Which place is cheaper, Carcassonne or Merzouga?
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 Merzouga or Carcassonne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merzouga or Carcassonne, 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: Merzouga or Carcassonne?
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.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a hilltop town in southern France. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire and was later taken over in the fifth century by the Visigoths who founded the city. Its desirable location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. It is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cite, which has numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, with major additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. With its position on a rocky hilltop, zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. It attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or even better in spring or fall) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, and The Best Historical Tours in France.
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Merzouga Prices
Morocco PricesCarcassonne Prices
France Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerzouga $24Carcassonne $158
The average daily cost (per person) in Merzouga is $24, while the average daily cost in Carcassonne is $158. 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 Merzouga and Carcassonne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerzouga $11Carcassonne $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerzouga $22Carcassonne $142
Compare Hotels in Merzouga and Carcassonne
Looking for a hotel in Merzouga or Carcassonne? 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 and Carcassonne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merzouga -Carcassonne $8.38
Is it cheaper to fly into Merzouga or Carcassonne?
Prices for flights to both Carcassonne and Merzouga 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 dayMerzouga $11Carcassonne $78
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.Merzouga -Carcassonne $17
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
Tours and Activities in Carcassonne
For Carcassonne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ghosts of Self-Guided Tour and Exploration Game: $4.77
- Carcassonne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.70
- Secrets of the Castle's Defense Self-Guided Tour: $6.93
- Carcassonne Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.36
- Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket: $15
- 1h30 Walking Tour of the Medieval City: $18
- A Self-Guided Tour of Carcassonne’s Ancient Basilica: $20
- Medieval Builder-Themed City Tour with a Guide: $24
- Unusual guided tour of Carcassonne at the time of the Builders: $24
- Languedoc: Tour and Tasting at Domaine de Baronarques: $25
- Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Tour: $25
- Carcassonne Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerzouga -Carcassonne $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Carcassonne
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Carcassonne:
- Wine Tasting of the Languedoc Roussillon: $88
- Solex tour with guide and wine tasting: $93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merzouga and Carcassonne, we can see that Carcassonne is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merzouga is in Africa and Carcassonne 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 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 Carcassonne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Carcassonne 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 Merzouga Expensive? and Is Carcassonne 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.