Moving to Portugal from Morocco

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Morocco to Portugal? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Morocco to Portugal, you would find that Portugal is 2.3 times more expensive than Morocco overall. A MAD701,348 salary in Morocco would need to be roughly €106,493 in Portugal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.

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 Morocco and Portugal.

What does your salary buy?

MAD701,348 €106,493

To maintain the same standard of living in Portugal

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.9 times more

Groceries

pay 94.2% more

Transportation

pay 57.8% more

Housing

pay 2.9 times more

Childcare

pay 3.8 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 29.3% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MAD = 0.0937 EUR (July 2026)

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 Portugal cost about 52% more than cities in Morocco.

Morocco

Kenitra 32%
Tetouan 31%

Portugal

Cascais 57%
Almada 52%
Porto 51%
Faro 51%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Morocco to Portugal.

Moved in 2023
1,190 ↑ 83% vs 2022

people moved from Morocco to Portugal · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Portugal?

Top countries of origin for Portugal's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Portugal compared to Morocco.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MA
1.7
PT
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MA
18.6
PT
7.2

Portugal performs significantly better than Morocco across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

MA
$606
PT
$4,928
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MA
7.3
PT
57.7

Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Morocco leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MA
59.0
PT
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MA
1.8t
PT
3.3t

Morocco generally does better on environment, though Portugal leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MA
6.4
PT
43.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MA
50.8%
PT
12.3%

Portugal generally does better on infrastructure, though Morocco leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MA
9.1%
PT
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MA
$8,800
PT
$41,700

Morocco generally does better on employment & economy, though Portugal leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MA
73.7 yrs
PT
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MA
19.2
PT
2.5

Portugal generally does better on family life, though Morocco leads in education spending.

Data: Direction Générale des Impôts, Morocco, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Rabat Rain: 20.6 in/yr (522 mm)
73° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lisbon Rain: 29.6 in/yr (751 mm)
69° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Rabat Lisbon
Jan–Mar 65°/47°F (19°/8°C) 61°/48°F (16°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/56°F (23°/13°C) 71°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/52°F (22°/11°C) 65°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Rabat Lisbon
Jan 63°/45°F (17.4°/7.2°C) 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C)
Feb 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.8°C) 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C)
Mar 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.5°C) 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C)
Apr 70°/52°F (21.2°/10.9°C) 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C)
May 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.3°C) 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C)
Jun 78°/61°F (25.6°/15.9°C) 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C)
Jul 81°/64°F (27.2°/17.9°C) 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C)
Aug 82°/65°F (27.8°/18.3°C) 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C)
Sep 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C)
Oct 77°/58°F (24.8°/14.4°C) 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C)
Nov 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.8°C) 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C)
Dec 65°/48°F (18.6°/8.8°C) 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C)

Data: Direction de la Météorologie Nationale Direction de la Météorologie Nationale, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Morocco and Portugal. To live, work, or study long-term in Portugal, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Portugal's immigration authority.

Morocco passport

Morocco passport holder visiting Portugal

Visa Required
Morocco passport holders need a visa to enter Portugal.
Portugal passport

Portugal passport holder visiting Morocco

Visa Free
Portugal passport holders can enter Morocco without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Portugal than Morocco?

On average Portugal is around 62% pricier than Morocco, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Portugal?

Budget about €26,623 for 3 months in Portugal (based on a MAD701,348 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Portugal?

Connectivity is usually fine (Portugal: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Portugal offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Portugal safe for expats?

Portugal performs significantly better than Morocco across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Portugal is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.7 in Morocco.

How is healthcare in Portugal compared to Morocco?

Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Morocco leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 57.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Portugal, compared to 7.3 in Morocco. Portugal scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Morocco: 69).

What's the weather like in Portugal compared to Morocco?

The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 73°F in Rabat. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while Rabat gets 20.6 in.

What language do they speak in Portugal?

The official language in Portugal is Portuguese. In Morocco, the official languages are Arabic and Berber.

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At a Glance

MA PT
Population 36,738,229 10,242,081
Currency Moroccan Dirham (MAD) Euro (€)
Languages Arabic, Berber Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +212 +351
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 15 112