Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Essaouira Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Essaouira

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $677 per month in Chengdu vs $837 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,074 per month in Chengdu vs $1,254 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,472 per month in Chengdu vs $1,671 in Essaouira, rent included.

Chengdu is about 19% cheaper than Essaouira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chengdu and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Chengdu 49% lower, Essaouira 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 ¥19.09

$4.36 MAD 40.68

-35.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.08 ¥163

$25.14 MAD 234

-4.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ¥33.66

$4.97 MAD 46.37

Cappuccino

$2.76 ¥18.71

$1.76 MAD 16.37

56.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ¥2.92

$0.46 MAD 4.26

-6.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.88

$0.26 MAD 2.41

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ¥7.70

$3.79 MAD 35.36

-69.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥13.97

$3.72 MAD 34.69

-44.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ¥12.28

$0.84 MAD 7.87

115.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ¥9.39

$0.49 MAD 4.57

183.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.31

$1.65 MAD 15.43

-43.64%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.10

$1.81 MAD 16.90

7.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.76 ¥93.2

$9.24 MAD 86.1

48.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.61 ¥24.41

$5.29 MAD 49.31

-31.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.32 ¥76.6

$11.42 MAD 107

-0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 ¥12.94

$1.42 MAD 13.21

34.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ¥8.28

$1.22 MAD 11.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ¥10.18

$0.72 MAD 6.69

108.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ¥6.90

$0.88 MAD 8.22

15.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.81

$0.70 MAD 6.52

1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.76

$0.91 MAD 8.48

-23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ¥4.09

$0.39 MAD 3.66

53.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.16

$0.53 MAD 4.97

15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ¥23.02

$4.15 MAD 38.66

-18.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.50 ¥37.19

$6.45 MAD 60.1

-14.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ¥6.42

$1.93 MAD 18.03

-50.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ¥12.53

$2.20 MAD 20.52

-15.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.94

$0.87 MAD 8.11

-50.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.94 ¥189

$16.46 MAD 154

69.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 ¥8.38

$0.63 MAD 5.92

96.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ¥1.91

$0.48 MAD 4.43

-41.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.16 ¥28.15

$8.98 MAD 83.8

-53.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥7.95

$1.58 MAD 14.70

-25.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.5K ¥125.0K

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

-50.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.7K ¥112.7K

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

-20.91%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$44.66 ¥302

$27.86 MAD 260

60.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.53 ¥78.1

$13.90 MAD 130

-17.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.33 ¥76.7

$27.94 MAD 261

-59.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.18 ¥164

$21.61 MAD 202

11.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 ¥78.2

$22.76 MAD 212

-49.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.69 ¥38.53

$6.65 MAD 62.0

-14.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$330 ¥2,232

$75.3 MAD 702

338.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K ¥83.5K

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

530.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.54 ¥254

$30.88 MAD 288

21.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.48 ¥260

$39.68 MAD 370

-3.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.8 ¥452

$49.28 MAD 460

35.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.0 ¥339

$44.34 MAD 413

12.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 ¥2,165

$388 MAD 3,617

-17.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 ¥1,237

$346 MAD 3,229

-47.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 ¥4,138

$813 MAD 7,584

-24.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 ¥2,224

$559 MAD 5,209

-41.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,785 ¥25.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,925 ¥13.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,278 ¥8,647

$268 MAD 2,498

376.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.21

5.5

-23.45%

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

Last update for Chengdu: July 14, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $320 in Chengdu versus $388 in Essaouira. 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 377% higher in Chengdu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Chengdu versus $25.00 in Essaouira. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Chengdu vs $176 in Essaouira – so Essaouira 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

Chengdu vs Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $677 in Chengdu, $837 in Essaouira – roughly 24% apart. Essaouira costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,015 per month in Chengdu and $1,256 in Essaouira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chengdu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Chengdu and $25.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $677 in Chengdu and $837 in Essaouira. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $677 in Chengdu and $837 in Essaouira, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Essaouira has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $677 in Chengdu to $837 in Essaouira. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chengdu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Essaouira makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.