> Where to find good cheap hotels and riads in Essaouira under $50 — the best-value picks in the medina and beyond, plus tips to keep your Morocco trip affordable.

*Source : https://hotels4travelers.com/blog/cheap-hotels-essaouira/*

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# Best cheap hotels & riads in Essaouira (under $50 a night)

January 14, 2026 · by Sébastien Joumel

![Best cheap hotels & riads in Essaouira (under $50 a night)](https://hotels4travelers.com/img/essaouira/3.jpg)

Essaouira is one of Morocco's best-value coastal towns: you can sleep in a characterful medina riad, two minutes from the souks and the sea, for less than the price of a chain hotel back home. Here's where to find the best cheap stays under $50.

At a glance

-   **Best value area:** the medina (budget riads from ~$30).
-   **Also cheap:** Diabat surf guesthouses (from ~$35).
-   **Cheapest months:** November–March (low season).
-   **What you get:** real riad character, breakfast often included.

## Where the cheap stays are

The **medina** has the widest choice of budget riads — small, family-run houses with courtyards and rooftops, often including breakfast, from around $30–48. **Diabat**, the surf village across the dunes, has cheap guesthouses with a relaxed vibe. The beach and dunes resorts cost more.

## Real budget picks

-   **Riad Mimouna** — by the ramparts, sea-facing rooms, from ~$48.
-   **Dar Loulema** — central and characterful, from ~$45.
-   **Ocean Vagabond Guesthouse** — by the beach, surf-friendly, from ~$42.
-   **Medina guesthouses** around Avenue Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah — simple doubles from ~$30.

**Tip:** In a cheap riad, ask for an upper or exterior room — interior courtyard rooms are the cheapest but can be dark. The difference is often only a few dollars.

## How to keep the trip cheap

-   **Travel off-season** (November–March) for the lowest rates — just pack a layer for cool evenings.
-   **Eat at the port grills and local cafés** — fresh fish and tagines for a few dollars.
-   **Skip the car** — Essaouira is walkable; you don’t need transport in town.
-   **Compare every platform** — budget riads often differ 15–25% in price between booking sites.

## What you give up (and don’t)

Under $50 you won’t get a pool or sea-view suite, but you will get genuine riad atmosphere, a rooftop for breakfast, and an unbeatable location inside the walls. For most travellers that’s exactly what they came for.

## Cheap Essaouira hotels FAQ

### How much is a budget riad in Essaouira?

From around $30–48 a night for a characterful medina riad, often with breakfast included; less in low season.

### Is the medina or the beach cheaper?

The medina has more budget options. Beach and dunes hotels (with pools) cost more.

## Find the cheapest rooms

Compare live rates and sort by price in our guide to [hotels in Essaouira](https://hotels4travelers.com/morocco/essaouira/).

[→ Compare hotels in Essaouira and find the lowest price](https://hotels4travelers.com/morocco/essaouira/)

SJ

Written & researched by Sébastien Joumel Entrepreneur and travel enthusiast · founder of Hotels4Travelers

I personally research the destinations we cover — comparing prices, reading reviews and digging into neighbourhoods — to help you travel smarter, off the beaten track.