Moving to Morocco from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Morocco? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Morocco, you would find that Morocco is 47.1% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly MAD440,687 in Morocco to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Berber. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Rabat averages 73°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and Morocco.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → MAD440,687
To maintain the same standard of living in Morocco
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 66.7% less
Groceries
pay 50.1% less
Transportation
pay 3.6% more
Housing
pay 67.2% less
Childcare
pay 84.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 49.5% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Morocco cost about 39% less than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iowa to Morocco.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Morocco compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Morocco performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Morocco performs significantly better than Iowa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Morocco leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Morocco across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Rabat |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 65°/47°F (19°/8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 74°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 71°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Rabat |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 63°/45°F (17.4°/7.2°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.8°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.5°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 70°/52°F (21.2°/10.9°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.3°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 78°/61°F (25.6°/15.9°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 81°/64°F (27.2°/17.9°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 82°/65°F (27.8°/18.3°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 77°/58°F (24.8°/14.4°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.8°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 65°/48°F (18.6°/8.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Direction de la Météorologie Nationale
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Morocco. To live, work, or study long-term in Morocco, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Morocco's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Morocco
Visa Free
Morocco passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Morocco than Iowa?
On average Morocco is about 37% less expensive than Iowa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Morocco?
Budget about MAD110,172 for 3 months in Morocco (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Morocco?
From major Morocco cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Morocco are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Morocco compared to Iowa?
Morocco performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Morocco compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Rabat is 73°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Rabat receives around 20.6 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Morocco?
The official languages in Morocco are Arabic and Berber. In Iowa, the official language is English.
