A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Addis Ababa vs. Marrakech for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Marrakech?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Marrakech, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Marrakech?

Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.

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 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Marrakech or Addis Ababa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Marrakech is $103. 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 Addis Ababa and Marrakech in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Addis Ababa $17
    Marrakech $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Addis Ababa $34
    Marrakech $118
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Marrakech

Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa 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.

Hotels in Addis Ababa


Hotels in Marrakech


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: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices and Marrakech Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Addis Ababa $3.10
    Marrakech $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa

Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $154
  • Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
  • City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
  • Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
  • Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $23
  • Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
  • 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
  • Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech

Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Essaouira Day Trip From Marrakech With Private Transfers: $274
  • "Marrakech to Chefchaouen: Your Exclusive Private Transfer": $270
  • From Marrakech : Private Transfer to Fes : $263
  • "Marrakech to Fes: Your Private Transfer for a Smooth Journey": $260
  • Asni private transfer from Asni city to Agadir airport (AGA): $252
  • Private transfer from marrakech to casablanca airport or center city: $249
  • Marrakech To Fez Private Transfer : $247
  • Private Comfortable Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira: $238
  • Private Transfer Agadir airport - Marrakech: $238
  • Private Transfer: Marrakech to Agadir// or Agadir to Marrakech: $238
  • Private & Comfortable Transfer from Marrakech city To Essaouira (6 persons): $238
  • Private Transfer From Marrakech To Fez: $226

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Marrakech?

Prices for flights to both Marrakech and Addis Ababa 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 day
    Addis Ababa $12
    Marrakech $29
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:


  • Slice of Cake
    $0.05

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa

For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $54
  • Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
  • Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
  • Flavors of Ethiopia Explore Traditional Cooking Class : $67
  • Addis Ababa Ethiopian cooking class Airport & hotel pick up: $68
  • Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $70
  • Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $75
  • Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $76
  • Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $77
  • Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
  • Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
  • Nightlife Tour with Dinner and Live Music: $99

Typical Food Prices in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Orange Juice on the Square
    $0.33
  • Breakfast
    $1.33
  • Dates
    $0.66
  • Olives
    $1.00
  • Sandwich
    $1.43
  • Souvenir Spices
    $6.86

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Marrakesh: Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride, Dinner and Show: $9.00
  • Sunset Dinner in the Agafay Desert: $10
  • Agafay Desert Dinner, Camel Ride & Quad Biking.: $12
  • Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner Show – From Marra: $12
  • Agafay Desert Quad & Camel Rides with Dinner Show: $12
  • Marrakech Agafay Camel ride,Dinner , Fire Show: $12
  • Camel Ride in the Agafay Desert, Dinner and Fire Show: $12
  • Agafay Desert: Camel ride, dinner and fire show: $12
  • Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride with Dinner in Camp: $13
  • Morocco's Top Cooking Classes For Authentic berber Cuisine in the Atlas Mountain: $13
  • Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride and Dinner Experience: $13
  • Camel Ride at Marrakech Desert Agafy with Dinner: $13

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Addis Ababa $3.20
    Marrakech $11

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.

  • "Awash National Park Safari Experience": $280
  • 1-Day Tour Old Bridge, Monastery,WaterFalls Wildlife,Birds, : $128
  • 2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $315
  • 2 Days Gheralta Tour Hidden Churches in Northern Ethiopia: $300
  • 2-Night 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour without Flights: $300
  • 3 Days Meskel Festival Package-Addis Ababa City Tour/Debre Libanos Monastery: $256
  • 3 Days Rock Hewn Churches Cultural Tour in Lalibela: $300
  • 3-Day Wild Wonders and Nature, Awash National Park Tour: $490
  • 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $65
  • 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $42
  • 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
  • 8 Hours Tour to Taste the Authentic Flavours of Ethiopia: $200

Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Palace Tickets
    $2.21
  • Golf at Atlas Golf
    $63

Tours and Activities in Marrakech

For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 3-Day Berber Experience & Hiking in the High Atlas Mountains: $268
  • 3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Experience and Camel Trekking: $131
  • 7-Day Morocco Tour from Marrakech: $69
  • Agafay Desert Adventure Quad Camel Ride and Magical Evening: $60
  • Best Private Shopping Tour In the Souks of Marrakech: $48
  • Experience Moroccan Hammam and Massage: $119
  • Experience Spa Hammam Massage and Camel tour: $113
  • Experience the desert nomads in Marrakech!: $30
  • From Ouzoud Waterfalls Guided Tour & Boat Ride: $28
  • Full Day Guided Tour in Ouzoud Waterfalls : $30
  • Half-Day Quad Bike Experience in Marrakech: $45
  • Hot Air Balloon Adventure over Marrakesh and Atlas Mountains: $214

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Addis Ababa $2.64
    Marrakech $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:

  • Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
  • Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $65

Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:

  • Marrakech Nightlife Adventure: The Ultimate Pub Crawl: $26


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Marrakech, we can see that Marrakech is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa 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 Addis Ababa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Addis Ababa Expensive? and Is Marrakech Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Marrakech?

Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Marrakech. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa 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.