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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $874 per month in Tangier vs $810 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,341 per month in Tangier vs $1,226 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,808 per month in Tangier vs $1,642 in Essaouira, rent included.

Tangier costs about 8% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tangier and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Tangier 35% lower, Essaouira 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 MAD 40.68

$4.34 MAD 39.86

2.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.25 MAD 278

$24.74 MAD 227

22.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 MAD 66.5

$4.99 MAD 45.88

44.89%

Cappuccino

$1.72 MAD 15.77

$1.84 MAD 16.91

-6.52%

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

$0.70 MAD 6.47

$0.45 MAD 4.13

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MAD 3.00

$0.26 MAD 2.36

26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 MAD 36.20

$3.85 MAD 35.40

2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 MAD 30.39

$3.57 MAD 32.83

-7.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 MAD 9.65

$0.85 MAD 7.80

23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 MAD 8.04

$0.53 MAD 4.90

66.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MAD 15.47

$1.69 MAD 15.57

-0.59%

Eggs

$2.19 MAD 20.15

$1.80 MAD 16.52

21.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.24 MAD 94.1

$9.59 MAD 88.1

6.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.86 MAD 63.1

$5.34 MAD 49.08

28.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 MAD 115

$11.51 MAD 106

9.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 MAD 11.92

$1.37 MAD 12.55

-5.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 MAD 12.49

$1.27 MAD 11.70

7.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 MAD 6.95

$0.72 MAD 6.59

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 MAD 7.28

$0.93 MAD 8.56

-15.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 MAD 6.26

$0.69 MAD 6.36

-1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 MAD 6.46

$0.92 MAD 8.47

-23.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 MAD 4.92

$0.39 MAD 3.60

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MAD 5.53

$0.54 MAD 4.92

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.50 MAD 41.38

$4.07 MAD 37.43

10.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 MAD 88.3

$6.61 MAD 60.8

45.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 MAD 29.90

$1.93 MAD 17.76

68.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 MAD 29.95

$2.16 MAD 19.83

50.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MAD 4.16

$0.90 MAD 8.25

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.55 MAD 152

$16.40 MAD 151

0.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 MAD 4.82

$0.68 MAD 6.26

-23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.39

$0.51 MAD 4.72

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.97 MAD 91.6

$8.69 MAD 79.8

14.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 MAD 14.85

$1.58 MAD 14.54

2.53%

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

$37.4K MAD 343.5K

$37.6K MAD 345.7K

-0.64%

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

$23.6K MAD 217.1K

$21.0K MAD 193.3K

12.32%

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

$82.7 MAD 760

$28.04 MAD 258

194.94%

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

$11.28 MAD 104

$13.82 MAD 127

-18.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.92 MAD 367

$28.65 MAD 263

39.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.60 MAD 263

$22.11 MAD 203

29.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.05 MAD 359

$23.63 MAD 217

65.26%

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 MAD 69.1

$6.71 MAD 61.7

12.07%

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

$96.9 MAD 890

$75.6 MAD 695

28.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,455 MAD 59.3K

$1,990 MAD 18.3K

224.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.68 MAD 291

$31.43 MAD 289

0.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.40 MAD 417

$39.79 MAD 366

14.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 MAD 799

$48.84 MAD 449

77.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.9 MAD 771

$44.20 MAD 406

89.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 MAD 4,047

$388 MAD 3,563

13.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 MAD 2,182

$345 MAD 3,173

-31.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$881 MAD 8,092

$795 MAD 7,308

10.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 MAD 4,048

$545 MAD 5,011

-19.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,884 MAD 17.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,255 MAD 11.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$521 MAD 4,791

$268 MAD 2,462

94.55%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 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 95% 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 $30.00 in Tangier versus $25.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $179 – 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 8%, 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 $1,310 per month in Tangier and $1,215 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 20% 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 $30.00 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 $810, than in Tangier at $874. 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.