Cost to Travel in Morocco, Our 2022 Budget breakdown

Introduction

Hey everyone, in this article, we will share with you our complete Cost to Travel in Morocco, budget breakdown and what it really costs to travel in Morocco.

We loved our time in Morocco, especially since we road-tripped all around the country for more than 2 weeks. We stayed 16 days and drove over 2,500 km in a Fiat 500!

Our trip started and ended in Fes, and we made a loop to visit this magnificent country. Our itinerary went through the main cities, the Sahara Desert, the seaside, and the mountains of Morocco.

This trip to Morocco turned out to be one of the most affordable we’ve ever taken — and honestly, one of our favorites too. Morocco just has so much to offer. It’s no wonder it’s become such a popular destination for travelers from Europe and beyond. From its rich history and stunning landscapes to the warm hospitality and unforgettable food, Morocco is a place that leaves a lasting impression. Here, we’re breaking down exactly what it costs us to travel in Morocco, so you know what to expect for your own trip.

Morocco isn’t what it used to be — today it’s incredibly welcoming to tourists and feels very safe to travel around.

We rented a car at the airport and hit the road, covering an amazing route that took us through Fes, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, Marrakesh, Imlil, Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Merzouga, and Ifrane.

At no point did we feel like we had to count every penny. We were able to enjoy everything we wanted without really thinking twice about the cost.

So, here’s the breakdown of what it cost us to travel in Morocco.

Read: Our complete 2-week Morocco Itinerary Road Trip

What’s included in our cost ot travel in Morocco

Our cost to travel in Morocco and full budget breakdown covers everything we actually spent — from accommodations and transportation to food, activities, and the little extras along the way.

We didn’t include our flights into Morocco, since that really depends on where you’re flying from and can vary a lot.

All the costs in this guide reflect what we spent as a couple, since that’s how we traveled. Prices are shown in euros (€), but of course we paid for everything in Moroccan Dirhams (MAD) while we were there, so you’ll see both currencies mentione

Don’t forget to book your accommodations in advance – the best places always fill up quickly.

Our complete itinerary

To get some perspective, our detailed itinerary was the following:

• Day 0: Arrive in Fes (we arrived late, so we don’t count it as a real day)
• Day 1: Explore Fes
• Day 2: Road trip to Meknes, Volubilis, Chefchaouen
• Day 3: Explore Chefchaouen
• Day 4: Road trip to Casablanca with a stop in Rabat
• Day 5: Road trip to Essaouira + Explore Essaouira
• Day 6: Chill in Essaouira (Bonus)
• Day 7: Road trip to Marrakech
• Day 8: Explore Marrakech
• Day 9: Road trip to Imlil + Explore Imlil
• Day 10: 1-day hike in Toubkal National Park
• Day 11: Road trip to Ait Ben Haddou
• Day 12: Explore Ouarzazate, road trip to Tinghir
• Day 13: Road trip to Merzouga
• Day 14: Enjoy the Sahara Desert
• Day 15: Road trip to Ifrane
• Day 16: Explore Ifrane and return

This itinerary is a loop going around the country and the best spots Morocco has to offer. You can, of course, do the opposite. And we could easily pack it in 14 days by skipping Rabat and our second day in Essaouira. Now, let’s talk about the real cost to travel in Morocco.

Check our Google Map of Morocco

Cost of Accommodation in Morocco

Let’s start our cost to travel in Morocco with accommodation. We booked everything through booking.com and had the chance to try all kinds of stays — from riads (traditional houses with inner courtyards) and smaller dars, to Airbnbs, glamping in the desert, and even a few hotels. Everywhere we went, the welcome was warm, and Moroccan hospitality really stood out.

Most nights we aimed for places in the 20–50€ range, depending on the area. The only times we stretched that budget were in Marrakesh and in Merzouga for the Sahara desert glamping experience, which included half board — and honestly, it was worth every euro.

Here is what Moroccan accommodations cost us:

• Fès: 48 €/night
• Chefchaouen: 31 €/night
• Casablanca: 42 €/night
• Essaouira: 50 €/night
• Marrakesh: 72 €/night
• Imlil: 28 €/night
• Ait Ben Haddou: 45 €/night
• Tinghir: 39€/night
• Merzouga: 86 €/night
• Ifrane: 47 €/night

We loved our experience. For this trip, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend budgeting more for accommodation — you can easily find great places in the mid-range price bracket. But if you can stretch the budget, Morocco has some truly incredible stays, from dreamy riads to boutique hotels, that can turn a night’s sleep into part of the adventure.

