A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pune vs. Merzouga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pune or Merzouga?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pune or Merzouga, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Pune or Merzouga?

Pune

Located in Maharashtra, Pune is the state's second largest city and cultural capital. Not only is it a hub for museums, temples, beaches, and scenic overlooks, but it also has a thriving nightlife and general atmosphere due to the student population.

Merzouga

Let's say you want to truly get away. I don't mean putting your ear buds in on some beach with a stronger on the next chair over. I mean really get away, and find yourself deserted. Merzouga, Morocco lets you do just that. This land of sand dune after sand dune is ideal for anyone yearning to ride a camel to the ends of civilization. And you'll find plenty of options to get here with a tour, or even on your own.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in India, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Pune?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pune is $51, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $17. 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 Pune and Merzouga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pune $23
    Merzouga $10
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pune $46
    Merzouga $20
Compare Hotels in Pune and Merzouga

Looking for a hotel in Pune or Merzouga? 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 Pune


Hotels in Merzouga


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: Pune Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pune $13
    Merzouga -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pune

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

  • Affordable transfer from Pune to Mumbai Airport: $28
  • Pune Airport Transfer: $30
  • Private Transfer from Pune (PNQ) Airport to Pune City: $37
  • Private Transfer from Pune to Shirdi: $42
  • Simon Cabaret Show in Phuket including Return Transfer: $48
  • Mumbai-Pune Transfer: $68

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:

  • 1 way transfer: $62

Is it cheaper to fly into Pune or Merzouga?

Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Pune 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
    Pune $18
    Merzouga $5.92

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pune

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

  • Guided Street Food Tour with Cultural Charms of Pune: $22
  • Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $32
  • Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $33
  • Coral Island, Promthep Cape & Sunset Dinner with Power Catamaran: $52
  • Organic Thai cooking class: $67

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga

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

  • One Night in Private Camp in the Sahara Desert in Merzouga with Dinner: $65
  • Sunset With Dinner And Berber Music in Merzouga Desert With 4WD : $65
  • 1-Night in the luxury camp: camel ride & Dinner: $74
  • Day Trip By Camels In Erg Chebbi Dunes, Lunch With Berber Pizza: $77
  • 5 Hour Sunset Tour with Camel Ride and Dinner In Desert: $82
  • Merzouga Orange Dunes ATV Sandsurf Camels with 5 Stars Dinner: $86
  • Camel trek with 1 Night in Luxury camp with Dinner+ Sundbording: $87
  • Visit The Nomads, Gnawa Music, Rally In Dunes, Berber Pizza : $98
  • Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
  • Overnight in Luxury Camp With camel Trek & Dinner: $108
  • From Fes: 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip w/Luxury Tent & Dinner: $121
  • From Fes: 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip(Luxury Tent & Dinner): $124

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pune $17
    Merzouga -

Tours and Activities in Pune

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

  • Pune Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.63
  • Pune Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.71
  • Skip the Line: Meher Retreat Day Picnic Ticket, Near Pune: $12
  • Experience Spiritual Culture in Pune with a local - A Unique 2 Hrs Walking Tour: $13
  • Shaniwar Wada Walking Tour: $13
  • Night Walk Tour Pune: $13
  • Walking Tour of Pune (2 Hours Guided Walk): $14
  • Experience Spiritual Culture in Pune with a local - 2 Hours: $17
  • Night Walk Tour Pune (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
  • Guided Tour to Shaniwar Wada Fort and Peshwas Legacy: $18
  • Pune Walking Tour with a Punekar: $21
  • Private Walking Tour & Food tasting with a Local: $22

Tours and Activities in Merzouga

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

  • Overnight in Desert Camp Berber Experience in Merzouga Desert & Camel Ride: $82
  • Private Adventure to Merzouga Risani from Erfoud : $141
  • Private Desert Tour and Visit to Nomadic Families: $98
  • 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Buggy Experience: $139
  • 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Quad Biking Tour & Sandboarding: $64
  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp : $60
  • 1/2 day 4x4 tour of Erg Chebbi: $82
  • 2 Hours Merzouga Desert Quad Bike Adventure: $114
  • 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $112
  • 2-Day Desert Tour with Return to Marrakech: $183
  • 3 Days Tour From Marrakech To Sahara Desert Of Merzouga: $87
  • 3 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga with Luxury Camp: $218

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pune $15
    Merzouga -

Sample the Local Flavors in Pune

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Pune:

  • Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $38
  • Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $39


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

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