Marrakech vs Siargao

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Marrakech, Morocco
🇲🇦Morocco

Marrakech

65Freedom Score#66Global rank$2,177Per month

Morocco's red city — souks, riads, and Atlas mountain adventures, a short hop from Europe with 90-day visa-free entry.

Siargao, Philippines
🇵🇭Philippines

Siargao

66Freedom Score#62Global rank$1,000Per month

The Philippines' surf-island paradise — Cloud 9 waves, palm-fringed lagoons, and a tight island-nomad community with an easy 30-day visa.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseMarrakechSiargao
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$2,177$1,000
Rent, 1BR city centre$979$350
Meal, mid-range$12$7
Coworking deskper month$195$190
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper48.440.0

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureMarrakechSiargao
Safety
58
62
Healthcare
50
38
Walkability
60
45
English spoken
45
80
Food & dining
80
58
Nightlife
55
62
Outdoors
68
38
Nomad community
55
68
Climate quality
82
72
Public transit
45
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureMarrakechSiargao
Freedom Score65/10066/100
Global rankof 100 cities#66#62
Internet30 Mbps35 Mbps
Average temperature68°F82°F
Air quality78/10030/100
Airport connectivity68/10032/100
Nomad visa90-day+ stay30 days free
Headline tax rateon local income24%20%

Which should you choose?

Choose Marrakech if it is more walkable and the climate scores better.

Choose Siargao if runs $1,177/mo cheaper, rent is $629/mo lower, internet is faster at 35 Mbps and it scores higher on safety (62 vs 58).

What each city is known for

Marrakech

  • 90-day visa-free entry for most Western passports
  • Atlas Mountains and Sahara excursions on your doorstep
  • Vibrant souks, riads, and a unique nightlife scene
  • Short cheap flights to Europe — great base for exploring

Siargao

  • Cloud 9: Philippines' surf capital
  • Palm islands, lagoons, island-hopping
  • Tight nomad and surfer community
  • Laid-back island life

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Marrakech or Siargao?
Siargao scores higher on the Freedom Score (66/100 against 65/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Marrakech or Siargao?
Siargao is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,000 against $2,177, a difference of $1,177 a month or about $14,124 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $979/mo in Marrakech versus $350/mo in Siargao.
Which is safer: Marrakech or Siargao?
Siargao scores higher on safety, 62/100 against 58/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Marrakech and Siargao?
Marrakech averages 30 Mbps and Siargao averages 35 Mbps, so Siargao has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Marrakech or Siargao?
Marrakech sits in Morocco (90-day+ stay) and Siargao in Philippines (30 days free). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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