What Is The Cost Of Travelling In Morocco?

 
You’re off to a land of sweeping sands and rolling mountains. Images of camel caravans of ages gone by swirl around in your mind. The gateway to Africa, Morocco’s medinas and souks behold an iridescent display of treasures that glitter invitingly under the African sun. To help you budget and plan for your upcoming adventure, we’ve outlined some of the key costs in Morocco that you’ll come across whilst exploring the country. With this guide, you’ll discover that the cost of travelling in Morocco is not as high as you may be led to believe.
Colourful ceramic plates in Essaouira Morocco

PRICES IN MOROCCO TO PLAN YOUR MOROCCO TRAVEL BUDGET

Tipping

Tipping, particularly for tourist services is an integral part of Moroccan life. You generally won’t find service included on the bill at a restaurant but standard practice is to add 5-10% to the total.

Mint Tea

If you liked mint tea before travelling to Morocco, you will love it even more. Serving mint tea is a long-honoured practice in Moroccan culture that expresses friendship and hospitality. Served in beautiful bulbous glasses, your sugar intake will also increase significantly.

MAD

15 DH

USD

$1.60

GBP

£1.20

EUR

€1.35

AUD

$2.10

Mint tea and sugar cubes custom in Morocco - how much to budget for Morocco

Bread

A meal is incomplete in Morocco unless it includes bread. Bread is eaten during all meals and as a snack throughout the day. For carb lovers, you will get your fill and then some. If you’re not dining in a restaurant and looking to pick up picnic supplies, the most popular types you will see are khobz (a round loaf baked in an over with a thick crust and made with plain flour) and msemen (a square shaped thick crepe made from wheat flour cooked in a pan with little oil).

MAD

1-2 DH

USD

$0.20

GBP

£0.15

EUR

€0.20

AUD

$0.30

Freshly baked bread for sale Essaouira Morocco

Fish

We experienced the local fish markets in Essaouira, the windy coastal city approximately 3 hours drive from Marrakech. Selling sardines, prawns, mussels, squid and various fish, you can enjoy a delicious meal for two with some bread and olives for less than 150 DH (this price includes an estimate for cooking).

MAD

40-70 DH

USD

$7.60

GBP

£5.40

EUR

€6.15

AUD

$9.85

Fishmongers in Marche aux Poissons Essaouira Morocco

Ice Cream

When the mercury starts reaching 30℃ plus, a little cold snack is the solace you’ll be seeking. Grab a Magnum look-a-like or ice block from freezers at convenience stores along the way for a moment of refreshing respite.

MAD

5-10 DH

USD

$1.10

GBP

£0.80

EUR

€0.90

AUD

$1.40

A man and a woman don Berber scarves and stand by an empty pool with palm trees in the Sahara Desert, Morocco

Olives

Olives are generally served free in restaurants before your main meal. However, if you’re planning on putting together your own lunch or just want a few to snack on, then a small bag won’t set you back too much. You’ll find piles of green and black olives, all seasoned in a range of flavours. During our time in Morocco, we chose a mix of preserved lemon, chilli and herbs. Yum!

MAD

1-2 DH per scoop

USD

$0.20

GBP

£0.15

EUR

€0.20

AUD

$0.30

Garlic and herb green olives Essaouira Morocco

Salad

In the African heat, often a light, crisp salad is all you’ll need on those lunch stops. Moroccan salads are perfect. Combining tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, fresh mint and sometimes olives, just squeeze a hint of lemon and voila!

MAD

30 DH

USD

$3.25

GBP

£2.30

EUR

€2.65

AUD

$4.20

Sitting outside in the sunshine at cafes in Essaouira, Morocco

Tagine

A staple dish in Moroccan culture, you can use this dish as an index as to whether your restaurant choice is in a touristy area or more local. In a Marrakech Riad or more upmarket restaurant, you will pay upwards of 100 DH +, whereas in more regional locations, the price is roughly half this amount. Often served with chicken or lamb, vegetarian options are widely available too.

MAD

60-120 DH

USD

$13.00

GBP

£9.25

EUR

€10.60

AUD

$16.90

Lamb tagine with walnuts, plums and apricot at Riad Kaiss, Marrakech, Morocco

Coffee Nous-Nous

In Morocco, you won’t find a wide variety of espresso options. Do as the locals do and order a “nous-nous”. Half coffee and half milk, this coffee offering quickly became our favourite and should sit well with latte drinkers.

MAD

15 DH

USD

$1.60

GBP

£1.20

EUR

€1.35

AUD

$2.10

Drinking a nous nous coffee in Morocco

Soft Drink

A bottle of Coca-Cola or Fanta Lemon (355ml or 12 oz).

