Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Tangier?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tangier 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 Tangier 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: Tangier or Essaouira?
Tangier
Welcome to the gateway to Africa. Sitting on the coast of the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier, Morocco has historically served as the meeting point of the Mediterranean and Africa.
After World War II, this city became a destination for eccentric foreigners, artists, spies and hippies. After that, the city was neglected and gained a horrible reputation for the hustlers cheating visitors left and right.
In 1999 Morocco saw the beginning of a new monarch who was more progressive with his vision for tourism. This message lit a fire under Tangier, helping the people see the amazing potential in their great city. They built a new port, a new business district and revamped the airport. The beaches and streets have been cleaned up of trash and hustlers and there's a sudden surge in cultural activities.
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 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, The Best 2-Week Tours in Morocco, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTangier $61Essaouira $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Tangier is $61, 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 Tangier and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTangier $23Essaouira $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTangier $46Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Tangier and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Tangier 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: Tangier Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tangier $23Essaouira $1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tangier
Also for Tangier, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Tangier to Marrakesh: $807
- Transfer from Tangier to Nador: $623
- Transfer from Tangier to Casablanca: $400
- Vip Transfer . Tanger - Casablanca: $300
- Door to door transfer from Tangier to Fes: $289
- Private Transfer from Asilah to Rabat (RBA) Airport: $271
- Private Transfer from Tarifa to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $261
- From Transfer to Fez via Chefchaouen and Volubilis: $247
- Transfers From Tangier To Marrakech: $243
- Transfer from Tangier to Kenitra: $239
- Luxury transfer from Tangier to Tamuda bay or vice versa: $231
- Casablanca Airport Arrival To Tanger Private Transfer: $218
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $319
- Transfer Essaouira Casablanca - Pivarte Casablanca to Essaouira: $283
- Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $261
- Transfert Essaouira to Casablanca/Pivarte Casablanc to Essaouira : $239
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Taroudant: $217
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Casablanca: $216
- Transfer from Essaouira to your Riad or Hotel in Marrakech: $163
- Transfert Essaouira to Agadir - Private Agadir to Essaouira : $163
- From Agadir or Taghazout Area: Private Transfer to Essaouira: $160
- Essaouira : Private Transfer from or to Agafay Desert: $154
- From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $149
- Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $138
Is it cheaper to fly into Tangier or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Tangier 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 dayTangier $20Essaouira $14
Typical Food Prices in Tangier
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tangier:
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Fruit & Yogurt$1.69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tangier
For Tangier, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tangier Private Food Tour with Local Guide: $30
- Tangier Private Cooking Class With a Local Family: $52
- 3 Hour Private Moroccan Food Tour in Tanger : $65
- Tangier Food Tour with a certified guide!: $70
- Morocco Food Cooking Class and Tangier City Tour: $70
- Tangier food tour : $70
- Tangier Food Tour with a certified local guide!: $74
- Moroccan 3-in-1 Cooking Experience: $74
- Inclusive Beach Camel Ride, Cap Spartel, Hercules & Full Dinner: $80
- Moroccan Royal Couscous Cooking Experience: $90
- Tangier Cooking Class: $96
- Camel ride on Achakar beach, panoramic sunset and dinner: $103
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.40
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Breakfast Crepes$0.50
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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 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.Tangier $20Essaouira $12
Tours and Activities in Tangier
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tangier.
- 3-Hour Private Enchanting Tangier Coastal Adventure: $69
- Highlights of Tangier Half Day Tour: $87
- Luxury Tangier private Day Tour from Tarifa Spain All inclusive : $249
- Private Guided Food Experience Tour in Medina of Tangier: $76
- Private LuxuryTour of Tangier for 4hours: $76
- Tangier Private Tour from Tarifa Ferry & Lunch Included : $208
- Tangier private customized tour & camel ride experience : $101
- The Best of Tangier Walking Tour : $208
- 2 Days Chefchaouen and Tangier Tour from Casablanca: $545
- 2 Days Chefchaouen and Tangier Tour from Casablanca: $510
- 2 Days Luxury Tour to Merzouga Desert from Fez with Small Group: $249
- 2 Days Tour of Tangier & Chefchaouen JC Private Tours: $140
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $69
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $56
- Discover Essaouira Full-Day Tour: $43
- Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
- Essaouira : Half-day E-Experience from Mountains to Sea: $130
- Essaouira Adventure Full-Day Excursion from Marakech: $47
- Essaouira Exclusive Dune Buggy Adventure: $163
- Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $65
- Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $65
- Essaouira Tour - Half day visit to berber market : $56
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTangier $11Essaouira $9.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tangier and Essaouira, we can see that Tangier is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Tangier would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tangier 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 Tangier Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tangier or Essaouira?
Tangier has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Tangier 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.