Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Zanzibar?
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 Zanzibar or Merzouga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Zanzibar and Merzouga 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: Zanzibar or Merzouga?
Zanzibar
Just off the coast of Tanzania lies an entrancing archipelago known as Zanzibar. This gorgeous string of islands is the land of sultans, palaces beaches and spice-filled markets. Once an important trading center, many restorations have been done in recent years to restore Zanzibar to its ancient grandeur - earning its capital city UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000.
Merzouga
Let's say you want to truly get away. I don't mean putting your ear buds in on some beach with a stronger on the next chair over. I mean really get away, and find yourself deserted. Merzouga, Morocco lets you do just that. This land of sand dune after sand dune is ideal for anyone yearning to ride a camel to the ends of civilization. And you'll find plenty of options to get here with a tour, or even on your own.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $61Merzouga $23
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $61, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $23. 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 Zanzibar and Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $23Merzouga $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $46Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Merzouga? 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: Zanzibar Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Merzouga -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Private Airport transfers from any hotel in Zanzibar (Departures): $13
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer & Taxi service anywhere : $14
- Prison Island Adventure Half Day Tour With Transfer - Zanzibar: $15
- Prison Island Half Day Sea Trip with Transfers - Zanzibar: $15
- Prison Island Half-Day Excursion with Transfer Service - Zanzibar: $15
- Prison Island Experience Half Day Trip With Transfer - Zanzibar: $15
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels : $16
- Prison Island Experience Half Day Tour With Transfer - Zanzibar: $17
- Guided Tour of Stone Town's Historic Sites + Transfer – Zanzibar: $19
- Airport Transfer in Zanzibar for Arrivals: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer from Abeid Amani Karume Airport to Zanzibar: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:
- 1 way Errachidia airport transfer: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Zanzibar 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 dayZanzibar $27Merzouga $11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Half-Day Kuza Cave Swimming Adventure and Cooking Class: $13
- Zanzibar Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $40
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Zanzibar Cooking Class & Spice Tour : $59
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Zanzibar pizza making & wine tasting: $65
- Traditional Zanzibar Cooking Class including Spice Tour: $68
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour: $75
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour and Cooking Class With Lunch: $80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- Merzouga Luxury AC Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $35
- Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $43
- 1-Night in Desert Camp With Dinner & camel ride: $56
- From 1 Night in the luxury camp. Camel ride and dinner: $58
- Overnight Stay in Luxury Desert Tent with Dinner: $67
- Moroccan Berber Pizza Cooking Class in Khamelia: $72
- Day Trip By Camels In Erg Chebbi Dunes, Lunch With Berber Pizza: $81
- Overnight in Desert Camp Camel Ride, Dinner & Show: $83
- 1-Night in the luxury camp. camel ride & Dinner: $86
- Overnight in Luxury camp with camels dinner: $91
- Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
- Merzouga Desert Tour, Quad Sandboarding Camel Ride & Dinner: $141
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $12Merzouga -
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Stone Town Historical Cultural Walking Guided Tour: $14
- Spice Tour Zanzibar : $15
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $19
- Easy Stone Town Tour: $20
- Stone Town Cultural and Historical Walking Experience – Zanzibar: $20
- Stone Town tour: $20
- Fruits & Spices Adventure : $21
- Zanzibar Stone Town Tour: Explore Rich History and Hidden Wonders: $22
- Private Walking Tour Of Stone Town : $23
- Private Stone Town City Tour Zanzibar : $25
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $25
- City tours zanzibar : $25
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- Camel Ride Experience: $29
- Merzouga Sightseeing Tour by Jeep: $38
- ATV Quad bikes experience & sandboarding : $40
- Merzouga 4x4 Desert Tour - 4WD Excursion Erg Chebbi: $40
- Merzouga ATV Quad Desert Tours: $45
- Merzouga Desert Excursion - Sahara 4x4 Adventure: $46
- Merzouga Desert Quad bike Adventure with Sand boarding: $46
- Camel ride experience : $46
- Merzouga 4x4 Desert Excursion - Sahara 4WD Adventure: $46
- Merzouga Quad and Buggy Desert Tour: $52
- Merzouga : Adventure Quad Bike Safari, & Sandboarding: $55
- Merzouga 4X4 Half-Day Tour with Lunch: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.58Merzouga -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Merzouga, we can see that Zanzibar is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Merzouga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merzouga 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 Zanzibar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zanzibar than you might in Merzouga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zanzibar Expensive? and Is Merzouga Expensive?.
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.