Morocco operates on the Moroccan dirham, abbreviated MAD or Dh. Exchange rates fluctuate but typically hover between 9 and 11 dirhams to one US dollar, between 10 and 12 dirhams to one euro. ATMs disperse dirhams widely in cities and tourist areas, with withdrawal limits commonly set at 2,000 to 5,000 dirhams per transaction. Most ATMs charge fees between 20 and 40 dirhams per withdrawal, with your home bank adding its own currency conversion markup of 1 to 3 percent. Cash remains the dominant payment method outside major hotels and tourist-oriented restaurants. Credit cards gain acceptance in Marrakech, Casablanca, and Rabat but remain unreliable in medinas, souks, rural areas, and family-run establishments. Carrying 1,000 to 2,000 dirhams in mixed denominations solves most daily payment situations.
Budget accommodation in Morocco divides into hostels, budget riads, and basic hotels. Hostel dorm beds in Marrakech, Fes, and Chefchaouen cost 60 to 120 dirhams per night depending on season and location within the medina. Private rooms in the same hostels range from 150 to 300 dirhams. Budget riads, which are traditional courtyard houses converted to guesthouses, charge 200 to 400 dirhams for basic doubles with shared bathrooms. These rates apply in Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira, and Meknes during shoulder seasons of March to May and September to November. High season, which runs December to February for Sahara areas and June to August for coastal cities, adds 30 to 50 percent to these figures. Chefchaouen hostels price slightly lower at 50 to 100 dirhams for dorms, 120 to 250 dirhams for private rooms. Smaller towns like Moulay Idriss Zerhoun or Asilah offer basic guesthouse rooms for 150 to 250 dirhams year-round. Agadir, being primarily a beach resort city, skews higher with budget hotels starting at 250 to 350 dirhams even in low season.
Mid-range riads and three-star hotels charge 400 to 800 dirhams per night for double rooms with private bathrooms. In Marrakech medina, established riads with rooftop terraces, traditional tilework, and breakfast included typically ask 500 to 700 dirhams. Fes medina shows similar pricing, with riads near Bab Boujloud ranging 450 to 650 dirhams. Essaouira mid-range riads within the UNESCO-listed medina walls charge 550 to 750 dirhams, reflecting limited inventory and coastal location. Tangier hotels near the Kasbah of the Medina or along Avenue Mohammed VI range 400 to 600 dirhams for equivalent quality. Casablanca three-star business hotels, concentrated in Maarif and Ain Diab neighborhoods, ask 500 to 800 dirhams, pricing that reflects business traveler demand rather than tourism. Ifrane, known for alpine architecture in the Middle Atlas, charges 600 to 900 dirhams for mid-range hotels during winter ski season, dropping to 400 to 600 dirhams in summer.
Upper mid-range and boutique properties occupy the 800 to 1,500 dirham range. Marrakech riads in this category feature plunge pools, hammams, curated design, and full restaurant service. Properties within 500 meters of Jemaa el-Fnaa square price at the upper end, 1,200 to 1,500 dirhams, while those in quieter medina quarters ask 800 to 1,000 dirhams. Fes boutique riads near the Kairaouine Mosque charge 900 to 1,300 dirhams, often including guided medina tours. Essaouira beachfront hotels with ocean views range 1,000 to 1,400 dirhams. Chefchaouen has fewer properties in this tier, with 700 to 1,000 dirhams securing hillside riads overlooking the blue-painted medina. Tangier hotels in this range concentrate near Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, charging 900 to 1,300 dirhams for sea-view rooms.
Luxury accommodations begin at 1,500 dirhams and extend past 10,000 dirhams per night. Marrakech five-star properties inside the medina, such as converted palaces near Bahia Palace, charge 2,500 to 5,000 dirhams. Palatial resorts in the Palmeraie district north of Marrakech range from 3,000 to 8,000 dirhams, with grounds spanning multiple hectares and amenities including multiple pools, golf courses, and full spas. Casablanca luxury hotels along the Corniche and near Hassan II Mosque ask 2,000 to 4,000 dirhams for standard rooms. The Royal Mansour Marrakech, a palace hotel built by King Mohammed VI, prices riads at approximately 15,000 to 40,000 dirhams per night. Desert luxury camps near Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga charge 2,000 to 6,000 dirhams per person including meals, transfers, and Berber music performances. Established camps provide permanent tent structures with en-suite bathrooms, though pricing reflects remoteness and logistics of desert supply chains.