MAD

10-15 DH

USD

$1.60

GBP

£1.20

EUR

€1.35

AUD

$2.10

Donkey carrying supplies in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Beer

Over 90% of the country are Muslim and thus, alcohol is not sold in traditional Moroccan establishments. Alcohol tends to only be sold in restaurants, shops or hotels that are foreign-owned and largely in touristy areas. If you choose to consume alcohol whilst in Morocco, please remember to be mindful of your environment and respectful of any locals who may be in the vicinity.

MAD

30-60 DH

USD

$6.50

GBP

£4.60

EUR

€5.30

AUD

$8.45

View of Chefchaouen at sunset Morocco

Shoes

A pair of leather sandals, either slip on or with straps. Available in multiple colours. Don’t forget to barter! 180 DH is the first price that was quoted to Jas in the souks of Marrakech but she ended up paying 100 DH for the exact same pair in Essaouira. Like most countries, the cost of things in Morocco outside of the big cities tend to be less expensive.

MAD

160 DH

USD

$19.50

GBP

£13.85

EUR

€15.85

AUD

$25.35

Shoe shopping in Essaouira's souks, Morocco

Scarf

Available in various colours, prints and lengths. Many of the Berber scarves are hand-dyed and you can learn how to wrap one on your head before venturing into the desert. Prices in Marrakech are much higher than in regional towns. We purchased two scarves in Ait Benhaddou for 80 DH but were quote 90 DH for one scarf in Marrakech. Don’t forget to use your bartering skills!

MAD

40-90 DH

USD

$9.75

GBP

£6.90

EUR

€7.95

AUD

$12.65

Bevan and Jasmine wearing Berber scarves before camel riding in Morocco

Ceramics

If you love colour and you love homewares, then add a little more to your budget. You’ll find salad bowls, dinner plates, tagine pots, candle holders and more. Ceramics will vary in quality and thus price (we discovered that the higher quality ceramics tend to come from Fes). We settled for four medium-sized, good-quality plates for 300 DH (bartering down from 650 DH).

MAD

Small 40 DH; Large 60-80 DH

*Expect to pay x2 for higher quality

USD

Small $4.35; Large $8.65

GBP

Small £3.05; Large £6.15

EUR

Small €3.50; Large €7.05

AUD

Small $5.65; Large $11.25

Instagram famous stall in Marrakech souk, Morocco

Laundry

After some sweaty days plus a night in the Sahara Desert, you might want a clean pair of undies and a fresh t-shirt. We used our hotel in Essaouira which charged per kilo but some other hotels may charge per item.

MAD

30 DH per kilo or 10-20 per item

USD

$3.25/kilo or $2.15/item

GBP

£2.30/kilo or £1.55/item

EUR

€2.65/kilo or €1.75/item

AUD

$4.20/kilo or $2.80/item

Cacti on display at Jardin Marjorelle Marrakech Morocco

Marrakech Airport Taxi

Our research revealed that a taxi from Marrakech Airport to the medina should cost 70 – 80 DH (approximately 20 mins drive). Many tourists are ripped off and end up paying double, triple or even five times this amount. There is a sign at the airport parking lots displaying prices for le petit taxi (not necessarily abided by). Don’t be dissuaded. Be persistent without being rude. Eventually, there will be a driver willing to take you to your hotel.

MAD

100 DH

USD

$10.80

GBP

£7.70

EUR

€8.80

AUD

$14.10

The Grand Taxi price list at Marrakech Airport, Morocco

Public Bus

Once you’ve made it to Marrakech, getting around town can be exhausting. To save time and your legs, catch a local bus. Money is paid to the driver in cash. You can access real time schedules via Google Maps.

MAD

4 DH per trip

USD

$0.45

GBP

£0.30

EUR

€0.35

AUD

$0.55

Jasmine poses in front of the imposing arch of Bab Er Robb, Marrakech, Morocco

Local Morocco SIM Card

If you have an unlocked smartphone, it’s super easy to buy a prepaid SIM with data at kiosks in the cities and even on the road. Our main reason for buying the SIM Card in Morocco was for access to Google Maps, particularly to help us navigate our way through Marrakech medina. In Marrakech, we found data coverage to be reliable and reasonably fast.

MAD

50 DH with Maroc Telecom

USD

$5.40

GBP

£3.85

EUR

€4.40

AUD

$7.05

Jasmine of The Travel Quandary poses in front of woven Moroccan rugs for sale, Chefchaouen Morocco

Porter

As we were travelling as a group, tips were pre-arranged for us. The amount you tip may also vary on the extent of the service provided i.e. carrying bags to your room from the hotel lobby or using a cart to navigate the medina to your riad.

