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 $924 per month in Marrakech vs $763 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,359 per month in Marrakech vs $1,250 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,794 per month in Marrakech vs $1,737 in Oued Zem, rent included.

Marrakech costs about 21% more than Oued Zem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Marrakech and Oued Zem are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 33% lower, Oued Zem 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 MAD 34.34

$4.19 MAD 39.41

-12.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.90 MAD 300

$45.68 MAD 429

-30.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 MAD 60.5

$7.52 MAD 70.6

-14.36%

Cappuccino

$2.37 MAD 22.31

$2.01 MAD 18.89

17.91%

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

$1.93 MAD 18.18

$0.65 MAD 6.07

196.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 MAD 6.32

$0.36 MAD 3.34

86.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.75 MAD 63.4

$5.26 MAD 49.40

28.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 MAD 50.2

$3.24 MAD 30.49

64.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 MAD 7.78

$0.92 MAD 8.65

-9.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 MAD 7.83

$0.66 MAD 6.17

25.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MAD 14.73

$1.94 MAD 18.22

-19.07%

Eggs

$1.97 MAD 18.50

$2.00 MAD 18.79

-1.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 MAD 74.4

$12.01 MAD 113

-34.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.40 MAD 50.8

$6.66 MAD 62.6

-18.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.09 MAD 114

$12.66 MAD 119

-4.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 MAD 15.23

$1.64 MAD 15.40

-1.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MAD 13.74

$1.47 MAD 13.81

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 MAD 8.63

$0.88 MAD 8.28

4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 MAD 7.26

$0.93 MAD 8.74

-17.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 MAD 6.48

$0.76 MAD 7.11

-9.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 MAD 7.85

$0.78 MAD 7.30

7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 MAD 2.25

$0.41 MAD 3.90

-41.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.58

$0.61 MAD 5.77

-3.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 MAD 40.55

$4.25 MAD 39.96

1.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.05 MAD 75.6

$7.73 MAD 72.6

4.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 MAD 22.05

$2.71 MAD 25.46

-13.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 MAD 32.28

$2.80 MAD 26.33

22.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 MAD 3.93

$0.55 MAD 5.14

-23.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.58 MAD 250

$19.29 MAD 181

37.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 MAD 8.36

$0.74 MAD 6.94

20.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 MAD 6.23

$0.91 MAD 8.54

-27.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.64 MAD 71.8

$4.42 MAD 41.57

72.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 MAD 14.77

$1.60 MAD 15.00

-1.88%

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

$34.6K MAD 325.2K

$36.0K MAD 337.9K

-3.75%

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

$30.2K MAD 284.0K

$32.8K MAD 308.4K

-7.93%

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

$36.21 MAD 340

$36.54 MAD 343

-0.90%

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

$9.59 MAD 90.1

$10.49 MAD 98.6

-8.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.33 MAD 360

$33.61 MAD 316

14.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.61 MAD 278

$26.79 MAD 252

10.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.79 MAD 205

$21.97 MAD 206

-0.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 MAD 62.1

$6.27 MAD 58.9

5.42%

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

$101 MAD 953

$190 MAD 1,782

-46.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,643 MAD 81.2K

$7,178 MAD 67.5K

20.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.31 MAD 304

$50.7 MAD 476

-36.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.07 MAD 442

$45.58 MAD 428

3.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 MAD 795

$93.3 MAD 877

-9.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.5 MAD 794

$70.5 MAD 663

19.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 MAD 4,615

$272 MAD 2,558

80.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 MAD 3,086

$172 MAD 1,612

91.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$760 MAD 7,139

$489 MAD 4,591

55.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 MAD 4,322

$271 MAD 2,548

69.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 MAD 18.6K

$1,242 MAD 11.7K

59.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$954 MAD 8,962

$863 MAD 8,114

10.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$510 MAD 4,791

$249 MAD 2,343

104.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

4.52

-22.57%

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

Last update for Marrakech: September 6, 2026

Last update for Oued Zem: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Marrakech versus $272 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 104% 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 $46.00 in Oued Zem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $211 – 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 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,387 per month in Marrakech and $1,144 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 $101 per month in Marrakech and $190 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 12% cheaper in Marrakech – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oued Zem, where all-in costs run around $763, than in Marrakech at $924. In Oued Zem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marrakech it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.