Cost Of Living For a Student in Western Sahara 2025

Average monthly spending for students in Western Sahara

How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Western Sahara?

Students in Western Sahara spend around 5,100 MAD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 780 MAD or as high as 34,000 MAD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do students spend their money in Western Sahara?

We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Western Sahara typically spend from 15% to 26% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 20% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,200 MAD with expenditure ranging from 190 MAD to 8,200 MAD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Western Sahara ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 210 MAD with 31 MAD and 1,400 MAD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 54 MAD to 2,400 MAD in a month on commuting with 360 MAD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Western Sahara is 1,000 MAD. The cost of groceries can range between 160 MAD to 6,800 MAD. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in Western Sahara allocate 5% to 11% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 47 MAD to 2,100 MAD with 310 MAD being the norm for most students.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for students

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 39 MAD to 1,700 MAD with 260 MAD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.

Education and schooling expenditure for students

Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 970 MAD per month with 150 MAD being the minimum spent amount and 6,500 MAD being the maximum.

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Western Sahara

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Western Sahara?

Around 61% of surveyed students think that living in Western Sahara is affordable with proper budgeting while 39% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Western Sahara

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options59%

Few low-cost options41%

Based on the survey, 59% of the students living in Western Sahara have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Students

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Western Sahara whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes61%

No39%

Based on the survey, 39% of the students living in Western Sahara said that they don't have an emergency fund while 61% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Western Sahara

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy56%

We asked student guardians and parents in Western Sahara whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 44% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 56% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether students of Western Sahara have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 34% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 66% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance34%

Easily manages finances66%

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Western Sahara

Rent Cost in Western Sahara

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

870 MAD

1,300 MAD

3,500 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$86

$130

$350

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,300 MAD

2,100 MAD

5,200 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130

$210

$520

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,700 MAD

2,600 MAD

6,900 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$260

$690

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,100 MAD

3,500 MAD

9,500 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210

$350

$940

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

4,200 MAD

10,000 MAD

21,000 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$410

$1,000

$2,100

Townhouse monthly rent cost

3,500 MAD

5,200 MAD

15,000 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$350

$520

$1,500

House monthly rent cost

4,200 MAD

10,000 MAD

21,000 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$410

$1,000

$2,100

Villa monthly rent cost

5,200 MAD

13,000 MAD

21,000 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$520

$1,300

$2,100

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Western Sahara ranges between 870 MAD and 3,500 MAD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,300 MAD to 5,200 MAD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,700 MAD and 6,900 MAD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,100 MAD to 9,500 MAD. The average rent of a townhouse in Western Sahara is around 5,200 MAD while house rental costs can be as high as 10,000 MAD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 5,200 MAD to 21,000 MAD per month.

Apartment and house prices in Western Sahara

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

170,000 MAD

260,000 MAD

520,000 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17,000

$26,000

$52,000

1-bedroom apartment price

210,000 MAD

350,000 MAD

1.3M MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21,000

$35,000

$130,000

2-bedroom apartment price

350,000 MAD

1M MAD

2.1M MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$35,000

$100,000

$210,000

3-bedroom apartment price

1.2M MAD

1.7M MAD

5.2M MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$170,000

$520,000

Townhouse price

1.5M MAD

3.5M MAD

13M MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150,000

$350,000

$1.3M

House price

1.7M MAD

10M MAD

15M MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170,000

$1M

$1.5M

Villa price

2.1M MAD

12M MAD

17M MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210,000

$1.2M

$1.7M

The average price of a studio apartment in Western Sahara can range from 170,000 MAD to 520,000 MAD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 210,000 MAD to 1.3M MAD. A villa can cost you 12M MAD on average with prices ranging from 2.1M MAD to 17M MAD.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Western Sahara can be x113 to x208 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x113 multiples of the average monthly salary in Western Sahara.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Western Sahara is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Western Sahara

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Western Sahara

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student

31 MAD

210 MAD

1,400 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.1

$20

$140

Internet and cable cost

52 MAD

100 MAD

140 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.2

$10

$14

Mobile phone bill and charges

42 MAD

69 MAD

210 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.1

$6.9

$21

The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 210 MAD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 52 MAD to 140 MAD with 100 MAD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 69 MAD but can range between 42 MAD and 210 MAD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Western Sahara is around 5%. This means that people pay 5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 9% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Western Sahara

Prices and cost of goods and services in Western Sahara

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

10 MAD

21 MAD

35 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1

$2.1

$3.5

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Western Sahara is approximatly 21 MAD with meal cost ranging from 10 MAD to 35 MAD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

35 MAD

52 MAD

100 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.5

$5.2

$10

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 35 MAD and 100 MAD with 52 MAD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Western Sahara.

Fine dining meal for one price

69 MAD

100 MAD

420 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.9

$10

$41

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 69 MAD to 420 MAD with the average cost being 100 MAD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Western Sahara.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

8.7 MAD

14 MAD

21 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.86

$1.4

$2.1

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Western Sahara is around 14 MAD. Price ranges between 8.7 MAD and 21 MAD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

6.9 MAD

8.3 MAD

10 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.69

$0.83

$1

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Western Sahara is 8.3 MAD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 10 MAD and the minimum being 6.9 MAD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

5.2 MAD

6.9 MAD

10 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.52

$0.69

$1

A dozen eggs costs around 6.9 MAD on average with 5.2 MAD and 10 MAD being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

12 MAD

15 MAD

22 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.5

$2.2

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Western Sahara is between 12 MAD and 22 MAD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 15 MAD.

Pack of beef price

14 MAD

21 MAD

42 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$2.1

$4.1

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 21 MAD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

5.6 MAD

7.7 MAD

11 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.56

$0.76

$1.1

A bag of rice in Western Sahara costs around 7.7 MAD on average with prices rangeing between 5.6 MAD and 11 MAD depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

2.1 MAD

2.8 MAD

5.2 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.21

$0.28

$0.52

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 2.1 MAD to 5.2 MAD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

3.7 MAD

4.9 MAD

8 MAD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.37

$0.48

$0.80

A bag of apples costs 4.9 MAD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Western Sahara is around 26%. This means that students spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 32% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for students