Casablanca vs Fes
The short answer
Fes is the cheaper trip, by roughly 23% a day — $25–60 against $35–75 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in Mar–May, Sep–Nov, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇲🇦 Casablanca | 🇲🇦 Fes | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $35–75 | $25–60cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | 20–40 MAD ($2–4) | 15–35 MAD ($1.50–3.50)cheaper |
| Mid-range hotelper night | 450–1,000 MAD ($45–100) | 350–800 MAD ($35–80)cheaper |
| Transit ridesingle trip | 8 MAD ($0.80) tram | 5 MAD ($0.50)cheaper |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $550 | ≈ $400 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇲🇦 Casablanca
Morocco's largest city and economic engine — a modern Atlantic port with one of the world's largest mosques, Art Deco boulevards, and less tourist theater than Marrakech or Fes.
- Rick's Café$$$Nightlife
- Le Cabestan$$$Restaurants
- Habous Quarter souk$Markets & culture
- Sky 28$$Nightlife
- La Sqala$$Restaurants
🇲🇦 Fes
Morocco's spiritual and intellectual capital — home to the world's largest car-free urban area, a 1,200-year-old university, and the country's most intense medina experience.
- Cafe Clock$Riad rooftop bars & cafés
- Dar Roumana$$$Restaurants
- Place Seffarine$Markets & crafts
- Riad Fès Rooftop Bar$$$Riad rooftop bars & cafés
- The Ruined Garden$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Casablanca | Fes | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Arabic (Moroccan Darija) and Tamazight are official; French is dominant in business, signage, and higher-end restaurants given Casablanca's role as the economic capital. English is more limited than in Marrakech. | Arabic (Moroccan Darija) and Tamazight are official; French is the practical second language. English is more limited here than in Marrakech — expect more French to be useful. |
| Currency | Moroccan dirham (MAD/DH). US$1 ≈ 10 MAD. Dirhams are a closed currency — exchange as you go, since you can't buy them abroad or use them once you leave. | Moroccan dirham (MAD/DH). US$1 ≈ 10 MAD. A closed currency — exchange as you go, since it can't be bought abroad or used once you leave. |
| Emergency | 19 police · 15 ambulance (SAMU) | 19 police · 15 ambulance (SAMU) · tourist police present near major medina gates |
The same in both:
- Time zone
- WET (UTC+0/+1) — Morocco's daylight-saving schedule shifts even during Ramadan; check the current offset before booking transfers.
- Power
- Type C/E plugs, 220V
- Tap water
- Technically treated, but bottled water is the safer, near-universal choice for visitors