Which place is cheaper, Marrakech or Varanasi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Varanasi or Marrakech?
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 Marrakech 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 Marrakech?
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.
Marrakech
Marrakech is on of the most popular travel destinations in Morocco. It is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat and is located near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains only a few hours from the Sahara Desert. It's a beautiful city that is often referred to as the "Pink City" because of the pale pink color of many of the city's buildings. These striking colors make the city particularly beautiful during the evening hours when the low sun creates a very dramatic lighting.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVaranasi $30Marrakech $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $30, while the average daily cost in Marrakech is $69. 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 Marrakech in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVaranasi $16Marrakech $46
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVaranasi $32Marrakech $92
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Marrakech
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi or Marrakech? 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 Marrakech Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varanasi $4.94Marrakech $6.30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
-
Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.96
-
Rickshaw Ride$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Varanasi Airport: Transfer to/from Varanasi Hotels & Airport: $18
- Varanasi Airport to hotel private transfer: $18
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $30
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $21
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $12
- Spiritual Varanasi - A Most Amazing Heritage Walk with Private Transfer: $108
- Smooth transfer from Varanasi Airport to Hotel: $60
- Private Varanasi Heritage Walk with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Private Transfer Varanasi Airport (VNS) To Varanasi Hotels Drop: $12
- From Varanasi Airport Transfer: $36
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $170
- From Agra: Agra to Varanasi One Way Transfer: $177
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech
Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transfers from Marrakech to Fez (Airport or city/Door to Door): $231
- Transfert privé vers ou depuis RAK aéroport: $8.17
- Transfert Departure Marrakech City to Casablanca Airport: $265
- Transfers Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira to Marrakech: $66
- Transfers Marrakech Airport : $126
- Transfer from el Jadida to Marrakech riad or hotel or Airport : $186
- Transfer from and to Marrakech Menara airoport: $20
- Transfer from Marrakech to Imlil: Airport Transfer to Imlil - Taxi to Imlil: $66
- Transfer from Marrakech to Casa-Airport or Casa-Airport to Marrakech: $152
- Transfer from Marrakech to Agadir or from agadir to marrakech: $164
- Transfer from Marrakech city or Marrakech Airport to Essaouira: $93
- Transfer from Marrakech airport to the whole city: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Marrakech?
Prices for flights to both Marrakech 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
-
Food Meals for one dayVaranasi $7.14Marrakech $13
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dinner In Town$4.13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tests of Best Varanasi Local Food Tour With Tourist Guide: $18
- Taste of Varanasi (2 Hour Guided Street Food Tour): $22
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $40
- From Street food tour with Evening Ganga Aarti: $42
- Private Evening Rooftop Dinner: $44
- 3-hour Shopping and Street Food Tour on a tuk-tuk ride: $46
- Evening Dinner with Private Transfer: $50
- Night Boat Ride, Aarati Ceremony and Dinner: $62
- Private Evening Street Food Tour: $63
- India: Evening Ganga Aarti With Dinner and Private Transfer: $65
- Private Evening Handicraft Market Tour with Dinner: $71
- Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $100
Typical Food Prices in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Orange Juice on the Square$0.30
-
Breakfast$1.20
-
Dates$0.60
-
Olives$0.90
-
Sandwich$1.29
-
Souvenir Spices$6.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride and Dinner from Marrakech: $15
- Cooking Lesson at the Ouirgane Ecolodge with Lunch: $19
- Dinner in Agafay desert from Marrakech & camel riding: $19
- Restaurant Dinner Experience with Hotel Pickup: $21
- Dinner and show in Desert Agafay with Quad bike & Camel ride: $22
- Sunset in Agafay: Dinner, Camel, Quad-Book Adventure with Viator: $22
- Agafay desert Sunset Camel ride with Dinner Show: $23
- Magical Dinner & Agafay Desert ,Under The Stars: $24
- Marrakech Amazing Dinner Show in Agafay Desert, Sunset Camel Ride: $24
- Dinner Experience in a Moroccan Restaurant with transfer: $24
- Moroccan Cooking Class with a Local Chef: $24
- From Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner with Live Show: $25
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varanasi $10Marrakech $7.01
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Boat Ride$0.84
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Varanasi Experience 01 Night -02 Days Tour: $85
- 01 Day Private Taj Mahal Tour (Delhi- Agra - Delhi): $140
- 1 Day Ayodhya Tour from Varanasi Airport: $82
- 11 - Hours Agra Tour: Sunrise and Sunset of Taj Mahal from Delhi.: $97
- 12 Days Buddhist Tour From The Birth To Death: $1,439
- 2 Day Private Bodhgaya Tour From Varanasi: $189
- 2 Days : Varanasi Private Guided Tour With Airport Pickup: $162
- 2 Days Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $116
- 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $132
- 2 Days Varanasi tour package for first timers: $150
- 2 days Varanasi city Tour by a Vande Bharat train: $226
- 3 Days Admirable Tour in Varanasi with private tour guided: $103
Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Palace Tickets$1.99
-
Golf at Atlas Golf$56
Tours and Activities in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10 Hours tour from marrakech to ouarzazate: $44
- 3 Day Private Desert Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga Dunes With Camel Trek: $274
- 3 Days Tour - Marrakech To Fez via Sahara Desert Erg chebbi: $207
- Agafay Desert: Three Valley Guided Tour From Marrakech : $21
- Atlas Mountains &Berber family & berber village experience : $90
- Atlas Mountains Horseback Ride Day Tour From Marrakech : $50
- Atlas Mountains, Berber Villages & Waterfall Tour: $25
- Best Marrakech Private walking tour: $44
- Desert Agafay & Berber Villages Day Tour From Marrakech including Camel Ride: $49
- Desert Thrills: Quad Biking Adventures in Palmeraie Marrakech: $44
- Desert tour small group with luxury tent: $98
- Experience Moroccan Hammam and Massage: $71
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayVaranasi $7.85Marrakech $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Marrakech, we can see that Marrakech 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 Marrakech 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 Marrakech would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marrakech 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 Marrakech Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varanasi or Marrakech?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 39% larger than the population of Marrakech. When comparing the sizes of Varanasi and Marrakech, 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.