Cost of Living: Almaty vs Marrakech (2026)

Kazakhstan vs Morocco — relocation comparison

TL;DRMarrakech is 35% cheaper on rent ($495/mo vs $756/mo). Marrakech is safer — homicide rate 1.7 vs 2.6 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
59
Livability Score
🇰🇿 Almaty
Kazakhstan
Full profile
66
Livability Score
🇲🇦 Marrakech
Morocco
Full profile
Marrakech edges ahead 66 to 59. Almaty isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
💰
Cost of Living
Marrakech
$261/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Marrakech
1.7 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Marrakech
5.0/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
28°C vs 35°C summers
🗣️
English
Marrakech
higher proficiency score
Almaty
Metric
Marrakech
$756/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$495/mo
$361/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$254/mo
$2,640
🧳
Cost to land
$2,731
2.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.7 / 100k
28°C
☀️
Summer high
35°C
-9°C
❄️
Winter low
8°C
133 Mbps
Internet speed
3.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
5.0 / 10
Low (22/100)
🗣️
English ease
Moderate (43/100)
$41k
💼
GDP per capita
$10k
8.7%
📈
Inflation
1.0%
59 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
66 / 100

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

411
PISA
country avg
356
3
Intl schools
7
$352/mo
Childcare
full-day
$105/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 35% cheaper in Marrakech ($495/mo vs $756/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Marrakech (35°C vs 28°C).
  • Marrakech is safer by homicide rate (1.7 vs 2.6 per 100k).
  • Marrakech scores higher on democracy (5.0 vs 3.1 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Marrakech (43/100 vs 22/100 English proficiency).

Almaty vs Marrakech — Common Questions

Is Almaty cheaper than Marrakech?

Marrakech is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $495/month in Marrakech vs $756/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Almaty or Marrakech?

Marrakech is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Almaty has a rate of 2.63 per 100,000 and Marrakech has 1.70 per 100,000.

Should I move to Almaty or Marrakech?

Marrakech edges ahead 66 to 59. Almaty isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Which has better weather, Almaty or Marrakech?

Marrakech is warmer in summer (35°C vs 28°C). Almaty has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Almaty or Marrakech without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Marrakech (EF EPI score: 43/100) than in Almaty (22/100). In Marrakech, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Almaty, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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