Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Portimao?
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 Portimao or Merzouga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Portimao and Merzouga. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Portimao or Merzouga?
Portimao
The second biggest city in the Alrgarve region of Portugal, Portimao sits on the coast where the Arade River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is renowned for its fresh fish restaurants and is also a popular destination for beachgoers at the Praia da Rocha to the south of the city.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal, The Best Bicycle Tours in Portugal, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Portimao Prices
Portugal PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPortimao €185Merzouga €20
The average daily cost (per person) in Portimao is €185, 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 Portimao and Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPortimao €78Merzouga €9.66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPortimao €156Merzouga €19
Compare Hotels in Portimao and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Portimao 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: Portimao Hotel Prices and Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Portimao €37Merzouga -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
- 7 Seven Hanging Valleys Hiking Tour with 4K Photos & Transfer: $42
- Carvoeiro Private Transfer to Faro Airport: $89
- Private Transfer from Guia to Faro (FAO) Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Carvoeiro to Faro (FAO) Airport: $110
- Private Transfer from Hotel Carvoeiro to Faro (FAO) Airport: $110
- Private Transfer from Ferragudo to Faro (FAO) Airport: $124
- Private Transfer from Armaçao de Pera to Faro (FAO) Airport: $124
- Private Transfer from Portimao to Faro (FAO) Airport: $134
- Private Transfer from Algoz to Faro (FAO) Airport: $134
- Private Transfer from Alvor to Faro (FAO) Airport: $137
- Private Transfer from Josper Grill Steakhouse Dry Aged to Faro (FAO) Airport: $143
- Private Transfer from Alvor to Faro Airport (1-4 pax): $143
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga and Portimao 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 dayPortimao €78Merzouga €9.68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portimao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portimao.
- Authentic Market & Food Tour in Portimão, Algarve: $90
- Algarve Food Tour in Portimão: $119
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.Portimao €41Merzouga -
Tours and Activities in Portimao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portimao are as follows:
- Inflatable Waterpark Entry Ticket at Armação de Pêra: $12
- SUP - Stand Up Paddle Algarve Adventure: $18
- Benagil Cave Boat Tour - Catamarans or Rib - 2 H From Portimão: $21
- Kayak Tour around Benagil to see Sunset or Sunrise: $22
- Self Guided Adventure in Alvor: $23
- Self Guided Puzzle Adventure in Portimao: $23
- Sunrise Benagil Full Caves Tour: $24
- Portimão to Benagil: Adrenaline Wave 90 Minutes Cave Tour: $24
- Benagil Cave Sunset Cruise: $24
- Portimão: Benagil Caves Speedboat Tour: $24
- Express Tour - Benagil Cave: $24
- Benagil Boat Tour with Local Guide : $25
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPortimao €30Merzouga -
Sample the Local Flavors in Portimao
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Portimao:
- Lagos, Portimão & Carvoeiro: Wine Tasting, Tapas & Music Tour: $66
- Vilamoura, Albufeira & Porches: Wine Tasting, Tapas & Music Tour: $66
- Jeep Safari with Winery Visit and Wine Tasting: $80
- Algarve Wine Tour of Two Wine Estates: $84
- Sunset with Wine Tasting: $96
- Algarve wine tour and lunch in Silves or time to visit the city: $123
- Algarve wine tour and farmer's lunch at wine estate: $199
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Merzouga, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Portimao 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 Portimao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portimao 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 Portimao 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.