Life in Morocco · Cost planning
Cost of living
in Morocco.
Understand the cost of living in Morocco before you move. Compare rent, everyday prices and monthly budgets, with practical context for US, UK and international households.
Rent includedThree itemised household examples.
An international viewMAD, USD, GBP & more.
Local contextPlanning support across Morocco.
The monthly picture
What could your life
in Morocco cost?
There is no single expat budget. These three worked examples show how rent, household size and school choices change the total. Every figure is itemised below.
One person
10,450 MAD
per month, including rent & a 10% buffer
Rent used: 3,500 MADOne adult · long-term home · local transport
Explore this budgetA couple
16,280 MAD
per month, including rent & a 10% buffer
Rent used: 4,500 MADTwo adults · a shared home · no children
Explore this budgetA family of four
22,770 MAD
per month, including rent & a 10% buffer
School fees added separatelyTwo adults · two children · school quoted separately
Explore this budgetWorked examples, not minimum incomes or national averages. Rent is included; the family starting total excludes school tuition. Health, groceries, travel and personal spending are transparent allowances, not supplier quotes. A simpler household can spend less; premium housing or different needs can cost more.
Transparent assumptions
A monthly budget,
line by line.
Choose a household to see what is included. Use the figures as a starting structure, then replace the assumptions with your own quotes.
One person: the monthly breakdown
One adult renting a modest long-term apartment, shopping at a mix of local markets and supermarkets, and using local transport. The 3,500 MAD rent is a planning choice informed by the lower-priced listings below, rather than a city average.
| Expense | Monthly provision |
|---|---|
| Rent | 3,500 MAD |
| Utilities, internet & mobile | 800 MAD |
| Food & household shopping | 2,200 MAD |
| Local transport | 600 MAD |
| Healthcare provision | 900 MAD |
| School tuition provision | Not applicable |
| Personal spending & leisure | 1,000 MAD |
| Annual costs & trips home: monthly provision | 500 MAD |
| Subtotal | 9,500 MAD |
| 10% planning buffer | 950 MAD |
| Illustrative monthly total | 10,450 MAD |
A couple: the monthly breakdown
Two adults sharing a long-term home at an assumed rent of 4,500 MAD. Food, healthcare and personal spending are separate planning provisions. Transport does not include owning a car.
| Expense | Monthly provision |
|---|---|
| Rent | 4,500 MAD |
| Utilities, internet & mobile | 1,000 MAD |
| Food & household shopping | 4,000 MAD |
| Local transport | 1,000 MAD |
| Healthcare provision | 1,800 MAD |
| School tuition provision | Not applicable |
| Personal spending & leisure | 1,500 MAD |
| Annual costs & trips home: monthly provision | 1,000 MAD |
| Subtotal | 14,800 MAD |
| 10% planning buffer | 1,480 MAD |
| Illustrative monthly total | 16,280 MAD |
A family of four: the monthly breakdown
Two adults and two primary-age children, with 6,000 MAD rent. School tuition is not included in the starting total: add a quote for the school you actually choose. You can compare the specific international-school example below using the optional switch.
| Expense | Monthly provision |
|---|---|
| Rent | 6,000 MAD |
| Utilities, internet & mobile | 1,300 MAD |
| Food & household shopping | 6,000 MAD |
| Local transport | 1,800 MAD |
| Healthcare provision | 2,200 MAD |
| School tuition: add your chosen school’s quote | Not included0 MAD |
| Personal spending & leisure | 2,000 MAD |
| Annual costs & trips home: monthly provision | 1,400 MAD |
| Subtotal | 20,700 MAD |
| 10% planning buffer | 2,070 MAD |
| Illustrative monthly total | 22,770 MAD |
Your school choice changes the total.
The specific Rabat example below suggests a rounded tuition provision of 8,500 MAD per month for two children. This is optional in this comparison and is not a general school fee.
With that provision and the same 10% buffer: 32,120 MAD per month. Registration, meals and school transport are additional.
Assumptions: long-term rented homes; no private car; the stated household shopping, health and personal-spending provisions. Family school tuition starts separately. The buffer is 10% of the subtotal, not the final total. Arrival payments, refundable deposits, taxes, debts and ongoing commitments abroad need their own lines. These are spending examples, not residence-permit income requirements.Before you use these totals: healthcare amounts are flexible planning placeholders. Annual travel and other periodic costs are spread over 12 months for planning. Add any personal tax, loan repayments, vehicle purchase and obligations abroad that apply to you. School registration and the costs of moving are separate. The 10% buffer is a planning choice, not an emergency fund.
