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

Should you visit Pondicherry or Ouarzazate?

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

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

Pondicherry

Located on the eastern coast of India in the state of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry has a long and interesting history of trade and war as the largest French colony in India. Today the French influence in the city remains, especially in the old quarters. This being said, Pondicherry very much embodies and east-meets-west culture.

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 Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Pondicherry?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pondicherry is $34, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $42. 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 Pondicherry and Ouarzazate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pondicherry $16
    Ouarzazate $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pondicherry $32
    Ouarzazate $42
Compare Hotels in Pondicherry and Ouarzazate

Looking for a hotel in Pondicherry 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.

Hotels in Pondicherry


Hotels in Ouarzazate


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: Pondicherry Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pondicherry $5.67
    Ouarzazate $3.38

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:

  • Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $310
  • Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
  • "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107

Is it cheaper to fly into Pondicherry or Ouarzazate?

Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Pondicherry 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
    Pondicherry $11
    Ouarzazate $16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pondicherry

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

  • Indian Cooking Class in Pondicherry: $28
  • French-Creole Cooking Class in Pondicherry with a Local Family: $78
  • South Indian Dinner With A Local Family In Pondicherry: $161
  • Cooking class in Pondicherry (with Lunch or Dinner): $289

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.

  • Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $66

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pondicherry $11
    Ouarzazate $11

Tours and Activities in Pondicherry

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

  • Magical Pondicherry Markets Tour : $13
  • Spiritual Walk Tour Pondicherry: $13
  • Pondicherry Art Trails (2 Hours Guided Walking Tours): $13
  • Auroville Guided Walking Tour: $14
  • Heritage & Cultural Walking Tour of Pondicherry : $15
  • The Unique Pondicherry City Bike Tour : $18
  • Guided City Tour in Pondicherry with complimentary refreshments: $47
  • The Best of A Private Sightseeing Tour: $47
  • Sri Arunachaleswara Temple Tour From Pondicherry: $48
  • Private Walking Tour in the French Quarter of Pondicherry: $57
  • Best of the Pondicherry (Guided Full Day City Tour): $133
  • Day Trip to Mahabalipuram (Curated Private Sightseeing Experience): $150

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: $126
  • 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
  • 4 day Fantastic Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech via desert: $466
  • 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $1,514
  • Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
  • Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,086
  • Desert by Quad: 5 Days of Pure Adventure from Ouarzazate: $2,897
  • Experience of kasbah ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate city: $132
  • Fez to Merzouga & Marrakech Combined 3 Day Desert Tour: $214
  • From Agadir : 4-Day Private Desert Tour To Zagora & Merzouga: $574
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $384

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pondicherry $6.92
    Ouarzazate -


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

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


Which is Bigger, Pondicherry or Ouarzazate?

Pondicherry has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Pondicherry 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.

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