MAD

5-20 DH

USD

$2.15

GBP

£1.55

EUR

€1.75

AUD

$2.80

A man sits on his cart waiting for business in the streets of Essaouira, Morocco

Petrol

We hired a car from Tangier Airport and drove to and from Chefchaouen. Attendants are on hand to fill your car upon instruction. There was no lack of petrol stations along main thoroughfares. We came across big names such as Shell and OiLibya.

MAD

11 DH/litre

USD

$1.20

GBP

£0.85

EUR

€0.95

AUD

$1.55

4WDs in the Sahara Desert, Morocco

Water

Tap water in Morocco is not drinkable. Unless you have a water filter, you will have to purchase water. We travelled in a large group and purchased 5 litre bottles so that our smaller bottles could be refilled on-the-go. We were informed that locals highly value these 5-litre bottles and re-use them in their everyday life. Please try to be responsible when buying bottled water and even carry a reusable bottle. Every little bit helps.

MAD

10-20 DH

USD

$2.15

GBP

£1.55

EUR

€1.75

AUD

$2.80

Jasmine hiking in the Atlas mountains, Morocco

If you’re looking for more information to help you plan your trip, check out our travel guide to Essaouira, Morocco and our two-day itinerary for The Blue Pearl: Chefchaouen. For a longer journey, this 7-day Morocco itinerary provides plenty of ideas.

*Conversions calculated based on April 2018 average which is the month we visited Morocco. All amounts rounded to the nearest 5 pence or cents. Average exchange rates obtained from www.oanda.com.

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A glass of mint tea and sugar cubes - cost of travelling in Morocco
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8 thoughts on “What Is The Cost Of Travelling In Morocco?”

  1. Hii everybody.. I’m moroccan.. And i would like to correct something said about the water.. It’usually drinkable unless you’ve visited an exclusive area where the water isn’t clean or unsuitable for drinking.. You’re always welcome to come visit our gorgeous country.

    Reply
    • Hi Zayneb, Thank you for commenting. We don’t mean any offence and our blog is purely based on our experience and the recommendations provided to us by tour guides and accommodation hosts. We appreciate your contribution and hope we will be able to visit Morocco again one day 🙂

      Reply
  2. Great info! I’m heading to Morocco on a cycling trip with Intrepid October 8-31. I’m having trouble find out about the weather for October. I find summer (to August) then November-ish. Any ideas? Arriving Marrakesh and hoping to head to Essouir(sp?) the next day and stay for 3-4 days. Then back to Morocco to meet up with my tour. Any help would be appreciated!

    Reply
    • So glad to hear you’ve found this post helpful! We travelled to Morocco in the last week of April and first week of May and the weather was a lot cooler than we expected! We travelled with Intrepid and visited Marrakesh, the Atlas mountains, Ait Benhaddou, one night in the Sahara Desert, Essaouira and then back to Marrakesh and we definitely needed out jumpers almost every day. October we would also expect to be quite cool as the hottest months are June – August. Essaouira is very windy too. My advice would be to pack layers and one light puffer jacket even. If your cycling tour goes through the Atlas Mountains, you’ll definitely need warm clothes! Wishing you a wonderful trip to Morocco! 🙂

      Reply
  3. We will be going in October on a small group tour. We will be there for 8 days. How much $ do you think I should bring ? Also, coming for the states and told I can’t get currency from my bank prior to going (even though it is an option from my bank) where do you suggest exchanging money? I know off the top we need $200 to cover tips and entrance fees. The rest will be for shopping and meals where they don’t take credit cards. I’m hoping to use my cc as much as possible. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Hi! Thanks for your questions! Firstly, if you’re travelling with a group tour, hopefully you’ll know many of your costs before hand but if need to pay for all your meals, you could budget approx USD $50/day for 3 meals per person. Secondly, Moroccan Dirhams is a closed currency so many places outside of Morocco won’t sell you any cash (double check with your bank if they actually will). If you are able to get some in the States, you will be limited with how much you’re allowed to buy. We travelled to Morocco from the UK and it was not available there so we settled with withdrawing cash from ATMs in the larger cities. Basically, you’ll need to exchange at a Western Union or a Travelex or withdraw cash from ATMs. There are plenty of ATMs in the larger cities and if you’re with a tour guide, they can let you know the best places and times along your tour to withdraw cash. Lastly, don’t expect to rely on using a credit card because the Moroccans still largely deal in cash, even in restaurants. Our recommendation would be to try to draw up a daily budget, multiply by your tour days and decide on when you’ll withdraw cash from ATMs. Your budget can be for entrance fees, tips and meals and then add your extra amount for shopping and emergencies. Hope this helps but send us a message if you’d like any more detailed information 🙂

      Reply

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