Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Varanasi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Varanasi 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 Varanasi 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: Varanasi or Essaouira?
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
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 Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
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Varanasi Prices
India PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVaranasi $31Essaouira $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $31, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $60. 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 Varanasi and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVaranasi $14Essaouira $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVaranasi $28Essaouira $56
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi 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: Varanasi Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varanasi $4.34Essaouira $2.14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.84
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Rickshaw Ride$0.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Agra: One-Way Private Transfer to Varanasi: $166
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $160
- Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including Hotel transfers: $69
- Private transfer from Varanasi to Allahabad: $67
- Private Car Airport Transfer from Hotel in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram: $55
- Private Transfer from Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport to Varanasi: $44
- Private Transfer from Varanasi to Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport: $44
- Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $34
- Varanasi - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $32
- Private Departure Transfer from Varanasi Hotel to Airport: $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- private transfer essaouira to casablanca or casablanca-essaouira: $286
- Transferts Marrakech à Essaouira ou Essaouira à Marrakech: $98
- Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech: $112
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $125
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech: $117
- Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira: $117
- Private transfer Essaouira Taroudant.: $198
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira 1 to 4 people: $109
- Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport: $136
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Agadir: $128
- Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $23
- From Agadir : Day in Essaouira with Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Varanasi 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 dayVaranasi $11Essaouira $25
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town$3.62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class with Sona: $29
- 3-hour street food tour: $33
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Varanasi Bliss: Private Food Tour, Boat Ride & Ganga Aarti: $62
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
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Baklava$1.50
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Breakfast Crepes$0.53
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Fish for Lunch$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner: $47
- Moroccan cooking class in Essaouira city: $52
- Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience: $52
- Sidi Kaouki Sunset Walk and Berber Tent Dinner by Atlantic: $52
- Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience: $58
- Essaouira Family Dinner Experience: $65
- Essaouira Street Food Tour: $69
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $70
- Essaouira Walking Food Tour: $70
- Essaouira Cooking Class: $76
- 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $213
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $216
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varanasi $9.20Essaouira $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride$0.73
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 03 Day Spiritual Tour: Kashi Vishwanath,Ganga Aarti Sarnath”: $266
- 08 Hours : Private - Full Day City Tour Of Delhi: $53
- 08 Hours : Private Full Day City Tour of Jaipur: $90
- 11 - Hours Agra Tour: Sunrise and Sunset of Taj Mahal from Delhi.: $100
- 2 Day Private Mystical Varanasi Tour: $43
- 2 Days Varanasi tour package for first timers: $135
- 2-Day Private Varanasi Tour Including Sunrise & Sunset Boat Ride: $188
- 3 Days Admirable Tour in Varanasi with private tour guided: $118
- 3 Days Private Enchanting Varanasi Tour: $109
- 3 Hour Private Sunrise Boat Tour in Varnavasi: $155
- 3 Hour Walking Tour of Buddhism in Sarnath: $32
- 3 Hour Yoga Experience on the Ghats in Varanasi: $96
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- 1 Day Horseback Riding Tour with Overnight Stay in Berber Tent: $292
- 1 Hour Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira desert: $34
- 1-Day Quad Adventure in Essaouira near Marrakech: $206
- 1-hour buggy tour in Essaouira desert (2 places/buggy): $77
- 2 – Hours Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Desert with Moroccan Tea: $57
- 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $52
- 2-Hours Buggy Adventure in Essaouira desert (2 places per buggy): $97
- 2-hour quad adventure between beach and dunes: $58
- 2H Buggy Adventure in Essaouira beaches ́Dunes & Forest Ride: $157
- 3-Days Desert Tour From Fes to Marrakech: $198
- 3H Buggy Adventure – Dunes, Ocean & Sunset Ride: $232
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVaranasi $6.89Essaouira $9.82
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Essaouira, we can see that Essaouira is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Varanasi is in Asia 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 Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Essaouira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Essaouira than you might in Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Varanasi Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varanasi or Essaouira?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Varanasi 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.