Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Gran Canaria?
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 Gran Canaria or Merzouga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gran Canaria or Merzouga? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Gran Canaria or Merzouga?
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is one of Spain's Canary Islands, located just off the coast of northwestern Africa. It is the third largest of the islands, and is known for its variety of volcanic beaches. This island is sometimes called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found, which allow for a range of activities like hiking, biking, surfing, and scuba diving.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Luxury Tours to Spain, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Gran Canaria Prices
Spain PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGran Canaria €150Merzouga €20
The average daily cost (per person) in Gran Canaria is €150, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is €20. 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 Gran Canaria and Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGran Canaria €63Merzouga €9.66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGran Canaria €126Merzouga €19
Compare Hotels in Gran Canaria and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Gran Canaria 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: Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gran Canaria €46Merzouga -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gran Canaria
Also for Gran Canaria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Las Palmas airport (LPA) to Agüimes: $33
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Agüimes to Las Palmas (LPA) airport: $34
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Ingenio to Las Palmas (LPA) airport: $37
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Las Palmas airport (LPA) to Ingenio: $37
- El Salobre: Horse Riding Adventure with Transfer Options: $42
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Costa Meloneras to Las Palmas (LPA) airport: $45
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Bahía Feliz to Las Palmas (LPA) airport: $45
- Gran Canaria Airport(LPA) to Las Palmas- Arrival Private Transfer: $48
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Las Palmas airport (LPA) to Arucas: $48
- Grand Island Tour by Bus with Transfers: $52
- Gran Canaria Private Transfer from Las Palmas airport (LPA) to Vecindario : $56
- Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) to Playa del Ingles - Arrival Transfer: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Gran Canaria or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Gran Canaria 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 dayGran Canaria €59Merzouga €9.68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gran Canaria
For Gran Canaria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Origen Dinner Show at Sala Scala: $73
- Sunset Tour with Champagne & Optional Dinner.: $81
- Sala Scala Gran Canaria Dinner Show : $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.Gran Canaria €20Merzouga -
Tours and Activities in Gran Canaria
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Gran Canaria.
- Walking tour Vegueta (old town Las Palmas): $8.22
- Walking tour old town Las Palmas Vegueta: $8.37
- Las Palmas Interactive City Tour: $8.37
- Agüimes: Cocodrilo Park Zoo Entry Ticket: $12
- Angry Birds Activity Park Entry Ticket: $15
- Holiday World Maspalomas Wooland Ticket: $15
- Holiday World Maspalomas Wooland Ticket: $16
- Maspalomas: Bowling Session Entry Ticket at Holiday World: $16
- Banana World Guided Tour & Tasting: $18
- Tour UD Las Palmas Gran Canaria Stadium: $18
- Guided tour of the Banana World : $18
- Canarian Wine Experience at Bodega los Lirios: $19
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 dayGran Canaria €7.14Merzouga -
Sample the Local Flavors in Gran Canaria
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gran Canaria:
- Guided Tour at Ron Arehucas Distillery: $13
- Guided Tour at Ron Arehucas Distillery: $13
- Las Palmas: Gourmet Tapas and Wine Tour in the Old Town: $47
- Gourmet Tapas and Wine Tour in the Old Town of Las Palmas: $48
- Painting and textures workshop with volcanic wine tasting: $48
- Spanish Cured Meats & Wine Tasting Tour in Mogan: $58
- Spanish Tapas and Wine Tasting Tour in Mogan: $65
- Banana Museum, Rum Distillery & Winery guided tour with tasting: $83
- Banana Museum, Rum Distillery & Winery with Tasting: Premium tour: $83
- Private GRAN CANARIA WINE TASTING, TAPAS lunch & best sightseeing: $247
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gran Canaria and Merzouga, we can see that Gran Canaria is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Gran Canaria 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 Gran Canaria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gran Canaria 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 Gran Canaria 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.