A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Merzouga vs. Lyon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Merzouga or Lyon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merzouga or Lyon, 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 Lyon?

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.

Lyon

Lyon, located within the region of Southeastern France, is France's third largest city in terms of population, with just over 500,000 inhabitants. This makes the city large, yet still small and personable enough to be explored properly in a short visit. Known as the gastronomic capital of Europe, your culinary needs are exceptionally well catered to here, and for those with historical and cultural interests, you will never be at a loss for new things to do and see.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.


Which place is cheaper, Lyon or Merzouga?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Merzouga is $17, while the average daily cost in Lyon is $134. 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 Lyon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Merzouga $10
    Lyon $57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Merzouga $20
    Lyon $114
Compare Hotels in Merzouga and Lyon

Looking for a hotel in Merzouga or Lyon? 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.

Hotels in Merzouga


Hotels in Lyon


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 Lyon Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Merzouga -
    Lyon $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:

  • 1 way transfer: $62

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:


  • Funiculaire
    $5.57
  • Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus
    $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:

  • Private transfer from or to Lyon train stations - Lyon city by car or luxury van: $46
  • Lyon Saint Exupery Airport(LYS) to Aix-les-Bains-Arrival Transfer: $47
  • Lyon City Card with Airport Transfer: $52
  • Lyon St Exupery Airport to Les Deux/La Clusaz - Arrival Transfer: $71
  • Lyon Airport (LYS) to Val d'Isere/Espace Killy: Arrival Transfer: $76
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City by Business Car: $78
  • Departure Private Transfer Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS by Business Car: $79
  • 1-Way Private Transfer from Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport: $80
  • 1-Way Private Transfer center to Saint Exupery Airport: $80
  • Excellecar Private Driver - Stations & Airports Transfers: $82
  • Departure Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Business Car: $86
  • Arrival Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Business Car: $86

Is it cheaper to fly into Merzouga or Lyon?

Prices for flights to both Lyon 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Merzouga $5.92
    Lyon $44

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.

  • One Night in Private Camp in the Sahara Desert in Merzouga with Dinner: $65
  • Sunset With Dinner And Berber Music in Merzouga Desert With 4WD : $65
  • Day Trip By Camels In Erg Chebbi Dunes, Lunch With Berber Pizza: $76
  • Merzouga Orange Dunes ATV Sandsurf Camels with 5 Stars Dinner: $85
  • Camel trek with 1 Night in Luxury camp with Dinner+ Sundbording: $87
  • 5 Hour Sunset Tour with Camel Ride and Dinner In Desert: $87
  • Visit The Nomads, Gnawa Music, Rally In Dunes, Berber Pizza : $104
  • Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
  • Overnight in Luxury Camp With camel Trek & Dinner: $107
  • From Fes: 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip(Luxury Tent & Dinner): $124
  • From Fes: 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip w/Luxury Tent & Dinner: $127
  • 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200

Typical Food Prices in Lyon

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:


  • Pastry
    $1.82

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lyon.

  • Street Food Tour: $64
  • Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $64
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $66
  • Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $76
  • Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $80
  • Cultural Walking Food Tour in the Vieux Lyon District: $86
  • Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $93
  • Old Town Food Tour: $96
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
  • Guided Evening Food Tour: $102
  • Lyon Evening Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
  • Food Tour in Lyon - Do Eat Better Experience: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Merzouga -
    Lyon $22

Tours and Activities in Merzouga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:

  • Camel Ride Experience: $27
  • Merzouga Desert Quad bike Adventure with Sand boarding: $38
  • Merzouga 4x4 Desert Excursion - Sahara 4WD Adventure: $43
  • Merzouga 4x4 Desert Tours & Excursions: $46
  • Extreme Adventure with Harness Zorbing in Merzouga dunes: $48
  • Merzouga one hour Adventure Tour: $54
  • Merzouga 4x4 tour - Excursion around dunes: $54
  • Merzouga Experience -1.5h Quad buggy : $55
  • Merzouga 4X4 Half-Day Tour with Lunch: $55
  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp : $60
  • From Quad bike tour to the peak of Erg Chebbi dune: $62
  • One Hour Sahara Desert Quad Biking tour: $62

Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:


  • Lunch for 2
    $48

Tours and Activities in Lyon

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
  • Hop-On Hop-Off City Cruise: $5.35
  • City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
  • Lyon Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $6.42
  • Lyon Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.54
  • Private Self-Guided Tour of the Curse Quest of Old Lyon: $8.72
  • Access to a Self-Guided Tour of the archaeological site of Lyon: $8.72
  • Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.72
  • Lyon Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • French Resistance Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $9.61
  • Old Lyon Walking In App Audio Tour: $9.77

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Merzouga -
    Lyon $25

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:


  • Drinks for 2
    $7.29
  • Bottle of Wine
    $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon

Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $96
  • Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $98
  • Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
  • Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
  • Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $106
  • Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $106
  • From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $106
  • Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $106
  • From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $106
  • Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $108
  • Beaujolais 100% wine tour Small-Group Tour with Tasting from Lyon: $108
  • Guided tour and wine tasting Northern Rhône Valley: $108


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merzouga and Lyon, we can see that Lyon is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merzouga is in Africa and Lyon 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 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 Lyon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lyon 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 Lyon Expensive?.