Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nairobi or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Essaouira can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Essaouira?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
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 Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, 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 dayNairobi $62Essaouira $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $62, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $47. 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 Nairobi and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Essaouira $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Essaouira $54
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Essaouira $2.06
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From 3-Day Saltlick Lodge Safari with Transfers: $1,000
- Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197
- Masai Mara from Nairobi Transfer: $179
- Private Road transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli: $150
- Coffee Farm Tour with Tasting and Transfers: $140
- Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or city To Maasai Mara By Road: $135
- Private Departure Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Private Arrival Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Stopover, Layover & Transit Tour with Transfers.: $110
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Private Transfer from Nairobi to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $85
- Bush Safaris and Airport transfers: $85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Essaouira to your Riad or Hotel in Marrakech: $168
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $112
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $120
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $120
- Transfer Essaouira Airport to Essaouira: $22
- Quad day with meal: Sidi M'Barek 6 hours (free transfer): $154
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $107
- Private transfer Kaouki to Essaouira or Essaouira to Kaouki: $22
- Private transfer Essaouira Taroudant.: $190
- Private transfer Essaouira Ouarzazate.: $224
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport: $131
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Agadir: $97
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $7.52Essaouira $14
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Hour Gastronomic and Street Food tour of Nairobi: $31
- Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi: $40
- Cooking Class with Local Organic Market Visit: $40
- Cooking Class with Market Visit and Delicious food: $40
- Experience the Taste of Nairobi:A Hands-On Cooking Adventure: $44
- Traditional Cuisines Cooking Experience And Class.: $49
- Local Market Tour and Traditional Meal Cooking Class: $55
- Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
- Nairobi Cooking and Food Tasting Activity: $60
- Nairobi Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch: $65
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $66
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.44
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Breakfast Crepes$0.52
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Fish for Lunch$15
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
- Traditional Moroccan and Berber Cooking Classes : $45
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $67
- Essaouirra cooking class: $71
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $72
- Essaouira Food Tour: $93
- Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $100
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $174
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $177
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Essaouira $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre Tour: $95
- Half day tour to Elephant orphanage & Giraffe Centre Nairobi: $95
- Hells Gate Park & Lake Naivasha boat ride Day tour: $150
- Nairobi Museum Snake Park Giraffe Center and Beads Center Tour: $95
- Nairobi Shared Amboseli Park Tour: $250
- Nairobi park Tour 6.A.M-11.AM: $70
- Private Half Day Tour in Giraffe Center, Bomas and Masai Market : $125
- Private Tour Nairobi national park & Giraffe Centre: $120
- Private Tour to Karunguru Coffee Farm : $140
- Tour Hells gate National park day tour: $150
- half Day TOURS/NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK/ELEPHANT & GIRAFFE CENTRE: $90
- (Nairobi) Souvenir Shopping and Historical Half day Tour: $69
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $72
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $59
- 3 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga with Luxury Camp: $213
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $58
- Discovery Tour around Essaouira by Electric Motorcycle: $109
- Essaouira : 1 Hour Quad Bike Tour and 1 Hour Dromedary Ride: $61
- Essaouira : Half-day E-Experience from Mountains to Sea: $160
- Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $67
- Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $74
- 2 Hours Quad Bike Tour and 1 Hour Camel: $85
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $49
- 3-Hour Quad Bike Tour: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Essaouira $9.48
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Nairobi Ultimate Bar Crawl: $60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Essaouira, we can see that Nairobi is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Nairobi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nairobi 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 Nairobi Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Essaouira?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi 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.