Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Meknes?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Meknes or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Meknes and Essaouira can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Meknes or Essaouira?
Meknes
So you love a bustling nightlife with fine restaurants and meaningful historical buildings, but you hate all the tourists. Well, it maybe time to visit Meknes, Morocco. Since most travelers head straight to Fez, that leaves Meknes relatively untouched and remains free of the usual hassles that plague other major destinations.
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 Adventure Tours to Morocco, The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMeknes $46Essaouira $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Meknes is $46, while the average daily cost in Essaouira 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Meknes and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMeknes $26Essaouira $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMeknes $52Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Meknes and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Meknes 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: Meknes Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Meknes $1.46Essaouira $1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $320
- Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $261
- Essaouira : Private Transfer from or to Agafay Desert: $160
- From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $149
- Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $138
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport: $127
- From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $123
- Airport transfer, Departure : Essaouira, Arrival : Agadir: $118
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $102
- Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech : $95
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Meknes or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Meknes 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 dayMeknes $14Essaouira $14
Typical Food Prices in Meknes
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Meknes:
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Popcorn$0.20
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Spices$2.49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Meknes
For Meknes, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fes Medina :Grocery shopping & cooking Class with Fatima: $95
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.40
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Breakfast Crepes$0.50
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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:
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
- L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $54
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $169
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Meknes $3.55Essaouira $12
Tours and Activities in Meknes
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Meknes.
- Fes Volubilis Tour: $45
- From Fez: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes Full Day Tour: $17
- From Rabat: Volubilis and Meknes Full-day Tour: $256
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.: $70
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $56
- Discover Essaouira Full-Day Tour: $43
- Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $56
- Essaouira : Half-day E-Experience from Mountains to Sea: $128
- Essaouira Adventure Full-Day Excursion from Marakech: $47
- Essaouira Exclusive Dune Buggy Adventure: $163
- Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $65
- Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $65
- Essaouira Tour - Half day visit to berber market : $56
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMeknes $2.62Essaouira $9.16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Meknes
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Meknes:
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Bottle of Wine$4.58
When comparing the travel costs between Meknes and Essaouira, we can see that Meknes is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Meknes Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Meknes or Essaouira?
Meknes has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Meknes 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.