Which place is cheaper, San Sebastian 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 San Sebastian?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merzouga or San Sebastian, 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 San Sebastian?
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.
San Sebastian
San Sebastián is a city in northern Spain very well known for its summertime fun in the sun. While the streets are cool and happening at night, they take on a different charm by day. Beautiful beaches line the city's edge, right next to elegant historic architecture and churches, topping charts as some of the best city beaches in Europe. The food, too, is said to be some of the best with traditional Basque cuisine as well as the popular pintxo (tapas) bites. San Sebastián is a place of lively culture, teeming with beauty, flavors, and colors.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, and The Best Adventure Tours to Spain.
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Merzouga Prices
Morocco PricesSan Sebastian Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerzouga $24San Sebastian $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Merzouga is $24, while the average daily cost in San Sebastian is $133. 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 San Sebastian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerzouga $11San Sebastian $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerzouga $22San Sebastian $94
Compare Hotels in Merzouga and San Sebastian
Looking for a hotel in Merzouga or San Sebastian? 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 San Sebastian Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merzouga -San Sebastian $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Sebastian
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
- San Sebastian Private Arrival Transfer: $59
- Transfer S. Sebastian to Bilbao or S. Sebastian Airports by Sedan: $65
- Private Transfer in San Sebastian: $87
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to San Sebastian Airport: $97
- Transfer San Sebastian to Bilbao or San Sebastian Airports by Van: $116
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Biarritz Airport : $192
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Biarritz city: $192
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Biarritz: $192
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Pamplona city: $281
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Pamplona Airport : $281
- San Sebastián: Transfer to Biarritz: $287
Is it cheaper to fly into Merzouga or San Sebastian?
Prices for flights to both San Sebastian 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 $11San Sebastian $64
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
Typical Food Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Dinner for 2$65
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Lunch for 2$12
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Lunch for 2$37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Sebastian
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Sebastian.
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $118
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxo Tasting Paired with Spanish Wines: $131
- Best Street Food Tour of San Sebastian with a Local Guide: $133
- Basque cuisine cooking class: $155
- Basque Cooking Experience: Market Tour & Hands-On Class English: $155
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian Old Town: $166
- Private San Sebastian Walking Food Tour: $173
- Dinner in a Gastronomic Club in San Sebastian: $191
- Eat Like a True Basque San Sebastian Authentic Culinary Food Tour: $197
- Local Cooking Class in San Sebastian: $233
- San Sebastián Food & History Tour: Dinner with a Local Twist: $256
- Michelin Star Secrets Cooking Class in San Sebastian: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merzouga -San Sebastian $37
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- Merzouga Quad and Buggy Desert Tour: $40
- ATV Quad bikes experience & sandboarding : $41
- Merzouga Jeep Tour with or without local lunch: $42
- Merzouga 4x4 Desert Excursion - Sahara 4WD Adventure: $45
- 4WD Desert tour Adventure Experience: $45
- Merzouga 4x4 Tour Excursion Around Erg Chebbi Dunes: $47
- Ultimate Desert Adventure – Quads, Buggies, Motorcycles & Camels!: $47
- Merzouga Explorer Tour: Desert Life, Nomads and Gnawa Music: $48
- Merzouga Desert Excursion - Sahara 4x4 Adventure: $48
- Merzouga Desert Quad bike Adventure with Sand boarding: $48
- Sahara Desert Quad & Buggy Adventure in Merzouga: $48
- Sanding Ball in Experience the sand dunes on a zorbing activity: $54
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Valle de los Caídos Monument$7.04
Tours and Activities in San Sebastian
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
- San Sebastián Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $5.13
- Who Am I? San Sebastian Identity Puzzle Adventure: $5.96
- Old Town Exploration Game and Tour: $7.44
- San Sebastian Interactive City Tour: $8.33
- San Sebastian Donostria: Self Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $14
- Sampling San Sebastián's History: A Self Guided Audio Tour : $15
- San Sebastian Walking Tour with Pintxo and Drink: $18
- San Sebastian Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Tour: $19
- Guided tour of San Sebastián: $20
- Tour por el estadio Real Sociedad: $22
- Hondarribia on Bicycle Tour of Nature and Basque Culture: $36
- zumaia sup tours: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerzouga -San Sebastian $23
Sample the Local Flavors in San Sebastian
Also in San Sebastian, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour Small Group Tour: $123
- San Sebastian Centro Neighborhood Pintxos & Wine Tour: $130
- San Sebastian Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour: $173
- Small Group Basque Food, Pintxos and Wine Tour in San Sebastian : $178
- Private Half Day Txakoli Wine Tour & Getaria Fishing Village: $209
- Open Food & Wine tours in San Sebastian: $214
- Marques de Riscal and Ysios Architecture Wine Tour w/Lunch, SS: $284
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian: $287
- Private Txakoli Wine Tour through the Coast from San Sebastian: $287
- Private Getaria Txakoli Wine Tour from San Sebastian: $299
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery, Tasting & Lunch from San Sebastian: $299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merzouga and San Sebastian, we can see that San Sebastian 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 San Sebastian 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 San Sebastian would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Sebastian 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 San Sebastian 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.