A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Meknes vs. Saint-Etienne for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Meknes or Saint-Etienne?

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 Saint-Etienne 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 Saint-Etienne?

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.

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne (Saint Stephen), a city southwest of Lyon, is drawing on its Industrial Revolution origins and its history of arms, bicycle, textile and ribbon production, to reinvent itself as design city. And the change is noticeable. After almost 30 years of decline, the city is now looking optimistically towards the future. Its center and suburbs are smartening up at a rapid pace. There are plenty of good surprises, including two great museums and a great eating scene.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Meknes and Saint-Etienne, we can see that Saint-Etienne is more expensive. And not only is Meknes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Meknes is in Africa and Saint-Etienne is in Europe, 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 Meknes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Meknes 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 Saint-Etienne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint-Etienne than you might in Meknes.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Meknes Expensive? and Is Saint-Etienne Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Meknes or Saint-Etienne?

Meknes has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Saint-Etienne. When comparing the sizes of Meknes and Saint-Etienne, 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.

When is the best time to visit Meknes or Saint-Etienne?

Saint-Etienne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Meknes experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Meknes or Saint-Etienne in the Summer?

Both Saint-Etienne and Meknes are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Meknes throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Saint-Etienne for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Meknes is generally around the same temperature as Saint-Etienne. Daily temperatures in Meknes average around 23°C (73°F), and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It's quite sunny in Saint-Etienne. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Meknes. Meknes usually receives more sunshine than Saint-Etienne during summer. Meknes gets 330 hours of sunny skies, while Saint-Etienne receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Meknes usually receives less rain than Saint-Etienne. Meknes gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Meknes or Saint-Etienne in the Autumn?

Both Saint-Etienne and Meknes during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Meknes because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Saint-Etienne in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Meknes is a little warmer than Saint-Etienne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Meknes averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Meknes. In the autumn, Meknes often gets more sunshine than Saint-Etienne. Meknes gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint-Etienne receives 127 hours of full sun.

Meknes usually gets less rain in October than Saint-Etienne. Meknes gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Meknes or Saint-Etienne in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Meknes and Saint-Etienne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Meknes year-round. Also, most visitors come to Saint-Etienne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Saint-Etienne can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Meknes is much warmer than Saint-Etienne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Meknes in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Saint-Etienne averages at about 4°C (39°F).

Meknes usually receives more sunshine than Saint-Etienne during winter. Meknes gets 165 hours of sunny skies, while Saint-Etienne receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Meknes usually receives more rain than Saint-Etienne. Meknes gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Meknes or Saint-Etienne in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Meknes as well as Saint-Etienne. Meknes attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Saint-Etienne because of the natural beauty.

In April, Meknes is generally a little warmer than Saint-Etienne. Daily temperatures in Meknes average around 16°C (60°F), and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Meknes this time of the year. In the spring, Meknes often gets more sunshine than Saint-Etienne. Meknes gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint-Etienne receives 174 hours of full sun.

Meknes usually gets less rain in April than Saint-Etienne. Meknes gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Saint-Etienne and Meknes