😐A single person spends $1,057 per month in Almaty vs $905 in Marrakech, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Almaty vs $1,396 in Marrakech, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Almaty vs $1,888 in Marrakech, rent included.
😐Almaty costs about 17% more than Marrakech, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Almaty and Marrakech are more affordable than the global median – Almaty21% lower, Marrakech32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Marrakech
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03₸3,934
$4.56MAD 41.93
76.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.47₸18.9K
$33.31MAD 306
15.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.97₸3,416
$6.99MAD 64.2
-0.29%
Cappuccino
$2.40₸1,174
$2.54MAD 23.33
-5.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98₸478
$1.27MAD 11.63
-22.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₸277
$0.60MAD 5.55
-5.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.40₸687
$5.34MAD 49.06
-73.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₸1,464
$6.32MAD 58.1
-52.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Marrakech
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31₸644
$0.90MAD 8.28
45.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60₸293
$0.58MAD 5.35
3.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54₸756
$1.75MAD 16.06
-12.00%
Eggs
$1.74₸852
$2.09MAD 19.19
-16.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.74₸4,773
$9.56MAD 87.9
1.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.70₸2,301
$5.98MAD 55.0
-21.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.50₸3,678
$11.03MAD 101
-32.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35₸661
$1.58MAD 14.53
-14.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98₸970
$1.35MAD 12.38
46.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95₸957
$0.90MAD 8.27
116.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07₸1,014
$0.88MAD 8.08
135.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63₸308
$0.80MAD 7.39
-21.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₸206
$0.74MAD 6.83
-43.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24₸608
$0.42MAD 3.88
195.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₸346
$0.64MAD 5.88
10.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97₸965
$4.35MAD 39.94
-54.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.09₸4,947
$8.22MAD 75.5
22.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88₸433
$2.68MAD 24.63
-67.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04₸999
$2.96MAD 27.18
-31.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Marrakech
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₸118
$0.43MAD 3.92
-44.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.76₸8,701
$10.91MAD 100
62.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16₸567
$1.02MAD 9.42
13.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70₸343
$0.51MAD 4.71
37.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.80₸2,355
$5.44MAD 50.0
-11.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49₸240
$1.58MAD 14.54
-68.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K₸11.4M
$37.8KMAD 347.2K
-38.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K₸13.4M
$30.1KMAD 276.5K
-9.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Marrakech
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.8₸31.3K
$31.74MAD 292
101.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.60₸4,213
$10.91MAD 100
-21.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.83₸6,777
$46.40MAD 426
-70.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Marrakech
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.67₸23.9K
$23.72MAD 218
105.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.24₸10.4K
$32.52MAD 299
-34.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.11₸2,505
$6.74MAD 62.0
-24.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Marrakech
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$267₸130.8K
$111MAD 1,023
139.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9K₸6.3M
$6,435MAD 59.1K
99.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Marrakech
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.0₸41.1K
$41.93MAD 385
100.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₸21.3K
$50.0MAD 460
-13.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8₸47.4K
$110MAD 1,013
-12.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119₸58.5K
$102MAD 938
17.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Marrakech
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$665₸325.9K
$435MAD 3,997
52.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$420₸205.7K
$283MAD 2,601
48.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,175₸575.8K
$763MAD 7,015
53.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$773₸378.9K
$443MAD 4,072
74.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,143₸1.0M
$1,993MAD 18.3K
7.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,254₸614.6K
$1,039MAD 9,550
20.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Marrakech
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$789₸386.9K
$528MAD 4,850
49.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.39
4.75
287.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026
Last update for Marrakech: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty versus $435 in Marrakech. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 50% higher in Almaty, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Almaty versus $33.00 in Marrakech. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Almaty vs $195 in Marrakech – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Almaty vs Marrakech: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marrakech cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,586 per month in Almaty and $1,357 in Marrakech. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Marrakech, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or Marrakech?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Almaty and $33.00 in Marrakech. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty vs Marrakech?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,057 in Almaty and $905 in Marrakech. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Almaty or Marrakech?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Marrakech, where all-in costs run around $905, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Marrakech it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Marrakech more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Marrakech – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Almaty or Marrakech?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Marrakech. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.