Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Marrakech: $889 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Marrakech
🇲🇦 Morocco
$889
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Marrakech and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Marrakech and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $889 in Marrakech versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • Marrakech $889
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,327 in Marrakech versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • Marrakech $1,327
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,765 in Marrakech versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • Marrakech $1,765
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in Marrakech costs roughly 60% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Marrakech is 34% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marrakech
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.60 MAD 35.10
$16.50 €14.67
-78.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.92 MAD 301
$61.3 €54.5
-49.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.03 MAD 58.8
$11.27 €10.03
-46.50%
Cappuccino
$2.29 MAD 22.32
$3.06 €2.72
-25.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 MAD 19.11
$2.26 €2.01
-13.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 MAD 6.45
$1.73 €1.54
-61.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.80 MAD 66.3
$3.39 €3.02
100.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 MAD 52.1
$3.40 €3.02
57.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marrakech
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 MAD 8.06
$1.12 €1.00
-25.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 MAD 7.90
$1.86 €1.65
-56.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MAD 15.29
$1.53 €1.36
2.61%
Eggs
$2.00 MAD 19.48
$3.96 €3.53
-49.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.87 MAD 76.8
$12.76 €11.35
-38.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.42 MAD 52.9
$7.90 €7.02
-31.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.50 MAD 112
$16.97 €15.09
-32.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 MAD 15.86
$2.27 €2.02
-28.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 MAD 13.87
$1.75 €1.55
-18.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.91 MAD 8.83
$1.85 €1.64
-50.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.75
$2.57 €2.28
-68.87%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.99
$1.86 €1.65
-61.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.57
$2.02 €1.80
-61.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.23 MAD 2.24
$1.44 €1.28
-84.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MAD 5.51
$0.82 €0.73
-31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MAD 39.97
$6.56 €5.83
-37.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.91 MAD 77.1
$5.62 €5.00
40.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 MAD 22.12
$1.28 €1.14
77.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 MAD 32.69
$2.07 €1.84
61.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Marrakech
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MAD 3.83
$2.35 €2.09
-83.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.21 MAD 256
$44.18 €39.30
-40.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 MAD 8.47
$3.99 €3.55
-78.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 MAD 6.24
$1.09 €0.97
-41.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.31 MAD 71.2
$16.64 €14.81
-56.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 MAD 14.48
$2.28 €2.03
-34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K MAD 331.0K
$33.7K €30.0K
0.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K MAD 294.4K
$39.3K €35.0K
-23.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marrakech
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.87 MAD 350
$167 €149
-78.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89 MAD 86.6
$18.80 €16.72
-52.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.31 MAD 364
$33.09 €29.43
12.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marrakech
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.67 MAD 280
$46.01 €40.93
-37.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.14 MAD 206
$19.19 €17.07
10.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MAD 61.5
$9.84 €8.75
-35.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marrakech
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$101 MAD 985
$677 €602
-85.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,211 MAD 80.1K
$16.9K €15.1K
-51.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marrakech
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.02 MAD 312
$101 €90.1
-68.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.81 MAD 437
$45.76 €40.70
-2.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.4 MAD 813
$100.0 €88.9
-16.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5 MAD 794
$123 €109
-33.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marrakech
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 MAD 4,769
$1,614 €1,436
-69.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 MAD 3,027
$1,197 €1,065
-74.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$734 MAD 7,154
$2,862 €2,545
-74.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 MAD 4,339
$1,990 €1,770
-77.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,930 MAD 18.8K
$7,577 €6,740
-74.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$938 MAD 9,145
$4,307 €3,831
-78.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marrakech
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$491 MAD 4,791
$1,588 €1,412
-69.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
3.85
16.88%

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

Last update for Marrakech: October 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Marrakech
$310
Lisbon
$1.2K 286% $887
Groceries & Markets
Marrakech
$185
Lisbon
$269 45.3% $84
Eating Out
Marrakech
$130
Lisbon
$242 87% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Marrakech
$109
Lisbon
$166 53% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marrakech
$82
Lisbon
$219 167% $137
Sport & Entertainment
Marrakech
$41
Lisbon
$66 59.1% $24
Getting Around
Marrakech
$32
Lisbon
$63 97.9% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Marrakech and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 223% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $31.00 in Marrakech vs $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $269 per month, with Marrakech cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇦 Marrakech
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
12:28 12:28 PM
12:28 12:28 PM
Same time as Marrakech
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,002,697
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Marrakech Lisbon 790 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Marrakech
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Marrakech and in Lisbon?
Marrakech and Lisbon differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($889 vs $2,223 including rent). Marrakech is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 223% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Marrakech and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $489 in Marrakech versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Marrakech and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $101 in Marrakech versus $677 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $889 in Marrakech versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Marrakech but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Marrakech the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Marrakech and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Marrakech or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Marrakech and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Marrakech or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Marrakech gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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