Living in Morocco vs Visiting: Key Differences Expats Should Know (2025)

Living in Morocco vs Visiting: What Changes in 2025?

Spending two weeks in Morocco feels magical — but what happens when you actually move there? Living in Morocco in 2025 offers incredible rewards, but it’s not the same as a tourist trip. Here’s what expats should expect.

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1. From Airbnb to Bureaucracy

Visiting:

• You stay in riads or hotels
• No paperwork, just enjoy

Living:

• You need rental agreements, ID copies, sometimes notarized documents
• You’ll visit police stations and city offices

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2. From Eating Out to Cooking at Home

Tourists:

• Every meal is a tagine or couscous dish
• You dine in beautiful cafés daily

Expats:

• You shop at souks and Carrefour
• You learn how to budget and cook at home
• You discover Moroccan breakfast is mostly bread, olive oil, tea

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3. From Tours to Daily Transport

Tourists:

• Taxis and private drivers
• Walking medinas is fun

Expats:

• You’ll use grands taxis or inDrive
• You realize buses are slow, and walking under 40°C is… tough

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4. From English to Darija & French

Tourists:

• Everyone speaks some English
• People are patient and helpful

Expats:

• You’ll need basic Darija or French
• Government offices and landlords rarely speak English

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5. From Spending to Budgeting

Item	Tourist Price (USD)	Resident Price (USD)
SIM card (10GB)	$10	$3 – $5
Café breakfast	$4 – $5	$1.50 – $2.50
Monthly groceries	—	$100 – $180
Apartment rent	Airbnb ($600+)	Local ($250 – $500)

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What Expats Say

• “Living in Morocco is beautiful but slower — patience is key.”
• “Tourists see the rose-colored version; real life is a mix of charm and challenge.”
• “It’s affordable and safe, but the bureaucracy is real.”