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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $837 per month in Essaouira vs $879 in Tangier, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Essaouira vs $1,371 in Tangier, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,671 per month in Essaouira vs $1,863 in Tangier, rent included.

Essaouira is about 5% cheaper than Tangier, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Essaouira
Tangier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.36 MAD 40.68
$4.41 MAD 41.14
-1.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.14 MAD 234
$30.62 MAD 285
-17.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 MAD 46.37
$7.24 MAD 67.5
-31.35%
Cappuccino
$1.76 MAD 16.37
$1.66 MAD 15.49
6.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 MAD 4.26
$0.66 MAD 6.17
-30.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 MAD 2.41
$0.33 MAD 3.05
-21.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.79 MAD 35.36
$3.80 MAD 35.45
-0.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 MAD 34.69
$3.34 MAD 31.12
11.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Essaouira
Tangier
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 MAD 7.87
$1.01 MAD 9.38
-16.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 MAD 4.57
$0.85 MAD 7.94
-42.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 MAD 15.43
$1.69 MAD 15.76
-2.37%
Eggs
$1.81 MAD 16.90
$2.20 MAD 20.50
-17.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.24 MAD 86.1
$9.76 MAD 91.0
-5.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.29 MAD 49.31
$6.80 MAD 63.4
-22.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.42 MAD 107
$12.65 MAD 118
-9.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 MAD 13.21
$1.30 MAD 12.12
9.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 MAD 11.42
$1.37 MAD 12.73
-10.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.69
$0.77 MAD 7.14
-6.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MAD 8.22
$0.74 MAD 6.86
18.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 MAD 6.52
$0.65 MAD 6.03
7.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 MAD 8.48
$0.72 MAD 6.70
26.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 MAD 3.66
$0.54 MAD 5.07
-27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 MAD 4.97
$0.62 MAD 5.76
-14.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MAD 38.66
$4.26 MAD 39.77
-2.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.45 MAD 60.1
$9.92 MAD 92.5
-34.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 MAD 18.03
$3.29 MAD 30.69
-41.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 MAD 20.52
$3.27 MAD 30.49
-32.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Essaouira
Tangier
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 MAD 8.11
$0.43 MAD 4.01
102.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.46 MAD 154
$16.66 MAD 155
-1.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.63 MAD 5.92
$0.58 MAD 5.38
8.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 MAD 4.43
$0.48 MAD 4.46
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.98 MAD 83.8
$9.95 MAD 92.8
-9.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 MAD 14.70
$1.52 MAD 14.21
3.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K MAD 346.5K
$37.3K MAD 347.8K
-0.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K MAD 196.4K
$24.5K MAD 228.3K
-13.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Essaouira
Tangier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$27.86 MAD 260
$83.8 MAD 781
-66.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.90 MAD 130
$11.17 MAD 104
24.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.94 MAD 261
$39.16 MAD 365
-28.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Essaouira
Tangier
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.61 MAD 202
$27.90 MAD 260
-22.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.76 MAD 212
$38.31 MAD 357
-40.59%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 MAD 62.0
$7.18 MAD 66.9
-7.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Essaouira
Tangier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$75.3 MAD 702
$97.9 MAD 913
-23.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,956 MAD 18.2K
$6,495 MAD 60.6K
-69.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Essaouira
Tangier
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.88 MAD 288
$30.46 MAD 284
1.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.68 MAD 370
$45.53 MAD 425
-12.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.28 MAD 460
$88.9 MAD 829
-44.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.34 MAD 413
$80.9 MAD 754
-45.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Essaouira
Tangier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$388 MAD 3,617
$445 MAD 4,153
-12.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 MAD 3,229
$238 MAD 2,215
45.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$813 MAD 7,584
$873 MAD 8,142
-6.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$559 MAD 5,209
$441 MAD 4,112
26.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,810 MAD 16.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,264 MAD 11.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Essaouira
Tangier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$268 MAD 2,498
$510 MAD 4,756
-47.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.5
4.35
26.44%

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

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tangier: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Essaouira versus $445 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 90% 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 $25.00 in Essaouira versus $31.00 in Tangier. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $213 – 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
Is Tangier cheaper than Essaouira?
Yes – Tangier is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,256 per month in Essaouira and $1,318 in Tangier. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Essaouira and in Tangier?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Tangier, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Essaouira or in Tangier?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Essaouira and $31.00 in Tangier. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Essaouira or in Tangier?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Tangier at $879. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tangier it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Essaouira or Tangier more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Essaouira or Tangier?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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