Ready to use your own numbers? The full moving guide includes an editable worksheet for monthly spending, arrival costs and your reserve.
Build my personal budgetHousing comes first
Rent in Morocco.
See the homes behind the numbers.
Lower-priced long-term apartments exist alongside central, seafront and premium homes. Compare actual properties, rather than treating one mixed city median as your rent.
Unfurnished. Furnished. A different location.
There is more than one way to find your home.
Our checked examples include a 68 m² home in Tangier-Mesnana at 3,000 MAD and a 60 m² unfurnished apartment in Marrakech-Mabrouka at 3,000 MAD. Central and premium choices sit alongside them.
Choose a city and furnishing type to inspect the monthly rent, advertised area and conditions.
30 rental advertisements · 7 citiesTangier
Compare Mesnana, Administratif and Tanja Balia separately from seafront or gated residences.
Selected examples2,500 MAD–5,500 MAD / month
No confirmed example in this furnishing category is included for this city. Choose “All examples” or request a current quote.
Casablanca
Ordinary neighbourhood homes and Palmier or Oasis studios are different rental segments.
Selected examples3,000 MAD–6,500 MAD / month
No confirmed example in this furnishing category is included for this city. Choose “All examples” or request a current quote.
Rabat
A small L’Ocean studio cannot be compared directly with a larger Hay Nahda or Chbanate apartment.
Selected examples2,300 MAD–5,000 MAD / month
No confirmed example in this furnishing category is included for this city. Choose “All examples” or request a current quote.
Marrakech
Hay Mabrouka and Izdihar offer a different starting point from furnished central Guéliz homes.
Selected examples2,500 MAD–7,500 MAD / month
No confirmed example in this furnishing category is included for this city. Choose “All examples” or request a current quote.
Agadir
Check Cité Adrar, Tilila and Les Amicales alongside Anza; location and commuting needs differ.
Selected examples3,000 MAD–4,500 MAD / month
No confirmed example in this furnishing category is included for this city. Choose “All examples” or request a current quote.
Essaouira
Ghazoua is outside central Essaouira. Annual terms matter in a holiday-rental market.
Selected examples4,000 MAD–6,000 MAD / month
No confirmed example in this furnishing category is included for this city. Choose “All examples” or request a current quote.
Fes
The selected Nouvelle Ville and Hay Tarik homes show both unfurnished and furnished choices.
Selected examples2,990 MAD–3,000 MAD / month
No confirmed example in this furnishing category is included for this city. Choose “All examples” or request a current quote.
These are selected advertised examples, not minimums, city averages or a statistical market range. They cover different sizes and standards. A premium home can cost considerably more. Per-m² amounts are the advertised rent divided by the stated area, rounded to whole MAD.
Furnishing is marked as unconfirmed when the advertisement does not establish it. Daily lets, room shares, student-only offers and rents conditional on substantial upfront capital were excluded. Some listings still need confirmation of annual terms, availability and tenant requirements. Deposits, agency fees, utilities and building charges can be additional.
