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 $24Cape Town $175
The average daily cost (per person) in Merzouga is $24, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $175. 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 $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerzouga $22Cape Town $162
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 $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:
- 1 way Errachidia airport transfer: $91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Cape Town City Center to Cape Town Airport: $18
- Cruise Terminal Shuttle Transfer to Cape Town Airport : $18
- Airport Shuttle Transfer from Airport to Cape Town City Center : $18
- Cape Town Cruise Terminal to and from Hotels Transfer: $18
- Airport Transfer (Cape Town ) Bus: $19
- Private Transfer from Cape Town Airport (CPT) to Cape Town Port : $19
- Private Transfer from Cape Town Port to Cape Town Airport (CPT): $19
- Durbanville Wine Valley Group Tour with Transfer: $19
- 1.Cape Town Airport Transfer (&Private tour trips during yo Stay): $20
- Private Transfer from Cape Town Cruise Port to Cape Town hotels: $21
- Private Transfer from Cape Town Hotels to Cape Town Cruise Port: $21
- Cape Town Airport : (" Private transfer"): $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 $75
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: $44
- From 1 Night in the luxury camp. Camel ride and dinner: $59
- Overnight Stay in Luxury Desert Tent with Dinner: $68
- Moroccan Berber Pizza Cooking Class in Khamelia: $74
- Overnight in Luxury camp with camels dinner: $79
- Desert Day Trip with 4x4 Ride and Berber Pizza: $80
- Merzouga Luxury AC Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $82
- Overnight in Desert Camp Camel Ride, Dinner & Show: $84
- Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
- 1-Night in Desert Camp With Dinner & camel ride: $114
- Merzouga Desert Tour, Quad Sandboarding Camel Ride & Dinner: $128
- Quad Biking, Sandboarding, Camel & Sunset Dinner: $160
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:
- African Cooking with a Chef Founder: $29
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $42
- Malay Cooking Class and Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $45
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $61
- Sunset At Signal Hill Constantia Wine Tasting and Dinner: $63
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $64
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $64
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $70
- From CapeTown: African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $70
- Cape Malay/Creole Cooking Class and Local Shopping in Salt River: $74
- Cape Malay Dinner at SPYCED: $75
- Cruise and Dine Dinner / Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merzouga -Cape Town $24
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- Private Desert Tour and Visit to Nomadic Families: $106
- 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Buggy Experience: $151
- 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Quad Biking Tour & Sandboarding: $71
- 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp : $65
- 1 hour Quad in the Sahara: Merzouga Off Roading Experience: Nature & Wildlife: $80
- 2 Hours Merzouga Desert Quad Bike Adventure: $145
- 2 days tour in Merzouga Erg Chabbi with 4WD Jeep and Camel Treck : $177
- 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $114
- 2-Day Desert Tour with Return to Marrakech: $196
- 3 Days Tour From Marrakech To Sahara Desert Of Merzouga: $116
- 3-Day Best Desert Tour from Fez to Marrakech via Merzouga: $293
- ATV Quad bikes experience & sandboarding : $38
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 Peninsula Sightseeing Small Group Tour from Cape Town: $2.57
- Skip the Line: District Six Museum Admission Ticket: $3.72
- 30 Minute Harbour Boat Cruise with Seal Watching: $3.90
- District Six Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $4.00
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $4.54
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $4.86
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.86
- Long March to Freedom Guided Tour: $5.00
- 30 Minute Seal-Watching Harbour Cruise: $5.00
- Sea Point Promenade: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: Amble along the amazing False Bay Coast on an audio tour: $5.20
- Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens: A Self-guided Audio Tour: $5.34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerzouga -Cape Town $22
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:
- Stellenbosch Small Group Wine Tasting Tour From Cape Town: $2.57
- Distillery Tour, rum and gin tasting: $9.72
- Craft Gin Tasting Experience and Distillery Tour: $14
- Urban Wine Tasting: $23
- African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $25
- Indigenous Food and Wine Tasting: $25
- Hop-On Bus & Wine Tasting at Groot Constantia: $27
- Wine Tasting & Storytelling with SA Tapas add-on: $29
- Cape Town Hostel Pub Crawl & LinkUps: $29
- Stellenbosch and Paarl Half-Day Wine Tour: $37
- Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Babylonstoren Wine Tour: $37
- From 3 Regions Wine Tour with 3 Estates, 15 Wines: $42
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.