Here is a list of accommodations we recommend based on your budget.

• Fès: (€): Riad Farah, (€€): Riad Dar Borj, (€€€): Riad Laaroussa
• Chefchaouen: (€):  Casa Sabila, (€€):  Casa La Hiba, (€€€): Casa Amina
• Casablanca:(€):  Ryad 91, (€€):  StayHere Gauthier, (€€€): Art Palace Suites & Spa
• Essaouira: (€): Dar Halima ( Maison d’hôtes/Restaurant/galerie), (€€): riad bab essaouira, (€€€): Riad Perle D’Eau – Essaouira
• Marrakesh: (€): Riad Tahyra, (€€): Riad Helen, (€€€): La Sultana,Apartment: Sweet Jacob’s Appartment
• Imlil: (€€): Riad Atlas Toubkal
• Ait Ben Haddou: (€):  ksar lamane ait ben haddou, (€€):  Kasbah El Hajja, (€€€): Caravane
• Tinghir: (€): Retour Au Calme,(€€): Auberge Camping Atlas, (€€€): Auberge Le Festival Todra Gorge
• Merzouga: (€): merzouga activities camp, (€€): Sahara Desert Luxury Camp , (€€€): Sunrise Sahara Camp
• Ifrane: (€):  Gite du barrage, (€€): Ferme d’hôte la vallée, (€€€): Michlifen Resort & Golf | Ifrane – Maroc

If, like us, you mixed it up a bit but mostly stayed on the lower end, this part of our cost to travel in Morocco came to 822€ for two people — about 48€ per night for both of us.

Tip: Get exactly this experience: Sahara Desert Luxury Camp.

Cost of Transportation in Morocco

To continue our cost to travel in Morocco, transportation deserves its own section. Getting around Morocco can be a bit tricky if you want to see all its beautiful, scattered places. Trains and buses do exist and work well between major cities, but they won’t take you everywhere — and you’ll likely need taxis or long rides to reach smaller towns and remote spots.

That’s exactly why we decided to road trip Morocco. Having our own car gave us so much freedom, and driving there turned out to be easy. The pace is slower, and you mostly just follow the flow of local drivers.

Fuel and car cleaning were surprisingly affordable — a full tank was about 45€, and a full hand wash cost just 3€. Parking was never an issue, especially with a small car. We did get a speeding ticket once (100 MAD, roughly 9,50€), but nothing major.

We rented the car for 14 days. Since we arrived late in Fès, we only picked it up from the airport the next day. We booked through rentalcars.com a few weeks before our trip and decided to add their insurance — though, in hindsight, we probably didn’t need it as the driving conditions felt relaxed.

The rental cost came to 385€ total (27.50€ per day), including 82.50€ for insurance. Without insurance, it would have been about 21.60€ per day.

Adding fuel, cleaning, parking, and that one ticket, our total transportation cost to travel in Morocco came to 566,62€, or around 31,50€ per day.

We recommend to rent a car through Discover Cars with free cancellation. Book your rental car here.

Cost of food in Morocco

Let’s get to the tasty part of the cost to travel in Morocco — the food. Normally, when we travel, we mix things up by cooking some of our own meals. It helps us manage costs and makes it easier to stick to a whole-food, plant-based or vegetarian diet. But Morocco was different.

We didn’t cook a single meal during our entire trip. Breakfast was always included at our accommodations — usually fresh bread, olives, jams, and mint tea — and for lunch and dinner, we ate out or dined where we were staying.

The food in Morocco was one of the highlights of the trip. It’s flavorful, affordable, and there’s so much to discover. Some of the best things to try in Morocco are:

• Tagine – a slow-cooked stew, usually with vegetables, lamb, or chicken, and those incredible spices Morocco is famous for.
• Couscous – the Friday dish of Morocco, often served with vegetables and meat or enjoyed on its own.
• Harira – a traditional soup made with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and spices (often served to break the fast during Ramadan).
• Moroccan bread (Khobz) – served with every meal and perfect for scooping up sauces.
• Mint tea – the “Moroccan whiskey,” sweet, hot, and poured from a height.

