Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Mombasa?
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 Mombasa or Ouarzazate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mombasa and Ouarzazate. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Mombasa or Ouarzazate?
Mombasa
Mombasa is a beautiful, large city on the eastern coast of Kenya, bordering the Indian Ocean. The city is famous for its stunning beaches, friendly locals, and diverse marine life. Mombasa experiences a tropical climate year round, meaning temperatures rarely drop below 70° Fahrenheit. The rainiest months of the year are April and May and the driest months are January and February. Temperatures tend to be more mild from May through October, usually in the 70's and 80's. Temperatures get much warmer from November through April, with daily averages reaching the high 90's.
Ouarzazate
Morocco can be quite an energetic country, but if you're looking for more of a quiet getaway, consider Ouarzazate. Small by Moroccan standards, this town is built up mostly around a main street – the Avenue Mohammad V. Ouarzazate. The name "Ouarzazate" comes from the Berber language meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." It was once a crossroad for a African traders traveling to northern cities in Morocco and Europe. Today, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara, and its central location serves as a good home base touring the rest of Morocco.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesOuarzazate Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Ouarzazate $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $59. 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 Mombasa and Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Ouarzazate $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Ouarzazate $46
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Ouarzazate? 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: Mombasa Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Ouarzazate $3.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers to Watamu and Malindi: $75
- Diani Airport – Kenya Coast Beach Hotel Transfers: $131
- Diani Mombasa Moi Int Airport Transfer: $160
- From Mombasa Airport Diani Transfer in a Minivan 5 Pax: $75
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $74
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $37
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To South Coast Diani Hotels: $81
- Mombasa Airport Transfers: $129
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
- Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Private Arrival Transfer in Mombasa: $60
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Private transfer from Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou (round Trip): $81
- Private Transfert Between Marrakech & Ouarzazate: $187
- Private Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $30
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $46
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Mombasa 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 dayMombasa $41Ouarzazate $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Special African Dinner: $46
- Mombasa Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Swahili Street Food Tour: $55
- Swahili Cooking Class Experience with a Local Chef: $65
- Diani Beach Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $71
- Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $138
Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
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Dinner for Two$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ouarzazate.
- Private Berber Cooking Class at Fint Oasis with Lunch: $59
- Private Moroccan Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Ouarzazate $11
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mombasa City Tour with Dido: $25
- Mombasa Guided City Tour Experience: $25
- Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves: $28
- Mombasa walking tour: $30
- Mombasa city tour: $30
- Private Historical Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest Tour with Guide: $31
- Kongo River Sunset Experience in Canoe: $32
- Diani Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $35
- Fort Jesus & Mombasa Old Town Walking CityTour: $38
- Private Mombasa Food & Sightseeing Tour: $39
- Mombasa City Tour: $40
- Half day city tour of mombasa: $40
Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate
Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
- 3 Days Desert Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga Dunes: $120
- 3 Days Group Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert: $118
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $151
- 3-Day Sahara Desert Adventure From Ouarzazate to Erg Chegaga: $502
- 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $2,048
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $24
- Bike Tour in Skoura with Pottery Experience: $55
- Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,195
- Desert Adventure in Skoura: $35
- From 2-Day Erg Lihdoui and Mhamid Desert Tour: $385
- From 3 Days tour though Merzouga & Dades: $410
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Ouarzazate -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Ouarzazate, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ouarzazate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ouarzazate 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 Mombasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mombasa than you might in Ouarzazate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Ouarzazate?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Ouarzazate, 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.
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.