Street food in Morocco offers the lowest meal costs. A serving of harira soup from a street vendor costs 3 to 7 dirhams. Vendors in Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakech sell grilled merguez sausages for 10 to 15 dirhams, snail soup for 5 to 10 dirhams, and fresh orange juice for 4 dirhams per glass. Fried fish sandwiches in Essaouira port cost 15 to 25 dirhams. Msemen or baghrir from morning street stalls run 2 to 5 dirhams per piece. A kebab sandwich from a neighborhood grill costs 15 to 25 dirhams. These prices hold consistent across Marrakech, Fes, Meknes, Rabat, and Casablanca, varying by 2 to 3 dirhams based on vendor location and ingredient costs.
Casual sit-down restaurants, typically local establishments with plastic chairs and basic décor, charge 30 to 60 dirhams for main dishes. A tagine of chicken with preserved lemons and olives costs 35 to 50 dirhams. Kefta tagine ranges 30 to 45 dirhams. A couscous plate on Friday, the traditional couscous day, runs 40 to 70 dirhams depending on protein and portion size. Mechoui, roast lamb sold by weight, costs approximately 100 to 140 dirhams per kilogram, with a substantial serving for one person requiring 300 to 400 grams. Pastilla, a sweet and savory pigeon or chicken pie, costs 50 to 80 dirhams for an individual portion at modest restaurants. A pot of mint tea accompanies most meals at 5 to 10 dirhams. Bottled water costs 5 to 7 dirhams for 1.5 liters. These neighborhood restaurants cluster around local markets, bus stations, and residential areas rather than tourist zones.
Tourist-oriented restaurants in medinas and new city centers charge 60 to 150 dirhams for similar dishes. Marrakech restaurants along Rue Riad Zitoun near Jemaa el-Fnaa ask 70 to 100 dirhams for tagines, 80 to 120 dirhams for couscous. Fes restaurants within the medina charge comparable rates, 65 to 110 dirhams for tagines, 90 to 140 dirhams for pastilla. Essaouira seafood restaurants near the port price fresh fish at 80 to 150 dirhams depending on variety and preparation, with sea bass and sole commanding the higher end. Chefchaouen restaurants in the plaza area charge 60 to 90 dirhams for tagines, slightly less than Marrakech due to lower tourist volume. Tangier restaurants in the kasbah area ask 70 to 120 dirhams for mains. Set menus at these tourist restaurants, which include starter, main, dessert, and tea, range from 120 to 200 dirhams.
Mid-range and upscale restaurants charge 150 to 400 dirhams per person for a full meal without alcohol. Marrakech restaurants in Gueliz, the new city, with contemporary Moroccan cuisine ask 180 to 300 dirhams for mains. Casablanca restaurants in Ain Diab and the Corniche charge 200 to 350 dirhams for seafood dishes and modern preparations. Rabat restaurants in Agdal and Hassan neighborhoods range 150 to 280 dirhams for traditional dishes with refined presentation. Riad restaurants in Marrakech and Fes medinas, often requiring advance reservations, charge 250 to 450 dirhams for multi-course traditional meals featuring dishes like rfissa, tanjia, or whole roasted lamb. International cuisine restaurants, found primarily in Casablanca and Marrakech, price Italian, French, and Asian dishes at 140 to 320 dirhams for mains.
Alcohol significantly increases restaurant bills. Morocco produces wine in the Meknes region and around Benslimane, with local bottles costing 90 to 200 dirhams in licensed restaurants. Imported wines start at 180 dirhams and reach 600 dirhams or more. Local Casablanca and Flag Speciale beer costs 35 to 50 dirhams per bottle in restaurants, 25 to 35 dirhams in hotel bars. Spirits and cocktails range from 60 to 120 dirhams per drink. Only restaurants with liquor licenses serve alcohol, which excludes most medina establishments and all restaurants in conservative neighborhoods. Supermarkets in new city areas sell local beer for 12 to 18 dirhams per bottle, local wine for 50 to 120 dirhams, though purchases require ID showing non-Muslim status in some locations.
Public transportation in Moroccan cities costs minimal amounts. Petits taxis, small vehicles restricted to city limits and metered, charge a 7.5 dirham daytime flag drop in Marrakech, with tariffs increasing 0.8 dirhams per 100 meters traveled. Typical in-city trips cost 15 to 35 dirhams. Night rates, applying after 8 PM, add 50 percent to metered fares. Casablanca petits taxis use similar pricing. Fes taxi drivers often resist using meters, necessitating price agreement before departure. Standard medina to train station trips in Fes run 20 to 30 dirhams when negotiated. Grands taxis, larger vehicles running set intercity routes with six passengers, charge per seat. Marrakech to Essaouira grand taxi costs 80 to 100 dirhams per seat, departing when full. Fes to Meknes runs 25 to 35 dirhams per seat for the 60-kilometer journey.
