Casablanca, Morocco Report of what it's like to live there - 03/24/26
Personal Experiences from Casablanca, Morocco
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No, we have also lived in Geneva, Switzerland and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
It is very easy to travel to and from Morocco, and there are more and more direct flights to the U.S. especially with new ones from Marrakesh. For us, it takes two flights to get home in the Mountain West of the U.S. usually with a stop in Paris or Montreal. The arrive time is 14hrs with the one stop. However, you can fly direct from Casablanca to DC in fewer than 8 hrs.
3. What years did you live here?
2024 - 2026.
4. How long have you lived here?
Two years.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic mission.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Housing is comprised of apartments near the new consulate in a modern new part of town with easy ability to walk to work in fewer than 10 minutes. Most families live in large partial villas/duplexes about a 15 minute drive from the new consulate. The villas are spacious and all have a small pool. Very few have a large backyard as the pool takes up most of the space, however all of the villas are very modern and everyone lives close to one another. In my opinion, the building standards are not great and with being near to the ocean there are constant moisture issues, and things needing to be fixed.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
The quality of groceries are high and you can find nearly everything you need in very modern grocery stores. The prices are lower than the U.S. especially for high-quality produce. Nearly everything is grown in Morocco so it's super fresh. Dairy products and meats are closer to U.S. prices especially butter, fresh milk and salmon.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
You can get everything here for a price or have small quantities shipped DPO. We love Mexican food so I would have stocked up on green chile sauce. Typically we order canned pumpkin, maple syrup, black beans, salad dressings, dried cranberries and steel cut oats regularly as things we cannot find, are too expensive or are too lazy to cook ourselves (e.g., pumpkin).
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
You can order from lots of restaurants on Glovo app and the selection of restaurants in Casablanca is amazing. You can have your groceries delivered from Marjane or Carrefour easily. You will not get tired of the selection of restaurants and takeout. You can also find all of your American fast food, including Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme and Cold Stone, to name a few.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Lots of ants in the house especially when it's hot and they are searching for water or sugary foods. During the summer there is often an issue with cockroaches that come up through the drains. Unfortunately, there is a rat issue in the neighborhoods but it doesn't impact most houses. The consulate comes by for annual pest control.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
I haven't used local postal facilities. We use DPO with takes on arrive takes three weeks as it has to go to the Embassy and then trickles down to the Consulate eventually. It is the slowest we have experienced at any post.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
It is easy to find and hire good help from housekeepers, drivers, gardeners and nannies. We have a full-time housekeeper and driver. Housekeepers on average are paid around 5000 - 6000 dirham per month (roughly $500-$600). We have a driver as our school does not supply a bus.
3. Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
Yes, it's very safe. We let our middle-school kids ride their bikes on their own along the corniche, which is a long path/route along the beach that goes for roughly 9k one-way. There are local running groups that run early in the morning (6 a.m.) and it's very safe to run with tons of people running at this time.
Cycling is a bit harder on the road unless you start early on the weekends and finish before 10 a.m., however it is better than at other posts we've served. Hiking is not near the city as the mountains are at least 3 hours away but you can organize climbing Toubkal with a guide, and you can also go out to the Bouskoura Forest (30 minutes from Casablanca) for walks or cycling in the woods.
4. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There are lots of high-quality gyms throughout the city and a small one available at the Consultate. Most use the chain Passage Fitness that has branches in multiple locations. There are plenty of sports clubs for running, swimming, football, surfing, padel, etc. If you search out any sport, you can find a club or private coach. There are plenty of running races throughout the year and it's easy and safe to go for runs in the city.
5. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are widely used in Casablanca but outside the city and tourist places like Marrakesh it is best to have cash for all purchases in restaurants and shops. ATMs are common and safe to use.
6. What English-language religious services are available locally?
Yes. There is a non-denominational church as well as an Anglican church that people attend.
7. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
You can get by with no French or Arabic, but it's highly recommended to learn to have a more in-depth experience. You can easily take classs and they are affordable. The majority of household help does not speak English. We find knowing French has made for a great experience in Morocco.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
You can use Careem (like Uber) for taxis or private drivers. It's easy and affordable. You can also flag down a red taxi from the road and have them use their meter. Local buses are not recommended but you can use the trains and trams. The train is easy to take to Marrakech or Tangier or other places and best to purchase 1st class.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
Any car is fine for the city as the roads are good here. We have an SUV, as we like to go to the mountains but it's not necessary here. You can get by with a car. Parking spaces are of course small but you can always have someone park your car for you. It's easy and affordable for car repair, especially as small accidents are very common. Driving as a whole in Casablanca is a nightmare with traffic and expect people to turn left even when they are in the furthest right lane. Each roundabout has its own rules. Highway driving is fine and the road are excellent.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes, internet is decent, as I work from home and it usually works fine. We pay $100 a month for the best plan but you can get cheaper ones. Installation is a bit of a challenge from a diplomatic standpoint, but we just went to the store, signed up and they installed the next day.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
I use both T-Mobile and Maroc Telecom. T-Mobile works ok most of the time for data but can be slow. Maroc Telecom is affordable plan of less than $20 a month, and works great for data throughout the country.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Easy to find vets and kennels for your pets. We have a large dog and we regularly send him to a kennel when we are away. They pick him up and he is always happy to go. It's a high rabies country so factor this into your planning for U.S. rabies vaccinations. There are lots of street dogs and cats so be aware of this when walking or running with your pet. We also easily find the food our dog uses as well as flea, tick and heartworm meds.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Several spouses work at the Consulate in eligible family member (EFM) positions and several spouses telework their government jobs or for companies in the U.S. Working on the local market would be difficult without Arabic and French and salaries are low. There are jobs within a lot of the international schools for spouses who are teachers.
