Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Toledo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Toledo or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Toledo or Essaouira, 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: Toledo or Essaouira?
Toledo
Set upon a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain lies the ancient city of Toledo. Its intricate architecture is only enriched by its profound historical background, spurring tourists from all over the world to gaze at and study the story of Toledo. It has been given many names throughout its history, including the "Imperial City" for being the main venue for Charles V, Holy Roman Empire, as well as the "City of the Three Cultures" for its historical co-existence of Christians, Muslims, and Jews. In 1986, UNESCO named Toledo a World Heritage Site due to the plethora of extensive cultural and monumental heritages. You will find that though an old city, it is just buzzing to life with things to do and places to see!
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 Adventure Tours to Spain, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, 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 dayToledo €123Essaouira €43
The average daily cost (per person) in Toledo is €123, 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 Toledo and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personToledo €66Essaouira €24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomToledo €132Essaouira €48
Compare Hotels in Toledo and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Toledo 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: Toledo Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Toledo €20Essaouira €1.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Toledo
Also for Toledo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Balloon Ride with Transfer Option from Madrid: $262
- Hot Air Balloon over Toledo with optional transfers from Madrid : $234
- Madrid: Private Airport Transfer to Toledo: $180
- Private Transfer from Toledo or Avila to MAD Airport by MiniVan: $176
- Madrid: Puy du Fou Round-Trip Transfer & Optional Ticket: $36
- From Puy du Fou Round-Trip Transfer: $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $102
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
- Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $262
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
- From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
- From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $150
- From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $123
- From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $321
- From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $70
- Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Toledo or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Toledo 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 dayToledo €39Essaouira €13
Typical Food Prices in Toledo
For Toledo, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch€11
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: $55
- Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Toledo €30Essaouira €11
Tours and Activities in Toledo
For Toledo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Toledo Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $263
- Auidio Tour - Toledo - Monuments of the 3 cultures: $6.41
- Boat cruise with guide on board + Historical City Adventure Gift: $11
- City Sightseeing Toledo Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $22
- English Tour - Toledo Complete + Visit Casa Palacio: $8.56
- Essence of Private Tour with a Local Archaeologist: $191
- Essential Toledo with monuments and optional Legends tour: $27
- From Madrid: Avila, Segovia & Toledo Private Tour: $812
- From Madrid: Toledo Cathedral & Jewish Quarter Half-Day Tour: $56
- Full-Day Private Toledo Tour from Madrid With Driver & Guide: $727
- Guided tour of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez: $13
- Guided tour of the Toledo Cathedral (Input included): $24
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.: $70
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
- Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
- Essaouira : Half-day E-Experience from Mountains to Sea: $129
- Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $65
- Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $65
- 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
- 3-Hour Quad Bike Tour: $87
- Area Highlights 3 hours E-Bike Tour: $61
- Atlantic Dune Buggy Adventure: $206
- Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayToledo €19Essaouira €8.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Toledo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toledo:
- From Madrid: Toledo Tour with Wine Tasting and 7 Monuments: $58
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Toledo and Essaouira, we can see that Toledo is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Toledo 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 Toledo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Toledo 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 Toledo Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Toledo or Essaouira?
Toledo has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Toledo 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.