Intercity buses provide the primary budget transportation. CTM, the national carrier, operates modern coaches with assigned seating and luggage holds. Marrakech to Fes via CTM costs 140 to 170 dirhams for the eight-hour journey, with departures at 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 11:45 PM. Casablanca to Marrakech runs 90 to 110 dirhams for the three-hour trip, with hourly departures. Tangier to Chefchaouen costs 50 to 65 dirhams for two hours. Supratours, the bus company affiliated with national rail, charges similar rates and coordinates with train schedules. Private bus companies including Satas and Pullman du Sud charge 10 to 20 percent less than CTM but operate older vehicles with less reliable schedules. Marrakech to Merzouga with private carriers costs 180 to 220 dirhams for the nine to ten hour overnight journey.
Morocco's train network, operated by ONCF, connects Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes, Meknes, and Oujda. Second-class tickets from Casablanca to Marrakech cost 95 dirhams for the 2 hour 40 minute journey on standard trains, 110 dirhams on Al Atlas trains with reserved seating and air conditioning. Casablanca to Fes second class runs 115 dirhams for three hours 45 minutes. Tangier to Marrakech costs 220 dirhams second class for the six-hour journey on the Al Boraq high-speed train, which reaches 320 kilometers per hour between Tangier and Kenitra before continuing on conventional track. First-class tickets cost approximately 50 percent more than second class, providing wider seats and quieter carriages. Couchette berths on overnight trains, available on Tangier to Marrakech and Oujda to Marrakech routes, cost 340 to 420 dirhams for a bed in a six-berth compartment.
Rental cars through international agencies cost 250 to 500 dirhams per day for economy vehicles like Dacia Logan or Renault Clio, including mandatory insurance. These rates apply to multi-day rentals booked in advance. Single-day rentals or walk-in rates increase to 400 to 700 dirhams. Mid-size vehicles like Toyota Corolla or Peugeot 301 range 350 to 600 dirhams per day. Four-wheel-drive vehicles necessary for mountain tracks and desert routes cost 700 to 1,200 dirhams daily. Local agencies offer lower rates, sometimes 200 to 350 dirhams for economy cars, but require careful inspection of insurance coverage and vehicle condition documentation. Diesel fuel costs 11 to 12 dirhams per liter, gasoline runs 12 to 13 dirhams per liter as of current pricing. Toll roads connect Casablanca to Rabat, Casablanca to Marrakech, and Rabat to Tangier, with total tolls ranging 20 to 80 dirhams depending on distance.
Domestic flights within Morocco typically cost more than ground transportation but save substantial time. Royal Air Maroc operates Casablanca to Marrakech flights for 600 to 1,200 dirhams one-way depending on booking timing, though the flight covers a distance easily traveled by three-hour train. Casablanca to Essaouira costs 800 to 1,400 dirhams for the 40-minute flight. Marrakech to Fes, not served by rail, costs 700 to 1,300 dirhams for one hour versus eight hours by bus. Tangier to Dakhla, spanning Morocco's full north-south length, costs 1,800 to 3,500 dirhams but eliminates 20-plus hours of ground travel. Air Arabia Maroc offers competitive pricing on select routes, sometimes 20 to 30 percent below Royal Air Maroc.
Guided tours and excursions vary dramatically by group size and service level. Shared day trips from Marrakech to Essaouira cost 200 to 300 dirhams per person, departing at 8 AM and returning by 6 PM with stops at an argan oil cooperative. Private day trips to Essaouira range 800 to 1,200 dirhams total for vehicles holding four to six passengers. Three-day Sahara tours from Marrakech to Merzouga in shared groups cost 1,200 to 1,800 dirhams per person including transport, basic accommodation in Dades or Todra Gorge, desert camp, camel ride, and some meals. Private three-day Sahara tours run 6,000 to 12,000 dirhams total for two to four people, with pricing depending on accommodation standard and 4x4 vehicle type. Day trips from Fes to Volubilis, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, and Meknes cost 250 to 400 dirhams per person in shared groups, 900 to 1,400 dirhams for private tours.