Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Ouarzazate Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Ouarzazate

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $878 per month in Marrakech vs $571 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,387 per month in Marrakech vs $922 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,896 per month in Marrakech vs $1,273 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

Marrakech costs about 54% more than Ouarzazate, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Marrakech and Ouarzazate are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 34% lower, Ouarzazate 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.60 MAD 42.58

$4.75 MAD 43.92

-3.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.52 MAD 310

$11.07 MAD 102

202.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.28 MAD 67.4

$4.45 MAD 41.20

63.60%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MAD 22.71

$1.07 MAD 9.89

128.97%

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

$1.23 MAD 11.33

$0.46 MAD 4.27

167.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 MAD 5.11

$0.33 MAD 3.01

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.42 MAD 50.2

$2.67 MAD 24.72

103.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.23 MAD 57.7

$2.67 MAD 24.73

133.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 MAD 8.84

$0.81 MAD 7.47

18.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 MAD 5.37

$0.53 MAD 4.92

9.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 MAD 16.48

$1.52 MAD 14.10

17.11%

Eggs

$2.08 MAD 19.26

$1.63 MAD 15.11

27.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 MAD 88.1

$7.81 MAD 72.3

21.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 MAD 57.2

$4.00 MAD 37.00

54.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.20 MAD 104

$6.68 MAD 61.8

67.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 MAD 14.06

$0.92 MAD 8.49

65.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MAD 12.72

$1.38 MAD 12.76

-0.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 MAD 8.95

$0.64 MAD 5.94

51.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 MAD 7.81

$0.69 MAD 6.35

21.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 MAD 7.00

$0.64 MAD 5.91

18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 MAD 6.81

$0.46 MAD 4.27

60.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 MAD 3.67

$0.21 MAD 1.94

90.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MAD 5.41

$0.62 MAD 5.76

-6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MAD 39.77

$4.30 MAD 39.75

Wine (Bottle)

$8.29 MAD 76.7

$7.98 MAD 73.8

3.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 MAD 24.15

$2.70 MAD 24.99

-3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 MAD 27.35

$2.93 MAD 27.10

1.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MAD 4.21

$0.51 MAD 4.68

-9.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.01 MAD 102

$16.15 MAD 149

-31.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MAD 9.46

$0.57 MAD 5.27

78.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.46

$0.48 MAD 4.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 MAD 51.9

$2.70 MAD 25.02

107.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MAD 14.21

$1.57 MAD 14.48

-1.91%

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

$36.5K MAD 338.0K

$37.2K MAD 344.3K

-1.84%

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

$29.8K MAD 275.9K

$30.3K MAD 280.3K

-1.55%

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

$32.83 MAD 304

$32.25 MAD 298

1.80%

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

$10.93 MAD 101

$5.32 MAD 49.17

105.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.33 MAD 419

$24.24 MAD 224

87.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.36 MAD 225

$15.54 MAD 144

56.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.62 MAD 302

$23.07 MAD 213

41.40%

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 MAD 60.3

$3.92 MAD 36.23

66.33%

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

$112 MAD 1,040

$76.2 MAD 705

47.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,249 MAD 57.8K

$6,286 MAD 58.1K

-0.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 MAD 392

$39.02 MAD 361

8.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 MAD 470

$49.86 MAD 461

1.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MAD 1,019

$48.44 MAD 448

127.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 MAD 965

$65.1 MAD 602

60.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 MAD 4,064

$243 MAD 2,249

80.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 MAD 2,570

$133 MAD 1,232

108.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$766 MAD 7,081

$509 MAD 4,706

50.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 MAD 4,064

$308 MAD 2,849

42.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,873 MAD 17.3K

$1,599 MAD 14.8K

17.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$979 MAD 9,055

$941 MAD 8,703

4.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 MAD 4,708

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.75

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

Last update for Marrakech: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ouarzazate: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Marrakech versus $243 in Ouarzazate. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Marrakech versus $11.00 in Ouarzazate. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $155 – making Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Marrakech is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,317 per month in Marrakech and $856 in Ouarzazate. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ouarzazate, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $112 per month in Marrakech and $76.2 in Ouarzazate. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ouarzazate, where all-in costs run around $571, than in Marrakech at $878. In Ouarzazate it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marrakech it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ouarzazate – 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 Ouarzazate. 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.