Morocco travel budget 2026: what to expect
Morocco remains one of the most accessible destinations from Europe, but the budget range is huge. You can travel for 40 € per day as a backpacker or spend 600 € per night in a luxury riad. This article details what you should plan for according to your travel style.
Tip: use our Morocco travel budget estimator to generate a personalised estimate in 30 seconds.
Three traveller profiles
Backpacker profile
- Hostels, dorms, basic riads
- Street food, local tagines, small restaurants
- 2nd-class trains, CTM buses, grands taxis
- 1 to 2 paid activities per day
- Budget : 35-55 € per day
Comfort profile (most common)
- Characterful riads, 3-4* hotels
- Traditional restaurants and chef’s tables
- 1st-class trains, occasional private taxis
- Licensed guides, excursions, hammam
- Budget : 90-150 € per day
Premium profile
- 5* riads or palaces
- Gastronomic dining
- Dedicated private driver
- Exclusive activities (hot-air balloon, luxury desert)
- Budget : 300-700 € per day
Breakdown by category
Accommodation
- Hostel or simple riad : 15-40 € per night for 2.
- Charming riad : 60-150 €.
- 4-5* hotel : 100-250 €.
- Luxury riad/house : 250-1000 €.
Marrakech, Fès and Essaouira have most of the riads. Modern hotels dominate in Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir.
Dining
- Street food (sandwich, skewers) : 1,50-4 €.
- Tagine in a small restaurant : 4-8 €.
- Tourist restaurant in the medina : 12-20 €.
- Gastronomic restaurant : 30-80 €.
Breakfast is generally included in riads.
Transport
- 2nd-class train (Casa-Marrakech) : 8-10 €.
- TGV Al Boraq (Casa-Tanger) : 18-28 €.
- CTM long-distance bus : 9-25 € depending on distance.
- Hire car : 25-45 €/day + fuel.
- Private driver : 80-150 €/day.
See our route comparison tool for each route.
Activities and entry fees
- Major monuments : 5-15 € each.
- Licensed guide half-day : 30-50 €.
- Hammam + scrub : 15-50 €.
- Cooking class : 30-60 €.
- 3-day desert excursion : 120-200 €/person.
- Luxury bivouac in the Sahara : 200-500 €/night.
Shopping and souvenirs
- Carpet : 50-1000 € depending on size and material.
- Babouches : 8-25 €.
- Metal lamps : 15-80 €.
- Argan oil 100 ml : 8-15 €.
- Ceramic tagine : 10-30 €.
How much to budget for 7, 10 and 14 days
7 days (Marrakech + desert + Essaouira)
- Backpacker : 350-450 €
- Comfort : 800-1200 €
- Premium : 2500-4500 €
10 days (imperial cities)
- Backpacker : 500-700 €
- Comfort : 1200-1800 €
- Premium : 3500-6500 €
14 days (grand tour)
- Backpacker : 700-1000 €
- Comfort : 1700-2500 €
- Premium : 5000-9000 €
These estimates exclude international flights (200-500 € from Europe depending on season).
Tips to optimise your budget
- Travel ONCF trains in 2nd class : very decent comfort, 30-40 % cheaper than 1st.
- Eat where Moroccans eat : small neighbourhood restaurants serve the best tagines for 4-6 €.
- Haggle for everything in the souks : initial price × 0,4 to 0,6.
- Avoid walk-in agencies for desert excursions : use online operators with verified reviews.
- Stay in the medina for authenticity : a family-run riad will be cheaper and warmer than a chain hotel.
- Avoid July-August : very hot inland, tourist prices. March-May and September-November are optimal.
Hidden costs to anticipate
- Tips : allow 5-10 % of the total budget.
- Travel insurance : 15-30 € for 10 days.
- Visa : not required for EU, Swiss and Canadian citizens (stay < 90 days).
- Local SIM card : 5-15 € for 20 GB.
- Wi-Fi : available everywhere but variable quality.
How to pay
Morocco uses the dirham (MAD). 1 € ≈ 10,8 MAD (2026).
- Cash : essential. Withdraw from ATMs (fees 30-50 MAD per withdrawal).
- Bank card : accepted in hotels, modern restaurants, large chains. Barely used in the medina.
- Exchange : prefer official bureaux de change to banks (better rates, shorter queues).
Exporting dirhams outside Morocco is prohibited; plan to use or exchange your balance before departure.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Underestimating tips and hidden fees.
- Paying the first price in the souks.
- Taking taxis without a meter.
- Buying desert excursions on the street.
- Booking all hotels via international platforms (commission) : riads often accept direct bookings at better rates.
Go further
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 10-day trip to Morocco cost?
Expect 700-1000 € as a backpacker, 1500-2500 € in comfort, 4000 €+ in premium, excluding international flights.
Should I bring cash?
Yes. Many small shops, taxis, souks and medina riads don't take cards. Plan for 30-50 % of your budget in cash.
Can you pay in euros in Morocco?
Officially no. Some tourist shops accept them at a poor rate. Exchange into dirhams (MAD) on arrival.
Is tipping mandatory?
Not mandatory but expected: 1-2 MAD for a porter, 5-10 MAD for an informal guide, 10 % in restaurants.