Money and costs in Marrakech
Which currency, how much per day, where to change, card or cash, what tips? Everything on money for a Marrakech trip in one place - the rate, concrete prices in sterling and the traps to avoid.
Indicative rates and prices. The exchange rate is volatile: £1 ≈ 12.5 MAD is a rough guide - check the day's rate. Prices are ranges (tourist medina ≠ local neighbourhoods). As at 22 July 2026.
Which currency in Marrakech?
The currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD, or DH). Reckon on £1 for about 12.5 MAD, $1 for about 9.2 MAD - rough guides, to check on the day you leave.
Notes run from 20 to 200 MAD; coins from 1 to 10 MAD, plus centimes. The dirham is a "closed" currency: it's useless - and disadvantageous - to order dirhams before you leave. You change on the ground, at a better rate.
In markets, some count in rials: 1 dirham = 20 rials. "One hundred rials" = only 5 MAD. It's a real source of confusion - always reconfirm the price in dirhams.
Where and how to change money
The approved bureaux de change in the centre, the medina and Guéliz offer the best rate (margin about 1.5 to 2%). Bring sterling or dollars in good condition and compare the display before changing a large sum.
Changing a large sum at the airport (poor rate - just enough to reach the city). And never black-market exchange in the street: fake notes and scams guaranteed.
Keep your exchange receipt: it lets you convert leftover dirhams back into your currency when leaving the country.
Withdrawing at ATMs (cashpoints)
ATMs are everywhere: Avenue Mohammed V, Guéliz, around Jemaa el-Fna. Reckon on a flat local fee per withdrawal (about 15 to 35 MAD depending on the bank) and a cap often around 2,000 MAD per operation. So withdraw larger amounts in fewer operations.
Card or cash?
Both, but cash still rules. Keep 500 to 1,000 MAD on you and save the card for larger amounts.
Tipping
Tipping (in dirhams, never in your currency) is customary, without being mandatory. Common landmarks:
| Context | Customary tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | ~10% of the bill |
| Café | round up · 2-5 MAD |
| Petit taxi | round up the fare |
| Porter | 10-20 MAD |
| Housekeeping (riad / hotel) | 20-30 MAD / night |
| Local guide | 100-200 MAD / day |
| Hammam | 20-50 MAD |
| Car attendant | 2-10 MAD |
How much does it cost? Real prices
Marrakech stays affordable for a UK visitor, provided you know the price bands. The gap is wide between the tourist-heavy medina and local addresses.
| Item | In dirhams | ≈ Sterling |
|---|---|---|
| Mint tea | 8-15 MAD | ~£1 |
| Orange juice, Jemaa el-Fna | 10-15 MAD | ~£1 |
| Tajine in a local eatery | 20-45 MAD | £2-£4 |
| Main course, tourist restaurant | 80-130 MAD | £7-£12 |
| Garden / museum entry | 50-170 MAD | £4-£14 |
| Petit taxi in town | 15-30 MAD | £1.20-£2.50 |
| Airport taxi → medina | 70-100 MAD | £6-£8 |
| Night at a mid-range riad | 300-700 MAD | £24-£56 |
What daily budget?
Per person, accommodation and meals included, excluding flights. Three profiles by rhythm and comfort.
Haggling, without wearing yourself out
Bargaining is the norm in souks, artisan workshops and meter-less taxis. It doesn't apply in supermarkets, pharmacies and museums, where prices are fixed.
Aim for 40 to 60% of the first price offered. Stay calm and smiling, be ready to walk away: that's often when the real price drops. And confirm it in dirhams.
Only haggle over what you truly plan to buy, and keep a sense of proportion: a few dirhams weigh more for the craftsman than for you.
Avoid money traps
⚠ 2025-26 watch: a rise in fake online agencies asking for deposits, and fraudulent payment QR codes. Book through known platforms and don't scan a QR sent by a stranger.
Before you leave: the money checklist
Frequently asked questions
Short answers on money in Marrakech.
