A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Port Elizabeth vs. Essaouira for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth 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: Port Elizabeth or Essaouira?

Port Elizabeth

Located on the Indian Ocean coastline of South Africa, Port Elizabeth is a major sea port and tourist destination featuring a pleasant climate, opportunities for water sports, historical landmarks, wildlife areas, and clean beaches.

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 2-Week Tours in South Africa, The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Port Elizabeth?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Port Elizabeth is $44, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $46. 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 Port Elizabeth and Essaouira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Port Elizabeth $23
    Essaouira $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Port Elizabeth $46
    Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Port Elizabeth and Essaouira

Looking for a hotel in Port Elizabeth 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.

Hotels in Port Elizabeth


Hotels in Essaouira


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: Port Elizabeth Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Port Elizabeth $9.56
    Essaouira $1.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira

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

  • Private Transfer Essaouira-Essaouira Airport: $21
  • Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
  • Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport : $22
  • Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport (ESU): $22
  • Transfer Essaouira Airport to Essaouira: $22
  • Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport: $27
  • Hinterland Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $35
  • Essaouira Airport To city Transfer: $38
  • From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
  • From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $69
  • Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
  • Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87

Is it cheaper to fly into Port Elizabeth or Essaouira?

Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Port Elizabeth 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
    Port Elizabeth $14
    Essaouira $14

Typical Food Prices in Essaouira

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:


  • Baklava
    $1.40
  • Breakfast Crepes
    $0.50
  • Fish for Lunch
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira

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

  • Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
  • L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $54
  • Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $55
  • Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
  • Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $97
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $169

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Port Elizabeth $9.37
    Essaouira $12

Tours and Activities in Port Elizabeth

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

  • 7 Day Garden Route Tour- Durban to Cape Town via Addo N Park: $1,543
  • Addo Elephant Park Tours .: $175
  • From 5-Day Garden Route Tour to Cape Town: $543
  • Port Elizabeth City Walking Tour: $44
  • Port Elizabeth tuk-tuk tour, experience the natural beauty.: $70
  • Cape Recife Safari and City Sightseeing Tour: $140
  • Xhosa Township/Cultural Experience: $127

Tours and Activities in Essaouira

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.

  • Highlights Tour with Tasting the Ocean City: $19
  • Full Day Tour From Marrakech To Essaouira Mogador: $21
  • Private City Tour: $26
  • From Marrakech: Guided tour of Essaouira the coastal city: $26
  • KiteSurfing or Surfing Experience in Essaouira: $28
  • Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $31
  • 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
  • Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $40
  • Discover Essaouira Full-Day Tour: $43
  • Essaouira Adventure Full-Day Excursion from Marakech: $47
  • Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
  • Half-Day Old Town Guided Tour: $48

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Port Elizabeth $2.58
    Essaouira $9.16


When comparing the travel costs between Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Port Elizabeth or Essaouira?

Port Elizabeth has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Port Elizabeth 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.