What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Casablanca

Relocating to Casablanca

The cost of living in Casablanca can be quite low. Expatriates living in Casablanca may find that the longer they are resident, the cheaper goods and services become, as they are gradually considered to be local. Expats choosing to buy or use local products and services over international options will find their cost of living greatly reduced.

About the City

Casablanca is located on the Atlantic coast on the western side of Morocco. The city is the main port for Morocco, and therefore has become a key industrial, business and financial center over the centuries. Casablanca is also the largest city in the Maghreb, and is considered to be one of the most important cities in Africa. It is thought that around five million people live in the Casablanca region, also known as Grand Casablanca, with about four million of those residing within the actual city.

An estimated 25% of the population of Casablanca is under 15 years of age, and the city holds around 11% of the whole of Morocco. The main city area is divided into eight districts, which are then divided again into subdivisions with one municipality. Ninety-eight per cent of the population of Casablanca lives in urban areas.

The Climate in Casablanca

Expats moving to Casablanca will find that the city has a very mild climate, officially classified as Mediterranean on the Koppen classification system. The average temperature is around 22°C (71.6°F) with very little variation; the average low in January is 17°C (62.6°F) and the average high in August is 26°C (78.8°F), giving only nine degrees variation throughout the year.

The sea temperature reaches 23°C (73.4°F) during August, making this the best month for swimming. The weather coming from the Atlantic coast serves to cool the city, and there is very little rain annually — around 430 millimeters — meaning that Casablanca is often cited as having one of the most pleasing climates in the world, year round.

Visas for Morocco

Most people entering Morocco can do so without a visa and stay for up to 90 days, as long as their passport has at least six months’ validity on it. There are some exceptions which can be found online, and applying for a visa should then be done in advance.

Expatriates moving to Morocco and therefore staying longer than 90 days should request permission to extend their stay at the nearest local police precinct to their place of residence in Casablanca, and this should be done within fifteen days of arriving. A residents’ card can be obtained with a bank statement of proof of income.