Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Petra?
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 Petra or Ouarzazate?
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 Ouarzazate can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Ouarzazate?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.
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Petra Prices
Jordan PricesOuarzazate Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153Ouarzazate $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate 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 Petra and Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Ouarzazate $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Ouarzazate $44
Compare Hotels in Petra and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Ouarzazate? 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Ouarzazate $3.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Comfort VIP Private Transfer: Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels: $140
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
- Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
- Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional: $88
- Private Transfer From or To Airport, Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea: $33
- Private Transfer from Ma'in Hotel to Aqaba Airport: $120
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Private Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $30
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $46
- Private transfer from Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou (round Trip): $78
- Ouarzazate to Marrakech Private Transfer: $115
- Private Transfert Between Marrakech & Ouarzazate: $187
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate 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
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Food Meals for one dayPetra $66Ouarzazate $28
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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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 Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
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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 Moroccan Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Ouarzazate $11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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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:
- Self Guided Tour of Petra Main Trail with App (No Tickets): $8.99
- Petra 3-Hour Private Tour with a Local Guide: $60
- Private Guided Tour in Petra with licensed guide: $70
- Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $70
- Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75
- Full day Petra and Wadi Rum tour, returning to Amman Or Airport: $84
- Private Multilingual Guided Tour in Petra: $90
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $100
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $130
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate
Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Day Group Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga with Luxury Camp: $5.68
- Ouzoud Waterfalls Guided Tour and Boat Ride: $14
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $23
- Half Day Private Tour in Sidiflah Gorge: $24
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
- Private tour in the oasis of Skoura with pottery workshop: $28
- guided tour of the Skoura palm grove by mountain bike: $34
- Private Skoura Oasis Walking Tour and Homemade Meal with Locals: $35
- Private tour of Skoura by ATV or E-bike Half-day with guide: $35
- Private half-day mountain bike tour discover Palmeraie Skoura: $36
- Ait Ben Haddou to Fint Oasis - Full-Day Quad Adventure: $36
- Royal Private Tour of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Ouarzazate -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Ouarzazate, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Ouarzazate 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 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 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 Ouarzazate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Ouarzazate?
Ouarzazate has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Ouarzazate, 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.