Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Ephesus?
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 Ephesus or Merzouga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus 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: Ephesus or Merzouga?
Ephesus
The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).
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 Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Ephesus Prices
Turkey PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $131Merzouga $24
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $131, 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 Ephesus and Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $55Merzouga $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $110Merzouga $22
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus 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: Ephesus Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $40Merzouga -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kusadasi Boat Trip With Lunch And Hotel Transfer: $40
- Kusadasi Half Day Quad Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
- Kusadasi Buggy Car Safari With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $50
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $63
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi Hotels: $63
- Kusadasi Horse Riding Beach and Forest options with Transfer : $66
- Scuba Diving Experience in Kusadasi with Instructor and Transfer: $67
- Transfer: $72
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Izmir Airport (ADB): $74
- Ephesus Private Guided Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $80
- Private Guided Ephesus Tour with Cruise port Transfers: $80
- Kusadasi Samos Ferry Trip With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Ephesus 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 dayEphesus $45Merzouga $11
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches$0.12
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Dessert$0.13
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)$0.46
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Snacks$0.19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus
For Ephesus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $46Merzouga -
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- Kusadasi Legacy of the Ottomans: Exploration Game and Tour: $5.96
- Skip-the-Line Ephesus Tour with Lunch: $7.17
- SKIP-THE-LINE: BEST-SELLER PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR for Cruise Guests: $9.56
- Ephesus and Sirince Village Tour For Cruisers: $9.90
- Mini Group Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour (Max. 10 guests): $9.90
- "private Ephesus tours "" wholesaler Shop Tours ""from cruise port Kusadasi ": $10
- For Cruisers: Religious Ephesus Shore Excursion From Kusadasi Port: $11
- For Cruisers: Best of Ephesus & Shopping Tour: $11
- Private Ephesus Tour for Cruiser with Ticket and Lunch Options: $11
- PRIVATE or SHARED: Ephesus & Mary's House Tour ENTRY FEES & LUNCH: $11
- For Cruisers: Hidden Sights of Ephesus Tour: $11
- Skip the Line: Ephesus Tour For Cruise Guest : $12
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $12Merzouga -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:
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Beer$0.10
Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus
Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- PRIVATE & GROUP: SKIP-THE-LINE EPHESUS with Wine Tasting & Lunch: $12
- SKIP-THE-LINE Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $18
- POTTERY PAINTING & WINE TASTING Tour from Kusadasi Port: $49
- Kusadasi Shore Excursions Ephesus and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus Shore Excursion with Wine Tasting and Lunch: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ephesus and Merzouga, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ephesus 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 Ephesus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ephesus 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 Ephesus 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.