Casablanca and Rabat, two of Morocco’s largest cities, are among the least expensive places for expats in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region).
According to Mercer’s latest cost of living survey, Casablanca ranks 153rd and Rabat 173rd out of 226 major cities worldwide. This indicates relatively affordable living conditions for international workers in the two Moroccan cities.
The survey highlighted Dubai and Tel Aviv as the most expensive cities in the MENA region. Dubai, now the 15th most expensive city in the world, has overtaken Tel Aviv, which has dropped to 16th position.
Abu Dhabi also ranked high at 43rd place, while Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia are at 90th and 97th place respectively.
Further down the list are Amman (108th), Manama (110th), Kuwait City (119th), Doha (121st), and Muscat. Istanbul ranks 130th, indicating moderate living costs despite Turkey’s recent inflation struggles.
At the lower end of the list are Cairo (168th), Algiers (194th), Ankara (208th), and Tunis (210th) as some of the least expensive cities for expats in the MENA region.
Mercer’s survey highlighted several factors contributing to these rankings. Inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, economic and geopolitical volatility, housing market conditions, and transportation costs are among these factors.
For instance, Turkey has been heavily impacted by inflation, leading to significant price increases for daily items such as olive oil, coffee, gasoline, and even haircuts, according to the report.
Globally, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich maintained their positions as the most expensive cities in the world for international workers. These cities are characterized by exorbitant housing markets, significant transportation costs, and high prices for goods and services.
On the other end of the spectrum, Islamabad, Lagos, and Abuja are among the least expensive cities.
Morocco World News
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