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 $642 per month in Western Sahara vs $727 in Morocco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,014 per month in Western Sahara vs $1,146 in Morocco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,385 per month in Western Sahara vs $1,564 in Morocco, rent included.

Western Sahara is roughly 12% cheaper than 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 46% lower.

Western Sahara has a wider regional cost range ($642$642) than Morocco ($571$1,016), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Western Sahara.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.75 MAD 34.70
$4.32 MAD 39.93
-13.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.66 MAD 265
$27.35 MAD 253
4.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.51 MAD 41.74
$6.72 MAD 62.1
-32.89%
Cappuccino
$1.67 MAD 15.47
$1.88 MAD 17.41
-11.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MAD 4.79
$0.59 MAD 5.44
-11.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MAD 3.15
$0.37 MAD 3.42
-8.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.52 MAD 32.58
$3.23 MAD 29.89
8.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MAD 43.27
$3.88 MAD 35.90
20.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.63
$0.93 MAD 8.65
-11.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 MAD 5.22
$0.56 MAD 5.20
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MAD 17.32
$1.77 MAD 16.38
5.65%
Eggs
$1.37 MAD 12.67
$2.01 MAD 18.62
-31.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.60 MAD 107
$10.32 MAD 95.5
12.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 MAD 31.61
$6.20 MAD 57.4
-44.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 MAD 84.3
$10.66 MAD 98.6
-14.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.49 MAD 13.74
$1.52 MAD 14.04
-1.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 MAD 10.95
$1.30 MAD 12.06
-9.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.63
$0.86 MAD 7.95
-16.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 MAD 5.53
$0.79 MAD 7.35
-24.05%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 MAD 4.12
$0.77 MAD 7.14
-42.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 MAD 3.39
$0.77 MAD 7.16
-51.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 MAD 9.02
$0.44 MAD 4.07
122.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MAD 5.25
$0.60 MAD 5.56
-5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.27 MAD 39.49
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.64 MAD 70.7
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.57 MAD 23.77
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 MAD 32.74
$2.74 MAD 25.33
29.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MAD 5.15
$0.57 MAD 5.31
-1.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 MAD 106
$21.67 MAD 200
-47.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MAD 6.74
$0.75 MAD 6.96
-2.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 MAD 6.47
$0.72 MAD 6.64
-2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.53 MAD 51.2
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 MAD 11.52
$1.53 MAD 14.18
-18.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K MAD 370.9K
$37.2K MAD 343.9K
7.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MAD 247.5K
$29.4K MAD 272.2K
-9.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.35 MAD 308
$41.17 MAD 381
-18.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.51 MAD 106
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.51 MAD 208
$39.60 MAD 366
-43.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.04 MAD 213
$25.07 MAD 232
-8.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.33 MAD 327
$24.62 MAD 228
43.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.57 MAD 33.03
$6.78 MAD 62.7
-47.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$290 MAD 2,682
$110 MAD 1,017
163.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,486 MAD 32.2K
$3,469 MAD 32.1K
0.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.85 MAD 322
$39.64 MAD 367
-12.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6 MAD 542
$44.68 MAD 413
31.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 MAD 693
$88.3 MAD 816
-15.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7 MAD 755
$72.4 MAD 669
12.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$348 MAD 3,217
$375 MAD 3,471
-7.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 MAD 1,595
$215 MAD 1,992
-19.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 MAD 6,354
$691 MAD 6,388
-0.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 MAD 2,672
$384 MAD 3,555
-24.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,623 MAD 15.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,007 MAD 9,314
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Morocco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$488 MAD 4,518
-
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Morocco: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $354 in Western Sahara vs $289 in Morocco. For reference, capital cities sit at $354 in Laayoune and $460 in Rabat.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 22% higher in Western Sahara.

Dining out costs 12% more in Western Sahara.

Public transport is 55% 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 vs 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 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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