Should you visit Marrakech or Fez?
Should I visit Marrakech or Fez? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Fez
Fez is the historical capital of Morocco and has one of the country's most impressive and elaborate medinas. It's authentic and traditional atmosphere attracts travelers from all over the world. It's fun to wander the city's elaborate alleyways, sample the food, and soak up the sights and smells. In Fez's medina you'll find donkeys, carts, spices, and pottery. You'll find traditional foods, locals bartering for goods, and religious buildings that date back hundreds of years. The medina is also the world's largest car free urban zone.
Which city is cheaper, Fez or Marrakech?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Marrakech is $61, while the average daily cost in Fez is $46. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Marrakech and Fez in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $82 in Marrakech For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around $50 for a double occupancy room in Fez If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Marrakech travelers spend around $11 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Fez food costs typically run travelers around $14 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Marrakech $11
Fez $14
Typical Food prices in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Virtual Cooking Class with Moroccan Family:
$16
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Moroccan Cooking experience In Atlas Mountains Cook with a Berber family:
$29
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Cooking Class In Atlas Mountains From Marrakech Cook With A Berber Family:
$30
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Berber Life Cooking and Culture Experience:
$32
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Marrakech Food Tasting Experience Including Dinner:
$34
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Berber Life Cooking Class and Culture Experience:
$35
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Moroccan Cooking Workshops:
$35
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Cooking class with Berber family in Atlas Mountains Day trip from Marrakech:
$36
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From High Atlas Berber Cooking Class:
$36
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Cooking Class with A Berber Family From Marrakech:
$37
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Day Trip Atlas Morocco Berber Experience & Cooking Class From Marrakech:
$37
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Moroccan Cooking Class With Chef Najlae !:
$40
Typical Food prices in Fez
For Fez, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Yogurt
$0.66
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Dinner for 2
$13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fez
For Fez, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Moroccan Cooking Class in Marrakech:
$78
Local Transportation
Marrakech's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $5.60 per person, per day on transportation in Marrakech.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Fez than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $4.40 on transportation in Fez on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech
Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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transfers from and to airport at best rates:
$37
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private transfer from Marrakech city to Menara Airport:
$11
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private transfer from Marrakech To Chefchaouen (Blue City):
$243
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private transfer : Marrakech airport ⇆ Marrakech City:
$18
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private airport transfer from RAK to Marrakech city:
$7.30
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Vtcgo Marrakech - Essaouira Private Transfer:
$92
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VIP Private Transfer Marrakesh Menara Airport:
$25
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Transfert privé à l'arrivée de l'aéroport de Marrakech:
$19
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Transfert de l'aéroport de Marrakech à la ville:
$13
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Transfert Departure Marrakech airport from city center:
$6.64
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Transfert Arrivel Aireport:
$11
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Transfers from Marrakech airport to the city and the medina:
$19
Typical Local Transportation prices in Fez
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Fez:
Is it cheaper to fly into Marrakech or Fez?
Prices for flights to both Fez 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Marrakech can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $6.22 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Fez, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $5.52 per day, per person.
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
$2.21
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Golf at Atlas Golf
$63
Tours and Activities in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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"Chefchaouen & Talassemtane Natural Park Eco Tour | Private & Luxury:
$773
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"Mogador Camel Expedition Ecotour | Private & Luxury:
$205
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04 D / 03 night desert tour from Marrakech to Fes:
$995
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04 days Private Desert tour from Marrakech.:
$807
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1 day City tour of Marrakech:
$73
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1 day City tour of Marrakech in private:
$68
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1 week around Morocco : New Year tour from Casablanca:
$2,030
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1-Day Trip shared-Tour to imlil valley from Marrakech:
$33
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10 days Desert and nord tour:
$16,174
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10-Day Private Cultural Tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco:
$2,022
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10-Days Guided Quad Tour - Sahara Dunes Chigaga, Mountains & Kasbah:
$2,787
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10D 9N Morocco Tour From Marrakech By Imperial Cities And Merzouga Desert:
$1,866
Typical Entertainment prices in Fez
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Fez's activities, tours, and tickets:
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Marrakech spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:
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Full-Day trip to Essaouira - Includes Food&Wine tasting:
$150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marrakech and Fez, we can see that Marrakech is more expensive. And not only is Fez much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fez would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fez 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 Fez.
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