Rabat – Casablanca and Rabat, two of Morocco’s major cities, are among the least expensive places for expatriates to live in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
According to the latest cost-of-living survey by Mercer, Casablanca is ranked 153rd and Rabat 173rd out of 226 major global cities. 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 globally, has surpassed Tel Aviv, which fell to the 16th position.
Abu Dhabi also ranked high at 43rd, while Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia are placed at 90th and 97th.
Further down the list are Amman (108th), Manama (110th), Kuwait City (119th), Doha (121st), and Muscat. Istanbul is ranked 130th, indicating moderate living costs despite Turkey’s recent inflation struggles.
At the lower end, Cairo (168th), Algiers (194th), Ankara (208th), and Tunis (210th) are among 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.
Turkey, for instance, has been severely impacted by inflation. This has led to significant price hikes for everyday items such as olive oil, coffee, gasoline, and even haircuts, according to the report.
Globally, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich retained their positions as the world’s most expensive cities for international workers. These cities are characterized by exorbitant housing markets, substantial transportation costs, and elevated prices for goods and services.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Islamabad, Lagos, and Abuja ranked among the least expensive cities.
