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 $875 per month in Marrakech vs $790 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,374 per month in Marrakech vs $1,321 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Marrakech vs $1,851 in Oued Zem, rent included.

Marrakech costs about 11% more than Oued Zem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Marrakech and Oued Zem are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 34% lower, Oued Zem 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 MAD 42.79

$4.73 MAD 44.34

-3.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.27 MAD 303

$50.2 MAD 471

-35.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 MAD 66.7

$6.53 MAD 61.3

8.73%

Cappuccino

$2.47 MAD 23.22

$2.04 MAD 19.17

21.08%

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

$1.23 MAD 11.49

$0.63 MAD 5.90

95.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 MAD 5.23

$0.37 MAD 3.48

51.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.51 MAD 51.7

$5.62 MAD 52.7

-1.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.38 MAD 59.9

$4.06 MAD 38.05

57.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MAD 8.42

$0.82 MAD 7.66

9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 MAD 5.15

$0.47 MAD 4.42

17.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 MAD 17.30

$1.96 MAD 18.42

-6.12%

Eggs

$2.07 MAD 19.42

$1.93 MAD 18.13

7.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.23 MAD 86.6

$13.18 MAD 124

-29.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.04 MAD 56.7

$6.90 MAD 64.7

-12.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.13 MAD 104

$11.99 MAD 113

-7.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 MAD 14.25

$1.58 MAD 14.87

-3.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 MAD 12.51

$1.44 MAD 13.51

-7.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 MAD 8.55

$0.82 MAD 7.65

10.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 MAD 8.38

$0.86 MAD 8.08

3.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 MAD 7.38

$0.67 MAD 6.29

17.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MAD 7.43

$0.67 MAD 6.27

17.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.70

$0.42 MAD 3.96

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MAD 5.44

$0.60 MAD 5.60

-3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.50 MAD 42.24

$4.44 MAD 41.71

1.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.97 MAD 74.8

$7.70 MAD 72.3

3.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MAD 25.15

$2.62 MAD 24.60

2.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 MAD 27.96

$2.55 MAD 23.94

16.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MAD 4.30

$0.50 MAD 4.72

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 MAD 102

$16.19 MAD 152

-32.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MAD 9.57

$0.53 MAD 4.99

92.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MAD 4.58

$0.89 MAD 8.32

-44.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.49 MAD 51.5

$4.50 MAD 42.22

22.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MAD 14.87

$1.58 MAD 14.79

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

$37.2K MAD 349.4K

$37.0K MAD 347.0K

0.68%

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

$30.3K MAD 284.4K

$29.2K MAD 273.8K

3.89%

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

$32.34 MAD 303

$40.97 MAD 384

-21.06%

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

$10.85 MAD 102

$11.09 MAD 104

-2.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.52 MAD 427

$39.78 MAD 373

14.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.98 MAD 225

$24.64 MAD 231

-2.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.93 MAD 300

$23.14 MAD 217

37.99%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 MAD 62.9

$6.56 MAD 61.6

2.29%

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

$111 MAD 1,040

$160 MAD 1,505

-30.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,275 MAD 58.9K

$6,381 MAD 59.9K

-1.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.48 MAD 408

$53.1 MAD 498

-18.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.28 MAD 462

$47.44 MAD 445

3.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MAD 1,001

$107 MAD 1,005

-0.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 MAD 968

$98.8 MAD 927

4.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 MAD 4,092

$286 MAD 2,684

52.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 MAD 2,601

$176 MAD 1,655

57.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$746 MAD 6,998

$514 MAD 4,819

45.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 MAD 4,283

$310 MAD 2,910

47.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,986 MAD 18.6K

$1,165 MAD 10.9K

70.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$955 MAD 8,962

$932 MAD 8,745

2.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 MAD 4,844

$246 MAD 2,311

109.58%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Oued Zem: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Marrakech versus $286 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 110% 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 $50.0 in Oued Zem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 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 11%, 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 $1,312 per month in Marrakech and $1,186 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 $111 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 8% 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 $875 in Marrakech and $790 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.