Regarding cost, eating out in Morocco was surprisingly affordable. Our restaurant meals ranged from 10 to 27€ for the two of us, though most of the time we were paying between 12 and 20€ for a full meal for two — drinks and water included.

Because breakfast was always included at our accommodations, we only had to budget for lunch, dinner, and the occasional extra tea or snack.

By the end of the trip, the total food cost to travel in Morocco came to 455€ for two, which works out to around 25€ per day. Considering how well we ate — and how often — that felt like incredible value.

Check our Google Map of Morocco

Cost of Activities in Morocco

Traveling to a new place means setting aside some money for activities — and in Morocco, there’s no shortage of things to do. The activity cost to travel in Morocco is a big part of the budget, but it’s also where a lot of the memories come from.

Morocco is packed with experiences: wandering ancient ruins and medinas, visiting religious sites, hiking, exploring cinema studios in Ouarzazate, or simply relaxing on the beach. There’s truly something for every traveler.

For us, the Sahara Desert was the absolute highlight. The road trip from Marrakesh to Merzouga is breathtaking, especially if you take the mountain route through the Atlas Mountains. Spending two days glamping in the desert felt like the perfect amount of time — enough to watch the sunset over the dunes, ride camels, and enjoy the stillness of the night.

We also loved our time in Imlil, a quieter mountain town. It was a break from the busier cities, and the views — along with our cozy accommodation — made it unforgettable.

Here is a breakdown of some the cost: (Always for 2)

• Medersa attarine Fès: 3,8€
• Volubilis Entrance Fee: 13,2€
• Alcazaba of Chefchaouen: 11,5€
• Marjorelle garden Marrakesh: 22,7€
• Saadien’s tomb Marrakesh: 13,2€
• Bahia Palace Marrakesh: 13,2€
• Ibn Youssef School Marrakesh: 13,2€
• Badi Palace Marrakesh: 13,2€
• Guide to hiking Toubkal National Park: 20€
• Andrée Geller garden Anima: 22,7€
• Telouet Kasbah: 3,8€
• Ourzazate: 3,8€
• Atlas Studio: 21€
• Kasbah Amridil: 7,55
• Various desert activities: 145€

And the total activity cost to travel in Morocco goes up to 338€ for two. Representing about 19€/day

Other cost in Morocco

For that final section of our cost to travel in Morocco breakdown, here’s how the extra expenses shaped up — the little things that aren’t part of daily meals or hotels, but still add up.

VISA: Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa for Morocco. As a French traveler, I didn’t need one, but Tina, being Serbian, did. We applied online before leaving, which was simple and convenient, and it cost 73€.

Souvenirs: We always bring back a few reminders from our trips, and Morocco made it very easy to splurge a little. We came home with pillows, magnets, bowls, slippers, a silk scarf, and more — all together costing about 280€.

SIM Card: Sorting out data abroad is always a bit of a hassle. I got a SIM card from a friend, and Tina bought one at the airport for 10€ with 5GB of data. It lasted most of the trip, though we didn’t top it up when it ran out. If you’d rather avoid the whole SIM card hunt, an eSIM from Airalo is a great option — you download it before you leave and have data the moment you land.

Travel Insurance: We didn’t take out a separate travel insurance for this trip because our French credit card includes full travel coverage. But if you don’t have something similar, we really recommend looking into one. WorldNomads is a good choice — it covers almost anything that could come up during your travels and gives you peace of mind.

Check our Google Map of Morocco

Total Cost to travel in Morocco

It is time to sum up everything and end our cost to travel in Morocco breakdown. In total for 2-week in Morocco, for two of us, it cost us 2 630€ which is 1 315€ per person and 148€ per day for two.

In detailed, we have:

• Transportation: 566€ in total, 283€ per person, 31€ per day.
• Accommodation: 822€ in total, 411€ per person, 49€ per night.
• Food: 338€ in total, 169€ per person, 19€ per day.
• Activities: 338€ in total, 169€ per person, 19 per day.
• Others: 447€ in total, 223€ per person, 24,8€ per day.

Read: Our complete 2-week Morocco Itinerary Road Trip