Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $888 per month in Marrakech vs $1,080 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,365 per month in Marrakech vs $1,692 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,842 per month in Marrakech vs $2,304 in Almaty, rent included.

Marrakech is about 18% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Marrakech and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 34% lower, Almaty 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 MAD 42.55
$7.90 ₸3,720
-42.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.35 MAD 311
$38.58 ₸18.2K
-13.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.22 MAD 67.3
$6.92 ₸3,256
4.34%
Cappuccino
$2.50 MAD 23.30
$2.43 ₸1,142
2.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MAD 11.44
$0.99 ₸465
24.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.53
$0.52 ₸247
13.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.44 MAD 50.7
$1.36 ₸639
300.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.47 MAD 60.4
$2.95 ₸1,387
119.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 MAD 8.35
$1.31 ₸617
-32.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 MAD 5.46
$0.55 ₸258
7.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 MAD 17.01
$1.52 ₸716
19.74%
Eggs
$2.03 MAD 18.92
$1.76 ₸829
15.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.55 MAD 89.0
$9.66 ₸4,550
-1.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.29 MAD 58.6
$4.67 ₸2,201
34.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 MAD 104
$7.69 ₸3,620
45.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 MAD 14.16
$1.39 ₸657
9.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 MAD 13.01
$1.91 ₸901
-27.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 MAD 9.01
$1.94 ₸915
-50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 MAD 7.64
$2.06 ₸972
-60.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.31
$0.58 ₸275
34.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.44
$0.43 ₸202
86.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 MAD 3.96
$1.30 ₸613
-67.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 5.90
$0.74 ₸347
-14.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MAD 39.86
$1.94 ₸913
120.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.00 MAD 74.6
$10.66 ₸5,019
-24.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 MAD 24.67
$0.82 ₸387
223.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 MAD 28.44
$2.11 ₸992
44.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 MAD 4.20
$0.24 ₸114
87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.79 MAD 101
$18.33 ₸8,633
-41.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.97 MAD 9.02
$1.20 ₸567
-19.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 MAD 4.51
$0.71 ₸336
-32.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MAD 50.2
$4.63 ₸2,181
16.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MAD 14.14
$0.52 ₸245
192.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K MAD 352.1K
$23.6K ₸11.1M
60.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K MAD 281.7K
$27.4K ₸12.9M
10.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.73 MAD 305
$62.4 ₸29.4K
-47.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.96 MAD 102
$8.56 ₸4,029
28.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.56 MAD 434
$13.90 ₸6,547
234.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.04 MAD 224
$46.84 ₸22.1K
-48.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.63 MAD 295
$21.46 ₸10.1K
47.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 MAD 60.3
$5.20 ₸2,449
24.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$111 MAD 1,030
$268 ₸126.0K
-58.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,450 MAD 60.1K
$13.0K ₸6.1M
-50.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.93 MAD 400
$84.9 ₸40.0K
-49.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2 MAD 468
$44.46 ₸20.9K
12.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MAD 995
$99.5 ₸46.8K
7.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 MAD 970
$120 ₸56.4K
-13.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 MAD 4,093
$643 ₸302.9K
-31.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 MAD 2,571
$425 ₸200.1K
-35.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$755 MAD 7,041
$1,157 ₸545.0K
-34.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$441 MAD 4,111
$776 ₸365.2K
-43.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 MAD 18.5K
$2,362 ₸1.1M
-16.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$952 MAD 8,876
$1,364 ₸642.1K
-30.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$521 MAD 4,857
$834 ₸392.7K
-37.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.75
18.39
-74.17%

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

Last update for Marrakech: July 12, 2026

Last update for Almaty: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Marrakech versus $643 in Almaty. 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 60% higher in Almaty, 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 $33.00 in Marrakech versus $39.00 in Almaty. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Marrakech vs $190 in Almaty – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Marrakech vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Marrakech?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,332 per month in Marrakech and $1,620 in Almaty. 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 Marrakech, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Marrakech or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Marrakech and $39.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Marrakech and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $888 in Marrakech and $1,080 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Marrakech or in Almaty?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Marrakech, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Almaty at $1,080. In Marrakech it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Marrakech or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Marrakech – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Marrakech or Almaty?
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 Marrakech. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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