Rental sources, property details & research date
- Tangier · Tanja Balia · 2,500 MAD · 80 m²
- Tangier · Mesnana · 3,000 MAD · 68 m²
- Tangier · Administratif · 3,000 MAD · 45 m²
- Tangier · CHU / Alliance, Route Nationale Assilah · 3,200 MAD · 64 m²
- Tangier · Mesnana Golf · 5,500 MAD · 89 m²
- Casablanca · Sidi Moumen / Diyar Saada · 3,000 MAD · 64 m²
- Casablanca · Sidi Othmane · 3,000 MAD · 100 m²
- Casablanca · Sidi Maarouf · 4,600 MAD · 138 m²
- Casablanca · Oasis · 6,500 MAD · 50 m²
- Casablanca · Palmier · 6,500 MAD · 70 m²
- Rabat · L’Ocean · 2,300 MAD · 24 m²
- Rabat · Hassan · 3,600 MAD · 45 m²
- Rabat · Hay Nahda · 4,500 MAD · 100 m²
- Rabat · Chbanate / Yaakoub El Mansour · 5,000 MAD · 96 m²
- Agadir · Cité Adrar · 3,000 MAD · 64 m²
- Agadir · Tilila · 3,500 MAD · 80 m²
- Agadir · Ben Serguaou · 3,500 MAD · 43 m²
- Agadir · Les Amicales · 4,500 MAD · 80 m²
- Agadir · Anza · 4,500 MAD · 70 m²
- Marrakech · Bouaakkaz · 2,500 MAD · 43 m²
- Marrakech · Hay Mabrouka · 3,000 MAD · 60 m²
- Marrakech · Izdihar · 3,500 MAD · 68 m²
- Marrakech · Guéliz · 6,500 MAD · 54 m²
- Marrakech · Guéliz · 7,500 MAD · 85 m²
- Essaouira · Ghazoua, outside central Essaouira · 4,000 MAD · 80 m²
- Essaouira · Centre ville · 6,000 MAD · 80 m²
- Essaouira · Raounak · 5,500 MAD · 70 m²
- Essaouira · Nouvelle Ville · 6,000 MAD · 73 m²
- Fes · Nouvelle Ville · 2,990 MAD · 105 m²
- Fes · Hay Tarik · 3,000 MAD · 80 m²
Public Mubawab and Avito advertisements checked on 30 October 2026. Asking prices and advertiser descriptions are not verified valuations or guarantees of availability. These examples are research references, not a property inventory offered by Move to Morocco. The Essaouira centre advertisement includes both a 5,000 MAD unfurnished and a 6,000 MAD furnished option.
Make a like-for-like shortlist.
Match the bedroom count, neighbourhood, condition, furnishing and lease length. Check the property, contract and what is included before committing. We can discuss the relocation support relevant to your search.
Choose the daily life as well.
Test the school run, work commute, shops and transport. Explore life in Morocco, then use your chosen rent in the personal moving budget.
Food & everyday spending
The small purchases
that make a month.
Local produce and regular household shopping need a different allowance from imported brands, restaurants and frequent deliveries. Start with your real habits.
| Milk1 litre | 8.6 MAD |
|---|---|
| Eggs12 | 18 MAD |
| Chicken fillets1 kg | 59 MAD |
| Tomatoes1 kg | 7.5 MAD |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal1 person | 40 MAD |
| Cappuccino1 cup | 16.4 MAD |
About these prices: rounded national user-contributed references from Numbeo price references. They are useful anchors, not a priced shopping basket or guaranteed local prices. Shops, quality and location vary.
Home internet
A provider price, not a general average.
249 MAD / month
Orange lists 20 Mbps fibre at this monthly price, with a 99 MAD installation charge; its 100 Mbps product is listed at 349 MAD per month. Check address coverage, contract conditions and the current offer.
Orange 20 Mbps · Orange 100 Mbps. Electricity, water and mobile are separate.
A local transport reference
Casablanca tramway & busway.
230 MAD / 30 days
The operator lists a 30-day subscription at this price, plus 15 MAD for the card. This is one network’s fare. Add any other transport your routine requires, including taxis, intercity trips or the full costs of a car.
Casatramway monthly subscription · Check the current tariff before travelling.
The costs to quote early
School choices and family life
belong in the same plan.
Tuition is one part of the decision. Compare the school, the languages and the daily journey alongside your household budget.
School choices · different fee levels
Compare the education.
Then compare the fees.
Private primary in Kénitra
1,150 MADper month · per child · Don Bosco primary
Moroccan private education can come with a substantially lower fee than an international-curriculum school. Don Bosco publishes this primary-school monthly rate, with registration of 1,000–1,400 MAD depending on the primary year.
Al Amana · primary in Tangier
13,000 MAD per child / year
The published primary programme includes Arabic, French and English. Annual registration is listed at 1,200–1,600 MAD; transport is additional.
Compare the curriculum, language of instruction, support for a newly arrived child and the full payment schedule. Language classes and English-medium teaching are different arrangements. Confirm current fees and availability with the school.
Cambridge primary in Rabat
50,922 MADannual tuition · per child · Years 2–6 · 2026/27
Khalil Gibran School’s published Cambridge primary example. For two children in the same band, tuition is 101,844 MAD per year, or about 8,487 MAD per month set aside over 12 months.
That monthly amount is a budgeting calculation. First registration is listed separately at 13,200 MAD per child; meals, transport and other charges also need checking.
This is a specific international-school example. It is not a general fee for private schooling in Morocco.
