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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $943 per month in Marrakech vs $1,364 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Marrakech vs $2,124 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,817 per month in Marrakech vs $2,885 in Almaty, rent included.

Marrakech is about 31% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Marrakech and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 31% lower, Almaty 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.85 MAD 35.92
$12.92 ₸5,880
-70.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.21 MAD 301
$45.03 ₸20.5K
-28.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.32 MAD 59.0
$8.61 ₸3,916
-26.60%
Cappuccino
$2.36 MAD 22.05
$3.15 ₸1,431
-25.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 MAD 18.79
$1.33 ₸604
51.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 MAD 5.94
$0.82 ₸371
-21.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.97 MAD 65.1
$2.43 ₸1,104
186.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 MAD 50.9
$3.92 ₸1,781
39.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 MAD 8.55
$1.65 ₸749
-44.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 MAD 8.43
$0.81 ₸367
11.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MAD 14.61
$2.08 ₸948
-25.00%
Eggs
$2.07 MAD 19.34
$2.30 ₸1,048
-10.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.99 MAD 74.6
$12.23 ₸5,563
-34.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.45 MAD 50.8
$6.66 ₸3,028
-18.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.01 MAD 112
$10.73 ₸4,881
11.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 MAD 15.82
$1.85 ₸842
-8.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MAD 13.34
$2.36 ₸1,074
-39.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 MAD 8.80
$2.90 ₸1,318
-67.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.77 MAD 7.18
$2.77 ₸1,260
-72.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 MAD 7.05
$0.75 ₸342
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.53
$0.57 ₸260
42.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.26 MAD 2.43
$1.60 ₸726
-83.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.52
$0.97 ₸441
-39.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.37 MAD 40.76
$2.57 ₸1,171
70.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.30 MAD 77.5
$10.75 ₸4,892
-22.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 MAD 21.60
$1.17 ₸533
97.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 MAD 31.59
$2.38 ₸1,082
42.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 MAD 3.90
$0.25 ₸114
68.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.70 MAD 249
$21.05 ₸9,576
26.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 MAD 8.72
$1.33 ₸603
-30.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 MAD 5.82
$0.63 ₸287
-1.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.32 MAD 68.4
$10.91 ₸4,963
-32.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 MAD 14.61
$0.67 ₸307
134.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K MAD 325.4K
$26.2K ₸11.9M
32.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K MAD 293.3K
$29.5K ₸13.4M
6.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.01 MAD 346
$90.4 ₸41.1K
-59.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.67 MAD 90.3
$10.95 ₸4,981
-11.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.22 MAD 357
$17.47 ₸7,947
118.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.63 MAD 286
$75.1 ₸34.2K
-59.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.32 MAD 208
$29.29 ₸13.3K
-23.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.56 MAD 61.3
$6.32 ₸2,875
3.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$102 MAD 955
$425 ₸193.5K
-75.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,697 MAD 81.2K
$11.6K ₸5.3M
-25.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.69 MAD 305
$86.7 ₸39.4K
-62.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.05 MAD 439
$46.71 ₸21.3K
0.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.9 MAD 802
$139 ₸63.3K
-38.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.5 MAD 788
$133 ₸60.3K
-36.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 MAD 4,671
$791 ₸359.7K
-36.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 MAD 3,110
$498 ₸226.4K
-33.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$740 MAD 6,910
$1,432 ₸651.5K
-48.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MAD 4,385
$912 ₸415.1K
-48.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,979 MAD 18.5K
$2,446 ₸1.1M
-19.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$975 MAD 9,104
$1,504 ₸684.3K
-35.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$514 MAD 4,797
$850 ₸386.5K
-39.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
20.61
-83.02%

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

Last update for Marrakech: August 29, 2026

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Marrakech versus $791 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 65% 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 $32.00 in Marrakech versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $247 – making Marrakech 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
Marrakech vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Marrakech?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 45%, 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 $1,414 per month in Marrakech and $2,046 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 $32.00 in Marrakech and $45.00 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 $943 in Marrakech and $1,364 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 $943, than in Almaty at $1,364. 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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