Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Marrakech: $872 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

42

Cost of Living Index in Marrakech
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Marrakech Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
Learn more

Nosara Living Index

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Marrakech

🇲🇦 Morocco

$872

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Marrakech and in Nosara

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 Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $872 per month in Marrakech vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

Marrakech $872
Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Marrakech vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

Marrakech $1,299
Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $1,726 per month in Marrakech vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

Marrakech $1,726
Nosara $3,712

Marrakech is about 53% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Marrakech sits 35% below the global median, while Nosara is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 MAD 34.16

$12.22 ₡5,509

-71.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.44 MAD 302

$60.2 ₡27.1K

-49.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.88 MAD 58.3

$7.54 ₡3,399

-22.02%

Cappuccino

$2.14 MAD 21.25

$4.31 ₡1,941

-50.35%

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

$1.85 MAD 18.30

$1.72 ₡773

7.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.90

$1.35 ₡608

-56.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.56 MAD 65.1

$3.24 ₡1,459

102.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 MAD 55.1

$4.48 ₡2,018

23.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 MAD 7.94

$1.57 ₡707

-49.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 MAD 7.76

$3.17 ₡1,429

-75.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MAD 14.84

$2.42 ₡1,091

-38.02%

Eggs

$1.93 MAD 19.17

$3.57 ₡1,609

-45.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 MAD 74.5

$7.43 ₡3,349

1.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.14 MAD 51.0

$10.42 ₡4,697

-50.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 MAD 110

$13.66 ₡6,156

-19.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.59 MAD 15.81

$2.32 ₡1,044

-31.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 MAD 13.09

$1.61 ₡728

-18.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 MAD 9.16

$4.74 ₡2,138

-80.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 MAD 7.51

$1.66 ₡747

-54.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 MAD 6.51

$3.72 ₡1,679

-82.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 MAD 7.66

$3.57 ₡1,611

-78.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 MAD 2.18

$1.10 ₡497

-80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.83

$2.55 ₡1,149

-76.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.00 MAD 39.67

$4.95 ₡2,232

-19.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 MAD 74.9

$20.01 ₡9,020

-62.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 MAD 21.44

$2.79 ₡1,256

-22.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 MAD 31.35

$3.53 ₡1,589

-10.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MAD 3.84

$1.19 ₡537

-67.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.95 MAD 247

$72.1 ₡32.5K

-65.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 MAD 7.96

$2.24 ₡1,011

-64.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 MAD 5.70

$1.55 ₡701

-63.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 MAD 69.2

$8.86 ₡3,993

-21.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MAD 14.25

$1.57 ₡708

-8.28%

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

$33.1K MAD 328.4K

$21.8K ₡9.8M

51.87%

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

$29.1K MAD 288.3K

$34.6K ₡15.6M

-16.07%

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

$34.25 MAD 340

$93.5 ₡42.1K

-63.35%

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

$8.91 MAD 88.4

$35.11 ₡15.8K

-74.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.28 MAD 360

$51.5 ₡23.2K

-29.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.95 MAD 277

$71.4 ₡32.2K

-60.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.22 MAD 201

$35.44 ₡16.0K

-42.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.44 MAD 63.9

$7.84 ₡3,535

-17.86%

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

$98.8 MAD 980

$490 ₡220.7K

-79.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,253 MAD 81.9K

$11.9K ₡5.4M

-30.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.84 MAD 306

$53.5 ₡24.1K

-42.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.10 MAD 437

$55.8 ₡25.1K

-20.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 MAD 788

$79.3 ₡35.7K

0.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.0 MAD 794

$78.9 ₡35.6K

1.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 MAD 4,557

$786 ₡354.3K

-41.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 MAD 2,969

$780 ₡351.6K

-61.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 MAD 6,995

$3,860 ₡1.7M

-81.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 MAD 4,334

$1,407 ₡634.4K

-68.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,846 MAD 18.3K

$6,972 ₡3.1M

-73.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$899 MAD 8,915

$1,201 ₡541.3K

-25.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$483 MAD 4,795

$876 ₡395.0K

-44.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

8.62

-47.80%

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

Last update for Marrakech: October 4, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Marrakech

$299 34.9%

Nosara

$780 43% 161% $480

Groceries & Markets

Marrakech

$178 20.8%

Nosara

$350 19.3% 96.4% $172

Eating Out

Marrakech

$125 14.5%

Nosara

$209 11.6% 68.1% $85

Clothing & Footwear

Marrakech

$106 12.3%

Nosara

$120 6.6% 14.1% $15

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Marrakech

$79 9.3%

Nosara

$180 9.9% 127% $101

Sport & Entertainment

Marrakech

$41 4.8%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 113% $46

Getting Around

Marrakech

$30 3.5%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 188% $57

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Marrakech versus $786 in Nosara. 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 81% higher in Nosara, 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 $30.00 in Marrakech versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $350 – making Marrakech the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇲🇦 Marrakech

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

03:22 3:22 AM

20:22 8:22 PM

7 h behind Marrakech

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,002,697

4,912

💱 Currency

Moroccan Dirham MAD د.م.

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 MAD = 10.08 USD

100 MAD = 8.99 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇦 Moroccan Dirham (د.م.)

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 9.92 MAD (1 MAD = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.12 MAD (100 MAD = 8.99 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

USD to MAD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Marrakech Nosara 8,270 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Marrakech
Nosara

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 Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 111%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,309 per month in Marrakech and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $98.8 per month in Marrakech and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 96% more in Nosara, 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 Marrakech, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Marrakech it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Marrakech. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.