The family budget starts before tuition. Add the current fees for the school you choose. The optional Cambridge comparison remains available in the worked family budget.
Plan a move with childrenBeyond tuition
Plan the school day, too.
Compare teaching languages, school hours and the journey from your preferred neighbourhood. Ask what the total fees include, from registration to meals and transport.
We help you connect these choices with the practical stages of your family’s move.
Explore moving with children
Beyond the monthly total
Your first month.
A plan for arriving well.
Keep the move, upfront payments and your reserve visible. Open each step to see what belongs in it and where to continue planning.
Arrival & setup
Travel, temporary accommodation, household purchases, shipping, document preparation and the professional support you choose. Keep quotations for these services separate from monthly spending.
Organise transport & relocationPayments due upfront
Initial rent, any tenancy deposit and school enrolment charges need cash before the normal month begins. A refundable deposit is money tied up. Check each actual payment schedule.
Prepare residence documentsYour reserve
Keep an accessible reserve for unexpected costs, changes in timing and travel home. Choose it around your household, medical needs and income stability; avoid counting the same money twice.
Build my personal moving budget
An international perspective
Compare your whole life,
not just the exchange rate.
Moving from the US
Build a USD comparison around your actual rent, transport and household spending. Keep any continuing obligations at home in the calculation.
Trips back to the US and continuing commitments deserve particular attention. Treat a dollar conversion as a comparison, not a promised saving.
Moving from the UK
Use GBP to compare the same spending categories on both sides. Include travel home and costs you keep in the UK.
If income or a pension arrives in pounds, test what a less favourable exchange rate would mean for your monthly margin.
Moving from elsewhere
The same approach works for euros, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars or another income currency. Start with a MAD plan grounded in local quotes.
Keep school, transport and property choices consistent when comparing countries. Obtain advice for any personal tax questions separately.
Practical support for your move
Your plans.
Our local perspective.
Tell us your preferred city, who is moving and where you are in the process. We help you organise the practical stages of your move across Morocco. You can also arrange a visit to our Tangier office to discuss your plans in person.
Questions before the move
Morocco living costs,
explained.
Rent, currencies, schools and the costs that are easy to miss.
How much does it cost to live in Morocco per month?
Our worked examples total 10,450 MAD for one adult, 16,280 MAD for a couple and 22,770 MAD for a family of four before school tuition. Each includes the stated rent, health and personal-spending provisions and a 10% buffer. They are transparent examples, not national averages or minimum income requirements. Your home, lifestyle and personal commitments can move the total lower or higher.
Do these monthly budgets include rent?
Yes. The examples use 3,500 MAD for one adult, 4,500 MAD for a couple and 6,000 MAD for a family. These are planning assumptions informed by the checked advertisements, not average rents for every Moroccan city. Compare the exact neighbourhood, home size, condition, furnishing and lease term in the rental examples.
Can I live in Morocco on US$1,000 a month?
There is no reliable yes-or-no answer without your rent and other commitments. Convert your available dollars to MAD, then price housing, food, transport, healthcare and any costs you retain at home. Keep arrival costs and an emergency reserve separate. A low headline budget is not evidence that your particular move is affordable.
Can I compare the cost of living in US dollars or British pounds?
Yes. Choose USD or GBP in the currency selector to see approximate comparisons beside the MAD amounts. The rate’s update date is shown after loading. These are reference conversions; bank spreads, transfer fees and changes in rates can alter what you actually pay.
Is living in Morocco cheaper than living in the US or UK?
Compare your actual current spending with the same categories in your proposed Moroccan city. Housing and local purchases may look attractive, but private schooling, imported goods, trips home and continuing home-country commitments can change the result. A national comparison percentage is not a personal savings forecast.
Which Moroccan city has the lowest rent?
There is no reliable city ranking from a small selection of different homes. Our checked examples include lower-priced options in Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir and Fes, as well as small Rabat studios and properties around Essaouira. Compare like-for-like homes and the commute. The city and furnishing filters show the actual examples behind the figures.
Why do apartment prices differ so much between websites?
A listing can describe a small studio, an unfurnished family apartment, a premium furnished home, a daily let or a room in a shared property. Some low rents depend on a substantial upfront capital payment. We exclude those arrangements, daily lets and room shares from our rental comparison. Confirm monthly versus daily pricing, deposits, fees, tenant requirements and the annual lease term before budgeting.
