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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $888 per month in Marrakech vs $837 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,365 per month in Marrakech vs $1,254 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,842 per month in Marrakech vs $1,671 in Essaouira, rent included.

Marrakech costs about 6% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 MAD 42.55

$4.36 MAD 40.68

4.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.35 MAD 311

$25.14 MAD 234

32.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.22 MAD 67.3

$4.97 MAD 46.37

45.27%

Cappuccino

$2.50 MAD 23.30

$1.76 MAD 16.37

42.05%

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

$1.23 MAD 11.44

$0.46 MAD 4.26

167.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.53

$0.26 MAD 2.41

126.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.44 MAD 50.7

$3.79 MAD 35.36

43.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 MAD 60.4

$3.72 MAD 34.69

73.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 MAD 8.35

$0.84 MAD 7.87

5.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 MAD 5.46

$0.49 MAD 4.57

20.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 MAD 17.01

$1.65 MAD 15.43

10.30%

Eggs

$2.03 MAD 18.92

$1.81 MAD 16.90

12.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 MAD 89.0

$9.24 MAD 86.1

3.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 MAD 58.6

$5.29 MAD 49.31

18.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 MAD 104

$11.42 MAD 107

-2.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 MAD 14.16

$1.42 MAD 13.21

7.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MAD 13.01

$1.22 MAD 11.42

13.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 MAD 9.01

$0.72 MAD 6.69

34.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 MAD 7.64

$0.88 MAD 8.22

-6.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MAD 7.31

$0.70 MAD 6.52

11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.44

$0.91 MAD 8.48

-12.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 MAD 3.96

$0.39 MAD 3.66

7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MAD 5.90

$0.53 MAD 4.97

18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MAD 39.86

$4.15 MAD 38.66

2.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 MAD 74.6

$6.45 MAD 60.1

24.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MAD 24.67

$1.93 MAD 18.03

37.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 MAD 28.44

$2.20 MAD 20.52

38.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MAD 4.20

$0.87 MAD 8.11

-48.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.79 MAD 101

$16.46 MAD 154

-34.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MAD 9.02

$0.63 MAD 5.92

53.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.51

$0.48 MAD 4.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.38 MAD 50.2

$8.98 MAD 83.8

-40.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MAD 14.14

$1.58 MAD 14.70

-3.80%

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

$37.8K MAD 352.1K

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

1.60%

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

$30.2K MAD 281.7K

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

43.47%

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

$32.73 MAD 305

$27.86 MAD 260

17.48%

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

$10.96 MAD 102

$13.90 MAD 130

-21.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.56 MAD 434

$27.94 MAD 261

66.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.04 MAD 224

$21.61 MAD 202

11.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.63 MAD 295

$22.76 MAD 212

38.97%

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 MAD 60.3

$6.65 MAD 62.0

-2.71%

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

$111 MAD 1,030

$75.3 MAD 702

46.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,450 MAD 60.1K

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

229.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.93 MAD 400

$30.88 MAD 288

39.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 MAD 468

$39.68 MAD 370

26.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MAD 995

$49.28 MAD 460

116.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 MAD 970

$44.34 MAD 413

134.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 MAD 4,093

$388 MAD 3,617

13.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 MAD 2,571

$346 MAD 3,229

-20.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 MAD 7,041

$813 MAD 7,584

-7.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 MAD 4,111

$559 MAD 5,209

-21.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 MAD 18.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$952 MAD 8,876

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$521 MAD 4,857

$268 MAD 2,498

94.42%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 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 94% 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: $196 vs $176 – 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 6%, 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 $1,332 per month in Marrakech and $1,256 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 11% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $888 in Marrakech and $837 in Essaouira, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.