Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Casablanca Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Casablanca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $816 in Essaouira versus $1,045 in Casablanca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,214 in Essaouira versus $1,601 in Casablanca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,613 in Essaouira versus $2,156 in Casablanca.

Living in Essaouira costs roughly 22% less than in Casablanca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Essaouira 41% lower, Casablanca 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Essaouira
Casablanca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 MAD 44.90
$5.36 MAD 50.2
-10.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.41 MAD 182
$32.15 MAD 301
-39.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 MAD 72.5
$8.55 MAD 80.0
-9.36%
Cappuccino
$1.48 MAD 13.82
$2.14 MAD 20.03
-30.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 MAD 4.51
$1.16 MAD 10.84
-58.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 MAD 3.68
$0.70 MAD 6.59
-44.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.24 MAD 49.03
$4.97 MAD 46.46
5.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 MAD 42.76
$5.50 MAD 51.5
-16.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Essaouira
Casablanca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 MAD 8.45
$0.97 MAD 9.08
-7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 MAD 4.81
$0.77 MAD 7.17
-33.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 MAD 17.01
$1.89 MAD 17.66
-3.70%
Eggs
$1.69 MAD 15.80
$1.94 MAD 18.13
-12.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.60 MAD 80.5
$11.37 MAD 106
-24.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 MAD 58.5
$7.70 MAD 72.0
-18.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.96 MAD 103
$12.82 MAD 120
-14.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 MAD 12.29
$1.72 MAD 16.10
-23.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 MAD 11.04
$1.57 MAD 14.73
-24.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.69 MAD 6.43
$0.80 MAD 7.45
-13.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.50
$0.84 MAD 7.82
-4.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 MAD 5.37
$0.67 MAD 6.28
-14.93%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.75
$0.70 MAD 6.58
2.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 MAD 3.38
$0.50 MAD 4.67
-28.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 MAD 5.73
$0.52 MAD 4.87
17.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98 MAD 37.24
$4.26 MAD 39.82
-6.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.56 MAD 61.3
$8.74 MAD 81.8
-24.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 MAD 17.13
$2.77 MAD 25.96
-33.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 MAD 20.54
$3.17 MAD 29.64
-30.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Essaouira
Casablanca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 MAD 8.24
$0.83 MAD 7.75
6.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.44 MAD 257
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 MAD 6.20
$0.83 MAD 7.73
-20.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 MAD 5.96
$0.31 MAD 2.88
106.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.66 MAD 43.60
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 MAD 14.04
$1.56 MAD 14.55
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MAD 331.7K
$32.8K MAD 306.8K
8.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K MAD 287.9K
$31.5K MAD 294.5K
-2.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Essaouira
Casablanca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$25.43 MAD 238
$50.7 MAD 475
-49.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.07 MAD 169
$11.56 MAD 108
56.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.61 MAD 286
$44.32 MAD 415
-30.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Essaouira
Casablanca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$33.76 MAD 316
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.16 MAD 217
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.49 MAD 51.4
$7.51 MAD 70.3
-26.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Essaouira
Casablanca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.3 MAD 667
$618 MAD 5,783
-88.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,919 MAD 18.0K
$5,665 MAD 53.0K
-66.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Essaouira
Casablanca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.05 MAD 281
$61.8 MAD 578
-51.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.60 MAD 427
$50.0 MAD 468
-8.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.7 MAD 577
$106 MAD 989
-41.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.99 MAD 402
$67.8 MAD 634
-36.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Essaouira
Casablanca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$406 MAD 3,801
$636 MAD 5,947
-36.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$356 MAD 3,331
$383 MAD 3,582
-7.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$970 MAD 9,072
$1,084 MAD 10.1K
-10.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$594 MAD 5,555
$644 MAD 6,025
-7.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,323 MAD 21.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,331 MAD 12.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Essaouira
Casablanca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$268 MAD 2,508
$705 MAD 6,596
-61.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
5.01
29.74%

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

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Last update for Casablanca: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $406 in Essaouira and $636 in Casablanca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Casablanca pays 163% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Essaouira vs $32.00 in Casablanca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $219 per month, with Essaouira cheaper across the board.

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
Essaouira vs Casablanca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Casablanca cheaper than Essaouira?
Essaouira is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Essaouira or Casablanca?
On paper, salaries run 163% lower in Casablanca. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Essaouira and Casablanca?
Rent for a central apartment: $406 in Essaouira versus $636 in Casablanca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Essaouira and in Casablanca?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Casablanca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Essaouira and in Casablanca?
All in, you'll spend $816 per month in Essaouira versus $1,045 in Casablanca – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Essaouira or in Casablanca?
At $816 in Essaouira versus $1,045 in Casablanca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Essaouira but tight or insufficient in Casablanca. The gap between the two cities makes Essaouira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Essaouira or Casablanca more family-friendly?
For families, Essaouira is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Casablanca, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Essaouira or Casablanca?
Safety-wise, Essaouira and Casablanca 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Essaouira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Casablanca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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