What should I allow for groceries and eating out?
Separate regular household shopping from restaurants, imported brands and alcohol. The six price anchors on this page give a starting point, not a complete shopping basket. Household size, dietary preferences, market choice and how often you eat out determine the monthly total.
How much are utility bills and home internet?
The household examples combine utilities, internet and mobile into one planning allowance. Your actual bills depend on the property, occupancy and heating or cooling use. As a separate supplier reference, Orange lists 20 Mbps fibre at 249 MAD per month and 100 Mbps at 349 MAD, subject to availability and current terms.
What do private and international schools cost?
Published fees vary with the programme and age band. Don Bosco in Kénitra lists 1,150 MAD per month for primary school. Al Amana in Tangier lists 13,000 MAD a year for primary, and its programme includes Arabic, French and English. Registration and other charges are additional. Teaching English as a subject is different from an English-medium international curriculum. As a specific Cambridge example, Khalil Gibran School lists 2026/27 Years 2–6 tuition at 50,922 MAD per child per year. Compare the curriculum, teaching language, support and full fees for your child. Our starting family budget excludes tuition. Explore the family moving guide.
How should I allow for healthcare costs?
Our worked examples include a flexible healthcare provision, not a fixed household bill. Adjust that amount to your own routine, consultations and medication. Keep any regular medical costs visible in your monthly budget.
What costs come before the first normal month?
Plan separately for travel, temporary accommodation, any tenancy deposit, initial rent, household setup, shipping, document preparation and professional help you choose. School registration can also create a substantial first-year payment. Treat a refundable deposit as cash tied up, rather than regular monthly spending.
How should I budget for retirement in Morocco?
Start with the city and home you want, then add routine healthcare costs, pension conversion costs, trips home and ongoing commitments abroad. Test changes in exchange rates and medical costs. Our retirement guide covers the wider move; use the itemised cost examples here for the spending side.
Are these budgets residence permit income requirements?
No. These are household spending examples. Residence eligibility and the financial evidence required for an application are separate questions, assessed for your circumstances. Use our Residence Permit Guide for application and document preparation, and our Residency Guide to explore your plans.
How do I turn these examples into my own budget?
Replace the rent, school and transport provisions with current local prices, and adjust the remaining allowances to your household. Add taxes, debts and ongoing commitments that apply to you. Use the personal budget worksheet in our moving guide to organise monthly spending, arrival costs and your reserve.
Can Move to Morocco help me plan the move?
Yes. New Life Transitions SARL supports international clients with relocation planning across Morocco. Share your nationality, preferred city, household and timing so we can discuss the support relevant to your plans. You can also arrange a visit to our Tangier office. Contact our team to discuss your next steps.
Sources & fee references
Researched by Move to Morocco; reviewed 30 October 2026. The household examples are our own itemised planning assumptions. They are separate from the published price references below. Prices and availability can change.
- Rental sources and individual advertisements: 30 public Mubawab and Avito advertisements across seven cities, checked 30 October 2026; 31 price options including the same Essaouira home offered furnished or unfurnished. Selected examples, not a representative market average. See the rental section for areas, conditions and individual sources.
- Numbeo Morocco: October 2026 contributed national price references. Six rounded anchors, not official tariffs or a full monthly basket.
- Orange 20 Mbps and 100 Mbps: specific supplier products. Availability and terms apply.
- Casatramway: Casablanca network’s 30-day subscription and card price.
- Khalil Gibran School fees: 2026/27 Cambridge primary Years 2–6 tuition and first registration. Annualising fees does not change the school’s payment terms.
- ExchangeRate-API: daily reference currency rates, loaded when a comparison currency is selected. The rate’s update date is displayed; transaction fees and bank spreads are excluded.
- Moroccan private primary examples: Don Bosco, Kénitra: admissions and fees; financial rules. Al Amana, Tangier: published fees and primary programme and languages. Checked 31 October 2026; confirm the applicable year and all charges directly.
Official household statistics and expatriate budgets describe different things. Morocco’s HCP household living-standards survey concerns 2022/23 local households. We have not presented those averages as a 2026 international relocation budget.
Move to Morocco · New Life Transitions SARL
Your life in Morocco.
A plan that fits you.
Tell us the city you have in mind, who is moving and your priorities. We accompany moves across Morocco, and you can arrange a visit to our Tangier office to speak with the team in person.