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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $905 per month in Marrakech vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,396 per month in Marrakech vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,888 per month in Marrakech vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Marrakech is about 14% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Marrakech and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 32% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 MAD 41.93
$8.03 ₸3,934
-43.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.31 MAD 306
$38.47 ₸18.9K
-13.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.99 MAD 64.2
$6.97 ₸3,416
0.29%
Cappuccino
$2.54 MAD 23.33
$2.40 ₸1,174
5.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MAD 11.63
$0.98 ₸478
29.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 MAD 5.55
$0.57 ₸277
5.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.34 MAD 49.06
$1.40 ₸687
281.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.32 MAD 58.1
$2.99 ₸1,464
111.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 MAD 8.28
$1.31 ₸644
-31.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 MAD 5.35
$0.60 ₸293
-3.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 MAD 16.06
$1.54 ₸756
13.64%
Eggs
$2.09 MAD 19.19
$1.74 ₸852
20.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.56 MAD 87.9
$9.74 ₸4,773
-1.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.98 MAD 55.0
$4.70 ₸2,301
27.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.03 MAD 101
$7.50 ₸3,678
47.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 MAD 14.53
$1.35 ₸661
17.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 MAD 12.38
$1.98 ₸970
-31.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 MAD 8.27
$1.95 ₸957
-53.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MAD 8.08
$2.07 ₸1,014
-57.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.39
$0.63 ₸308
26.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 MAD 6.83
$0.42 ₸206
76.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 MAD 3.88
$1.24 ₸608
-66.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 MAD 5.88
$0.71 ₸346
-9.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MAD 39.94
$1.97 ₸965
120.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.22 MAD 75.5
$10.09 ₸4,947
-18.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 MAD 24.63
$0.88 ₸433
204.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 MAD 27.18
$2.04 ₸999
45.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 MAD 3.92
$0.24 ₸118
79.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.91 MAD 100
$17.76 ₸8,701
-38.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 MAD 9.42
$1.16 ₸567
-12.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 MAD 4.71
$0.70 ₸343
-27.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.44 MAD 50.0
$4.80 ₸2,355
13.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 MAD 14.54
$0.49 ₸240
222.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K MAD 347.2K
$23.2K ₸11.4M
62.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K MAD 276.5K
$27.2K ₸13.4M
10.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.74 MAD 292
$63.8 ₸31.3K
-50.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.91 MAD 100
$8.60 ₸4,213
26.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.40 MAD 426
$13.83 ₸6,777
235.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.72 MAD 218
$48.67 ₸23.9K
-51.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.52 MAD 299
$21.24 ₸10.4K
53.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74 MAD 62.0
$5.11 ₸2,505
31.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$111 MAD 1,023
$267 ₸130.8K
-58.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,435 MAD 59.1K
$12.9K ₸6.3M
-49.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.93 MAD 385
$84.0 ₸41.1K
-50.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0 MAD 460
$43.48 ₸21.3K
15.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 MAD 1,013
$96.8 ₸47.4K
13.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 MAD 938
$119 ₸58.5K
-14.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 MAD 3,997
$665 ₸325.9K
-34.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$283 MAD 2,601
$420 ₸205.7K
-32.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 MAD 7,015
$1,175 ₸575.8K
-35.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$443 MAD 4,072
$773 ₸378.9K
-42.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,993 MAD 18.3K
$2,143 ₸1.0M
-6.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,039 MAD 9,550
$1,254 ₸614.6K
-17.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marrakech
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$528 MAD 4,850
$789 ₸386.9K
-33.15%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Marrakech versus $665 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 50% 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 $38.00 in Almaty. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Marrakech vs $189 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 17%, 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 $1,357 per month in Marrakech and $1,586 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 Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Marrakech and $38.00 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 vs Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $905 in Marrakech and $1,057 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 Marrakech or Almaty?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Marrakech, where all-in costs run around $905, than in Almaty at $1,057. 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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