The Most Underrated Budget Destination in the World
Morocco punches far above its weight for travellers on a budget. A full day of sightseeing, excellent food, and a comfortable guesthouse bed can cost less than a single restaurant meal in London or Paris. The key is knowing the difference between tourist pricing and local pricing — and adjusting your habits accordingly.
This guide gives you a realistic daily budget breakdown and the specific choices that make the difference.
The Daily Budget Breakdown
Budget: €30/day (Backpacker)
Total: €23–36/day
Comfortable Budget: €50/day (Independent Traveller)
Total: €46–72/day
Where to Save
Accommodation
The biggest variable in your budget. The difference between a hostel dorm and a riad private room can be €50/night. Neither is a bad choice — they're different trips.
Best value: Small riads in the old medina with private rooms at 200–350 MAD (€18–32) including breakfast. These often have rooftop terraces, attentive hosts, and genuinely beautiful spaces. Avoid the large new "riad-style" hotels near tourist sites — they look traditional but charge modern boutique prices.
Avoid: Accommodation on or immediately adjacent to Djemaa el-Fna. You pay a 30–50% location premium and get noise included.
Food
This is where Morocco rewards budget travellers most. The gap between tourist restaurant prices and local restaurant prices is enormous.
| Meal | Tourist Price | Local Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tagine | 80–150 MAD | 35–60 MAD |
| Harira soup | 25 MAD | 10 MAD |
| Kefta sandwich | 40 MAD | 15 MAD |
| Fresh juice | 25 MAD | 8 MAD |
| Mint tea | 20–30 MAD | 5 MAD |
Rule: If the menu has pictures and an English translation on the cover, you're paying tourist prices. Walk until you find a place with a handwritten menu and no touts outside.
Transport
Sights
Most of Morocco's best experiences are free:
Paid attractions: Jardin Majorelle (70 MAD), Bahia Palace (70 MAD), Ben Youssef Medersa (70 MAD). Budget 200–300 MAD for 3–4 major paid sites over a week.
Where Not to Save
Licensed Guides
Cutting corners here costs more than the saving. An unlicensed guide will take you to shops that pay them commission and show you a manufactured version of Morocco. A licensed guide — 400–600 MAD for a full day — will show you the real city. The difference is significant.
Food Safety
Cheap as food is in Morocco, avoid the very cheapest street food (particularly raw salads) if you're sensitive. A sick day costs you far more than the extra 20 MAD you'd spend eating from a reputable stall.
Accommodation Quality
The cheapest hostels in the medinas can be genuinely unpleasant — damp, noisy, and in some cases unsafe. The €5–8 price difference between the cheapest bed and a clean, well-located guesthouse room is worth every centime.
Free Experiences Not to Miss
A Sample €50 Day in Marrakech
Total: 354 MAD — approximately €32
Morocco rewards the traveller who eats like a local, moves like a local, and takes the time to find the real thing behind the tourist facade.
FAQ
Can you really travel Morocco for under 50 euros a day
Yes, with planning. Hostels and budget guesthouses, shared taxis (grand taxis), bus and train second class, street food, and free walking museums get you under 50 euros a day comfortably outside Marrakech high season.
What is the cheapest way to travel between Moroccan cities
The train (ONCF) for major routes (Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Tangier, Marrakech). CTM and Supratours buses for everywhere else, including small towns. Shared grand taxis are cheapest of all but uncomfortable for long distances.
How much do hostels cost in Morocco
Dorm beds run 8 to 18 euros a night in most cities. Private rooms in budget guesthouses (dar) start around 20 to 35 euros. Many include a Moroccan breakfast which saves 3 to 5 euros.
Can you eat well on a budget in Morocco
Yes. Bissara soup for breakfast, harira and bread for lunch, grilled merguez sandwich at a local stall, lentil tagine at a workers cafe, and you have eaten three real meals for under 7 euros total.
Is Morocco safe for budget backpackers
Generally yes. Standard backpacker precautions apply: lock your bag in hostels, watch your phone in busy souks, do not flash cash in markets. Violent crime against tourists is rare.
