Cost of Living Comparison Between Tangier and Essaouira Cost of Living Comparison Between Tangier and Essaouira

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $879 per month in Tangier vs $837 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,371 per month in Tangier vs $1,254 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,863 per month in Tangier vs $1,671 in Essaouira, rent included.

Tangier costs about 5% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tangier and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Tangier 34% lower, Essaouira 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 MAD 41.14

$4.36 MAD 40.68

1.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.62 MAD 285

$25.14 MAD 234

21.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.24 MAD 67.5

$4.97 MAD 46.37

45.67%

Cappuccino

$1.66 MAD 15.49

$1.76 MAD 16.37

-5.68%

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

$0.66 MAD 6.17

$0.46 MAD 4.26

43.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MAD 3.05

$0.26 MAD 2.41

26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 MAD 35.45

$3.79 MAD 35.36

0.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 MAD 31.12

$3.72 MAD 34.69

-10.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 MAD 9.38

$0.84 MAD 7.87

20.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 MAD 7.94

$0.49 MAD 4.57

73.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MAD 15.76

$1.65 MAD 15.43

2.42%

Eggs

$2.20 MAD 20.50

$1.81 MAD 16.90

21.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.76 MAD 91.0

$9.24 MAD 86.1

5.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 MAD 63.4

$5.29 MAD 49.31

28.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.65 MAD 118

$11.42 MAD 107

10.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 MAD 12.12

$1.42 MAD 13.21

-8.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MAD 12.73

$1.22 MAD 11.42

12.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 MAD 7.14

$0.72 MAD 6.69

6.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 MAD 6.86

$0.88 MAD 8.22

-15.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 MAD 6.03

$0.70 MAD 6.52

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.70

$0.91 MAD 8.48

-20.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 MAD 5.07

$0.39 MAD 3.66

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MAD 5.76

$0.53 MAD 4.97

16.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MAD 39.77

$4.15 MAD 38.66

2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 MAD 92.5

$6.45 MAD 60.1

53.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 MAD 30.69

$1.93 MAD 18.03

70.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 MAD 30.49

$2.20 MAD 20.52

48.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 MAD 4.01

$0.87 MAD 8.11

-50.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.66 MAD 155

$16.46 MAD 154

1.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 MAD 5.38

$0.63 MAD 5.92

-7.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.46

$0.48 MAD 4.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 MAD 92.8

$8.98 MAD 83.8

10.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MAD 14.21

$1.58 MAD 14.70

-3.80%

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

$37.3K MAD 347.8K

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

0.36%

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

$24.5K MAD 228.3K

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

16.24%

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

$83.8 MAD 781

$27.86 MAD 260

200.65%

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

$11.17 MAD 104

$13.90 MAD 130

-19.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.16 MAD 365

$27.94 MAD 261

40.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.90 MAD 260

$21.61 MAD 202

29.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.31 MAD 357

$22.76 MAD 212

68.32%

Cinema Ticket

$7.18 MAD 66.9

$6.65 MAD 62.0

7.97%

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

$97.9 MAD 913

$75.3 MAD 702

30.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,495 MAD 60.6K

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

231.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.46 MAD 284

$30.88 MAD 288

-1.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.53 MAD 425

$39.68 MAD 370

14.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 MAD 829

$49.28 MAD 460

80.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 MAD 754

$44.34 MAD 413

82.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 MAD 4,153

$388 MAD 3,617

14.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 MAD 2,215

$346 MAD 3,229

-31.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$873 MAD 8,142

$813 MAD 7,584

7.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 MAD 4,112

$559 MAD 5,209

-21.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,810 MAD 16.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,264 MAD 11.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$510 MAD 4,756

$268 MAD 2,498

90.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.35

5.5

-20.91%

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

Last update for Tangier: July 12, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Tangier versus $388 in Essaouira. 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 90% higher in Tangier, 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 $31.00 in Tangier versus $25.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $176 – making Essaouira 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

Tangier vs Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tangier is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,318 per month in Tangier and $1,256 in Essaouira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 21% more in Tangier, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Tangier and $25.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Tangier at $879. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tangier it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Essaouira – 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 Essaouira. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tangier makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.