Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ouarzazate

For one person, living is cheaper in Ouarzazate: $707 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Ouarzazate
🇲🇦 Morocco
$707
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Ouarzazate

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Ouarzazate actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $707 in Ouarzazate.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Ouarzazate $707

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,102 in Ouarzazate.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Ouarzazate $1,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,498 in Ouarzazate.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Ouarzazate $1,498

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 277% more expensive than in Ouarzazate, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Ouarzazate is 48% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Ouarzazate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$3.72 MAD 36.29
458.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$31.53 MAD 307
168.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$6.18 MAD 60.3
99.35%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.21 MAD 21.56
154.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.64 MAD 6.21
481.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.61 MAD 5.91
309.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$6.69 MAD 65.2
20.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$5.40 MAD 52.7
66.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Ouarzazate
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$0.85 MAD 8.30
31.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$0.86 MAD 8.38
336.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.54 MAD 15.03
111.69%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$1.56 MAD 15.24
167.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$7.76 MAD 75.7
66.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$4.56 MAD 44.46
210.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$11.72 MAD 114
38.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$0.69 MAD 6.73
527.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.21 MAD 11.83
20.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$0.60 MAD 5.88
651.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$0.79 MAD 7.75
449.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.71 MAD 6.97
263.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.75 MAD 7.33
213.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.23 MAD 2.24
673.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.60 MAD 5.86
270.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$4.04 MAD 39.42
144.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$7.55 MAD 73.6
99.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.22 MAD 21.63
31.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.27 MAD 31.85
5.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Ouarzazate
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.54 MAD 5.30
175.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$19.55 MAD 191
113.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.50 MAD 4.85
446.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.65 MAD 6.34
155.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$7.09 MAD 69.2
397.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.42 MAD 13.88
-33.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$33.6K MAD 327.5K
7.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$29.7K MAD 289.5K
-8.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Ouarzazate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$35.55 MAD 347
544.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$4.94 MAD 48.17
1102.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$26.25 MAD 256
166.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Ouarzazate
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$26.66 MAD 260
114.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$22.51 MAD 220
-27.45%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$6.39 MAD 62.3
123.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Ouarzazate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$99.3 MAD 968
1417.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$8,432 MAD 82.2K
154.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Ouarzazate
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$31.76 MAD 310
66.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$45.27 MAD 441
-3.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$83.9 MAD 817
1.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$83.8 MAD 817
22.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Ouarzazate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$272 MAD 2,656
600.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$168 MAD 1,641
657.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$422 MAD 4,113
768.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$247 MAD 2,404
929.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$1,189 MAD 11.6K
540.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$821 MAD 8,001
284.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Ouarzazate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
4.5
50.89%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ouarzazate: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Ouarzazate
$168 86.8% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Ouarzazate
$172 57.4% $232
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Ouarzazate
$67 81.4% $292
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Ouarzazate
$124 64.9% $230
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Ouarzazate
$110 14% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Ouarzazate
$39 54% $46
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Ouarzazate
$25 56.6% $33

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $272 in Ouarzazate. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $32.00 in Ouarzazate for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $172 per month, with Ouarzazate cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇲🇦 Ouarzazate
🕒 Local time
02:10 2:10 AM
08:10 8:10 AM
6 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
71,067
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Ouarzazate 8,410 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Ouarzazate

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Austin, TX vs Ouarzazate: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Ouarzazate?
Ouarzazate wins on cost – living expenses run 277% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ouarzazate the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Ouarzazate?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,060 in Ouarzazate to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Ouarzazate?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $272 in Ouarzazate. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Ouarzazate?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $707 in Ouarzazate – a 277% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Ouarzazate?
A monthly transit pass in Ouarzazate runs roughly 113% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Ouarzazate?
At $707 in Ouarzazate versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ouarzazate but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ouarzazate the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Ouarzazate?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Ouarzazate?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Ouarzazate are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ouarzazate gentler on the wallet – expenses run 277% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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