In Casablanca, as anywhere else, everyone chooses the area where they want to live according to their own criteria: the budget, proximity to the workplace, quietness, shopping options, schools, transport infrastructure, etc.
How to find accommodation in Casablanca
Once you have made up your mind, you will need to find your home sweet home, and there are different ways to do so. Word of mouth works, but this requires that you already have some contacts. It is quite complicated when you have just arrived in Casablanca, and you do not know the place yet. The Internet offers various solutions to catch interesting rental offers posted by individuals or agencies. You can also check social media or independent agencies.
The different types of accommodation in Casablanca
A specific local feature is the samsar. These are informal traders who have a network of compound or apartment attendants, which give them access to the keys of apartments that are for rent or sale throughout the city. It's quite easy to find them (especially if you speak darija or if someone who speaks the language accompanies you). Just go to the area you are interested in and ask the attendant if they know about apartments/villas to rent (according to the neighborhood and your preferences).
Mostly apartments are available in Casablanca if you want to reside in the city itself. You can somehow find some villas in areas like 'CIL, Oasis, Californie'. These areas are known to be occupied by either expatriates (rent paid by the employer) or by wealthy owners. These types of properties are occasional and are consequently expensive. Rent prices in Casablanca usually range from 25,000 Dhs to 30,000 Dhs per month.
The surface area is significant but not optimized as it should be. In Morocco, people like to live in large spaces. To benefit from cheaper rents, look for a property outside the city, like Bouskoura or Dar Bouazza/Tamaris, but beware of the traffic.
Places where you can stay or live in Casablanca
City Centre
As Casablanca is one of the largest cities in Morocco, it has multiple city centers, such as Maârif, Gauthier, Racine and Palmiers.
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Maârif
Maârif is located behind the Twin Center and offers a unique blend of high-end buildings, chic restaurants and cafés, and countless shops and stores. More significantly, you will find comfortable and luxurious accommodation, perfectly suited to staying in Casablanca even on a medium budget.
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Gauthier
Gauthier is the most centralized city zone of Casablanca. It offers a nice liveable atmosphere with a wide range of restaurants serving traditional dishes as well as international specialties. Located near the Medina and Sour Jdid, Gauthier is the perfect place to live if you seek modern accommodation while remaining close to the main city attractions.
Gauthier is known for its attractive restaurants, lively bars, and, above all, its proximity to the city's most important monuments. There you will have a breathtaking view of the mythical Hassan 2 Mosque.
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Racine
Racine is an area in Casablanca that is marked by the three main avenues of El-Massira El-Khadra, Zerktouni, and Abdellatif Benkaddour. This top-class area features a number of luxury estates that have been recently built. There are still some old dwellings available in this zone, and they are generally large in size. Besides, this area has romantic alleys and is also full of cool bars and nightclubs.
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Palmiers
Palmiers is just another corner of Casablanca's city center where you can relax in the bright sunshine and explore the richness of its cultural heritage. There are many comfortable and affordable flats available for you to stay in as soon as you land in Casablanca.
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Medina
The Medina is among the most popular tourist areas in Casablanca that are worth visiting on tourist trips to Morocco. If you intend to stay for a long-term period, then this may be the right place for you. Medina is very famous for its souks, traditional shops and remarkable archaeological monuments that date from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Perhaps one of the most well-known monuments in this historic zone is Bab Marrakech, next to the clock tower in the northeast of the city, leading to a group of small, narrow, winding streets: where you can find shops and stores that sell electrical and electronic goods, clothes and shoes at very low prices. This place also has several popular cafés where you can enjoy a cup of delicious Moroccan mint tea.
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Habous
Habous is one of the most charming places to live in Casablanca. It is quiet and charming and has been given the name of 'new Medina'. Its décor reveals a clever fusion of modernity and tradition. You will fall in love with the excellent architecture of the buildings with their French design and Moroccan touch. Habous is like a cozy village, full of lush park areas and eclectic souks. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much you can do, see, taste and enjoy in Habous.
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Anfa
Anfa is the original name of the city, meaning literally "Hill". It is located near the corniche and is linked by the avenues of l'Océan Pacifique, Lido, Driss Slaoui, Kennedy and Nice. It is a very crowded and effervescent area and the most upmarket district of Casablanca, where the golden youth of Casablanca can be found. Anfa has many fancy palaces, hotels, bars and discotheques that are perfect for meeting people. It is one of the most pleasant places to live in Casablanca.
