Cost of Living Comparison Between Western Sahara and Morocco Cost of Living Comparison Between Western Sahara and Morocco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $641 per month in Western Sahara vs $727 in Morocco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,013 per month in Western Sahara vs $1,148 in Morocco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,384 per month in Western Sahara vs $1,568 in Morocco, rent included.

The cost of living in Western Sahara is roughly 12% lower than in Morocco on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Western Sahara and Morocco are more affordable than the global median – Western Sahara 52% lower, Morocco 45% lower.

The regional cost range is wider in Western Sahara ($641$641) than in Morocco ($568$1,024), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92 MAD 36.58
$4.31 MAD 40.19
-9.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.26 MAD 273
$26.87 MAD 251
8.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 MAD 44.58
$6.61 MAD 61.7
-27.69%
Cappuccino
$1.60 MAD 14.89
$1.88 MAD 17.49
-14.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MAD 4.89
$0.63 MAD 5.87
-17.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 MAD 2.93
$0.40 MAD 3.72
-22.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 MAD 32.76
$3.32 MAD 31.00
5.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 MAD 44.46
$3.92 MAD 36.56
21.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 MAD 7.36
$0.91 MAD 8.52
-13.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 MAD 5.62
$0.57 MAD 5.35
5.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 MAD 16.80
$1.79 MAD 16.70
0.56%
Eggs
$1.37 MAD 12.76
$1.99 MAD 18.58
-31.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 MAD 108
$10.31 MAD 96.1
11.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 MAD 32.03
$6.07 MAD 56.6
-43.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 MAD 87.8
$10.59 MAD 98.7
-11.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 MAD 14.14
$1.50 MAD 14.00
1.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 MAD 10.61
$1.32 MAD 12.29
-13.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.34
$0.80 MAD 7.44
-15.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 MAD 5.25
$0.86 MAD 8.05
-34.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 MAD 4.47
$0.72 MAD 6.71
-33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 MAD 3.39
$0.72 MAD 6.71
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 MAD 8.46
$0.44 MAD 4.08
106.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MAD 5.27
$0.65 MAD 6.06
-13.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.17 MAD 38.83
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.64 MAD 71.2
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.56 MAD 23.89
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 MAD 32.74
$2.72 MAD 25.38
29.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MAD 5.58
$0.54 MAD 5.03
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.75 MAD 110
$22.31 MAD 208
-47.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.76 MAD 7.10
$0.73 MAD 6.84
4.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 MAD 5.99
$0.71 MAD 6.67
-9.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.22 MAD 48.67
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MAD 11.93
$1.60 MAD 14.93
-20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K MAD 364.4K
$36.9K MAD 344.3K
5.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K MAD 246.1K
$28.8K MAD 268.4K
-8.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.34 MAD 311
$41.32 MAD 385
-19.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.20 MAD 104
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.48 MAD 210
$38.82 MAD 362
-42.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.92 MAD 214
$25.43 MAD 237
-9.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.39 MAD 330
$23.94 MAD 223
47.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.49 MAD 32.57
$6.47 MAD 60.3
-46.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$290 MAD 2,702
$109 MAD 1,015
166.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,502 MAD 32.7K
$3,399 MAD 31.7K
3.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.23 MAD 319
$40.18 MAD 375
-14.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3 MAD 544
$43.90 MAD 409
32.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 MAD 713
$85.8 MAD 800
-10.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.6 MAD 760
$70.0 MAD 652
16.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$350 MAD 3,261
$363 MAD 3,385
-3.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 MAD 1,649
$215 MAD 2,007
-17.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$702 MAD 6,545
$703 MAD 6,557
-0.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 MAD 2,697
$389 MAD 3,628
-25.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,595 MAD 14.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$997 MAD 9,298
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$468 MAD 4,363
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
4.98
-

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

Last update for Western Sahara: July 28, 2026

Last update for Morocco: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $349 in Western Sahara vs $289 in Morocco. For reference, capital cities sit at $349 in Laayoune and $457 in Rabat.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 21% higher in Western Sahara.

Dining out costs 16% more in Western Sahara.

Public transport is 42% more expensive in Morocco.

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
Western Sahara vs Morocco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Morocco and Western Sahara compare in cost of living?
Western Sahara is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 24% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Morocco and Western Sahara?
Housing costs more in Morocco, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Morocco consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Morocco or Western Sahara?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Western Sahara, contributing to the overall 24% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $800 go in Morocco compared to Western Sahara?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Western Sahara, but in Morocco it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Morocco and in Western Sahara?
Western Sahara is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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