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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $943 per month in Marrakech vs $816 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Marrakech vs $1,214 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,817 per month in Marrakech vs $1,613 in Essaouira, rent included.

Marrakech costs about 16% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Marrakech and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 31% lower, Essaouira 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 MAD 35.99

$4.80 MAD 44.90

-19.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.21 MAD 301

$19.41 MAD 182

65.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 MAD 59.1

$7.75 MAD 72.5

-18.45%

Cappuccino

$2.36 MAD 22.10

$1.48 MAD 13.82

59.46%

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

$2.01 MAD 18.83

$0.48 MAD 4.51

318.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 MAD 5.95

$0.39 MAD 3.68

64.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.97 MAD 65.2

$5.24 MAD 49.03

33.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.45 MAD 51.0

$4.57 MAD 42.76

19.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 MAD 8.57

$0.90 MAD 8.45

2.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 MAD 8.45

$0.51 MAD 4.81

76.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MAD 14.64

$1.82 MAD 17.01

-14.29%

Eggs

$2.07 MAD 19.38

$1.69 MAD 15.80

22.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 MAD 74.7

$8.60 MAD 80.5

-7.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.45 MAD 51.0

$6.26 MAD 58.5

-12.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.01 MAD 112

$10.96 MAD 103

9.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 MAD 15.86

$1.31 MAD 12.29

29.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MAD 13.37

$1.18 MAD 11.04

21.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 MAD 8.82

$0.69 MAD 6.43

36.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 MAD 7.20

$0.80 MAD 7.50

-3.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 MAD 7.06

$0.57 MAD 5.37

31.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 MAD 7.54

$0.72 MAD 6.75

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 MAD 2.43

$0.36 MAD 3.38

-27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.53

$0.61 MAD 5.73

-3.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.37 MAD 40.85

$3.98 MAD 37.24

9.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.30 MAD 77.6

$6.56 MAD 61.3

26.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 MAD 21.64

$1.83 MAD 17.13

26.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 MAD 31.65

$2.20 MAD 20.54

53.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 MAD 3.91

$0.88 MAD 8.24

-52.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.70 MAD 250

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MAD 8.74

$0.66 MAD 6.20

40.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 MAD 5.83

$0.64 MAD 5.96

-3.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 MAD 68.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 MAD 14.64

$1.50 MAD 14.04

4.67%

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

$34.9K MAD 326.1K

$35.5K MAD 331.7K

-1.69%

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

$31.4K MAD 293.9K

$30.8K MAD 287.9K

2.09%

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

$37.01 MAD 346

$25.43 MAD 238

45.54%

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

$9.67 MAD 90.5

$18.07 MAD 169

-46.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.22 MAD 358

$30.61 MAD 286

24.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.63 MAD 287

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.32 MAD 209

Cinema Ticket

$6.56 MAD 61.4

$5.49 MAD 51.4

19.49%

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

$102 MAD 957

$71.3 MAD 667

43.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,697 MAD 81.4K

$1,919 MAD 18.0K

353.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.69 MAD 306

$30.05 MAD 281

8.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.05 MAD 440

$45.60 MAD 427

3.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MAD 804

$61.7 MAD 577

39.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.5 MAD 790

$42.99 MAD 402

96.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 MAD 4,681

$406 MAD 3,801

23.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 MAD 3,116

$356 MAD 3,331

-6.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 MAD 6,924

$970 MAD 9,072

-23.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MAD 4,394

$594 MAD 5,555

-20.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,979 MAD 18.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 MAD 9,123

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$514 MAD 4,807

$268 MAD 2,508

91.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

6.5

-46.15%

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

Last update for Marrakech: August 29, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Marrakech versus $406 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 92% 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 $32.00 in Marrakech versus $19.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $177 – 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 16%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Marrakech and $1,224 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Marrakech and $19.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Marrakech at $943. 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.