A Travel Price Comparison for Morocco Marrakech vs. Essaouira for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Marrakech or Essaouira?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Marrakech 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: Marrakech or Essaouira?

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.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Marrakech?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Marrakech is $67, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $45. 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 Essaouira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Marrakech $45
    Essaouira $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Marrakech $90
    Essaouira $50
Compare Hotels in Marrakech and Essaouira

Looking for a hotel in Marrakech 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.

Hotels in Marrakech


Hotels in Essaouira


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 Essaouira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Marrakech $6.17
    Essaouira $1.95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech

Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 8-Days Private Tour Luxury to Fez via Desert from Marrakech & transfers airport : $2,164
  • Private Transfer to Zagora ( Marrakech private transfers ): $974
  • 3 Day Tour From Marrakech to Merzouga Desert and Private Transfer: $920
  • City Transfer - Marrakesh > Meknes: $700
  • City Transfer - Marrakesh > Fes: $650
  • Private Transfer from Marrakech to Tanger-Ibn Batouta (TNG) Airport: $631
  • City Transfer - Marrakesh > Merzouga: $600
  • City Transfer - Marrakesh > Zagora: $550
  • City Transfer - Marrakesh > Rabat: $500
  • City Transfer - Marrakesh > MHamid: $500
  • Private Transfer From Marrakech to Essaouira in A/C vehicle: $455
  • City Transfer - Marrakesh > Essaouira: $450

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira

Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfert marrakech <<>> essaouira ( UP to 8 pers ): $162
  • Transfert marrakech <<>> Casablanca (1 up to 4 pers ): $173
  • Transfert casablanca <<>> essaouira ( up to 8 pers ) : $282
  • Transfert agadir city <<>> essaouira city (up to 4 pers) : $119
  • Transfert Marrakech city to Essaouira or Essaouira to Marrakech : $103
  • Transfert Marrakech city <<>> Agadir city (1 up to 4 pers) : $173
  • Transfert Fes to Essaouira or Essaouira to Fes (1 up to 4 pers): $541
  • Transfert Casablanca city <<>> Essaouira city ( 1 up to 4 pers ): $217
  • Transfer from Essaouira to your Riad or Hotel in Marrakech: $162
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $92
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $92
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $92

Is it cheaper to fly into Marrakech or Essaouira?

Prices for flights to both Essaouira 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Marrakech $12
    Essaouira $13
Typical Food prices in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Orange Juice on the Square
    $0.29
  • Breakfast
    $1.17
  • Dates
    $0.59
  • Olives
    $0.88
  • Sandwich
    $1.26
  • Souvenir Spices
    $6.05

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Dinner In Agafay Desert & Camel Ride with lovely Sunset : $12
  • Live show and Dinner in Agafay Desert: $14
  • Magical Dinner in Marrakech Desert and camel ride at sunset with Transportation: $15
  • Dinner and Camel Ride under the Starry Sky of Agafay Desert: $16
  • Online Moroccan Cooking Class: $17
  • Magical Dinner In Agafay Desert Marrakech with Sunset & Stars : $19
  • Magical dinner and camel ride on sunset in Desert Marrakech : All inclusive : $20
  • Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride with Dinner in Camp: $20
  • Magical Dinner in Marrakech Desert with Transportation: $22
  • Dinner at Sunset & Camel ride in Marrakech desert Agafa: $22
  • Typical Moroccan Dinner at the inhabitant in Marrakech: $22
  • Dinner and Sunset Camel Ride at desert Marrakech Agafay : $22

Typical Food prices in Essaouira

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:


  • Baklava
    $1.37
  • Breakfast Crepes
    $0.49
  • Fish for Lunch
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira

For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Half-Day Moroccan Cooking Class: $35
  • Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $54
  • L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $54
  • Essaouira Cooking Class: $65
  • Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $66
  • Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
  • Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $96
  • 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $111
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $111

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Marrakech $6.86
    Essaouira $12
Typical Entertainment prices in Marrakech

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Palace Tickets
    $1.95
  • Golf at Atlas Golf
    $55

Tours and Activities in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2 Nights Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour: $460
  • 3 Day Private Desert Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga Dunes With Camel Trek: $271
  • 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech ending in Fez city: $249
  • 3 Days 2 Nights tour from Marrakech to Marrakech via Merzouga Sahara Desert: $1,029
  • 3 Days Luxury private Desert Tour From Marrakech To Fez: $591
  • 3 days Private Tour in Marrakech Chigaga Desert: $487
  • 3 days from Marrakech Multi-day to Merzouga Shared group Experience : $401
  • 3Days sahara Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert luxury camp: $141
  • 4 Day Trip All inclusive Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech: $426
  • 6 days tour from Marrakech to Sahara desert & Atlantic coast Essaouira: $1,002
  • Agafay Desert: Three Valley Guided Tour From Marrakech : $39
  • Atlas Mountains Horseback Ride Day Tour From Marrakech : $50

Tours and Activities in Essaouira

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.

  • Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $69
  • Lavender, Full-Day Buggy Experience in Essaouira: $363
  • Long Story Short 2-Day Buggy Adventure in Essaouira, Morocco: $747
  • 2-day Shopping in Marrakech Private Sightseeing Tour: $336
  • 3 Day Desert Tour from Essaouira: $693
  • 3 days essaouira desert tour next New year and Xmas HOLIDAYS: $1,083
  • 4 hour Tour Buggy Adventure from Essaouira: $224
  • Adventurous Essaouira, 3-day Buggy adventure, Full-Board: $1,260
  • Agadir: Essaouira Day Trip with City Tour, Goats & Guide: $39
  • Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $56
  • Casablanca Day tour From Marrakech: $129
  • Desert Tour From Essaouira 4 Days and 3 Nights: $823

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Marrakech $14
    Essaouira $8.97

Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:

  • Moroccan Wine tasting from Marrakech at Atlas Mountains & Desert and Camel ride: $108

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marrakech and Essaouira, we can see that Marrakech is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 Essaouira.

Which is Bigger, Marrakech or Essaouira?

Marrakech is bigger, and its population is about 11.9 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the population of Marrakech vs. 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 and the activities 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.
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Marrakech vs. Essaouira Travel Comparison

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