Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Marrakech Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Marrakech

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $816 per month in Essaouira vs $943 in Marrakech, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Essaouira vs $1,380 in Marrakech, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,613 per month in Essaouira vs $1,817 in Marrakech, rent included.

Essaouira is about 13% cheaper than Marrakech, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Essaouira and Marrakech are more affordable than the global median – Essaouira 41% lower, Marrakech 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 MAD 44.90

$3.85 MAD 35.99

24.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 MAD 182

$32.21 MAD 301

-39.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 MAD 72.5

$6.32 MAD 59.1

22.63%

Cappuccino

$1.48 MAD 13.82

$2.36 MAD 22.10

-37.29%

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

$0.48 MAD 4.51

$2.01 MAD 18.83

-76.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MAD 3.68

$0.64 MAD 5.95

-39.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.24 MAD 49.03

$6.97 MAD 65.2

-24.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 MAD 42.76

$5.45 MAD 51.0

-16.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MAD 8.45

$0.92 MAD 8.57

-2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MAD 4.81

$0.90 MAD 8.45

-43.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 MAD 17.01

$1.56 MAD 14.64

16.67%

Eggs

$1.69 MAD 15.80

$2.07 MAD 19.38

-18.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.60 MAD 80.5

$7.99 MAD 74.7

7.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 MAD 58.5

$5.45 MAD 51.0

14.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 MAD 103

$12.01 MAD 112

-8.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MAD 12.29

$1.69 MAD 15.86

-22.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MAD 11.04

$1.43 MAD 13.37

-17.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 MAD 6.43

$0.94 MAD 8.82

-26.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.50

$0.77 MAD 7.20

3.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 MAD 5.37

$0.75 MAD 7.06

-24.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.75

$0.81 MAD 7.54

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MAD 3.38

$0.26 MAD 2.43

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 MAD 5.73

$0.59 MAD 5.53

3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 MAD 37.24

$4.37 MAD 40.85

-8.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.56 MAD 61.3

$8.30 MAD 77.6

-20.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 MAD 17.13

$2.31 MAD 21.64

-20.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.54

$3.38 MAD 31.65

-34.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 MAD 8.24

$0.42 MAD 3.91

109.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.70 MAD 250

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 MAD 6.20

$0.93 MAD 8.74

-29.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MAD 5.96

$0.62 MAD 5.83

3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 MAD 68.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MAD 14.04

$1.57 MAD 14.64

-4.46%

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

$35.5K MAD 331.7K

$34.9K MAD 326.1K

1.72%

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

$30.8K MAD 287.9K

$31.4K MAD 293.9K

-2.05%

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

$25.43 MAD 238

$37.01 MAD 346

-31.29%

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

$18.07 MAD 169

$9.67 MAD 90.5

86.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.61 MAD 286

$38.22 MAD 358

-19.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.63 MAD 287

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.32 MAD 209

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 MAD 51.4

$6.56 MAD 61.4

-16.31%

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

$71.3 MAD 667

$102 MAD 957

-30.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,919 MAD 18.0K

$8,697 MAD 81.4K

-77.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.05 MAD 281

$32.69 MAD 306

-8.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.60 MAD 427

$47.05 MAD 440

-3.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 MAD 577

$85.9 MAD 804

-28.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.99 MAD 402

$84.5 MAD 790

-49.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 MAD 3,801

$500 MAD 4,681

-18.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MAD 3,331

$333 MAD 3,116

6.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 MAD 9,072

$740 MAD 6,924

31.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 MAD 5,555

$470 MAD 4,394

26.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,979 MAD 18.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 MAD 9,123

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,508

$514 MAD 4,807

-47.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

3.5

85.71%

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

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Last update for Marrakech: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $406 in Essaouira versus $500 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 92% higher in Marrakech, 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 $19.00 in Essaouira versus $32.00 in Marrakech. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $192 – making Essaouira the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Marrakech: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Marrakech is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,224 per month in Essaouira and $1,414 in Marrakech. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Essaouira, 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 $19.00 in Essaouira and $32.00 in Marrakech. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Marrakech, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Marrakech at $943. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marrakech it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Essaouira – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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