Which place is cheaper, Ait Ben Haddou or Marbella?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Marbella or Ait Ben Haddou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marbella or Ait Ben Haddou, 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: Marbella or Ait Ben Haddou?
Marbella
Marbella is a city in southern Spain in the province of Malaga. It is part of the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) and is located on the Mediterranean Sea between Malaga and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is one of the most important tourist cities in the area and receives many national and international tourists year round due to its climate and tourism structures. Marbella is a bit of a glamorous city due to its beauty and resort-type environment. The old town with its narrow cobbled streets and flower-filled plazas is packed with shops and art galleries selling boutique clothes and accessories, and handmade wares. The city has significant archaeological and historical heritage and many events and performances throughout the year.
Ait Ben Haddou
Think of a time when you've seen Jerusalem in a movie. Chances are what you're really looking at is the traditional, mud brick city of Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco. This city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, and has also been seen in movies like Lawrence of Arabia, Orson Welles' Sodom and Gomorrah, Jesus of Nazareth, the French version of Cleopatra, Bertolucci's Sheltering Sky, Scorsese's Kundun, Gillies MacKannon's Hideous Kinky, Ridley Scott's Gladiator, Oliver Stone's Alexander the Great, and in some scenes from Game of Thrones.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMarbella €117Ait Ben Haddou €66
The average daily cost (per person) in Marbella is €117, while the average daily cost in Ait Ben Haddou is €66. 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 Marbella and Ait Ben Haddou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMarbella €61Ait Ben Haddou €24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMarbella €122Ait Ben Haddou €48
Compare Hotels in Marbella and Ait Ben Haddou
Looking for a hotel in Marbella or Ait Ben Haddou? 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: Marbella Hotel Prices and Ait Ben Haddou Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Marbella €24Ait Ben Haddou €27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marbella
Also for Marbella, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Costa del Sol: Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Malaga Airport: $75
- From Malaga: Private Transfer Malaga Airport to Marbella: $235
- Private Transfer from Algarrobo to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $109
- Private Transfer from Alhaurín El Grande to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $68
- Private Transfer from Alozaina to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $112
- Private Transfer from Atalaya Park to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $127
- Private Transfer from Benahavís to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $132
- Private Transfer from Benaoján to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $214
- Private Transfer from Cómpeta to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $138
- Private Transfer from Coín to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $80
- Private Transfer from El Paraíso to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $135
- Private Transfer from Estepona to Malaga (AGP) airport: $155
Is it cheaper to fly into Marbella or Ait Ben Haddou?
Prices for flights to both Ait Ben Haddou and Marbella 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 dayMarbella €38Ait Ben Haddou €22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marbella
For Marbella, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour: $87
- The Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle Cooking Class.: $180
- Gourmet Cooking Class & Culture in the rural Montes de Malaga.: $191
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Marbella €19Ait Ben Haddou €26
Tours and Activities in Marbella
For Marbella, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover the Old Town through a Self-Guided Tour: $4.60
- Marbella Old Town Walking Tour : $15
- Sightseeing Walking Tour: $21
- Guided tour and olive oil tasting in Alhaurin el Grande (Málaga) : $22
- Marbella Old Town: Group Tour with a True Local: $24
- Marbella Old Town group tour with a True Local: $24
- group walking Tour: $26
- Explore Marbella Old Town: Tapas Tasting Adventure: $27
- Marbella like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $32
- Bike City Tour Marbella: $32
- Dolphin Watching Adventure in Estepona Bay: $38
- 2 h Estepona Bay Tour: $47
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMarbella €5.71Ait Ben Haddou €5.74
Sample the Local Flavors in Marbella
Also in Marbella, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Manilva & Gaucin Wine Tour from the Costa del Sol: $152
- From Manilva Sunset Wine Tasting Tour with Tapas: $159
- Ronda Full Day Wine Tour from Marbella: $195
- From Antequera Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $213
- From Axarquia Wine Tour with Wine Pairing Lunch: $234
- Full-Day Private Ronda Wine Tour Experience from Marbella: $262
- VIP Ronda Wine Tour and Tasting and Gourmet Lunch Experience with Winemaker: $272
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marbella and Ait Ben Haddou, we can see that Marbella is more expensive. And not only is Ait Ben Haddou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Marbella is in Europe and Ait Ben Haddou 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 Ait Ben Haddou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ait Ben Haddou 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 Marbella would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marbella than you might in Ait Ben Haddou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Marbella Expensive? and Is Ait Ben Haddou Expensive?.
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.