Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Antsiranana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Antsiranana or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Antsiranana or Essaouira, 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: Antsiranana or Essaouira?
Antsiranana
Antsiranana is the capital of Madagascar's northernmost province, Diana, and until 1975 it was known as Diego Suarez. The city has a port that has become a site for naval repairs and is the largest in the entire Indian Ocean. The port is mainly used for tinned fish and bottled drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The city has a population of a little over 100,000. The French used the city as a military base after independence from 1960 until 1973, after the socialist revolution.
Essaouira
Essaouira is a beautiful beach town on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The city has a pleasant medina that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site and is interesting to explore. It's an 18th century fortified town with a lot of character and charm. The city is rich and culture and you'll find a handful of art galleries throughout the town. The city is also a gathering place for artists and musicians, particularly during the Gnaoua Festival of World Music, which takes place the last week of June. This event attracts about 450,000 visitors yearly.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Madagascar, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
-
Antsiranana Prices
Madagascar PricesEssaouira Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAntsiranana $116Essaouira $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Antsiranana is $116, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $62. 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 Antsiranana and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntsiranana $43Essaouira $29
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntsiranana $86Essaouira $58
Compare Hotels in Antsiranana and Essaouira
Looking for a hotel in Antsiranana or Essaouira? 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: Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antsiranana $14Essaouira $2.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech : $114
- Transfer from Essaouira to your Riad or Hotel in Marrakech: $179
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $127
- Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $127
- Transfer Airport Essaouira Mogador : $24
- Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $114
- Private transfer Essaouira to Marrakech or Marrakech / essaouira : $119
- Private Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira 1 to 4 people: $109
- Private Transfer Essaouira-Essaouira Airport: $23
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Airport : $40
- Private Transfer from or to Essaouira Aéroport : $36
- Essaouira P5: Quad EN route DE la mer (free transfer): $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Antsiranana or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Antsiranana 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 dayAntsiranana $61Essaouira $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antsiranana
For Antsiranana, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: COOKING CLASS: $79
- MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: STREETFOOD TOUR: $80
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
-
Baklava$1.55
-
Breakfast Crepes$0.55
-
Fish for Lunch$17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
- Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience: $42
- Essaouira Sunset Experience, Waterfall Walk & Romantic Dinner: $43
- l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $71
- Essaouira Food Tour: $88
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $220
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Antsiranana $19Essaouira $13
Tours and Activities in Antsiranana
For Antsiranana, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Day tour in Amber Mountain (6 to 8 hour): $291
- Diego Suarez (Antsiranana): Red Tsingy Half-Day Tour: $164
- MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: CITY TOUR: $66
- Montagne d'Ambre: excursions for cruise ships in Antsiranana: $218
- Visit the Tsingy rouge: cruise ship excursions in Antsiranana: $158
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
- Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $76
- 1 Day Horseback Riding Tour with Overnight Stay in Berber Tent: $298
- 1 Hour Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Forest Beach: $42
- 1-Day Quad Adventure in Essaouira near Marrakech: $211
- 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $54
- 3-Hour Quad Biking Adventure in Essaouira: $89
- Authentic Berber Tour near Essaouira – Fishing,Tagine & Waterfall: $71
- Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $62
- Day Tour on Dromedary and Overnight Stay Near Essaouira Morocco: $298
- Discovery Tour around Essaouira by Electric Motorcycle: $115
- Essaouira Dar Sultan Palace Horseback Tour Experience: $54
- Essaouira Donkey Tours : $30
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAntsiranana $10Essaouira $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antsiranana and Essaouira, we can see that Antsiranana is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Essaouira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Essaouira 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 Antsiranana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antsiranana than you might in Essaouira.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Antsiranana Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antsiranana or Essaouira?
Antsiranana has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of Essaouira. When comparing the sizes of Antsiranana and Essaouira, 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.