Morocco on a Budget: Where Your Money Goes

Morocco is one of the most affordable international destinations. It is not as expensive as we imagine, but the total cost depends a lot on how you travel. A few nights in a basic guesthouse, having local meals and public transport will keep spending down. Private transfers, nicer roads and desert tours will raise it quickly.
The easiest way to keep track of the budget is to look at the parts of the trip that take the most money.

Where You Stay Changes the Budget

Accommodation is one of the first things to look at. Depending on where you stay makes a lot of differences in your budget.
Morocco has hostels, simple guesthouses, mid-range hotels and luxury riads, so there is a big difference between what two travellers might pay for a room.
A room inside or close to a popular medina costs more because of its location. Staying a little outside the main tourist area can sometimes be a little cheaper, although we may spend more on taxis. Riads are another thing to compare carefully. Some are fairly simple, while others charge much more for larger rooms, pools, views or extra services.

Getting Between Cities Can Cost More Than Expected

The price of one train or bus ticket may not seem like much. The total becomes different when the trip includes several cities. For example, visiting Marrakech, Fez, Chefchaouen, Essaouira and a desert area means paying for several long journeys. It also takes time, so there may be nights of accommodation added just because of the route.

Trains work well for some major routes, while buses cover places that are not connected by rail. Taxis are useful for shorter journeys, but private cars and transfers cost more.

Choosing fewer destinations can therefore save money as well as travel time.

Foods

Food is one area where travellers have a lot of choice.

A breakfast from a bakery, a small local restaurant and a meal at an expensive hotel will all give you a very different bill. Street food and simple cafes can also keep daily spending low.
There is no need to eat at tourist restaurants for every meal. Trying local places can give you more variety without turning food into a major expense.

Drinks and small purchases also add up over several days, especially in tourist areas.

Desert Trips Are a Bigger Expense

A desert trip is one of the parts of a Morocco holiday that can take a bigger share of the budget. The cost is not only for the night at the camp. Transport to the desert, meals, the camel ride and the camp itself may all be included in the price of a tour.

Merzouga and Erg Chebbi are far from Marrakech, so getting there is another cost to think about. A trip that looks cheap at first may become more expensive once transport or other parts are added.

Before booking, check exactly what the price includes. Two desert tours may look similar at first but cover very different things.

Shopping Can Slowly Eat Into the Budget

Moroccan souks have plenty of things that are easy to buy on impulse, from ceramics and leather goods to lamps and jewellery.

Set a shopping budget before you start. Bargaining is common in many souks, but there is no need to buy something just because the seller agrees to a lower price.

Remember the Smaller Costs

The main costs are easy to remember: flights, accommodation, transport and activities.
Smaller expenses are easier to overlook. Airport transfers, local taxis, snacks, drinks, tips and entrance fees can add up over a week. Visa fees may also need to be included, depending on your nationality. Check the Morocco visa requirements for your passport before finalising your budget.

Spend More on What Matters to You

There is no single amount that every traveller needs for Morocco. Someone who cares most about food may spend more on restaurants and less on accommodation. Another traveller may prefer a nicer riad and keep meals simple. A desert trip or private transfer may be the main extra expense for someone else. The useful approach is to decide where you actually want to spend more, then keep the less important parts of the trip simple.