Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Oued Zem Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Oued Zem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $883 per month in Marrakech vs $783 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,383 per month in Marrakech vs $1,295 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,884 per month in Marrakech vs $1,808 in Oued Zem, rent included.

Marrakech costs about 13% more than Oued Zem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Marrakech and Oued Zem are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 34% lower, Oued Zem 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 MAD 42.07

$4.63 MAD 42.81

-1.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.45 MAD 300

$49.13 MAD 454

-33.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.16 MAD 66.2

$6.81 MAD 63.0

5.14%

Cappuccino

$2.59 MAD 23.97

$2.04 MAD 18.87

26.96%

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

$1.28 MAD 11.82

$0.58 MAD 5.35

120.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 MAD 5.26

$0.41 MAD 3.77

39.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.61 MAD 51.9

$5.38 MAD 49.78

4.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.31 MAD 58.4

$4.05 MAD 37.46

55.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MAD 8.37

$0.89 MAD 8.21

1.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 MAD 5.43

$0.50 MAD 4.65

18.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 MAD 17.09

$1.87 MAD 17.30

-1.07%

Eggs

$2.02 MAD 18.72

$2.02 MAD 18.73

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 MAD 86.1

$13.04 MAD 121

-28.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 MAD 55.6

$6.95 MAD 64.3

-13.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.39 MAD 105

$11.61 MAD 107

-1.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 MAD 13.90

$1.60 MAD 14.78

-6.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MAD 12.79

$1.39 MAD 12.89

-0.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 MAD 8.21

$0.78 MAD 7.23

14.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 MAD 7.79

$0.86 MAD 7.96

-2.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.37

$0.72 MAD 6.70

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MAD 7.35

$0.69 MAD 6.39

14.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 MAD 3.67

$0.39 MAD 3.65

2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.47

$0.58 MAD 5.38

1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MAD 39.56

$4.40 MAD 40.70

-2.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.93 MAD 73.4

$7.73 MAD 71.5

2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MAD 24.99

$2.74 MAD 25.34

-1.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 MAD 27.23

$2.43 MAD 22.48

20.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MAD 4.20

$0.47 MAD 4.38

-4.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.06 MAD 102

$16.59 MAD 153

-33.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 MAD 9.33

$0.56 MAD 5.22

80.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 MAD 4.85

$0.88 MAD 8.11

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 MAD 49.65

$4.33 MAD 40.08

24.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MAD 14.32

$1.53 MAD 14.16

1.31%

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

$36.9K MAD 341.0K

$36.5K MAD 338.0K

0.87%

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

$29.3K MAD 271.5K

$29.0K MAD 268.1K

1.24%

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

$31.97 MAD 296

$41.67 MAD 385

-23.28%

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

$10.94 MAD 101

$10.86 MAD 100

0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.22 MAD 428

$39.64 MAD 367

16.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.18 MAD 224

$23.97 MAD 222

0.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.12 MAD 297

$23.10 MAD 214

39.05%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 MAD 61.2

$6.76 MAD 62.5

-2.07%

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

$112 MAD 1,038

$160 MAD 1,480

-29.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,441 MAD 59.6K

$6,473 MAD 59.9K

-0.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.91 MAD 397

$53.4 MAD 494

-19.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.5 MAD 468

$47.87 MAD 443

5.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 MAD 1,001

$106 MAD 979

2.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 MAD 962

$101 MAD 931

3.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 MAD 3,955

$279 MAD 2,584

53.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 MAD 2,570

$176 MAD 1,632

57.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 MAD 6,963

$509 MAD 4,707

47.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 MAD 4,208

$307 MAD 2,841

48.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,978 MAD 18.3K

$1,380 MAD 12.8K

43.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,011 MAD 9,356

$1,050 MAD 9,710

-3.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$515 MAD 4,762

$246 MAD 2,274

109.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.75

4.81

-1.25%

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

Last update for Marrakech: June 6, 2026

Last update for Oued Zem: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Marrakech versus $279 in Oued Zem. 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 109% 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 $49.00 in Oued Zem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $208 – making Marrakech 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 Oued Zem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Marrakech is pricier by about 13%, 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 $1,324 per month in Marrakech and $1,174 in Oued Zem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oued Zem, 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 $160 in Oued Zem. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Marrakech – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $883 in Marrakech and $783 in Oued Zem, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Oued Zem – 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 Oued Zem. 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.