Marrakech Housing Crisis: Young Job Seekers Face Soaring Rents and Shrinking Options

"I came to Marrakech to provide for my family, but the rent swallows more than half of my salary," complains Hassan, a 30-year-old man from the Middle Atlas region, who works in a construction workshop. Fatima, from the South and working in a tourist restaurant, is facing the same struggle. "Life here is difficult, and rental prices are very high. Housing has become the biggest daily challenge," she says. Saïd, who came from the North, is facing the same difficulties: "I tried to find a small apartment in a popular neighborhood, but the prices were exorbitant. The cost of a 30-square-meter studio reached nearly 4,500 dirhams, an amount that does not correspond to the services provided. I ended up renting an apartment far from my work, which adds the constraint of daily commuting to my suffering."

The housing crisis is taking on alarming proportions in the ochre city. The monthly rent for a small apartment costs between 4,000 and 5,000 dirhams, while that of a furnished apartment in upscale neighborhoods like Agdal can reach 18,000 dirhams. According to recent data, the average rental yield in the city reached 7.08% in the second quarter of 2025, while the average annual income from properties on the Airbnb platform is around $16,118. Figures that show the increased interest in short-term tourist rentals. "The orientation of property owners in upscale neighborhoods towards renting their properties to tourists has reduced the supply for families, which has led to a rise in prices due to the increase in demand and the scarcity of supply," explains the owner of a real estate agency, to Al3omk.

Marrakech is no longer a city intended for the less affluent, observes a tourist guide. "I tried to help a friend of mine, a teacher, find suitable housing, but the prices were high compared to the size and location, whether for rent or purchase," he confides. However, some owners continue to offer affordable rents. This is the case of Khadija, the owner of a rental house in a popular neighborhood of the ochre city. "This house is my only source of income, and I make sure to rent it at reasonable prices. Despite the high demand, I refuse to raise prices excessively, because I believe that mutual aid strengthens the cohesion of society."