Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Tangier Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Tangier

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $816 per month in Essaouira vs $1,042 in Tangier, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Essaouira vs $1,591 in Tangier, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,613 per month in Essaouira vs $2,140 in Tangier, rent included.

Essaouira is about 22% cheaper than Tangier, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Essaouira and Tangier are more affordable than the global median – Essaouira 41% lower, Tangier 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 MAD 44.90

$5.40 MAD 50.5

-11.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 MAD 182

$37.72 MAD 353

-48.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 MAD 72.5

$7.56 MAD 70.7

2.51%

Cappuccino

$1.48 MAD 13.82

$2.32 MAD 21.69

-36.21%

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

$0.48 MAD 4.51

$0.88 MAD 8.23

-45.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MAD 3.68

$0.45 MAD 4.20

-13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.24 MAD 49.03

$6.29 MAD 58.8

-16.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 MAD 42.76

$5.42 MAD 50.7

-15.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MAD 8.45

$1.10 MAD 10.34

-18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MAD 4.81

$1.16 MAD 10.84

-56.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 MAD 17.01

$1.77 MAD 16.54

2.82%

Eggs

$1.69 MAD 15.80

$1.94 MAD 18.17

-12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.60 MAD 80.5

$10.36 MAD 96.9

-16.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 MAD 58.5

$7.17 MAD 67.1

-12.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 MAD 103

$13.89 MAD 130

-21.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MAD 12.29

$1.59 MAD 14.86

-17.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MAD 11.04

$1.55 MAD 14.51

-23.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 MAD 6.43

$0.76 MAD 7.15

-9.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.50

$0.78 MAD 7.25

2.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 MAD 5.37

$0.65 MAD 6.05

-12.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.75

$0.73 MAD 6.87

-1.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MAD 3.38

$0.51 MAD 4.77

-29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 MAD 5.73

$0.59 MAD 5.51

3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 MAD 37.24

$4.34 MAD 40.64

-8.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.56 MAD 61.3

$9.46 MAD 88.5

-30.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 MAD 17.13

$4.03 MAD 37.70

-54.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.54

$3.99 MAD 37.35

-44.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 MAD 8.24

$0.42 MAD 3.92

109.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.04 MAD 150

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 MAD 6.20

$0.73 MAD 6.86

-9.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MAD 5.96

$0.93 MAD 8.74

-31.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 MAD 88.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MAD 14.04

$1.54 MAD 14.38

-2.60%

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

$35.5K MAD 331.7K

$34.9K MAD 326.5K

1.59%

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

$30.8K MAD 287.9K

$30.5K MAD 285.6K

0.80%

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

$25.43 MAD 238

$76.9 MAD 719

-66.91%

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

$18.07 MAD 169

$14.04 MAD 131

28.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.61 MAD 286

$41.16 MAD 385

-25.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.83 MAD 288

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.61 MAD 352

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 MAD 51.4

$7.67 MAD 71.7

-28.42%

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

$71.3 MAD 667

$95.4 MAD 892

-25.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,919 MAD 18.0K

$6,349 MAD 59.4K

-69.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.05 MAD 281

$37.82 MAD 354

-20.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.60 MAD 427

$51.4 MAD 481

-11.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 MAD 577

$102 MAD 954

-39.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.99 MAD 402

$108 MAD 1,010

-60.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 MAD 3,801

$507 MAD 4,742

-19.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MAD 3,331

$331 MAD 3,096

7.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 MAD 9,072

$892 MAD 8,342

8.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 MAD 5,555

$533 MAD 4,982

11.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,794 MAD 16.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,232 MAD 11.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,508

$524 MAD 4,906

-48.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

3.67

77.11%

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

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Last update for Tangier: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $406 in Essaouira versus $507 in Tangier. 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 96% higher in Tangier, 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 $38.00 in Tangier. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $230 – 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 Tangier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tangier is pricier by about 28%, 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 $1,224 per month in Essaouira and $1,563 in Tangier. 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 $38.00 in Tangier. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Tangier, 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 Tangier at $1,042. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tangier 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, Tangier makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.