Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Portimao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Portimao or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Portimao and Essaouira. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Portimao or Essaouira?
Portimao
The second biggest city in the Alrgarve region of Portugal, Portimao sits on the coast where the Arade River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is renowned for its fresh fish restaurants and is also a popular destination for beachgoers at the Praia da Rocha to the south of the city.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal, The Best Bicycle Tours in Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPortimao €152Essaouira €43
The average daily cost (per person) in Portimao is €152, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is €43. 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 Portimao and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPortimao €78Essaouira €24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPortimao €156Essaouira €48
Compare Hotels in Portimao and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Portimao 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: Portimao Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Portimao €37Essaouira €1.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
- Transfer From Portimão Algarve To Lisboa: $245
- Private Transfer from Monte Ruivo to Faro (FAO) Airport: $234
- Private Transfer from Estombar to Faro (FAO) Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Lagoa to Faro (FAO) Airport: $92
- Private Transfer from Portimao to Faro (FAO) Airport: $84
- Carvoeiro Private Transfer to Faro Airport: $84
- Private Transfer from Hotel da Rocha to Faro (FAO) Airport: $83
- Private Transfer from Josper Grill Steakhouse Dry Aged to Faro (FAO) Airport: $79
- Transfer Lagoa - Boavista Golf (Lagos): $60
- Transfer Portimão - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $59
- Transfer Alvor - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $58
- Transfer Armação de Pêra - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Essaouira Airport: $21
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport : $22
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $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: $36
- 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: $81
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Portimao 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 dayPortimao €45Essaouira €13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portimao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portimao.
- Algarve wine tour and mountain top trip with lunch or dinner at sunset time: $146
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava€1.31
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Breakfast Crepes€0.47
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Fish for Lunch€14
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 Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
- Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Portimao €41Essaouira €11
Tours and Activities in Portimao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portimao are as follows:
- Kayak Tours to Benagil & Marine caves - From Benagil Beach: $38
- 1 Hour and 30 Minutes Benagil Caves Kayak Tour: $36
- 2 Hours Cruise Portimão to Benagil Cave & Marinha Beach: $27
- 7 Hour Guided Sailboat Yacht Cruise Tour in Algarve: $80
- Adventure in Serra de Monchique - 4 Hours: $49
- Algarve - Exclusive horseriding in Portimao (no experience required): $54
- Algarve Coast Guided Boat Tour: $38
- Algarve Jeep Safari tours: $49
- Algarve Private Tour with Typical Lunch: $81
- Alone in Benagil, perfect pictures Kayak tour with @StarToursAlgarve: $60
- Benagil & Marinha Boat Tour: $38
- Benagil Cave Guided Kayaking Tour Caves & Secret Spots : $38
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
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
- Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41
- Friend-Guide Essaouira city tour: $42
- Discover Essaouira Full-Day Tour: $43
- Essaouira Adventure Full-Day Excursion from Marakech: $47
- From Agadir to Essaouira : Coastal Day Tour with Guide: $48
- Guided Dromedary Riding Tour: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPortimao €30Essaouira €8.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Portimao
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Portimao:
- Algarve Wine Tasting & Music Experience: $60
- Algarve Wine Tour of Two Wine Estates: $73
- Algarve wine tour of 2 wine estates and lunch at the countryside: $153
- Algarve wine tour and farmer's lunch at wine estate: $181
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Essaouira, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Portimao is in Europe and Essaouira 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 Essaouira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Essaouira 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 Portimao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portimao than you might in Essaouira.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Portimao Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Portimao or Essaouira?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Portimao. When comparing the sizes of Portimao 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.