Cost of Living in Morocco for Students

Speaking about the cost of studying and living in Morocco for students, prices are very reasonable, especially if you have just arrived from a trip to Europe.

You may find expensive options in the touristic places and cities, such as Marrakesh. However, in the largest part of the country, food and accommodation are lower in cost when compared to the West. You can stay in a local hotel or motel unless you want to stay in a luxury place for one night.

There are a few number of expensive things you would find, regardless of the place you will be in, such as car rentals and touristic souvenirs. As for daily purchases, they do not consider a threat to your wallet.

Here is an overview of the tuition fees and cost of living in Morocco for international students.

Types of Universities in Morocco

In most of the Moroccan cities, there are government universities. These universities award degrees for free in general. They offer programs that allow foreign students to enroll in a much easier way.

There are also vocational and technical schools, which usually require nominal fees.

Moreover, there are a large number of private universities as well. They are more popular among the foreigners. Some of these universities offer exchange programs, and they are usually expensive. The costs of such programs are sometimes equivalent to the costs of the American and British universities.

For more info about the Moroccan universities, check our article about the top universities in Morocco.

What is the Average Rent Per Month in Morocco?

As previously discussed in our article about the student accommodation in Morocco, there are some available options for the accommodation of foreign students. Here are the prices of some accommodation options in Morocco:

• One-bedroom apartment in the center of the city: MAD 3,500;
• One-bedroom apartment outside the center of the city: MAD 1,500;
• Three-bedroom apartment in the center of the city: MAD 6,000;
• Three-bedroom apartment outside the center of the city: MAD 3,500.

Learn more on the subject by reading our article on the student accommodation in Morocco

Restaurants

Apart from the fact that food is of low cost in Morocco, you can have a meal in one of the inexpensive restaurants for less than MAD 50. This is in comparison with the European restaurants, where you can have a meal at around MAD 200. Here are some prices:

• A meal in an inexpensive restaurant: MAD 30;
• A meal for two in a mid-range restaurant: MAD 150;
• Regular cappuccino: MAD 15;
• Bottle of soft drink (0.33L): MAD 6;
• Bottle of water (0.33L): MAD 3,50.

Food prices in Morocco 

Shopping for groceries in markets is definitely cheaper than eating out. And another advantage of living in Morocco is that the country offers a vast range of open markets where you can shop for fresh fruits and vegetables. So, in case you want to cook your own food, here is a list of some basic products’ prices.

• Milk (1 liter): MAD 6.98
• A loaf of White bread (500g): MAD 4.08
• Rice (1 kg): MAD 11.65
• Local cheese (1 kg): MAD 67.84
• A dozen of eggs: MAD 12.64
• Tomatoes (1 kg): MAD 4.62
• Potatoes (1 kg): MAD 4.15
• Onion (1 kg): MAD 4.52
• Lettuce (1 piece): MAD 3.63
• Apples (1 kg): MAD 11.86
• Bananas (1 kg): MAD 10.52
• Oranges (1 kg): MAD 5.54

Transportation

Transportation in Morocco offers fast and clean trains. Also, buses are available everywhere. They can take you to the furthest village for a relatively low price.

There are also tramways in Casablanca and Rabat.

There are three main bus companies, which have specific routes in all the big cities. Local companies are usually of lower rates, but they are not well secured. So, they are not recommended for those who do not know the area. Here you are some of the transportation prices by bus or taxi:

• Bus: one-way ticket (local transportation): MAD 4.50
• Monthly pass (regular price): MAD 150
• Taxi: normal tariff for 1 km : MAD 6

Utilities

Basic utilities in Morocco will cost you less than 396.26 MAD in a normal size apartment in Morocco. This includes heating, water, electricity and garbage. Moreover, high speed internet is a bit expensive, and would cost around 184 to 275 MAD per month. 

A subscription to a 4G GSM will cost you about 112 MAD per month. It is advised to buy prepaid cards as they are cheaper and rechargeable depending on your monthly needs.

Healthcare costs in Morocco

International students should always include health care prices as part of their cost of living estimation in Morocco. Starting from health insurance, which should be mandatory, wherever they go studying abroad. In Morocco, like in any other country, the price of the insurance policy depends on your age and the options you want to include. Usually, the annual health insurance price varies between 10,000 and 25,000 MAD per year. 

In case you need to run to an emergency room, it is advised to go to private hospitals. The prices are obviously more expensive but you will get better care quality and less waiting time.