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Business casual is fine. In public, this is a modern city so anything goes, however it's better for women to dress more modestly.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
It is safe but of course the normal caution goes for crimes of opportunity, though very, very rare. Most touristy places like Marrakesh you need to be aware of typical tourist scams. There are occasional protests near the Consultate.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Be aware Morocco is a high rabies country and that you should be vaccinated. You will be medically evacuated for major health issues, like surgery, cancer treatment, etc but in general can get regular care locally: OBGYN, dermatologist, dentist, pediatrician, etc. Most doctors are trained in France. It is also easy and affordable to get most medications.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Air quality is great as we're on the ocean. Some allergies in the Spring or when it's dusty but in general it's great here.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
Moroccans love nuts. Lots of dishes contain them. So if you have a nut allergy be mindful eating out.
5. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
None, it's sunny all the time here.
6. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
It's like Southern California as it's never too hot or too cold. This year we had must more rain in the winter, but in general winter is in the 50s and summer is in the high-80s and low-90s. The ocean breeze keeps it cooler there. It's humid but not hot, sticky humid. Our houses are cold in the winter as they are concrete with tile floors and the space heaters can only do so much.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There are two American schools people send their kids to, either Casablanca American School or George Washington Academy. Those who send their kids to American schools seem happy with them. There is also a large French school system with multiple schools in the city. Families apply to the French Education Ministry and it's a lottery. Our kids go to one of the French schools and we have been mostly happy with it. It's about as organized as any French school our kids have attended, but we have been happy with the academics and after school activities.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
I don't know for the American schools but the French school makes accommodations depending on what your child needs, as our kids had additional support in French our first year at the school to help them catch up to grade level and provide additional support classes for other subjects such as math.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
Yes, I don't have experience but there are lots of bilingual preschools that people use or they use the preschool at George Washington Academy. All of the schools offer after-school programmes with sports, art, theater, chess, coding, etc. The pricing is much cheaper than the U.S.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
You can find anything you want from dance, boxing, swimming, soccer, art etc. For example, our kids swim on a local competitive swim team with all Moroccan kids that trains 3-5 nights a week at the local olympic pool. We pay roughly $500 for the whole year for roughly 5 hours of training a week, membership to the pool and 8-10 competitions a year.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Since we're at the Consulate it is a small community. There are some expats but not like in other posts where you have all of the embassies and intl organizations. However, the morale is high at the consulate and the community has been great. You can also make friends with local Moroccans with a bit of effort - i.e. joining a local sports club or getting involved in a school. Don't expect to be close to those at the Embassy community as both are very separate for the most part.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
The Consultate Community Liaison Office (CLO) organizes activities and several families will host events here and there: book club, CLO coffees, happy hours, girls nights, padel, basketball, etc. Like above, its recommended to join a club for the activity you like. For our family that has been running and swimming, which we have found good community within.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
It can be good for singles, couples and families, however maybe a bit more limited for singles when it comes to dating and the local culture. However, it's a big city and there is always something to do. Plus, you're an easy flight away from anywhere in Europe for weekend excursions when you want a different culture. For families, it has been great when it comes to schools, community and affordable help and activities.
4. Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
It takes a bit more work as it's better to know the language, however Moroccans are friendly and welcoming.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
It culture is not accepting so it would be difficult.
6. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Try to visit every region of the country. We particularly like southern Morocco close to the Sahara desert. We loved Merzouga, Erg Chigaga, Dades Gorge, La Cathédrale Imsfrane, climbing Toubkal, and anywhere in the High Atlas Mountains. The cities and medinas can get tiring but it's of course lovely to visit all the major cities. The Northern coast along the mediterranean is not to be missed for clear water and lovely beaches.
7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Lac bin ouidane and La Cathedrale area is a bit more of a hidden gem with few tourists but lovely outdoor adventures. You can do lots of hiking in that area and find affordable, but nice accomodations. Erg Chigaga and Erg Chebbi are not to be missed for desert adventure. Each is a bit different but both offer a great experience in the Sahara.
8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Absolutely. Moroccan handcrafts are hard to beat and well known: pottery, rugs, lamps, tile work, etc.
9. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
You can get anything you need but it is a huge city with noise, traffic and lots of people. Not having a lot of quiet places to go has been the hardest part of living here for us.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
How difficult and long it would take to get our stuff. The bureaucracy for the diplomatic community is hard. Expect to take forever to get your things and to get your diplomatic plates. It took longer in Morocco than Tanzania during COVID times.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Absolutely. It's been a great experience with lots of wonderful memories, even if we don't love the big city. There are plenty of travel opportunities and it's easy to take a break somewhere in Europe when you need it.
