Money in Morocco is simple once you know a few rules. The currency is the dirham, cash is used far more than cards, and tipping is part of daily life. Here is how it all works, so you can spend less time at the exchange counter and more time enjoying the country.
1. The Moroccan dirham
The dirham, written MAD or DH, is divided into 100 centimes. Notes come in 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirhams, and coins in 1, 2, 5 and 10 dirhams, plus smaller centime coins.
As a rough guide, one euro is worth between 10 and 11 dirhams and one US dollar about 10, though rates move, so check before you travel. The dirham is a closed currency: you are allowed to bring only a small amount in or out of the country, so plan to change money after you arrive and to spend or change back what is left before you leave.
Local tip: Keep your exchange receipt. You may need it to change leftover dirhams back at the airport.
2. Where to exchange money
You will find somewhere to change money in every town on the tourist routes. Rates differ only slightly from one place to the next, so convenience matters more than hunting for the best deal.
- Airports: Convenient on arrival; rates are slightly lower than in town, so change only what you need for the first day.
- Banks and exchange bureaux: Found in every city, with fair rates and no commission in most cases.
- Hotels and riads: Possible, but usually at a weaker rate.
- Street changers: Avoid them.
3. ATMs and cards
ATMs are everywhere in cities and larger towns and accept international Visa and Mastercard. Most have a withdrawal limit of around 2,000 dirhams per transaction, and your own bank may add a fee.
Cards are accepted in larger hotels, modern restaurants and supermarkets, but not in souks, small cafés, taxis or most rural guesthouses. In the south, ATMs become scarce: withdraw in Ouarzazate, Erfoud or Rissani before you reach Merzouga.
Local tip: Tell your bank you are travelling, and carry two different cards in case one is blocked.
4. Cash for the desert and the south
South of the Atlas, plan on paying for almost everything in cash: lunches on the road, drinks at camp, tips, souvenirs and optional activities such as quad biking. Desert camps and village cafés rarely have a card machine, and where one exists the signal often fails.
The simplest approach is to withdraw enough for the whole desert section before you leave the last big town. Ask for small notes when you can: a 200-dirham note is hard to break in a village shop.
5. Small change and everyday habits
Coins and 20-dirham notes are worth their weight in gold. Taxi drivers, small shops and café waiters often have no change, so break large notes in supermarkets, petrol stations and restaurants whenever you get the chance.
You may hear prices quoted in rials or centimes, especially in markets and among older people. It is an old habit rather than a trick: simply ask for the price in dirhams. Torn or heavily worn banknotes are sometimes refused, so check your change.
6. Typical prices
Prices vary by city and by how touristy the spot is, so treat these as rough guides.
- Mint tea in a café: 10 to 20 dirhams
- Bottle of water (1.5 litres): 6 to 10 dirhams
- Tagine in a simple local restaurant: 40 to 80 dirhams
- Dinner in a mid-range restaurant: 120 to 250 dirhams per person
- Short ride in a city taxi: 10 to 30 dirhams
- Entrance to a major monument: 50 to 100 dirhams
7. Tipping in Morocco
Tipping is customary and appreciated, and it is an important part of many incomes. In restaurants, 10 percent is generous. For small services such as a porter or a parking guardian, a few dirhams is normal.
On a tour, guests usually tip their driver-guide at the end of the trip, and leave something for the camel guide and the camp staff. There is no fixed amount: give what feels right for the service you received.
8. A quick tipping guide
These are the amounts most visitors give for small services. They are customs, not rules.
- Café or juice stall: Round up, or leave 1 to 2 dirhams.
- Restaurant: Around 10 percent if service is not already included.
- Hotel or riad porter: 10 to 20 dirhams.
- Parking guardian: 2 to 5 dirhams.
- Hammam attendant: 20 to 50 dirhams.
- Public toilets: 1 to 2 dirhams for the attendant.
9. Bargaining in the souks
In souks, prices are rarely fixed and bargaining is expected. Start by asking the price, offer noticeably less, and settle somewhere in between with a smile. If you are not interested, a polite 'no, thank you' is enough. Fixed-price cooperatives and government craft centres are a good way to learn what things should cost.
The first price is an opening move, not an insult, and the seller expects a counter-offer. Decide what the object is worth to you before you begin, keep the tone light, and remember that the last few dirhams usually matter more to the craftsman than to you.
10. Common money mistakes
- Changing too much at the airport: Take enough for the first day and change the rest in town.
- Accepting conversion at the machine: If an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, choose dirhams. The rate is almost always better.
- Relying on cards in the south: Withdraw before you leave the city.
- Leaving with a wallet full of dirhams: They are hard to exchange abroad, so spend or change them before you fly.
- Getting into a taxi without agreeing the fare or asking for the meter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay in euros or dollars in Morocco?
Some shops and hotels accept euros, but usually at a poor rate. You will get better value paying in dirhams.
How much cash should I carry?
Enough for a few days of meals, taxis and small purchases. Top up at ATMs as you go rather than carrying a large amount.
Are there ATMs in Merzouga?
There are very few, and they are not always reliable. Withdraw cash in Erfoud or Rissani on the way.
Can I buy dirhams before I travel?
Rarely, and usually at a poor rate, because the dirham is a closed currency. It is easier and cheaper to change money or use an ATM when you land.
Is Morocco expensive?
Daily costs are lower than in most of Europe. Local food, taxis and entry fees are cheap; alcohol, imported goods and high-end riads are priced closer to European levels.
See It on One of Our Tours
Written by the Desert Merzouga Tours teamLocal guides and drivers from the Moroccan Sahara. Meet our team or ask us a question.
