Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Essaouira Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Essaouira

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $905 per month in Marrakech vs $810 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,396 per month in Marrakech vs $1,226 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,888 per month in Marrakech vs $1,642 in Essaouira, rent included.

Marrakech costs about 12% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Marrakech and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 32% lower, Essaouira 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 MAD 41.93

$4.34 MAD 39.86

5.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.31 MAD 306

$24.74 MAD 227

34.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.99 MAD 64.2

$4.99 MAD 45.88

40.08%

Cappuccino

$2.54 MAD 23.33

$1.84 MAD 16.91

38.04%

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

$1.27 MAD 11.63

$0.45 MAD 4.13

182.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 MAD 5.55

$0.26 MAD 2.36

130.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.34 MAD 49.06

$3.85 MAD 35.40

38.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.32 MAD 58.1

$3.57 MAD 32.83

77.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MAD 8.28

$0.85 MAD 7.80

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 MAD 5.35

$0.53 MAD 4.90

9.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MAD 16.06

$1.69 MAD 15.57

3.55%

Eggs

$2.09 MAD 19.19

$1.80 MAD 16.52

16.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.56 MAD 87.9

$9.59 MAD 88.1

-0.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.98 MAD 55.0

$5.34 MAD 49.08

11.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.03 MAD 101

$11.51 MAD 106

-4.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 MAD 14.53

$1.37 MAD 12.55

15.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 MAD 12.38

$1.27 MAD 11.70

6.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 MAD 8.27

$0.72 MAD 6.59

25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 MAD 8.08

$0.93 MAD 8.56

-5.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.39

$0.69 MAD 6.36

15.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 MAD 6.83

$0.92 MAD 8.47

-19.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 MAD 3.88

$0.39 MAD 3.60

7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MAD 5.88

$0.54 MAD 4.92

18.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MAD 39.94

$4.07 MAD 37.43

6.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 MAD 75.5

$6.61 MAD 60.8

24.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MAD 24.63

$1.93 MAD 17.76

38.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 MAD 27.18

$2.16 MAD 19.83

37.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 MAD 3.92

$0.90 MAD 8.25

-52.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.91 MAD 100

$16.40 MAD 151

-33.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MAD 9.42

$0.68 MAD 6.26

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MAD 4.71

$0.51 MAD 4.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.44 MAD 50.0

$8.69 MAD 79.8

-37.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MAD 14.54

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

$37.8K MAD 347.2K

$37.6K MAD 345.7K

0.42%

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

$30.1K MAD 276.5K

$21.0K MAD 193.3K

42.99%

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

$31.74 MAD 292

$28.04 MAD 258

13.20%

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

$10.91 MAD 100

$13.82 MAD 127

-21.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.40 MAD 426

$28.65 MAD 263

61.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.72 MAD 218

$22.11 MAD 203

7.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.52 MAD 299

$23.63 MAD 217

37.62%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 MAD 62.0

$6.71 MAD 61.7

0.45%

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

$111 MAD 1,023

$75.6 MAD 695

47.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,435 MAD 59.1K

$1,990 MAD 18.3K

223.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.93 MAD 385

$31.43 MAD 289

33.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.0 MAD 460

$39.79 MAD 366

25.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MAD 1,013

$48.84 MAD 449

125.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 MAD 938

$44.20 MAD 406

130.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 MAD 3,997

$388 MAD 3,563

12.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 MAD 2,601

$345 MAD 3,173

-18.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 MAD 7,015

$795 MAD 7,308

-4.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 MAD 4,072

$545 MAD 5,011

-18.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,993 MAD 18.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,039 MAD 9,550

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$528 MAD 4,850

$268 MAD 2,462

96.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.75

5.5

-13.64%

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

Last update for Marrakech: June 1, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Marrakech versus $388 in Essaouira. 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 97% higher in Marrakech, 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 $25.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $179 – 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

Marrakech vs Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Marrakech is pricier by about 12%, 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 $1,357 per month in Marrakech and $1,215 in Essaouira. 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.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Marrakech, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Marrakech and $25.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $810, than in Marrakech at $905. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marrakech 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, Marrakech makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.