Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Luxor?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Luxor or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Luxor 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: Luxor or Essaouira?
Luxor
Egypt is surely on the top of every history lover's bucket list. Nowhere is the history more engrossing than in Luxor. From amazing monuments dating back to ancient Thebes to rows of temples up the Nile, this remarkable city is full the stories of past greatness.
The East Bank – or the central part of Luxor Township – is the hotbed for tourism. This is where most of the hotels and resorts are, while the West Bank is home to the ancient ruins and archaeological wonders you'll want to explore.
Before traveling to Egypt, be sure to check on the current affairs and political climate. It could have a major effect on the amount of tourists visiting, and, if conditions are too dangerous, you may want to reschedule. Also note, ladies, to avoid any issues, dress modestly. This is a very conservative region of the world. The less skin showing, the better.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Egypt, The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Luxor Prices
Egypt PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuxor $20Essaouira $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Luxor is $20, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $60. 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 Luxor and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuxor $7.12Essaouira $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuxor $14Essaouira $56
Compare Hotels in Luxor and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Luxor 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: Luxor Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luxor $3.65Essaouira $2.16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luxor
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Luxor:
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Taxi Ride$0.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luxor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Luxor:
- 3-Night Nile Cruise to Aswan with Transfers and Meals: $429
- Private transfer from Luxor to Aswan by Car: $280
- One Way Transfer From Luxor to Alexandria In A Private Vehicle: $279
- Private Transfer from Luxor to Aswan: $270
- Private Transfer Luxor To Sahl Hasheesh - Car & Minibus Options: $257
- Private Transfer Luxor To Makadi - Car And Minibus Options: $257
- Private Transfer Luxor To Hurghada City - Car And Minibus Options: $244
- Private Transfer from luxor to Aswan with 2 stops in Komombo & Edfu Temples : $220
- Private transfer - from Luxor to Hurghada and visit Dendara en route: $192
- Luxor Airport (LXR) to El Queseir - Arrival Private Transfer : $187
- Vip Marsa Alam Private Transfer to Luxor: $180
- Private Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada : $180
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): $63
- Agadir or taghazout: day in Essaouira with transfer: $48
- Airport transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh : $263
- Airport transfer, Departure : Essaouira, Arrival : Agadir: $126
- Essaouira Airport Private Transfer : $33
- Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $146
- Essaouira to Marrakech:Private Transfer for a Hassle-Free Journey: $70
- Essaouira transfer to Marrakech : $138
- 1-Hour Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $39
- 2H/Quad+1H/Dromedary ride free transfer: $80
- 3 Hours Quad Ride with Transfer: $84
- Guided Quad Biking 2 hours with Transfer: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Luxor or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Luxor 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 dayLuxor $9.43Essaouira $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luxor
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Luxor.
- Dinner on the River Nile with Belly Dancing in luxor: $28
- Luxor Sunset Felucca Ride and Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Dinner on the River Nile with Belly Dancing: $31
- Luxor West Bank By Night and Alabaster Museum Tour with Dinner : $34
- Eat Like a Local:Traditional Egyptian Food / Dinner at Local Family Home - Luxor: $36
- 2 Hour Cooking Session with Family in Luxor: $40
- Sunset Dinner at a Traditional Egyptian House in Luxor: $40
- Riding a felucca at Sunset and Dinner an Egyptian House in Luxor: $40
- 3 Hours Culinary Journey with Family Food Tour in Luxor: $40
- Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Nile in Luxor: $50
- Enjoy Dinner or Lunch on board the Luxor Nile River.: $50
- Felucca Ride at Sunset and Dinner at an Egyptian House in Luxor: $55
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.51
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Breakfast Crepes$0.54
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Fish for Lunch$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience: $50
- Traditional Moroccan and Berber cooking classes: $58
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $69
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $72
- Essaouirra cooking class: $73
- Essaouira Cooking Class: $75
- Essaouira Food Tour: $85
- Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $103
- Moroccan cooking classes in Essaouira with Service Photo et Vidéo Pro: $104
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $213
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luxor $6.30Essaouira $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Luxor
Here are a few typical costs in Luxor for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Boat Ride (for 2)$0.53
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Temple Karnak for Two$2.56
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Camel Ride for Two$1.18
Tours and Activities in Luxor
Here are a few actual costs in Luxor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Days Sightseeing Tour of Luxor Highlights: $120
- Adventure Hot Air Balloon Ride Tour in Luxor: $79
- Balloon Experience with Personalized Photography: $120
- Balloon Tour and Sunset Felucca Ride in Luxor with Luxor Tour: $189
- Day Tour to East and West Banks From Luxor: $15
- Day Tour to Hathor Temple at Dendera from Luxor by car: $90
- Day tour to Aswan from Luxo visit Edfu,Kom Ombo,Phila Temples & Aswan dam.: $276
- Dendera Temple Tour by Boat from Luxor { private }: $120
- Dendera Temple from Luxor Private Tour: $49
- Dendera and Abydos Temples Day Tour from Luxor with Lunch: $75
- Dendera and Abydos private tour from Luxor: $125
- East Bank Tour in Luxor: $87
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- From Marrakech : Ouzoud waterfalls guided trip and boat tour: $11
- Souk Had Draa: Private Tour and Traditional Moroccan Breakfast: $23
- Private City Tour: $28
- Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $28
- Full-Day Essaouira Tour from Marrakech: $29
- Essaouira Donkey Tours : $29
- Experience the Ultimate Adventure with our Surf Lessons in Essaouira: $32
- Full Day Tour To Essaouira from Marrakech: $34
- Explore Essaouira's Secrets: A Guided Tour with a Local!: $35
- Sunset Horse Ride Experience in Essaouira: $37
- Historical & Cultural Sightseeing Tour - half day: $38
- Quad Adventure in 1 Hour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuxor $2.12Essaouira $9.93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luxor and Essaouira, we can see that Essaouira is more expensive. And not only is Luxor much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Luxor would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luxor 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 Luxor.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Luxor Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Luxor or Essaouira?
Luxor has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Luxor 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.