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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,042 per month in Tangier vs $816 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,591 per month in Tangier vs $1,214 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,140 per month in Tangier vs $1,613 in Essaouira, rent included.

Tangier costs about 28% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tangier and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Tangier 24% lower, Essaouira 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 MAD 50.5

$4.80 MAD 44.90

12.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.72 MAD 353

$19.41 MAD 182

94.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 MAD 70.7

$7.75 MAD 72.5

-2.45%

Cappuccino

$2.32 MAD 21.69

$1.48 MAD 13.82

56.76%

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

$0.88 MAD 8.23

$0.48 MAD 4.51

83.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MAD 4.20

$0.39 MAD 3.68

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.29 MAD 58.8

$5.24 MAD 49.03

20.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 MAD 50.7

$4.57 MAD 42.76

18.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 MAD 10.34

$0.90 MAD 8.45

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 MAD 10.84

$0.51 MAD 4.81

127.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MAD 16.54

$1.82 MAD 17.01

-2.75%

Eggs

$1.94 MAD 18.17

$1.69 MAD 15.80

14.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.36 MAD 96.9

$8.60 MAD 80.5

20.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.17 MAD 67.1

$6.26 MAD 58.5

14.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.89 MAD 130

$10.96 MAD 103

26.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.59 MAD 14.86

$1.31 MAD 12.29

21.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 MAD 14.51

$1.18 MAD 11.04

31.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 MAD 7.15

$0.69 MAD 6.43

10.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 MAD 7.25

$0.80 MAD 7.50

-2.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 MAD 6.05

$0.57 MAD 5.37

14.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 MAD 6.87

$0.72 MAD 6.75

1.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 MAD 4.77

$0.36 MAD 3.38

41.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.51

$0.61 MAD 5.73

-3.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 MAD 40.64

$3.98 MAD 37.24

9.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.46 MAD 88.5

$6.56 MAD 61.3

44.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.03 MAD 37.70

$1.83 MAD 17.13

120.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 MAD 37.35

$2.20 MAD 20.54

81.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 MAD 3.92

$0.88 MAD 8.24

-52.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.04 MAD 150

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MAD 6.86

$0.66 MAD 6.20

10.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 MAD 8.74

$0.64 MAD 5.96

45.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 MAD 88.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MAD 14.38

$1.50 MAD 14.04

2.67%

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

$34.9K MAD 326.5K

$35.5K MAD 331.7K

-1.57%

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

$30.5K MAD 285.6K

$30.8K MAD 287.9K

-0.80%

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

$76.9 MAD 719

$25.43 MAD 238

202.24%

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

$14.04 MAD 131

$18.07 MAD 169

-22.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.16 MAD 385

$30.61 MAD 286

34.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.83 MAD 288

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.61 MAD 352

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 MAD 71.7

$5.49 MAD 51.4

39.71%

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

$95.4 MAD 892

$71.3 MAD 667

33.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,349 MAD 59.4K

$1,919 MAD 18.0K

230.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.82 MAD 354

$30.05 MAD 281

25.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 MAD 481

$45.60 MAD 427

12.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 MAD 954

$61.7 MAD 577

65.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MAD 1,010

$42.99 MAD 402

151.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 MAD 4,742

$406 MAD 3,801

24.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 MAD 3,096

$356 MAD 3,331

-7.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$892 MAD 8,342

$970 MAD 9,072

-8.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$533 MAD 4,982

$594 MAD 5,555

-10.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,794 MAD 16.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,232 MAD 11.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 MAD 4,906

$268 MAD 2,508

95.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.67

6.5

-43.54%

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

Last update for Tangier: August 31, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $507 in Tangier versus $406 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 96% 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 $38.00 in Tangier versus $19.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $177 – 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 28%, 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 $1,563 per month in Tangier and $1,224 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tangier and $19.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Tangier at $1,042. 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.