A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Essaouira vs. Positano for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Essaouira or Positano?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Essaouira and Positano can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Essaouira or Positano?

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.

Positano

Located on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy, Positano is a very scenic town that offers spectacular coastal views. The town sits on the edge of a hill and flows down toward the sea. Because of its dramatic beauty, Positano attracts thousands of visitors year around.

The town dates back to medieval times when it was a port for the Amalfi Republic. It thrived throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but by the mid-nineteenth century its prosperity was falling. During those times more than half of the population left, migrating predominantly to America. During the 1950s the town gained popularity as a tourist destination, in part because of John Steinbeck's essay about the area in Harper's Bazaar (May, 1953).

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Italy, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Positano or Essaouira?

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 Essaouira is $62, while the average daily cost in Positano is $306. 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 Essaouira and Positano in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Essaouira $29
    Positano $173
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Essaouira $58
    Positano $346
Compare Hotels in Essaouira and Positano

Looking for a hotel in Essaouira or Positano? 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 Essaouira


Hotels in Positano


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 and Positano Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Essaouira $2.21
    Positano $9.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira

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

  • Airport transfer from Essaouira to Agadir: $256
  • Private transfer Essaouira Ouarzazate.: $240
  • Private transfer Essaouira Taroudant.: $203
  • Transfer from Essaouira to your Riad or Hotel in Marrakech: $179
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $143
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $128
  • Airport transfer, Departure : Essaouira, Arrival : Agadir: $128
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $127
  • Private transfer Essaouira to Marrakech or Marrakech / essaouira : $119
  • Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $114
  • Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech : $114
  • Private transfer Essaouira Safi.: $112

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Positano

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Positano:


  • Bus Ticket
    $1.88

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Positano

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

  • Transfer Naples - Positano: $299
  • private transfer from Sorrento to Naples: $287
  • Private Transfer from Positano to Naples Airport: $286
  • Private Transfer from Positano to Naples: $263
  • Private Transfer by car from Amalfi to Sorrento: $251
  • Private Transfer by Car from Positano to Sorrento: $250
  • Private transfer from POSITANO to NAPLES with 3 hours stop in Pompeii: $239
  • Transfers Positano - Naples: $227
  • Positano to Pompeii Private DA Transfer: $226
  • Private Transfer from Sorrento Coast to Naples : $211
  • Private Transfer-Positano to Naples with 2h of Sightseeing: Vesuvius or Pompeii: $209
  • Private Car Transfer from Positano to Sorrento: $203

Is it cheaper to fly into Essaouira or Positano?

Prices for flights to both Positano and Essaouira 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
    Essaouira $26
    Positano $107
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
  • Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience: $54
  • l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $72
  • Essaouira Food Tour: $88
  • Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.: $106
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $219
  • 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp: $220

Typical Food Prices in Positano

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


  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    $36
  • Pizza in a Restaurant
    $11
  • Sandwich in a Restaurant
    $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Positano

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

  • Gastronomical Amalfi Coast Hike with Cooking Class: $61
  • Cooking class with Pasta, mozzarella and Tiramisu with wine: $80
  • Cooking lesson: tagliatelle, mozzarella and tiramisu: $84
  • Pizza Class in Sorrento Peninsula with Breathtaking View: $88
  • Amalfi Coast Cooking Class: Make Pasta, Mozzarella & Tiramisu: $90
  • Dining Experience at a local's Home in Sant'Agnello with Show Cooking: $102
  • Sorrento: Gluten Free Cooking Class: $108
  • Cooking Class in Sorrento with Breathtaking View: $120
  • 3 Hours Sorrento Cooking Class in Sorrento Coast with Pickup: $155
  • Mediterranean Dinner in Positano at Nonna Colomba's Cellar: $161
  • Pizza e Tiramisù class with local mum in Positano: $179
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Gnocchi, Tiramisù & Drinks: $179

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Essaouira $13
    Positano $71

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 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $59
  • 2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco: $54
  • 3-Days Desert Tour From Fes to Marrakech : $227
  • 3-Hour Quad Biking Adventure in Essaouira: $89
  • Authentic Berber Tour near Essaouira – Fishing,Tagine & Waterfall: $72
  • 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: $116

Typical Entertainment Prices in Positano

For Positano, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Chair & Umbrella at Spiaggia Grande
    $20
  • Day Trip of Capri & Amalfi
    $94
  • Sunset Cruise
    $28
  • Full Day Wine Tour
    $114
  • Cooking Class
    $76

Tours and Activities in Positano

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

  • Guided Tour Pompeii And Vesuvius from Positano Skip the Line: $299
  • private and Guided Tour to Pompeii from Positano: $268
  • Amalfi Coast Small Group Cruise with stop at the Emerald Grotto : $125
  • Amalfi Coast: Pompei & Vesuvius small group with Skip the line tickets: $161
  • Amalfi Coast: Private half-day walking tour with Lunch & Wine: $202
  • Blue Grotto Visit and Capri Semi-Private Boat Tour: $173
  • Boat tour from Positano to Capri: $227
  • Capri & Blue Grotto Small Group Full-Day Boat Tour from Positano: $179
  • Capri Boat Tour and Blue Grotto Visit: $178
  • Capri Boat tour from Positano with Light Lunch, Drinks & Swim: $184
  • Capri Half-Day Sightseeing Cruise From Sorrento, with Pickup: $197
  • Capri Small Group Tour From Positano 7h, snacks & wine included: $179

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Essaouira $10
    Positano $18

Typical Alcohol Prices in Positano

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Positano:


  • Bottle of Limoncello
    $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Positano

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

  • Organic Wine Tasting, Mozzarella, Gnocchi & Tiramisu Workshop: $78
  • Amalfi Coast: Make Handmade Pasta, Tiramisu and Wine Tasting: $81
  • 5 Wine Tastings with Typical Products in Sorrento Coast: $84
  • Pompeii Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting from Positano: $271
  • Pompeii Excavations Tour-Wine Tasting with Lunch from Positano: $274


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Essaouira and Positano, we can see that Positano is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Essaouira is in Africa and Positano is in Europe, 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 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 Positano would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Positano 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 Essaouira Expensive? and Is Positano Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Essaouira or Positano?

Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Positano. When comparing the sizes of Essaouira and Positano, 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.