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

Should you visit Moshi or Merzouga?

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

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

Moshi

Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It’s known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain's cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. The noticeably clean capital of the densely populated Kilimanjaro region sits at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and makes a good introduction to the splendors of the north. It's a low-key place with an appealing blend of African and Asian influences and a self-sufficient, prosperous feel, due in large part to its being the center of one of Tanzania's major coffee-growing regions. Virtually all visitors are here to climb Mt Kilimanjaro or to recover after having done so. Yet there’s much more to do, including cultural tours and hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Moshi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Moshi is $83, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $23. 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 Moshi and Merzouga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Moshi $36
    Merzouga $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Moshi $72
    Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Merzouga

Looking for a hotel in Moshi or Merzouga? 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 Moshi


Hotels in Merzouga


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: Moshi Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Moshi $17
    Merzouga -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi

Also for Moshi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Airport transfers from any hotel in Zanzibar (Departures): $30
  • Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi: $49
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer: $50
  • Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) Moshi or Arusha: $55
  • Reliable Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $55
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer: $60
  • Tanzania Private Airport Transfer: $67
  • Airport Transfer between Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport: $82
  • Moshi to Arusha or Arusha to Moshi Transfer (Intercity transfer): $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Merzouga?

Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Moshi 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
    Moshi $34
    Merzouga $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi

For Moshi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cooking class and Coffee tour in Moshi Kilimanjaro: $15
  • Kili View Tanzanian Cooking Class: $26
  • Authentic Chagga Cooking Class: Farm-to-Table Experience in Moshi: $50
  • Dee's Private Cooking Class in Tanzania: $50
  • Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi with a Local Family: $79
  • Private Market Tour and Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi: $109

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga

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

  • Merzouga Cooking Class Familye: $45
  • 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
  • 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: $106
  • Merzouga Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour: $142
  • From 2-Nights In Luxury Camp with Camel Trek & Dinner.: $177
  • 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Moshi $18
    Merzouga -

Tours and Activities in Moshi

For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Moshi sunset experience: $12
  • Moshi City Tour: Explore the Foothill of Kilimanjaro on Foot: $20
  • Roast coffee and tour a chagga owned coffee farm: $25
  • Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Plantations & Banana beer experiences: $27
  • Private guided tour to the night lifestyle of Moshi town: $30
  • City tour and local food: $30
  • Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Plantation Half Day Tour: $30
  • Materuni Waterfalls Hike and Organic Coffee Brewing Half day Tour: $30
  • Materuni Waterfalls Hiking & Coffee Farms - Tuk Tuk Experiences: $32
  • Materuni Waterfall, Coffee Ceremony &Chagga Culture Half-Day Tour: $35
  • Moshi City Tour: Explore Local Markets, Culture & Hidden Gems: $40
  • Moshi city tour: $40

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: $154
  • 1 Hour Merzouga Buggy Desert Tour: $71
  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp: $65
  • 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: $37
  • 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $115
  • 2-Days Merzouga tour from Errachidia: $200
  • 2-Hour Quad Desert Tour, Dunes Oasis, Nomads Family & Sandboard: $45
  • 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour from Errachidia to Merzouga Camp: $200

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Moshi $3.34
    Merzouga -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moshi and Merzouga, we can see that Moshi 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 Moshi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moshi 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 Moshi Expensive? and Is Merzouga Expensive?.