5 Reasons Why Morocco Should Be Your First Destination To Kickstart Your Digital Nomad Life
Looking to become a digital nomad soon and can’t figure out where to go first? A small gem in North Africa is the new DN magnet and after reading this article, you will understand why. Becoming a digital nomad in Morocco is more than a trend; it’s a lifestyle!
Choosing a digital nomad life is exciting, full of surprises and also nerve-wracking. Dealing with clients on a daily basis all while juggling your finances and handling the emotional rollercoaster of being abroad alone is a lot to take in. Choosing a country appropriate to the lifestyle you would like to lead is critical to make things(way) easier.
If the prospect of a cheap cost of living, 10 months of sun each year and finger-licking delicious food sounds appealing, becoming a digital nomad in Morocco might be perfect for you!
Some famous Instagrammers gave a taste of Moroccan culture with their colorful unfiltered pics of famous cities and mouth-watering #InstaFood shots, but if you’re staying longer than a couple of weeks, you will need to know more about the country!
5.) Co-Working Spaces and Retreats, Havens for Digital Nomads
The Spot Coworking Space – Marrakech, Morocco
If you’re running your own business or telecommuting, you may want to consider joining a co-working space. This option might save you from jogging in and out of 10 coffee shops a day looking for reliable and fast internet. Plus, being surrounded by like-minded people in a distraction-free space can guarantee that you will get the job done! A price ranging between $4 (OMG!) and $20 is to be expected.
You can also opt for a co-working retreat if you would like to take your mind off the hassle of renting a place yourself.
A lot of Moroccan cities have a burgeoning startup scene. The small fishing village Taghazout has been considered a new startup hub by Virgin and is also listed 14th in Nomadlist.
Here is a list of some co-working spaces/retreats you can find in Morocco, with services provided, prices, reviews and addresses:
- Dare Space, Rabat
- TechVerse, Rabat
- 7AY, Rabat
- New Work Lab, Casablanca
- Netspace, Casablanca
- The Spot, Marrakech
- Farktal Coworking, Marrakech
- SunDesk Coworking (and co-living), Taghazout
4.) WiFi and Internet
SunDesk Coworking – Taghazout, Morocco
How many times did a shaky internet connection make us want to pull our hair out of frustration? Well, not gonna lie, internet in Morocco could use a speed boost to become more remote-work-friendly. However, I would strongly advise you to subscribe to one of the plans of the three telecommunication companies since data plans are cheap. For example, you can have 1GB of data for as little as $1.
If you choose to subscribe to a data plan, you can buy a SIM card for about $3 and then choose which plan would suit you best.
I also strongly advocate for a small 4G modem. From my personal experience, they tend to have better internet coverage. Service depends on the region where you are though. You’ll be fine as long as you are in the city but elsewhere it can be more challenging to find good service.
Here are the three big telecommunication companies in Morocco:
- Maroc Telecom (website supports English)
- Inwi (website does not support English)
- Orange (website does not support English)
3.) Cost of Living: The Perfect Quality/Cost Ratio
Chefchaouen, Morocco
Rent, food, transportation — all are pretty cheap in Morocco. It is true that costs vary greatly whether you’re in a big city or a small village, but in both cases, you can make some pretty sweet deals if you know where to look! One piece of advice though: becoming a digital nomad in Morocco means thinking and living local, so hone your social skills, they can make ALL the difference.
Rent
To land your dream house/flat, either rent through Airbnb or via locals. And you guessed it, the second option is the cheapest. When you decide on an exact destination, send requests on Facebook to join renting groups, or expat and digital nomads groups. Word-of-mouth will get you a long way and it’s always better to have more information about the prices in that area and thus make a better deal.
Food
Hit your local market to find the cheapest food there is! You will find the freshest vegetables, fruits, fish and seafood, national pastries and a lot more. There are also some tiny convenience stores that pop up at the corner of every street in every city and village. They sell all kinds of everyday items. However, if you would like to buy imported food or goods, then head to a supermarket or ask around if someone is importing that particular item. Many small cities don’t have supermarkets though, so better to ask beforehand.
Transportation
Casablanca and Rabat have a tramway system that is extremely useful, with a one-way ticket costing 7¢ or so. There are also two kinds of taxis: “petits taxis” that can get you around the city with a maximum of three passengers and “grands taxis” that are cheaper, have one route they always take and a maximum of seven passengers. Buses are also available for 5¢ or less!
2.) Staying on a Visa
Visa policies are different depending on the country you’re from, but many Western passport holders can stay in Morocco with a tourist visa for up to 90 days. If you would like to stay longer, you should request permission to extend the duration of your stay at the nearest Police Precinct to your place of residence in Morocco. Many also choose to go for a short vacation to the nearest European country and then reapply for a tourist visa.
Being a digital nomad in Morocco (or anywhere else, really) may require you to juggle some administrative issues, so always discuss matters with your local Police Precinct first as these rules may be subject to change with time.
Also, please note that all travelers must arrive with a passport that is valid for at least six months from the time they enter Morocco.
Consulate information for USA and Canada:
1.) Good Work/Life Balance: Starting Your Journey with The Right Mindset
Kickstarting your #DN new career in an exotic country is an exciting adventure, and you need the right environment to support it. Becoming a digital nomad in Morocco means living on Morocco time. Literally and figuratively. While you will be tuning in a PST+8 time(GMT+0), you will also experience a sweet, laid-back atmosphere and a slower pace of living. This will set you off on the right track to learn how to juggle your professional tasks and your personal life, all while soothing your wanderlust.
It’s easy to get caught up in the trillion things on your to-do list, and many digital nomads get burned-out pretty quickly. When things get heated, take a weekend vacation to another city and explore the country!
If you’re a beach person, head to the north and do some yoga in the beach of the Atlantic or the Mediterranean Sea. If mountains speak more to you, then a Toubkal hike (highest peak in North Africa and the Arab world) could spark your interest! And if you like golden dunes and the quietness of the desert, then a three-day desert tour is the way to go!
Ready to kickstart your digital nomad life? Is there any other info about Morocco you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments and share this article with your friends who share your wanderlust!
