Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Mykonos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mykonos or Essaouira?
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 Mykonos and Essaouira. 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: Mykonos or Essaouira?
Mykonos
Mykonos, a Greek Island in the middle of the Aegean Sea, is part of the Cyclades group. Mykonos is one of the most touristy islands in the Aegean Sea and is famous for its whitewashed buildings that climb up the hill along with historic windmills, stunning hillside views, and fantastic seafood restaurants. Because of its popularity, Mykonos comes with a hefty tourist markup. Many passengers arrive here as part of a cruise, so during the day its small streets can become crowded with tourists and its harbor fills with large ships. August and July are the most popular times to visit, so if you're hoping to avoid to crowds it's best to come a few months earlier.
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 Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best G Adventures Tours to Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMykonos €149Essaouira €43
The average daily cost (per person) in Mykonos is €149, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is €43. 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 Mykonos and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMykonos €74Essaouira €24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMykonos €148Essaouira €48
Compare Hotels in Mykonos and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Mykonos 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: Mykonos Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mykonos €24Essaouira €1.87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mykonos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Mykonos:
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Bus to Paradise Beach (for 2)€5.60
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Taxi to Kalafatis€13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mykonos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mykonos:
- From Helicopter Transfer to Athens or Greek Island: $2,567
- Boat Tour / Transfer in Mykonos: $1,069
- Private Catamaran Cruise w/ Food, Drinks & Transfer: $802
- Mykonos Airport or Port from/to Point to Point Private Transfers: $213
- Mykonos Private Long Distance Transfer Up To 12 Persons: $204
- Private Mykonos Transfers up to 15 persons: $158
- Mykonos 6hrs sailing cruise: Delos Rhenia with lunch & transfer : $153
- Combo Yacht Cruise to Rhenia and Guided Tour of Delos (free transfers): $153
- Mykonos Private Transfer Up To 8 Persons: $152
- Rhenia Cruise and Delos Guided Tour with Transfers: $150
- Catamaran Cruise with Lunch, Drinks and Transfer: $145
- Mykonos Sail Cruise to Delos&Rhenia, BBQ&Drinks, optional Delos Tour & Transfer: $136
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
- Airport Transfer From Essaouira Airport To Medina: $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport (ESU): $22
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
- Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $36
- Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $38
- From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $70
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
- Transfert Marrakech to Agafay-Private Agafay to Marrakech : $87
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Mykonos or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Mykonos 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 dayMykonos €48Essaouira €13
Typical Food Prices in Mykonos
Some typical examples of dining costs in Mykonos are as follows:
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Two Ice cream Cones€4.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mykonos
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mykonos.
- Traditional Lunch or Dinner at the Mykonian Spiti: $70
- Sunset Boat Cruise with Light Dinner & Drinks: $100
- Food Tour in Mykonos - 10 Tastings : $108
- Souvlaki Cooking Class in Mykonos: $109
- Cooking Class with Food and Wine: $160
- Cooking Classes in Mykonos Greece: $164
- Private Cooking Class on Naxos Island with Pick Up: $196
- Private Authentic Greek Brunch Cooking Class in Mykonos with a Local: $254
- Private Food Tour & Wine Tasting In Tinos Island with a Local: $284
- Private Cooking Class At The Home Of A Mykonian Family: $610
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava€1.31
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Breakfast Crepes€0.47
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Fish for Lunch€14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
- L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $55
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mykonos €23Essaouira €11
Tours and Activities in Mykonos
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Mykonos are as follows:
- Mykonos Island Tour: $83
- 1-Hour Guided Snorkeling Adventure with Go Pro Pictures : $38
- 4 Hour Mykonos Tour Explorer : $164
- 5 Hour Mykonos Beach-Club-Crawl Experience: $90
- 6 Hours Tour to Delos and Rhenia Islands with Sailing Yacht: $153
- All Inclusive Mykonos Island Tour & Greek Food Tasting: $150
- All inclusive Delos & Rhenia Islands tour up to 12 pax (free transportation): $153
- All inclusive Sunset Cruise Delos & Rhenia - free transpotation: $136
- All inclusive cruise-Mykonos Delos&Rhenia beaches(free transport): $119
- Ancient Delos Tour: $82
- Authentic Jeep Adventure Tour: $172
- Best of Mykonos Island 4-Hour Private Tour: $289
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Highlights Tour with Tasting the Ocean City: $19
- Full Day Tour From Marrakech To Essaouira Mogador: $21
- Private City Tour: $26
- From Marrakech: Guided tour of Essaouira the coastal city: $26
- Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $31
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
- Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41
- Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
- Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48
- Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMykonos €20Essaouira €8.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Mykonos
Also in Mykonos, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Winery Vineyard Experience with Food & Wine Tasting: $73
- Tour and Wine Tasting in Mykonian Land : $74
- Wine Tasting at a Mykonian Farm: $80
- Wine Tasting Tour at a traditional farm in Mykonos: $82
- Half-Day Wine Tasting and Snack at a Local House: $128
- Ancient Greek Wine Tasting on the Beach with a Sommelier: $128
- Luxurious All-in-One Mykonos Party Tour with Wine Tasting: $163
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mykonos and Essaouira, we can see that Mykonos is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mykonos is in Europe and Essaouira is in Africa, 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 Essaouira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Essaouira 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 Mykonos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mykonos than you might in Essaouira.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mykonos Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mykonos or Essaouira?
Mykonos has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Mykonos and Essaouira, 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.