A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bodrum vs. Merzouga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bodrum 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 Bodrum 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: Bodrum or Merzouga?

Bodrum

Bodrum is a city on the Bodrum Peninsula, stretching from Turkey's southwest coast into the Aegean Sea. The city features twin bays with views of Bodrum Castle. This medieval fortress was built partly with stones from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, completed in the 4th century B.C. The city is also a gateway for nearby beach towns and resorts. Although more than a million tourists flock to its beaches, boutique hotels, trendy restaurants, and clubs each summer, the town of Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) never seems to lose its cool. More than any other Turkish seaside getaway, it has an enigmatic elegance that pervades it. The evocative castle and the ancient ruins around town also help keep Bodrum a discerning step above the rest.

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 Anzac Day Tours in Turkey, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Turkey, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Bodrum?

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 Bodrum is $86, 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 Bodrum and Merzouga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bodrum $38
    Merzouga $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bodrum $76
    Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Bodrum and Merzouga

Looking for a hotel in Bodrum 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.

Hotels in Bodrum


Hotels in Merzouga


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: Bodrum Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bodrum $19
    Merzouga -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodrum

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

  • Comfortable Turkish Bath and Spa, from Bodrum include Transfers: $23
  • Authentic Turkish Hamam and Spa Unforgettable Ritual WithTransfer: $24
  • From Ferry Transfer to Kos: $28
  • Orak Island Boat Trip with Lunch & Optional Transfer: $28
  • İzmir Airport - Kuşadası / İzmir Center : Private Transfer: $31
  • Turkish Bath and Spa Experience with Hotel Transfers: $37
  • From Private Village Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $41
  • Bodrum Hotel to Bodrum Airport private Transfer w local Company: $42
  • Full-Day Jeep Safari with Lunch and Hotel Transfer: $44
  • Private Departure Transfer: Central Bodrum or Bodrum Peninsula Hotels to Bodrum Airport: $45
  • Bodrum Kos Ferry Trip With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $46
  • Private Bodrum Airport Transfer in Turkiye: $48

Is it cheaper to fly into Bodrum or Merzouga?

Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Bodrum 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
    Bodrum $33
    Merzouga $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bodrum

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

  • Cooking Class in Authentic Etrim Village: $59
  • Turkish Cooking Class in a Local Home: $70
  • Market Visit and Cooking Class: $152
  • Private Sunset Boat Tour in Bodrum With Dinner: $201
  • Food and Wine pairing Dinner at Karnas Vineyards Bodrum: $208
  • 3-Hour Private Sunset Boat Tour With Dinner in Bodrum: $242
  • Private Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner: $388
  • From Private Sunset Boat Tour with Dinner & Swimming: $410
  • Private Sunset Yacht Tour with light Dinner: $528

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.

  • Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $47
  • From 1 Night in the luxury camp. Camel ride and dinner: $60
  • Cooking class in Merzouga Make Berber Madfouna in Sand: $60
  • Merzouga Luxury AC Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $66
  • Sunset With Dinner And Berber Music in Merzouga Desert With 4WD : $66
  • 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
  • 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bodrum $25
    Merzouga -

Tours and Activities in Bodrum

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

  • Turkish Bath Hamam Spa Experience: $18
  • Bodrum Boat Tour with Lunch: Beaches and Islands: $28
  • Orak Island Boat Tour with Swim Stops and Lunch: $29
  • Karaada Boat Cruise with Lunch: $29
  • Boat Tour to Orak Island: $33
  • Bodrum Orak Island Boat Cruise with Lunch and Swimming: $33
  • Pirate Boat Adventure Sail Swim and Party in Bodrum: $33
  • Cleopatra Island Tour with Lunch and Swimming Stops: $34
  • Traditional Turkish Hammam Experience: $35
  • Bodrum Cleopatra & Orak Island Mix Tour by Boat: $36
  • Bodrum Aquarium Bay Tour with Lunch & Swimming Stops: $37
  • Bodrum Aquarium Bay Boat Tour with Swimming Stops: $38

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 : $119
  • Overnight Sahara Tours luxury camp : $72
  • Private Desert Tour and Visit to Nomadic Families: $108
  • 1 Hour Merzouga Buggy Desert Tour: $143
  • 1 Hour Merzouga Desert Buggy Experience: $153
  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp : $66
  • 1 hour Quad in the Sahara: Merzouga Off Roading Experience: Nature & Wildlife: $82
  • 2 days tour in Merzouga Erg Chabbi with 4WD Jeep and Camel Treck : $179
  • 2 hours Merzouga Dunes ATV Rental - Desert Quad Biking Tour: $116
  • 2-Days Merzouga tour from Errachidia: $200
  • 2-Night Desert Camp Experience with Jeep Tour in Merzouga: $140
  • 3 Days Tour From Marrakech To Sahara Desert Of Merzouga: $118

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bodrum $11
    Merzouga -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bodrum and Merzouga, we can see that Bodrum is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bodrum is in Europe and Merzouga is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Bodrum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bodrum 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 Bodrum Expensive? and Is Merzouga Expensive?.