Should you visit Nairobi or Marrakech?
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 Marrakech 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 Marrakech?
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.
Marrakech
Marrakech is on of the most popular travel destinations in Morocco. It is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat and is located near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains only a few hours from the Sahara Desert. It's a beautiful city that is often referred to as the "Pink City" because of the pale pink color of many of the city's buildings. These striking colors make the city particularly beautiful during the evening hours when the low sun creates a very dramatic lighting.
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.
Which place is cheaper, Marrakech or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Marrakech is $103. 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 Marrakech in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Marrakech? 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
Marrakech Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Safe and Private Airport transfer in Nairobi :
$20
-
Private Transfers from Nairobi Airport to Hotels:
$100
-
Private Transfer from Nairobi to Naivasha:
$70
-
Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or city To Maasai Mara By Road:
$135
-
Private Transfer from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) to Nairobi:
$42
-
Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park:
$197
-
Private One-Way Transfer from Nairobi:
$27
-
Private Luxury airport Taxi transfer Services Nairobi JKIA to City Hotels:
$50
-
Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Nairobi:
$40
-
Private Airport Transfers To or From Nairobi Airports.:
$25
-
Private Airport Transfer and Service in Nairobi:
$20
-
Airport and Hotel Private Transfers.:
$59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech
Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
airport transfer from Casablanca to Marrakech :
$167
-
Zagora Overnight Trip & Camel Ride With Transfer - Marrakesh:
$69
-
VIP Luxury Moroccan Hammam & Massage with Transfer - Marrakesh:
$118
-
Two Hour Camel Ride in Palmeraie Grove with Transfer - Marrakesh:
$43
-
Try find your better than us!Airport transfer service in Marrakesh HTL-APT (RAK):
$13
-
Try find your better than us!Airport transfer service in Marrakesh APT-HTL (RAK):
$13
-
Transferts Marrakech à Essaouira ou Essaouira à Marrakech:
$95
-
Transfers Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira to Marrakech:
$72
-
Transfer from el Jadida to Marrakech riad or hotel or Airport :
$202
-
Transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca airport:
$30
-
Transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca:
$179
-
Transfer from Marrakech to Casa-Airport or Casa-Airport to Marrakech:
$165
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Marrakech?
Prices for flights to both Marrakech 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Nairobi $13
Marrakech $29
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi:
$21
-
Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class and Dining Experience:
$40
-
Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour :
$55
-
Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi:
$60
-
Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi:
$65
-
Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show:
$97
-
Nairobi dinner and safari cat dancers :
$100
-
Authentic Local Kenyan Food Tour:
$108
-
Carnivore Restaurant Dinner Experience in Nairobi:
$125
-
Nairobi Carnivore Restaurant Lunch / Dinner Experience:
$125
-
Barbecue Dinner & Entertainment in Nairobi :
$135
-
Safari Park Hotel Cat Dance and Dinner Experience:
$135
Typical Food Prices in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Marrakesh: Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride, Dinner and Show:
$9.00
-
Sunset Dinner in the Agafay Desert:
$10
-
Agafay Desert: Camel ride, dinner and fire show:
$12
-
Marrakech Agafay Camel ride,Dinner , Fire Show:
$12
-
Camel Ride in the Agafay Desert, Dinner and Fire Show:
$12
-
Agafay Desert Quad & Camel Rides with Dinner Show:
$12
-
Agafay Desert Dinner, Camel Ride & Quad Biking.:
$12
-
Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner Show – From Marra:
$12
-
Morocco's Top Cooking Classes For Authentic berber Cuisine in the Atlas Mountain:
$13
-
Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride and Dinner Experience:
$13
-
Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride with Dinner in Camp:
$13
-
Camel Ride at Marrakech Desert Agafy with Dinner:
$13
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Day Tour Amboseli Park From Nairobi:
$180
-
Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre Tour:
$95
-
Lake Naivasha Full day Tour With Boat Rides:
$156
-
Local Lunch and Beer Tasting Experience:
$90
-
Nairobi National Park Morning Or Evening Game Drive 4x4 Tour Van:
$50
-
Nairobi park Tour 6.A.M-11.AM:
$70
-
Private 4WD Lake Nakuru Day Tour from Nairobi:
$190
-
1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha :
$139
-
1 Day Tour Hiking Mt. Longonot and lake Naivasha Boat ride :
$75
-
1 Day Tour Nairobi National Park,Giraffe Center&Karen Blixen:
$46
-
1-Day Hiking Adventure at Mount Longonot from Nairobi:
$170
-
2 Days Group Safari to Amboseli using a Landcruiser 4x4 Jeep:
$260
Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Palace Tickets
$2.21
-
Golf at Atlas Golf
$63
Tours and Activities in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
3-Day Berber Experience & Hiking in the High Atlas Mountains:
$268
-
3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Experience and Camel Trekking:
$131
-
7-Day Morocco Tour from Marrakech:
$69
-
Agafay Desert Adventure Quad Camel Ride and Magical Evening:
$60
-
Best Private Shopping Tour In the Souks of Marrakech:
$48
-
Experience Moroccan Hammam and Massage:
$119
-
Experience Spa Hammam Massage and Camel tour:
$113
-
Experience the desert nomads in Marrakech!:
$30
-
From Ouzoud Waterfalls Guided Tour & Boat Ride:
$28
-
Full Day Guided Tour in Ouzoud Waterfalls :
$30
-
Half-Day Quad Bike Experience in Marrakech:
$45
-
Hot Air Balloon Adventure over Marrakesh and Atlas Mountains:
$214
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:
-
Marrakech Nightlife Adventure: The Ultimate Pub Crawl:
$26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Marrakech, we can see that Marrakech is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Marrakech would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marrakech than you might in Nairobi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Marrakech Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Marrakech?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Marrakech. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Marrakech, 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.
Related Articles for Nairobi
Related Articles for Marrakech