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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $890 per month in Marrakech vs $574 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,379 per month in Marrakech vs $904 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,868 per month in Marrakech vs $1,234 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

Marrakech costs about 55% more than Ouarzazate, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Marrakech and Ouarzazate are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 33% lower, Ouarzazate 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 MAD 42.09

$4.75 MAD 43.84

-4.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 MAD 299

$10.99 MAD 102

194.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 MAD 64.3

$4.35 MAD 40.22

59.77%

Cappuccino

$2.49 MAD 23.00

$1.08 MAD 9.95

130.56%

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

$1.23 MAD 11.36

$0.42 MAD 3.90

192.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.48

$0.32 MAD 2.99

84.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.37 MAD 49.57

$2.71 MAD 25.05

98.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 MAD 56.6

$2.67 MAD 24.65

129.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 MAD 8.83

$0.77 MAD 7.10

24.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 MAD 5.32

$0.56 MAD 5.18

3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 MAD 17.07

$1.45 MAD 13.43

27.59%

Eggs

$2.10 MAD 19.37

$1.63 MAD 15.07

28.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MAD 86.6

$7.64 MAD 70.6

22.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.09 MAD 56.2

$4.18 MAD 38.66

45.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 MAD 105

$6.68 MAD 61.8

70.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 MAD 14.54

$0.95 MAD 8.76

65.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MAD 12.92

$1.38 MAD 12.76

1.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 MAD 8.81

$0.67 MAD 6.20

41.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 MAD 8.13

$0.73 MAD 6.72

20.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 MAD 7.34

$0.67 MAD 6.23

17.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 MAD 6.94

$0.46 MAD 4.22

63.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 MAD 3.92

$0.21 MAD 1.93

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MAD 5.51

$0.63 MAD 5.81

-4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MAD 39.58

$4.51 MAD 41.71

-5.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.97 MAD 73.7

$7.98 MAD 73.7

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 MAD 24.69

$2.64 MAD 24.35

1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 MAD 28.34

$2.95 MAD 27.25

4.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MAD 4.27

$0.51 MAD 4.72

-9.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.90 MAD 101

$16.52 MAD 153

-34.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 MAD 8.78

$0.53 MAD 4.86

79.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 MAD 4.83

$0.48 MAD 4.45

8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 MAD 50.1

$2.69 MAD 24.83

101.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MAD 14.05

$1.55 MAD 14.34

-1.94%

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

$37.9K MAD 349.7K

$36.9K MAD 340.6K

2.66%

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

$30.3K MAD 279.5K

$29.3K MAD 270.5K

3.36%

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

$31.75 MAD 293

$32.28 MAD 298

-1.64%

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

$10.72 MAD 99.1

$5.41 MAD 49.94

98.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.43 MAD 429

$24.59 MAD 227

88.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.39 MAD 225

$15.43 MAD 143

58.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.68 MAD 293

$23.49 MAD 217

34.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 MAD 61.8

$3.90 MAD 36.06

71.54%

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

$112 MAD 1,035

$78.2 MAD 722

43.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,384 MAD 59.0K

$6,406 MAD 59.2K

-0.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.33 MAD 400

$38.65 MAD 357

12.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 MAD 472

$49.64 MAD 459

2.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MAD 1,018

$49.53 MAD 458

122.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MAD 975

$66.8 MAD 617

58.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 MAD 4,016

$246 MAD 2,269

76.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 MAD 2,572

$133 MAD 1,231

109.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 MAD 6,952

$510 MAD 4,714

47.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 MAD 4,122

$304 MAD 2,813

46.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,982 MAD 18.3K

$1,547 MAD 14.3K

28.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,002 MAD 9,257

$934 MAD 8,628

7.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$515 MAD 4,759

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Ouarzazate: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Marrakech versus $246 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 $32.00 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 55%, 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 $1,336 per month in Marrakech and $861 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 $78.2 in Ouarzazate. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $574, than in Marrakech at $890. 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.