How Much Does a Trip to Morocco Cost? 2026 Budget Breakdown

Morocco is excellent value, especially for food and transport, but the gap between a budget trip and a comfortable one is wide: a room in a simple medina guesthouse and a suite in a boutique riad can be twenty times apart in price. Here’s what things cost in 2026, in Moroccan dirhams (MAD), so you can plan your own budget. As a rough guide, 10 dirhams is a little under 1 euro.

How much money do you need per day in Morocco?

Travel style	Per person per day	What you get
Backpacker	400 to 600 dirhams	Hostel dorm or basic room, street food, buses and trains
Mid-range	900 to 1,500 dirhams	Private riad room, restaurant meals, a guide, some tours
Comfort	2,500 dirhams and up	Boutique riads, private drivers, spa hammams, fine dining

Marrakech is the most expensive city, with Fes close behind. The mountains, the desert and smaller towns are cheaper, except for desert camps, which are priced for visitors.

Accommodation

Type	Marrakech / Fes (dirhams per night)	Smaller towns (dirhams per night)
Hostel dorm bed	100 to 200	80 to 150
Simple riad or guesthouse double	400 to 900	300 to 600
Mid-range riad double	1,000 to 2,500	600 to 1,200
Boutique riad or luxury hotel	3,000+	1,500+

Riad prices usually include breakfast, and many cook dinner on request. Prices rise around Christmas, New Year and Easter, and during European school holidays.

Food and drink

Item	Typical price (dirhams)
Harira soup or bissara	5 to 15
Msemen or bread snack	3 to 10
Tagine or couscous at a local restaurant	60 to 120
Dinner at a riad or mid-range restaurant	150 to 350
Mint tea in a cafe	10 to 25
Fresh orange juice	10 to 20
Large bottle of water	6 to 10
Beer in a licensed bar	40 to 80

Eating where Moroccans eat is the single best way to keep costs down. Alcohol is only sold in licensed venues and is expensive by local standards. Our Moroccan food guide covers what to order.

Getting around

Journey	Typical price (dirhams)
Airport bus 19, Marrakech airport to Jemaa el-Fna	30
Petit taxi across Marrakech (by day)	20 to 50
Petit taxi from Marrakech airport (by day)	50 to 100
Train Marrakech to Fes, 2nd / 1st class	from about 220 / 330
Intercity bus (CTM or Supratours), 3 to 4 hours	80 to 150
3-day shared desert tour, Marrakech to Fes	about 1,000 to 1,650 per person

Trains run by ONCF link Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes and Tangier; the Al Boraq high-speed line runs Tangier to Casablanca in just over two hours. For the desert, mountains and coast, use CTM or Supratours buses, or a driver.

Sights and activities

Jardin Majorelle, one of the pricier sights in Morocco. Photo: Viault, CC BY-SA 3.0

Sight	Price for foreign adults (dirhams)
Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech	around 170, online only
Bahia Palace, Marrakech	100
Ben Youssef Madrasa, Marrakech	50
Official guide in Fes, half day	300 to 500
Local hammam / spa hammam	20 to 50 / 300 to 800
Cooking class	400 to 800

How much does a week in Morocco cost?

Based on our 7-day Morocco itinerary (Marrakech, the Sahara, Fes), per person sharing a room, excluding international flights:

	Budget (dirhams)	Mid-range (dirhams)
Accommodation, 4 city nights	800 to 1,400	2,000 to 3,500
3-day desert tour including 2 nights	1,000 to 1,650	2,500 to 4,000 (small group or upgraded camp)
Food and drink	1,000 to 1,500	2,000 to 3,500
Sights, guide, hammam	400 to 600	900 to 1,500
Local transport	150 to 300	300 to 600
Total	about 3,400 to 5,500	about 7,700 to 13,100

Money tips

• The dirham is a closed currency. You can’t buy it before you arrive, and you may take no more than 2,000 dirhams out of the country. Change leftovers back at the airport before security, and keep exchange receipts.
• Use ATMs in cities. They’re common in Marrakech, Fes and the new towns, but scarce in the desert and mountains, so draw enough before you leave.
• Carry small notes and coins for taxis, tea, tips and the souks. Large notes are hard to break.
• Cash is king in the medinas, at most sights and for guides and tips.

Haggling and hidden costs

In the souks, prices are a starting point for negotiation. Our Morocco travel tips explain how to haggle without stress. Budget, too, for small unexpected costs: tips for unsolicited help, photos of performers on Jemaa el-Fna, and “guides” who lead you to a sight and then ask for money. A polite “la, shukran” (no, thank you) at the start saves a lot.

How can you save money in Morocco?

1. Travel in the shoulder seasons, avoiding European holidays, for better riad rates.
2. Eat lunch at local snack bars and have your big meal at midday.
3. Take trains and CTM buses instead of private transfers between cities.
4. Book a shared desert tour rather than a private one if you’re travelling solo or as a couple.
5. Stay a little outside the busiest parts of the medina, where riads are cheaper and quieter.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need per day in Morocco?

Roughly 400 to 600 dirhams a day on a backpacker budget, 900 to 1,500 dirhams for mid-range travel with private riad rooms and a few tours, and 2,500 dirhams or more for boutique riads, private drivers and fine dining.

Can I use euros or dollars in Morocco?

Some hotels and tour operators quote in euros, but day-to-day you pay in Moroccan dirhams (MAD). The dirham is a closed currency: you can only get it in Morocco, and you may export no more than 2,000 dirhams when you leave.

Are cards accepted in Morocco?

In hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets and train stations, yes. In the souks, small cafes, taxis and at most sights, you need cash. ATMs are common in cities but scarce in the desert and mountains.

How much should I tip in Morocco?

Around 10 percent in restaurants if service isn't included, 10 to 20 dirhams for porters and small services, and 100 to 200 dirhams a day for a good guide or driver, more for a private driver on a multi-day tour.

Is Morocco cheaper than Europe?

Yes, noticeably. Food, transport and local accommodation cost a fraction of Western European prices, though boutique riads in Marrakech can charge European rates.

Useful links (3)

1. Morocco country information: currency, US State Department— travel.state.gov
2. Medersa Ben Youssef: opening hours and ticket prices (official)— medersabenyoussef.ma
3. Train travel in Morocco, The Man in Seat 61— seat61.com