Which place is cheaper, Essaouira 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 Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merzouga or Essaouira, 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 Essaouira?
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.
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 Budget Tours to Morocco, The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Morocco, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Marrakesh.
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Merzouga Prices
Morocco PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerzouga $24Essaouira $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Merzouga is $24, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $61. 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 Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerzouga $11Essaouira $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerzouga $22Essaouira $56
Compare Hotels in Merzouga and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Merzouga 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: Merzouga Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merzouga -Essaouira $2.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $25
- From Agadir : Day in Essaouira with Transfer: $33
- Essaouira P4: excursions EN Quad (free transfer): $34
- Essaouira Airport Private Transfer: $34
- Essaouira P17: Quad ride dunes beaches free transfer.: $34
- Essaouira P3: Quad and Buggy tour beach dunes free transfer: $34
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport: $35
- Essaouira to Marrakech:Private Transfer for a Hassle-Free Journey: $73
- Essaouira P13: 2h quad + 2h camel free transfer: $93
- "Essaouira to Agafay Desert Marrakech: Exclusive Private Transfer: $94
- Transferts Marrakech à Essaouira ou Essaouira à Marrakech: $99
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira 1 to 4 people: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Merzouga or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira 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 $11Essaouira $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- Berber Pizza Cooking Class: $36
- Merzouga Cooking Class Familye: $46
- Desert excursion with camel trek into the camp Dinner breakfast: $50
- Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $52
- Cooking class in Merzouga Make Berber Madfouna in Sand: $59
- Merzouga Luxury AC/ Heating Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $65
- Private trip 4x4 in Merzouga Lunch with Berber Pizza: $71
- Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
- Merzouga Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour: $142
- 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.52
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Breakfast Crepes$0.54
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Fish for Lunch$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Agadir Cooking Class Experience with Local Market Visit: $31
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
- Cooking class: How To Be a Real Moroccan Chef: $41
- Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner: $48
- Moroccan cooking class in Essaouira city: $53
- Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience: $59
- Essaouira Street Food Tour: $69
- Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $70
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $217
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merzouga -Essaouira $13
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- 1 Hour Buggy Can-am Merzouga Desert Experience: $123
- 1 Hour Merzouga Buggy Desert Tour: $83
- 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp: $65
- 1 Night Experience Camel Trekking Merzouga: $83
- 1 hour Quad in the Sahara: Merzouga Off Roading Experience: Nature & Wildlife: $81
- 1 hour tour Quad biking experience: $100
- 1/2 day 4x4 tour of Erg Chebbi: $95
- 2 Hour Merzouga Buggy Adventure in the Sahara Dunes: $207
- 2 Hour Quad Desert Experience with Sandboarding: $39
- 2 days tour in Merzouga Erg Chabbi with 4WD Jeep and Camel Treck: $296
- 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $115
- 2-Days Merzouga tour from Errachidia: $200
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Essaouira to Marrakech Supratours bus tickets: $18
- Full-Day Essaouira Tour from Marrakech: $29
- Essaouira P6: Cape Sim quad bike tour: $34
- Beginners surf experience in Essaouira: $34
- Quad Adventure in 1 Hour: $39
- Sunset Horse Ride Experience in Essaouira: $47
- Essaouira Dar Sultan Palace Horseback Tour Experience: $53
- Quad bike tour discovery in Essaouira for two hours: $53
- 2 – Hours Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Desert with Moroccan Tea: $55
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $61
- Essaouira Private Art Class Adventure: $65
- Essaouira Paradise Private Kitesurfing Experience: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerzouga -Essaouira $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merzouga and Essaouira, we can see that Essaouira 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 Essaouira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Essaouira 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 Essaouira 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.