Is Morocco Cheap or Expensive to Visit?
Quick answer
Morocco is affordable to mid-range by Western standards. Backpackers can travel on roughly 350–550 MAD (£28–£44 / $35–$55) a day, mid-range travellers around 800–1,500 MAD a day, while riads, private tours and imported goods push costs up.
Morocco offers strong value: food, local transport and guesthouses are inexpensive, while the experiences that make the country special — the souks, the food, the landscapes — cost little. Where budgets climb is private tours, design riads, alcohol and anything imported.
Your daily cost depends almost entirely on travel style, so here are honest, indicative ranges rather than a single misleading number.
Daily budgets by style
Backpacker (~350–550 MAD/day): hostel dorm or basic guesthouse, street food and local cafés, trains and shared grands taxis, free or cheap sights.
Mid-range (~800–1,500 MAD/day): a nice riad, restaurant meals, the odd private transfer and a paid tour or two. Comfortable for most couples.
Luxury (2,500 MAD/day and up): boutique and palace riads, private drivers and guides throughout, fine dining and desert luxury camps.
What’s cheap — and what isn’t
Cheap: street food and local restaurants, mint tea, fresh produce, trains and city taxis, museum entry, and souk goods if you haggle. A filling tagine can cost 40–70 MAD.
More expensive: alcohol and imported brands (heavily taxed), boutique riads in peak season, private multi-day tours, domestic flights, and tourist-trap restaurants on main squares. Petrol and car hire are moderate.
How to keep costs down
Eat where locals eat, use trains and CTM/Supratours buses between cities, haggle in souks, and travel in shoulder season (spring/autumn) for lower riad prices and better weather. Sharing a private desert tour between four people slashes the per-person cost.
Set a daily cash budget — since Morocco is cash-heavy — and you’ll naturally stay on track.
Key takeaways
- Morocco is affordable to mid-range for Western visitors.
- Backpacker ~350–550 MAD/day; mid-range ~800–1,500 MAD/day.
- Cheap: street food, trains, taxis, souks (with haggling).
- Pricier: alcohol, boutique riads, private tours, imported goods.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need per day in Morocco?
Roughly 350–550 MAD/day for budget travel, 800–1,500 MAD for mid-range comfort, and 2,500 MAD or more for luxury. Cash is essential for daily spending.
Is Morocco cheaper than Europe?
Generally yes — food, local transport and accommodation are cheaper than most of Western Europe, though boutique riads, private tours and alcohol can approach European prices.
What is expensive in Morocco?
Alcohol and imported goods (heavily taxed), design riads in peak season, private multi-day tours and domestic flights are the main budget-stretchers.
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