Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Varanasi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Varanasi or Ouarzazate?
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 Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate?
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.
Ouarzazate
Morocco can be quite an energetic country, but if you're looking for more of a quiet getaway, consider Ouarzazate. Small by Moroccan standards, this town is built up mostly around a main street – the Avenue Mohammad V. Ouarzazate. The name "Ouarzazate" comes from the Berber language meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." It was once a crossroad for a African traders traveling to northern cities in Morocco and Europe. Today, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara, and its central location serves as a good home base touring the rest of Morocco.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVaranasi $30Ouarzazate $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $30, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $42. 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 Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVaranasi $16Ouarzazate $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVaranasi $32Ouarzazate $42
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi or Ouarzazate? 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 Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varanasi $4.94Ouarzazate $3.39
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$0.96
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Rickshaw Ride$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $34
- From Agra: Agra to Varanasi One Way Transfer: $177
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $170
- From Varanasi Airport Transfer: $36
- Private Transfer Varanasi Airport (VNS) To Varanasi Hotels Drop: $12
- Private Varanasi Heritage Walk with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Smooth transfer from Varanasi Airport to Hotel: $60
- Spiritual Varanasi - A Most Amazing Heritage Walk with Private Transfer: $108
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $12
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $21
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $30
- Varanasi Airport to hotel private transfer: $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $187
- Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $310
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
- Ouarzazate Airport transfer: $22
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate 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 $7.14Ouarzazate $16
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$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 Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
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Dinner for Two$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ouarzazate.
- Private Berber Cooking Class at Fint Oasis with Lunch: $33
- Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varanasi $10Ouarzazate $11
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$0.84
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Audio Guided Walking Tour of Banaras Ghats, Varanasi: $6.12
- Varanasi Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.63
- Sarnath Audio Tour on HopOn India App – Land of Buddha's First Sermon, Varanasi: $7.66
- Spiritual and Heritage Walking Tour in Varanasi: $8.60
- Varanasi's Spiritual & heritage walking tour: $11
- Varanasi:- Morning Varanasi Short Tour with Boat Ride: $11
- Varanasi Walking Tour : $12
- Spiritual Tour in Varanasi with a local- Experience true essence of spirituality: $12
- Temple Walk Tour Varanasi: $12
- Ghats of Varanasi Morning Walking Tour: $12
- Vibrant Markets of Varanasi (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage Kashi Photography Tour (2 Hours guided walk): $13
Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate
Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
- 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $126
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
- 4 day Fantastic Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech via desert: $466
- 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $1,514
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
- Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,086
- Desert by Quad: 5 Days of Pure Adventure from Ouarzazate: $2,897
- Experience of kasbah ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate city: $131
- Fez to Merzouga & Marrakech Combined 3 Day Desert Tour: $214
- From Agadir : 4-Day Private Desert Tour To Zagora & Merzouga: $574
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $384
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVaranasi $7.85Ouarzazate -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Ouarzazate, we can see that Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varanasi or Ouarzazate?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Varanasi and Ouarzazate, 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.