Which place is cheaper, Meknes or Zagora?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zagora or Meknes?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Zagora or Meknes? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Zagora or Meknes?
Zagora
A small town in southern Morocco, Zagora is a popular base camp for excursions on foot, by camel, or four wheel drive vehicles into the surrounding desert. One of the most famous and historic treks is the ancient caravan route to Timbuktu, marked by a famous sign at the end of town - indicating a journey of "52 days" by camel.
Meknes
So you love a bustling nightlife with fine restaurants and meaningful historical buildings, but you hate all the tourists. Well, it maybe time to visit Meknes, Morocco. Since most travelers head straight to Fez, that leaves Meknes relatively untouched and remains free of the usual hassles that plague other major destinations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZagora $52Meknes $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Zagora is $52, while the average daily cost in Meknes is $48. 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 Zagora and Meknes in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZagora $37Meknes $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZagora $74Meknes $54
Compare Hotels in Zagora and Meknes
Looking for a hotel in Zagora or Meknes? 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: Zagora Hotel Prices and Meknes Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zagora $1.47Meknes $1.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagora
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagora:
- Airport Private Transfer: $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Meknes
Also for Meknes, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Meknes to Fez: $98
- Private Transfer From Fez To Meknes: $98
- Private Transfer from fez to Rabat or from Rabat to Fes: $143
Is it cheaper to fly into Zagora or Meknes?
Prices for flights to both Meknes and Zagora 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 dayZagora $13Meknes $15
Typical Food Prices in Meknes
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Meknes:
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Popcorn$0.21
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Spices$2.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Meknes
For Meknes, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fes Medina :Grocery shopping & cooking Class with Fatima: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zagora $2.95Meknes $3.67
Tours and Activities in Zagora
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zagora are as follows:
- 2 Day Zagora Desert and Atlas Mountains Tour: $93
- 2 Days Tour to Zagora Desert with sunset from Marrakech: $85
- 2 days tour from Zagora to Erg Chegaga: $139
- 2-Day Sahara Adventure to Zagora and Ait Ben Haddou: $105
- From Agadir 4 Days 3 nights Sahara Tour to Marrakeche: $1,006
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $361
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $372
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $387
- From 2-Day Desert Tour to Erg Chegaga: $316
- Private Day Camel Trekking Tour in Draa Valley from Zagora: $219
- Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 (All-inclusive) 2-Days: $167
- Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 and camel ride : $109
Tours and Activities in Meknes
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Meknes.
- Fes to Volubilis via Meknes and Moulay Idriss Day Tour: $17
- From Fez: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes Full Day Tour: $18
- From Rabat: Volubilis and Meknes Full-day Tour: $265
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZagora -Meknes $2.71
Typical Alcohol Prices in Meknes
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Meknes:
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Bottle of Wine$4.74
When comparing the travel costs between Zagora and Meknes, we can see that Zagora is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zagora Expensive? and Is Meknes Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zagora or Meknes?
Meknes has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zagora. When comparing the sizes of Zagora and Meknes, 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.