A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ouarzazate vs. Diani for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ouarzazate or Diani?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Ouarzazate and Diani 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: Ouarzazate or Diani?

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.

Diani

Diani is a major beach resort town on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa and the beach has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination several times. With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it’s no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But Diani also has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors' voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, and The Best Budget Tours to Kenya.


Which place is cheaper, Diani or Ouarzazate?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ouarzazate is $44, while the average daily cost in Diani is $55. 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 Ouarzazate and Diani in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ouarzazate $22
    Diani $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ouarzazate $44
    Diani $46
Compare Hotels in Ouarzazate and Diani

Looking for a hotel in Ouarzazate or Diani? 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 Ouarzazate


Hotels in Diani


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: Ouarzazate Hotel Prices and Diani Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ouarzazate $3.51
    Diani $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.06

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:

  • Private Transfert Between Marrakech & Ouarzazate: $166
  • Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $319
  • Private Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $20
  • Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $43
  • "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $115

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Diani

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

  • From Mombasa Airport: Diani transfer in a minivan (5 pax): $75
  • Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Diani Hotels: $72
  • Private transfer to Diani Beach from Mombasa: $65
  • airport hotel transfer: $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Ouarzazate or Diani?

Prices for flights to both Diani and Ouarzazate 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
    Ouarzazate $17
    Diani $20
Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:


  • Dinner for Two
    $11

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: $45
  • Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $67
  • Zagora 2 Days Sahara Desert Tour with Dinner and Desert Camp: $80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Diani

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

  • Diani Beach: Special Dinner with a Local: $50
  • A ROMANTIC BEACH BONFIRE DINNER SET UP: $58

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ouarzazate $11
    Diani $15

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
  • 10 Days Luxury Tour From Casablanca Via Chefchaouen And Fes: $2,305
  • 2 Night Tour From Fes To Marrakech Via Merzouga " Sahara": $410
  • 3 Days Group Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert: $129
  • 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
  • 4 day Fantastic Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech via desert: $479
  • 4 days desert tour from Casablanca via Marrakech: $745
  • 4-Day Private Desert Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech: $1,051
  • 5-Day Morocco Desert Tour From Marrakech: $575
  • 5-Day Tour from Casablanca-Desert and Marrakech casablanca: $2,235
  • 6 Days Tour From Casablanca To Fes, Via Marrakech & Desert: $958
  • 7 Days Luxury Desert Tour From Casablanca to Marrakech: $1,866

Tours and Activities in Diani

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

  • Market and Street Food Walking Tour: $20
  • Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $27
  • Sunset Canoe Tour along the River with Mangroves: $28
  • Diani Beach: 2-Hour Glass Bottom-Boat Cruise: $28
  • Samburu: Traditional Activities Experience: $30
  • Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo cultural and nature experience: $30
  • Sunset Cruise along Kongo River on Wooden Canoe boat: $30
  • Diani Beach: Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe: $32
  • Mangrove Sunset Canoe Tour with Local Guide: $35
  • Day & Night Life Tour At Diani: $40
  • Diani Beach: Children's Homes Visit And Donation Tour.: $42
  • Duruma Traditional Wedding Demo, Village Tour and Dance Show: $49

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ouarzazate -
    Diani $8.91

Sample the Local Flavors in Diani

Also in Diani, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Diani,Mombasa Nightlife And Pub Crawling Guided Tour.: $44


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