Cost of living in Morocco
If you're planning on relocating from Canada to Morocco it’s important to build a realistic budget based on the cost of living in your chosen destination. The cost of everyday life, from rent and utilities, to childcare and education, tax and other unavoidable costs, can vary enormously based on market forces, the strength of the local economy and government policies.
Read on as we explore key information about the differences in cost of living between Morocco & Canada, focusing on everything from the costs of food, healthcare, entertainment and more.
What contributes to the cost of living between Morocco & Canada?
In this guide we look at differences in cost of living between Morocco & Canada, so you can start to build up a budget to cover your costs when you relocate. Cost of living is highly personalised, and can depend on the things you like to do, food you like to eat, type of home you want to live in, and so on. Naturally, living in a new country with a family, paying for a larger property, education and healthcare, would cost significantly more than an international student looking only to cover basic expenses during a relatively short term stay.
To help you plan your spending we’ve covered different common expenses in Morocco such as transport, healthcare, childcare and entertainment. Read on for more detail on each.
Pro tip: Use our international payment comparison tools to work out the best options for you to send international payments to and from Morocco & Canada with low fees and great rates.
Is Morocco expensive?
Based on data from Numbeo, the cost of living in Morocco is 51.4% lower vs Canada when you take into account daily spending without rent.
Once you include rent into your calculations, the cost of living in Morocco is 58.2% lower vs Canada.
If you look just at rent, the cost of rent in Morocco is 75.0% lower than Canada.
Your own exact cost of living will depend on many different factors including your lifestyle, hobbies and even health - this guide can help you build up your own budget to live comfortably in your new home.
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Transport in Morocco
Getting around will be an important cost to consider when living in Morocco. Whether you’re commuting to work, getting to school or travelling for pleasure, the costs of transport can vary widely from country to country, based on fuel and vehicle prices, and the availability of public transport, taxis, and ride hailing services.
| Transport | Canada | Morocco | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| One way ticket (local transport) | $3.5 (.د.م24) | $0.7 (.د.م5) | -78.8% |
| Monthly pass (local transport) | $105 (.د.م706) | $29.7 (.د.م200) | -71.7% |
| Taxi start | $4.5 (.د.م30) | $1 (.د.م7) | -77% |
| Taxi (1km) | $2.2 (.د.م15) | $1 (.د.م7) | -52.3% |
| Taxi (1 hour waiting) | $38.9 (.د.م262) | $7.4 (.د.م50) | -80.9% |
| Gas (1 Litre) | $1.6 (.د.م11) | $2.1 (.د.م14) | 31.5% |
Utilities (monthly) in Morocco
No matter where you choose to live in Morocco you’ll need to pay utility bills for electricity, gas, water and other similar services. Utility costs are often dictated, or capped, by government policies, as well as market forces, which can mean that what you pay in one country is quite different to another. Here’s a look at utility costs in Morocco as an example.
| Item | Canada | Morocco | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills (electricity, gas, water) for 85m2 Apartment | $205.8 (.د.م1,384) | $57.3 (.د.م385) | -72.2% |
| Mobile Phone Contract (Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $62.7 (.د.م422) | $15.3 (.د.م103) | -75.6% |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data) | $84.9 (.د.م571) | $53.8 (.د.م362) | -36.6% |
Grocery costs in Morocco
Daily grocery costs and availability changes depending on the country you’re in, with factors like the proportion of foods that are imported making a big difference. When you’re in Morocco you’ll need to think about building a suitable food budget for your personal tastes, and based on the costs of items you buy often.
| Item | Canada | Morocco | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 Litre) | $3.1 (.د.م21) | $1.2 (.د.م8) | -60.1% |
| Loaf of fresh bread | $3.7 (.د.م25) | $0.7 (.د.م5) | -80% |
| Rice (1kg) | $5 (.د.م34) | $2.5 (.د.م17) | -50.6% |
| 12 eggs (regular) | $4.8 (.د.م32) | $2.7 (.د.م18) | -44.1% |
| Local cheese (1kg) | $15.5 (.د.م104) | $13.8 (.د.م93) | -11.1% |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | $16.8 (.د.م113) | $8.6 (.د.م58) | -48.6% |
| Beef (1kg) | $20.4 (.د.م137) | $14.5 (.د.م98) | -29.2% |
| Apples (1kg) | $5.8 (.د.م39) | $2 (.د.م13) | -65.3% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $2 (.د.م13) | $1.8 (.د.م12) | -9.3% |
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Accommodation in Morocco
If you’re moving to Morocco you’ll likely need to rent a place to live. No matter where in the world you choose to reside, the costs of rent tend to make up a huge slice of your monthly budget. That said, you can often bring down the overall costs of renting by choosing a less central location or by sharing with others.
