Getting the Most from Your Dollar in Morocco

Accommodation. Budget riads in Marrakech run $25 to $50 per night for a private room. Mid-range riads, the traditional Moroccan courtyard house usually well-preserved and often in the medina, run $60 to $120. Riad accommodation is typically more atmospheric and better value than comparable international hotel chains.

Smaller cities are noticeably cheaper. Chefchaouen , the blue mountain city, has budget rooms from $12 and is Morocco’s most affordable tourist destination. Fes is the second-best value. Marrakech is the most expensive but still affordable by global standards.

Food. This is where Morocco truly delivers. A traditional tagine or couscous at a local restaurant runs $5 to $10. Street food, msemen pancakes, harira soup, sandwiches, runs $1 to $3. Mid-range restaurants with proper seating and rooftop views: $12 to $20 for a full meal. Morocco’s food is not just cheap, it is genuinely one of the world’s great cuisines. Pro tip: eat where the locals eat.

Transport between cities. Morocco’s national rail network ONCF connects Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Marrakech, and Tangier with comfortable, reliable trains. Marrakech to Casablanca runs approximately $15 to $25 depending on class. CTM and Supratours buses cover routes the train doesn’t: Fes to Chefchaouen runs about $11 per ticket. Shared grand taxis cover shorter intercity routes cheaply but on no fixed schedule.

Within cities. Petits taxis, the small metered taxis in each city, cover most trips for 20 to 50 dirhams ($2 to $5). Insist the meter runs, or agree on a price before getting in. Walking is viable in the medinas; the main souks and medina streets are compact enough to cover most on foot.