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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $837 per month in Essaouira vs $888 in Marrakech, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Essaouira vs $1,365 in Marrakech, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,671 per month in Essaouira vs $1,842 in Marrakech, rent included.

Essaouira is about 6% cheaper than Marrakech, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Essaouira and Marrakech are more affordable than the global median – Essaouira 37% lower, Marrakech 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 MAD 40.68

$4.56 MAD 42.55

-4.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 MAD 234

$33.35 MAD 311

-24.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 MAD 46.37

$7.22 MAD 67.3

-31.16%

Cappuccino

$1.76 MAD 16.37

$2.50 MAD 23.30

-29.60%

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

$0.46 MAD 4.26

$1.23 MAD 11.44

-62.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 MAD 2.41

$0.59 MAD 5.53

-55.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.79 MAD 35.36

$5.44 MAD 50.7

-30.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 MAD 34.69

$6.47 MAD 60.4

-42.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 MAD 7.87

$0.89 MAD 8.35

-5.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 MAD 4.57

$0.59 MAD 5.46

-16.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 MAD 15.43

$1.82 MAD 17.01

-9.34%

Eggs

$1.81 MAD 16.90

$2.03 MAD 18.92

-10.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 MAD 86.1

$9.55 MAD 89.0

-3.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 MAD 49.31

$6.29 MAD 58.6

-15.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 MAD 107

$11.16 MAD 104

2.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 MAD 13.21

$1.52 MAD 14.16

-6.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 MAD 11.42

$1.39 MAD 13.01

-12.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.69

$0.97 MAD 9.01

-25.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 MAD 8.22

$0.82 MAD 7.64

7.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MAD 6.52

$0.78 MAD 7.31

-10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MAD 8.48

$0.80 MAD 7.44

13.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.66

$0.42 MAD 3.96

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MAD 4.97

$0.63 MAD 5.90

-15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MAD 38.66

$4.27 MAD 39.86

-2.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 MAD 60.1

$8.00 MAD 74.6

-19.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 MAD 18.03

$2.65 MAD 24.67

-27.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.52

$3.05 MAD 28.44

-27.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 MAD 8.11

$0.45 MAD 4.20

93.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.46 MAD 154

$10.79 MAD 101

52.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 MAD 5.92

$0.97 MAD 9.02

-35.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.43

$0.48 MAD 4.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 MAD 83.8

$5.38 MAD 50.2

66.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MAD 14.70

$1.52 MAD 14.14

3.95%

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

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

$37.8K MAD 352.1K

-1.58%

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

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

$30.2K MAD 281.7K

-30.30%

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

$27.86 MAD 260

$32.73 MAD 305

-14.88%

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

$13.90 MAD 130

$10.96 MAD 102

26.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.94 MAD 261

$46.56 MAD 434

-39.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 MAD 202

$24.04 MAD 224

-10.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.76 MAD 212

$31.63 MAD 295

-28.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 MAD 62.0

$6.47 MAD 60.3

2.78%

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

$75.3 MAD 702

$111 MAD 1,030

-31.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

$6,450 MAD 60.1K

-69.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.88 MAD 288

$42.93 MAD 400

-28.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.68 MAD 370

$50.2 MAD 468

-21.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.28 MAD 460

$107 MAD 995

-53.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.34 MAD 413

$104 MAD 970

-57.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MAD 3,617

$439 MAD 4,093

-11.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 MAD 3,229

$276 MAD 2,571

25.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 MAD 7,584

$755 MAD 7,041

7.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 MAD 5,209

$441 MAD 4,111

26.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 MAD 18.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$952 MAD 8,876

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,498

$521 MAD 4,857

-48.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

4.75

15.79%

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

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Last update for Marrakech: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Essaouira versus $439 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 94% 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 $25.00 in Essaouira versus $33.00 in Marrakech. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $196 – 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 6%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,256 per month in Essaouira and $1,332 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.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Essaouira and $33.00 in Marrakech. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $837 in Essaouira and $888 in Marrakech, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.