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 $33Essaouira $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Luxor is $33, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $62. 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 $11Essaouira $29
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuxor $22Essaouira $58
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 $5.64Essaouira $2.21
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$0.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luxor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Luxor:
- 3-Night Nile Cruise to Aswan with Transfers and Meals: $643
- Comfortable Private Transfer from Luxor to El Cairo: $299
- Private Transfer from Luxor to Aswan: $270
- Private Transfer Luxor To El Gouna - Car And Minibus Options: $260
- Private Transfer Luxor To Makadi - Car And Minibus Options: $260
- Private Transfer Luxor To Sahl Hasheesh - Car & Minibus Options: $260
- Private Car And Minibus Transfer Luxor City To Soma Bay: $253
- Private Transfer Luxor To Hurghada City - Car And Minibus Options: $247
- Shared Transfer from Luxor to Aswan: $220
- One-night Nile Cruise to Aswan with Transfer: $214
- Luxor Airport (LXR) to El Queseir - Arrival Private Transfer : $195
- One Way Private Transfer from Luxor to Aswan by Car: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- "Essaouira to Agafay Desert Marrakech: Exclusive Private Transfer: $90
- Airport transfer from Essaouira to Agadir: $256
- Airport transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh : $82
- Airport transfer, Departure : Essaouira, Arrival : Agadir: $128
- Essaouira Desert Quad and Sandboarding with Photos and Transfer: $71
- Essaouira P13: 2h quad + 2h camel free transfer: $94
- Essaouira P4: excursions EN Quad (free transfer): $38
- Essaouira P5: Quad EN route DE la mer (free transfer): $38
- Essaouira to Marrakech:Private Transfer for a Hassle-Free Journey: $80
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport : $36
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport : $41
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Essaouira Airport: $23
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 $16Essaouira $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luxor
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Luxor.
- Tourist market,local food tour,the gym and coffee in Luxor: $19
- Luxor Sunset Felucca Ride and Lunch or Dinner: $21
- Dinner on the River Nile with Belly Dancing: $31
- Eat Like a Local:Traditional Egyptian Food / Dinner at Local Family Home - Luxor: $36
- 2 Hour Cooking Session with Family in Luxor: $40
- Luxor City Private Walking and Food Tour: $50
- Karnak Sound And Light Show With Dinner, Felucca : $64
- Private Romantic Dinner with Fallucca Sail boat on the Nile Luxor: $70
- Dinner on the River Nile with Belly Dancing in luxor: $78
- private day in east bank & dendera with dinner on boat: $86
- Cooking Class & Soulful Egyptian Farmer Experience in Luxor: $120
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.55
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Breakfast Crepes$0.55
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Fish for Lunch$17
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
- Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience: $42
- Essaouira Sunset Experience, Waterfall Walk & Romantic Dinner: $43
- Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience: $54
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $72
- Essaouira Food Tour: $88
- Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $106
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $219
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $220
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luxor $10Essaouira $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)$0.57
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Temple Karnak for Two$2.73
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Camel Ride for Two$1.26
Tours and Activities in Luxor
Here are a few actual costs in Luxor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 5 Days Tour of Luxor and Aswan: $130
- Adventure Hot Air Balloon Ride Tour in Luxor: $79
- Balloon Tour and Sunset Felucca Ride in Luxor with Luxor Tour: $189
- Day Private Tour to Karnak and Luxor Temples: $90
- Day Tour of Luxor East & West Bank Temples and Tombs of Luxor: $140
- Day Tour to Dendera and Abydos Temples from Luxor: $80
- Day tour to Aswan from Luxo visit Edfu,Kom Ombo,Phila Temples & Aswan dam.: $276
- Dendera and Abydos From Luxor Private full day tour: $90
- Dendera and Abydos Temples Day Tour from Luxor with Lunch: $75
- East and West Banks of Full Day Tour from Hurghada: $205
- Evening Tour Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show: $71
- Experience the Magic of a Luxor Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride: $60
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Essaouira to Marrakech Supratours bus tickets: $18
- Full-Day Essaouira Tour from Marrakech: $30
- Essaouira Donkey Tours : $30
- guided Oriental city tour marrakech from agadir 1 day: $39
- Quad Adventure in 1 Hour: $39
- 1 Hour Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Forest Beach: $42
- 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $54
- Essaouira Dar Sultan Palace Horseback Tour Experience: $54
- Full Day Tour To Essaouira from Marrakech Mogador: $55
- Essaouira P12: 1h Quad bike tour and 1h dromedary Ride: $58
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $59
- Essaouira Tour - Half day visit to berber market : $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuxor $3.10Essaouira $10
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.