Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41
  • From Agadir to Essaouira : Coastal Day Tour with Guide: $47
  • Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
  • Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48
  • Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
  • Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
  • 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kolkata (Calcutta) $8.27
    Essaouira $9.16

Sample the Local Flavors in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Also in Kolkata (Calcutta), these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl Kolkata: $39


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Essaouira, we can see that Essaouira is more expensive. And not only is Kolkata (Calcutta) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kolkata (Calcutta) is in Asia and Essaouira is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kolkata (Calcutta) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Essaouira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Essaouira than you might in Kolkata (Calcutta).

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kolkata (Calcutta) Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kolkata (Calcutta) or Essaouira?

Kolkata (Calcutta) has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Kolkata (Calcutta) 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.