Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Ouarzazate?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate 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: Ouarzazate or Essaouira?
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.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Ouarzazate Prices
Morocco PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOuarzazate $59Essaouira $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Ouarzazate is $59, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $61. 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 Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOuarzazate $23Essaouira $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOuarzazate $46Essaouira $56
Compare Hotels in Ouarzazate and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Ouarzazate 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: Ouarzazate Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ouarzazate $3.70Essaouira $2.18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $194
- Private Transfert Between Marrakech & Ouarzazate: $187
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $119
- Private transfer from Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou (round Trip): $81
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $46
- Private Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $30
- Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- "Essaouira to Agafay Desert Marrakech: Exclusive Private Transfer: $94
- Essaouira Airport Private Transfer: $34
- Essaouira P13: 2h quad + 2h camel free transfer: $93
- Essaouira P17: Quad ride dunes beaches free transfer.: $34
- Essaouira P3: Quad and Buggy tour beach dunes free transfer: $34
- Essaouira P4: excursions EN Quad (free transfer): $34
- Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $137
- Essaouira to Marrakech:Private Transfer for a Hassle-Free Journey: $73
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport: $35
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $25
- From Agadir : Day in Essaouira with Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Agadir: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Ouarzazate or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira 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
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Food Meals for one dayOuarzazate $30Essaouira $26
Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
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Dinner for Two$12
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: $59
- Private Moroccan Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate: $61
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.52
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Breakfast Crepes$0.54
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Fish for Lunch$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Agadir Cooking Class Experience with Local Market Visit: $31
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
- Cooking class: How To Be a Real Moroccan Chef: $41
- Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner: $48
- Moroccan cooking class in Essaouira city: $53
- Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience: $59
- Essaouira Street Food Tour: $69
- Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $70
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $217
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ouarzazate $12Essaouira $13
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
- 3 Days Group Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert: $117
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $151
- 3-Day Sahara Desert Adventure From Ouarzazate to Erg Chegaga: $502
- 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $2,048
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $23
- Bike Tour in Skoura with Pottery Experience: $55
- Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,195
- From 2-Day Erg Lihdoui and Mhamid Desert Tour: $385
- From 3 Days tour though Merzouga & Dades: $410
- From 3-Day Merzouga to Erg Chebbi Tour: $495
- From Todra Gorges and 1000 Casbahs Road Day Tour: $158
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Essaouira to Marrakech Supratours bus tickets: $18
- Full-Day Essaouira Tour from Marrakech: $29
- Essaouira P6: Cape Sim quad bike tour: $34
- Beginners surf experience in Essaouira: $34
- Quad Adventure in 1 Hour: $39
- Sunset Horse Ride Experience in Essaouira: $47
- Essaouira Dar Sultan Palace Horseback Tour Experience: $53
- Quad bike tour discovery in Essaouira for two hours: $53
- 2 – Hours Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Desert with Moroccan Tea: $55
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $61
- Essaouira Private Art Class Adventure: $65
- Essaouira Paradise Private Kitesurfing Experience: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOuarzazate -Essaouira $10
When comparing the travel costs between Ouarzazate and Essaouira, we can see that Essaouira is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ouarzazate Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ouarzazate or Essaouira?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Ouarzazate 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.