Which place is cheaper, Diani or Marrakech?
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 Marrakech or Diani?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Marrakech or Diani? 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: Marrakech or Diani?
Marrakech
Marrakech is on of the most popular travel destinations in Morocco. It is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat and is located near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains only a few hours from the Sahara Desert. It's a beautiful city that is often referred to as the "Pink City" because of the pale pink color of many of the city's buildings. These striking colors make the city particularly beautiful during the evening hours when the low sun creates a very dramatic lighting.
Diani
Diani is a major beach resort town on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa and the beach has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination several times. With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it’s no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But Diani also has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors' voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, and The Best Budget Tours to Kenya.
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Marrakech Prices
Morocco PricesDiani Prices
Kenya Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMarrakech $89Diani $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Marrakech is $89, while the average daily cost in Diani is $69. 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 Marrakech and Diani in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMarrakech $46Diani $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMarrakech $92Diani $46
Compare Hotels in Marrakech and Diani
Looking for a hotel in Marrakech or Diani? 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: Marrakech Hotel Prices and Diani Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Marrakech $13Diani $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech
Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- private taxi transfer on arrival from Marrakech airport to medina: $6.50
- airport transfer from Casablanca to Marrakech : $160
- VIP Moroccan Hammam & Relaxing Massage with Transfer - Marrakech: $5.00
- Try find your better than us!Airport transfer service in Marrakesh HTL-APT (RAK): $13
- Try find your better than us!Airport transfer service in Marrakesh APT-HTL (RAK): $13
- Transfert de Marrakech vers Aeroport Mohamed 5 Casablanca: $126
- Transfert Privée Aéroport Marrakech vers Essaouira : $103
- Transfers from Marrakech airport to the city and the medina: $17
- Transfer from el Jadida to Marrakech riad or hotel or Airport : $195
- Transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca,Agadir,Essouira and Fez: $229
- Transfer from Marrakech to Casa-Airport or Casa-Airport to Marrakech: $159
- Transfer from Marrakech city or Marrakech airport to Casablanca city: $171
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Diani
Also for Diani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Diani Hotels: $75
- Taxi and Airport transfers: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Marrakech or Diani?
Prices for flights to both Diani and Marrakech 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 dayMarrakech $29Diani $35
Typical Food Prices in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orange Juice on the Square$0.32
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Breakfast$1.30
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Dates$0.65
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Olives$0.97
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Sandwich$1.40
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Souvenir Spices$6.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- ATV Quad in Agafay desert, Dinner, Show & Camel Ride - Marrakesh: $5.00
- Romantic Dinner in Agafay & Camel Ride with transfer - Marrakesh: $5.00
- Chez Ali Fantasia folklore Show & Oriental Dinner - Marrakesh: $5.00
- Agafay Desert Sunset & Romantic Dinner with Transfer – Marrakesh: $5.00
- Agafay Camel Ride & Romantic Dinner with Transfer - Marrakesh: $5.00
- Day Trip to Essaouira City with Cooking Class & Lunch - Marrakesh: $5.00
- Cooking Class learn Full Day Adventure with Lunch - Marrakesh: $5.00
- Essaouira City Tour with Cooking Class and Lunch - Marrakesh: $5.00
- Agafay Desert Sunset & Romantic Dinner with Transfers - Marrakesh: $5.00
- Chez Ali Fantasia Folklore Show With Oriental Dinner – Marrakesh: $5.00
- Enjoy ATV Quad in Agafay Desert, Sunset Camel & Dinner-Marrakesh: $5.00
- Delight Moroccan Cooking Class in Essaouira with Lunch- Marrakesh: $5.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Diani
For Diani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Diani Beach: Special Dinner with a Local: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Marrakech $11Diani $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Palace Tickets$2.16
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Golf at Atlas Golf$61
Tours and Activities in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 nights desert tour marrakech: $300
- 3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Experience and Camel Trekking: $126
- Agafay Desert: Three Valley Guided Tour From Marrakech : $22
- Agafay desert One Day Sightseeing tour by Quad: $240
- Atlas Mountains Tour & three valleys with camel ride : $14
- Desert Agafay and Atlas Mountains Day Tour & Camel ride From Marrakech: $17
- Desert Thrills: Quad Biking Adventures in Palmeraie Marrakech: $52
- Experience Spa Hammam Massage and Camel tour: $109
- Experience the desert nomads in Marrakech!: $29
- From Ouzoud Waterfalls Guided Tour & Boat Ride: $24
- Full Day Guided Tour in Ouzoud Waterfalls : $31
- Half-Day Quad Bike Experience in Marrakech: $45
Tours and Activities in Diani
For Diani, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 day Shimba Hills Tour: $185
- Diani Beach: Children's Homes Visit And Donation Tour.: $33
- Diani Beach: Glass Boat Cruise to Robinson Island: $42
- Diani Beach: Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise to Robinson Island: $28
- Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo cultural and nature experience: $30
- Diani Beach: Kongo River Estuary Sundowner Boat Tour: $42
- Diani Beach: Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe: $32
- Diani Beach: Private African Pool Map Guided Tour: $35
- Diani Beach: Village tour on a bike with hotel pick-up: $64
- Diani bush tour: $75
- Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $27
- Market and Street Food Walking Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMarrakech $10Diani $8.86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marrakech and Diani, we can see that Marrakech is more expensive. And not only is Diani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Diani would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Diani 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 Marrakech would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marrakech than you might in Diani.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Marrakech Expensive? and Is Diani 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.