Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Lagos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lagos or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lagos and Essaouira. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lagos or Essaouira?
Lagos
A coastal town in the south of Portugal, Lagos is known for its old world charm, plummeting cliffs, and Atlantic beaches. Many come to enjoy a full range of activities from beach-going and watersports to exploring cobbled streets lined with options for shopping and dining. Historic churches and castles add to the charm, as well as a clifftop lighthouse showing the way to Lagos for ships at sea.
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 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, 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 dayLagos €118Essaouira €43
The average daily cost (per person) in Lagos is €118, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is €43. 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 Lagos and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLagos €61Essaouira €24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLagos €122Essaouira €48
Compare Hotels in Lagos and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Lagos 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: Lagos Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lagos €31Essaouira €1.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lagos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lagos:
- Private Transfer: Faro/Lagos to Porto: $799
- Private Transfer: Porto to Faro/Lagos: $798
- Private Transfer: Seville to Lisbon: $612
- Private Transfer from Lisbon Airport Up to 8 pax: $485
- Private Transfer: Lagos to Lisbon: $426
- Private Transfer: Faro to Lisbon: $426
- Private Transfer: Albufeira to Lisbon: $394
- Private Transfer: Lagos to Seville: $373
- Private Transfer: Seville to Algarve (Faro district): $372
- Private Transfer: Seville to Lagos: $372
- Private Transfer: Faro/FAO to Seville: $351
- Private Transfer: Albufeira to Seville: $319
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Essaouira : Private Transfer from or to Agafay Desert: $154
- Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $38
- Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $138
- Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $36
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport : $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport (ESU): $22
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $81
- From Agadir or Taghazout Area: Private Transfer to Essaouira: $160
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $69
- From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $319
- From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $122
Is it cheaper to fly into Lagos or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Lagos 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 dayLagos €34Essaouira €13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lagos
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lagos.
- Classic Food Tour - Lagos: $97
- Full-Day West Coast Adventure with Hiking, Sunset, Dinner & Wine : $114
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava€1.31
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Breakfast Crepes€0.47
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Fish for Lunch€14
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 Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
- Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lagos €26Essaouira €11
Tours and Activities in Lagos
Here are a few actual costs in Lagos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-hour Kayak Tour of Ponta da Piedade Caves and Beaches: $37
- 4x4 Off-road Algarve Natural Park West Coast Tour : $57
- Adventure to the Benagil Caves on a Family Friendly Catamaran - Start at Lagos: $43
- Algarve Private Tour: Sagres and Benagil from Lisbon: $831
- Algarve: Aljezur, Arrifana, and Costa Vicentina Private Tour: $144
- Algarve: Family photoshoot experience: $213
- Algarve: Lagos Sightseeing guided Tour with e-bikes: $62
- Algarve: Lagos sightseeing guided tour with E-bikes: $70
- Amado Beach Walking Tour: $54
- Boat Cruise to Algar de Benagil from Lagos: $38
- Coast Cruise Trip to Ponta da Piedade from Lagos: $33
- Coastal Tour 2H30M / Lagos / Grottos / Aqua Trampoline: $37
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
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
- Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41
- Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $42
- Discover Essaouira Full-Day Tour: $43
- Essaouira Adventure Full-Day Excursion from Marakech: $47
- From Agadir to Essaouira : Coastal Day Tour with Guide: $48
- Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48
- Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLagos €6.79Essaouira €8.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Lagos
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lagos:
- Lagos Wine Tasting and Tapas: $43
- Small group Wine Tasting Tour from Lagos: $65
- Small-Group Day Tour of Silves and Monchique with Wine Tasting: $86
- Benagil Secrets: Jeep and Boat Tour with Wine Tasting: $103
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lagos and Essaouira, we can see that Lagos is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lagos is in Europe 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 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 Lagos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lagos 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 Lagos Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lagos or Essaouira?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Lagos. When comparing the sizes of Lagos 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.