Which place is cheaper, Merzouga 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.
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Should you visit Addis Ababa or Merzouga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Merzouga, 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 Merzouga?
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.
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 Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $32Merzouga $24
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $24. 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 Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $17Merzouga $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $34Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa 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: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.10Merzouga -
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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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:
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $24
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $30
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $154
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga 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
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Food Meals for one dayAddis Ababa $12Merzouga $11
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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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
- Ethiopian cooking class: $68
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $71
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- Berber Pizza Cooking Class: $36
- Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $46
- Desert excursion with camel trek into the camp Dinner breakfast : $50
- From 1 Night in the luxury camp. Camel ride and dinner: $60
- Merzouga Luxury AC Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $65
- Sunset With Dinner And Berber Music in Merzouga Desert With 4WD : $65
- 5 Hour Sunset Tour with Camel Ride and Dinner In Desert: $77
- Private Trip By Jeep In Merzouga Desert, Lunch with Berber Pizza: $90
- Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
- Merzouga Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour: $143
- 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.20Merzouga -
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Tour: $30
- 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
- Sightseeing Walking Tour: $40
- Mercato Market & National museum Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $40
- Open-bus Tour and Cycling: $41
- Local Food Open Market, City Tours & More.: $42
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $42
- Mercato Market Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $43
- Entoto hill and Mercato Market layover tour: $45
- Addis Ababa DayTours with Hotel/Airport pick up and drop off: $45
- Layover in Addis: Tailored Tours for Transit Passengers: $45
- Addis City Tour with Airport pick-up and drop off.: $46
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- 3 hour Jeep Tour in Merzouga Desert : $48
- Berber Experience Private Sahara Desert Day Trip: $88
- Overnight Sahara Tours luxury camp : $71
- Private Desert Tour and Visit to Nomadic Families: $108
- 1 Hour Merzouga Buggy Desert Tour: $143
- 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Buggy Experience: $154
- 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp : $66
- 1 hour Quad in the Sahara: Merzouga Off Roading Experience: Nature & Wildlife: $81
- 2 days tour in Merzouga Erg Chabbi with 4WD Jeep and Camel Treck : $180
- 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $116
- 2-Days Merzouga tour from Errachidia: $200
- 3 Days Tour From Marrakech To Sahara Desert Of Merzouga: $118
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.64Merzouga -
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Merzouga, we can see that Addis Ababa 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 Addis Ababa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Addis Ababa 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 Addis Ababa 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.