| Accommodation | Canada | Morocco | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) City Centre | $1838.9 (.د.م12,367) | $504 (.د.م3,390) | -72.6% |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | $1643.1 (.د.م11,051) | $288.8 (.د.م1,942) | -82.4% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) City Centre | $2950.6 (.د.م19,844) | $938.4 (.د.م6,311) | -68.2% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | $2548.7 (.د.م17,141) | $517.7 (.د.م3,482) | -79.7% |
Salaries in Morocco
The amount of money you have in your pocket when you’re living in Morocco is a function of both the salary you can earn, and the amount of tax you need to pay on your income. As taxes can be structured quite differently from one country to the next it’s crucial to get a realistic idea of the amount you’ll lose in taxes - and so the amount you have for spending - before you move.
| Salary | Canada | Morocco | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | $3912.9 (.د.م26,316) | $601 (.د.م4,042) | -84.6% |
Education and childcare in Morocco
For people moving to Morocco with a family, the costs of education and childcare will be an important budget line. Childcare, school fees and university costs can be a huge proportion of your annual budget, particularly when you’re outside of your home country, and may not have access to government funded educational institutions. Here’s a look at some common costs in Morocco to help your research.
| Childcare | Canada | Morocco | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | $1110.6 (.د.م7,469) | $151.5 (.د.م1,019) | -86.4% |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | $16572.9 (.د.م111,460) | $4735.8 (.د.م31,850) | -71.4% |
Entertainment and eating out in Morocco
Don’t forget to include discretionary spending on entertainment and personal care to your budget for Morocco. While your own spending in this area will be unique, planning to have some money for fun activities can help you settle into your new home, make new friends and relax into your new life.
| Entertainment | Canada | Morocco | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee (1 Adult) | $58.9 (.د.م396) | $34.4 (.د.م231) | -41.5% |
| Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend) | $23.9 (.د.م161) | $33.2 (.د.م223) | 38.6% |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 ticket | $15 (.د.م101) | $9.7 (.د.م65) | -35.6% |
| Eating out | Canada | Morocco | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal out (cheap restaurant) | $25 (.د.م168) | $6 (.د.م40) | -76.2% |
| Meal for 2 (mid-range restaurant), 3 courses | $100 (.د.م673) | $37.2 (.د.م250) | -62.8% |
| Meal at McDonalds (or equivalent) | $15 (.د.م101) | $8.9 (.د.م60) | -40.5% |
| Local Beer (0.5 litres) | $8 (.د.م54) | $4.5 (.د.م30) | -44.3% |
| Imported Beer (0.33 litre) | $4.6 (.د.م31) | $3.6 (.د.م24) | -22.4% |
| Cappuccino (regular) | $5.2 (.د.م35) | $2.5 (.د.م17) | -51.4% |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre) | $2.9 (.د.م20) | $0.8 (.د.م5) | -71.3% |
| Water (0.33 litre) | $2.3 (.د.م15) | $0.5 (.د.م3) | -77.6% |
Exchange rates between Canada & Morocco
Understanding the differences in exchange rate between Canada & Morocco is important to allow you to manage your money across currencies. Looking at historical data and trends for the MAD/CAD exchange rate can help you understand how far your funds will go once you move.
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Conclusion
Understanding the differences in cost of living between Morocco & Canada is important for anyone who plans to relocate - either for a short period of work or study, or on a long term basis. By understanding how different costs may be for day to day essentials, you can plan your budget effectively and make sure you hit the ground running in your new home.
If you live an international lifestyle, our currency conversion and international payment comparison tools are the perfect way to help you manage your money across currencies. Use our guides and calculators to figure out the cheapest and most convenient ways to spend in your new country, and to send international payments to and from Morocco & Canada with low fees and great rates.