A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Petra vs. Marrakech for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Petra or Marrakech?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Marrakech can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Petra or Marrakech?

Petra

Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.

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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Marrakech or Petra?

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 Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Marrakech is $101. 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 Petra and Marrakech in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Petra $59
    Marrakech $58
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Petra $118
    Marrakech $116
Compare Hotels in Petra and Marrakech

Looking for a hotel in Petra 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.

Hotels in Petra


Hotels in Marrakech


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: Petra Hotel Prices and Marrakech Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Petra $23
    Marrakech $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:

  • Private Transfers from Petra Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $176
  • Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
  • Private Transfer from Ma'in Hotel to Aqaba Airport: $120
  • Private Transfer To & From Airport, Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea: $35
  • Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional: $88
  • Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
  • Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
  • Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
  • Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
  • Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
  • Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
  • Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech

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

  • Marrakech Airport (RAK) Private Transfer to/from City Hotels: $5.45
  • Private One way Menara Airport Transfer to Marrakech Hotel: $6.00
  • Transfer privé depuis ou vers l'aéroport marrakech: $6.00
  • Private Transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport: $6.21
  • Marrakech Airport Private Transfer | Fast, Comfortable & Reliable: $6.51
  • Private transfer to or from Marrakech airport: $7.00
  • private taxi transfer on arrival from Marrakech airport to medina: $7.00
  • Marrakech Airport Transfer ( ONE WAY pick-up OR/OU ONE WAY drop-off): $7.11
  • Marrakech TAXI Airport privâtes Transfer: $7.50
  • Private Transfer - Marrakech Menara airport (RAK): $7.70
  • Marrakech City Center Private Airport Transfer: $8.00
  • Transfers between Menara Airport and Marrakesh: $8.29

Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Marrakech?

Prices for flights to both Marrakech and Petra 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
    Petra $66
    Marrakech $29
Typical Food Prices in Petra

Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:


  • Dinner for Two
    $12
  • Juice
    $1.76

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.

  • Authentic Jordanian Cooking, Taste of Comfort With Family: $28
  • Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains.: $50
  • Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150

Typical Food Prices in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Orange Juice on the Square
    $0.32
  • Breakfast
    $1.30
  • Dates
    $0.65
  • Olives
    $0.97
  • Sandwich
    $1.40
  • Souvenir Spices
    $6.71

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech

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

  • Marrakech to Agafay Sunset Camel and Quad Combo with Dinner: $9.00
  • Agafay Desert Camel Ride and Quad Bike with Dinner Show: $9.48
  • Camel Ride at Marrakech Desert Agafy with Dinner: $11
  • Excursion from Marrakech to Agafay desert Quad Camel dinner show: $12
  • Marrakech desert tour dinner show & camel ride with sunset views: $12
  • Agafay Desert Camel Ride and Quad bike & Dinner Show: $12
  • Morocco's Top Cooking Classes For Authentic berber Cuisine in the Atlas Mountain: $13
  • Agafay desert quad &camel ride with dinner show: $14
  • Agafay Desert Quad Bike Camel Ride and Dinner Show: $14
  • Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride with Dinner Show: $15
  • Agafay desert dinner show camel ride with sunset: $15
  • Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner, Fire Show, Music & Stargazing: $15

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Petra $47
    Marrakech $11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:


  • Entry to Petra for One
    $71

Tours and Activities in Petra

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:

  • 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
  • 3-Hour Private Petra Tour: Siq, Treasury & Qasr Al-Bint: $145
  • 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
  • Discover Petra in a Day Guided Tour of the Lost Nabatean City: $200
  • From Petra : Wadi Rum Private 8 - hours roundtrip tour .: $190
  • Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $60
  • Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour: $200
  • Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
  • Petra Highlights Guided Golf Cart Tour with Hotel Pickup: $169
  • Private 2-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $210
  • Private 3-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $270
  • Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75

Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Palace Tickets
    $2.16
  • Golf at Atlas Golf
    $61

Tours and Activities in Marrakech

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

  • Marrakech Medina Self-Guided Walking Tour Experience: $3.54
  • 3 Days Merzouga Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes: $5.00
  • Berber Culture Experience & Atlas Mountains Tour: $5.92
  • Marrakech Audioguided walking tour 2h45 and 21 reviews: $6.99
  • Agadir Goats Climbing Argan Trees Tour with Souk El Had Market: $7.11
  • Guided Medina Walking Tour Monuments and Souks: $10
  • Marrakech Airport to Hotel – Your Premium Arrival Experience: $11
  • Bahia Palace Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry: $12
  • Cycling tour in marrakesh desert: $12
  • Marrakech Private Walking Tour: $12
  • Shared Sightseeing Tour Visit to Marrakech with Licensed Guide: $12
  • From Ourika Valley Adventure with Atlas Mountains: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Petra $15
    Marrakech $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:

  • Marrakech Nightlife Pub Crawl with Hotel Pickup: $36
  • Private Vineyard Day from Marrakech Wine Tasting and City Tour: $130


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Marrakech, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Marrakech much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Marrakech 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 Marrakech would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Marrakech 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra than you might in Marrakech.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Marrakech Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Petra or Marrakech?

Marrakech has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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.