How to travel Morocco on €28–€55 a day

Morocco is one of the best-value destinations left: shoestring travellers can get by on €28–€38 a day, while a comfortable trip with private riad rooms and the occasional restaurant meal runs €38–€55. Either way, your money goes a long way if you know where costs stack up.

How much should I budget per day?

On a shoestring, expect €28–€38 daily: hostel dorms run €8–€15, street food €5–€10, and CTM buses or shared taxis €3–€8. Step up to €38–€55 for a budget riad private room (€18–€35), street food plus one restaurant meal (€10–€18), and bus or petit taxi transport (€5–€12). Average accommodation nationally is about 150 MAD/night ($15), with hostels as low as 60 MAD and nicer rooms up to 300 MAD. A tagine or couscous plate costs 20–50 MAD. Carry roughly €40–€60 in cash per day, since card acceptance is patchy outside hotels and larger restaurants — withdraw dirhams from city ATMs rather than exchanging at airport or hotel rates.

What's the cheapest way to get around?

CTM intercity buses cost about €6–€7 for short routes like Tangier–Chefchaouen, and €15–€20 for longer hauls like Marrakech–Fes. ONCF trains run €8–€18 in second class depending on distance; regionally that's roughly 20–40 MAD for short hops, with first class on long routes like Casablanca–Fes at 150–250 MAD. The Al Boraq high-speed train (Tangier–Casablanca in 2 hours) starts around 149 MAD second class / 229 MAD first class — a modest premium for the speed. Grand taxis (shared, fixed routes) cost €1–€4 for shorter trips and €4–€8 for longer ones; petit taxis charge €1–€4 within city centres — always ask for the meter. Keep 5–20 MAD coins handy for local buses, station taxis, and luggage fees on intercity coaches (usually 5–10 MAD per bag). Book popular train and bus departures a day or two ahead, and arrive 20–30 minutes early at stations, 30–45 minutes early at bus terminals.

Where can I cut costs without missing out?

About 90% of Morocco's tourist attractions are free, and all beaches are free and open 24/7 (bar a few border-area exceptions). Paid sites like Bahia Palace and Al Badi Palace in Marrakech only charge 30–70 dirhams. Other easy savings: travel off-season (autumn or winter), eat street food over tourist restaurants, and choose hostels or riads just outside the main tourist centres.

What about SIM cards and staying connected?

Free SIM cards are available at Casablanca, Tangier, and Marrakech airports with your passport. At smaller airports, a SIM costs about 20 MAD, plus 100 MAD of data (120 MAD total). Maroc Telecom (Itissalat) has the widest coverage, around 95%, including mountain and desert regions — useful if you're heading beyond the main cities.

FAQ

Do I need a visa? UK, US, Canadian, Australian, and EU (including Irish) citizens don't need a visa for stays up to 90 days; make sure your passport is valid at least six months beyond entry.

Should I exchange money before arriving? No — withdraw dirhams from ATMs in cities rather than exchanging cash at airports or hotels, where rates are worse. The rough exchange rate is 10 MAD = €0.90/$1.00.

Is Morocco cash-only? Mostly for souks, street food, petit taxis, tips, and small medina shops — cash is essential outside hotels and bigger restaurants.

Sources

• Morocco Budget Travel 2026: €30–€50/Day Cost Breakdown
• https://bewilderedinmorocco.com/45-days-morocco-budget-travel-cost-breakdown/
• https://noma.ma/blog/traveling-morocco-on-a-budget-essential-tips-and-tricks
• https://comemorocco.com/morocco-trains-travel-guide/
• https://moroccosgate.ie/ultimate-morocco-travel-guide-2026/