Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Merzouga?
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 Merzouga or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merzouga or Cape Town, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Merzouga or Cape Town?
Merzouga
Let's say you want to truly get away. I don't mean putting your ear buds in on some beach with a stronger on the next chair over. I mean really get away, and find yourself deserted. Merzouga, Morocco lets you do just that. This land of sand dune after sand dune is ideal for anyone yearning to ride a camel to the ends of civilization. And you'll find plenty of options to get here with a tour, or even on your own.
Cape Town
Picture your travel bucket list. Is Cape Town on it? Yes, most people dream of visiting the "Mother City" of South Africa. As one of the most iconic places in the world, Cape Town is a world-class cosmopolitan city full of bustling nightlife, historical backdrops and a large gay community.
Cape Town is the most southern city in Africa with seasons turned upside down. In the southern hemisphere they experience the summer from December to February. During these months days can be hot and dry so be sure to gather in the shade and wear plenty of sunscreen. The winter from June to August is full of rainy days and cold nights.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco, The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa.
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Merzouga Prices
Morocco PricesCape Town Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerzouga $23Cape Town $194
The average daily cost (per person) in Merzouga is $23, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $194. 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 Merzouga and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerzouga $11Cape Town $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerzouga $22Cape Town $180
Compare Hotels in Merzouga and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Merzouga or Cape Town? 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: Merzouga Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merzouga -Cape Town $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- CPT Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $13
- AIRPORT Transfer to and from Cape Town City: $17
- Private Transfer from Cape Town Airport (CPT) to Cape Town Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Cape Town Port to Cape Town Airport (CPT): $19
- Cape Town Luxury Airport Transfer: $19
- Cape Town Cruise Terminal to and from Hotels Transfer: $20
- Airport Transfer (Cape Town ) Bus: $21
- Private Transfer from Cape Town Cruise Port to Cape Town hotels: $21
- Cape Town Airport and Hotel Private Transfers: $22
- Private Airport Transfers:Cape Town Airport | 4-13 Seater Minibus: $22
- Airport Shuttle Transfer to City Center: $22
- City Center Shuttle Transfer to Airport: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Merzouga or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Merzouga 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 dayMerzouga $11Cape Town $83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $52
- Private trip 4x4 in Merzouga Lunch with Berber Pizza: $59
- Cooking class in Merzouga Make Berber Madfouna in Sand: $59
- Merzouga Luxury AC/ Heating Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $65
- Overnight At Luxury Desert Camp with Camel Ride and Dinner: $89
- Visit The Nomads, Gnawa Music, Rally In Dunes, Berber Pizza: $89
- Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
- Merzouga 1 Night in the Luxury Camp with Camel Ride and Dinner: $107
- Merzouga Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour: $142
- From 2-Nights In Luxury Camp with Camel Trek & Dinner.: $178
- 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $64
- Cape Town Cooking Class & Wine Pairing with Award-Winning Chef: $69
- Cape Town Dinner Experience with local family: $69
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $77
- South African Cooking Class in Cape Town with a Local Family: $82
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $88
- Cruise and Dine Dinner / Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $90
- Sunset At Signal and Dinner Privat: $90
- Cape Town African Taste-Safari & Live Entertainment Dinner Experience: $96
- Private Cape Malay Cooking Class in Lorette’s Cape Town Home: $99
- Cape Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $99
- Half Day Cape Town African Dinner Restaurant with Live Music Show: $102
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merzouga -Cape Town $27
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp: $65
- 1 hour tour Quad biking experience: $100
- 2 Hour Merzouga Buggy Adventure in the Sahara Dunes: $207
- 2 Hour Quad Desert Experience with Sandboarding: $37
- 2-Hour Quad Desert Tour, Dunes Oasis, Nomads Family & Sandboard: $45
- 2-Night Desert Camp Experience with Jeep Tour in Merzouga: $154
- 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour from Errachidia to Merzouga Camp: $200
- 3 Days Marrakech to Sahara Adventure Merzouga Dunes & Camel Trek: $117
- 3 hour Jeep Tour in Merzouga Desert: $65
- 3-Day Best Desert Tour from Fez to Marrakech via Merzouga: $296
- 4x4 tours in Merzouga: $38
- ATV Desert Adventure – 1-Hour Quad or Buggy Ride in Merzouga: $77
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cape Town Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.55
- Skip the Line: District Six Museum Admission Ticket: $4.17
- Cape Town's original shoreline: a self-guided audio tour: $5.00
- Kirstenbosch Gardens: An Audio Tour by Botany Expert: $5.00
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: Amble along the amazing False Bay Coast on an audio tour: $5.00
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $5.09
- Half Hour Seal and Harbour Cruise from Cape Town: $5.14
- Cape Town live guided Urban Safari: Inner City Tour: $5.78
- The Village in the City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Bo-Kaap: $5.99
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $6.08
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $6.08
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Return Ticket: $6.19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerzouga -Cape Town $24
Sample the Local Flavors in Cape Town
Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $15
- Craft Gin Tasting Experience and Distillery Tour: $16
- Urban Wine Tasting: $32
- Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and Constantia Wine Tasting: $35
- Indigenous Food and Wine Tasting: $38
- Cape Point, Penguins & Wine Tasting In Constantia Full Day Tour: $48
- Cape Town Wine Tour: 3 Wineries — Babylonstoren, Fairview & Spier: $49
- Wine Tour at Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl: $50
- Cape Town Hostel Pub Crawl & LinkUps: $53
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $57
- From CapeTown: Stellenbosch Half Day Wine Tour: $60
- Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Stellenbosch: $60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merzouga and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Merzouga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merzouga 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 Cape Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Town than you might in Merzouga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merzouga Expensive? and Is Cape Town 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.