Places to avoid in Casablanca
Although Casablanca is a beautiful city to live in or to stay in, not every part of Morocco's economic capital is full of sunshine. Certain areas of Casablanca are not very popular due to a lack of security. This is the case, among others, of Derb Ghallef, Hay Moulay Rachid, Hay Lalla Meryem, Derb El Kébir, and one part of the Medina: Bousbir. Thus, it is highly advisable to stay away from these areas when staying or living in Casablanca.
Rent prices in Casablanca
Rent prices in Casablanca are among the most expensive ones in Morocco. For example, you can find a studio apartment (1 bedroom and a living room) for 3000 Dhs to 6,000 Dhs per month, depending on the location. Studio apartments are quite rare on the market and are generally found in high-standard buildings. Rent prices are consequently proportional to the location. The price of a two-bedroom apartment is usually around 6,000 Dhs to 10,000 Dhs per month, depending on the size and locality. You can easily find a two-bedroom apartment of 100 to 150 m² in Casablanca. For bigger apartments with more bedrooms, you should avoid focusing on rent caps.
In general, the average price of a rented flat is 3000 Dhs. For those who cannot pay a fortune in equipment and furniture, some owners and landlords offer equipped flats with an average rental price of 3500 Dhs per month for an apartment of no more than 70 m². Before you start the rental procedure, you must know that most landlords demand a security deposit limited to one or two months' rent. This sum should be paid upon entry to the flat in order to guarantee any potential claims from the landlord.
Buying a property in Casablanca
Buying your own property in Casablanca is not so hard, and you will have many options, depending on your budget. Whether you intend to buy a house, a riad, or a villa, the price can differ by nearly twice as much as a townhouse. The district in which you are going to buy will also greatly impact the cost.
For houses, the average price is 200,000 Dhs for an apartment of 60 m². For villas, the average price is 3,500,000 for a villa of 300 m². As far as riads, you may find a charming one in Medina for a price of 4,500,000 Dhs / 150 m².
Once you buy a property in Casablanca, acquisition fees are added to the price of the property. Such fees amount to 7% of the purchase price: 6% for taxes and 1% for the notary.
The general purchase cost is divided as follows:
- Registration fees: 4% of the sale price
- Land registry: 1.5% fixed fee (100 Dhs) certificate of ownership (100 Dhs)
- File fees: between 1,000 and 1,500 Dhs
- Notary fees: 0.5% to 1.5% of the sale price (4,000 Dhs if the property is under 300,000 Dhs).
It is worth mentioning that the cost of buying a property varies depending on the type of property you are buying. For low-value housing, the registration fee is 3% (compared to 4% for other properties).
Student accommodation in Casablanca
If you are studying in Casablanca and intend to stay for a long-term period, you will have to choose between public/private university residences and renting outside.
Private university residences
For students who can afford to pay, real estate companies have launched a number of student housing projects equipped with all the necessary services to guarantee student comfort. University residences generally consist of two buildings, one for girls and one for boys. Rooms have one bed, a desk, a wardrobe and a bathroom. Students have access to common areas, including kitchens and recreation rooms. There is also a maid service, WIFI and the parking lot available for an additional fee.
Like conventional rentals, these privately owned residences generally require a deposit the student must pay upon admission. For some university residences, this deposit can amount to 10,000 Dhs for a studio apartment, according to the same site. Besides, students who come to Casablanca for an internship or a training period as part of their studies must provide proof that they are still studying at a higher education institution.
For such privileges, university residences normally charge fees that vary according to the type of room, amounting from 1500 Dhs to 2500 Dhs per month for a 19 m² - 20 m² single room or a room reserved for disabled persons.
Public university residences
If you do not have enough money to rent a private student flat or a room in a private university residence, the public residences are always open to students. However, some requirements must be met to get a room. Despite several projects launched by the Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research to upgrade this sector, the low-quality facilities of these residences do not meet all the conditions required for students to flourish. The residents have to deal with such problems as shared sanitary facilities, small rooms with three to four people and poor hygiene.
Flat-sharing
Flat-sharing refers to the idea of sharing a flat as well as utilities and rental costs. By opting for this choice, you can enjoy a larger living space than the university residences. You also have more freedom to go out whenever you want and to have your friends over at any time. However, the only challenge you may face is finding the right flatmate. This is very important as you will be sharing a large part of your life with this person. Ideally, you should rent a flat with friends. Nevertheless, if you are forced to share your home with a stranger, try to take your time to get to know them. Mutual respect for each other is the best way to create a friendly atmosphere at home. You should each have your own private space to maintain your privacy.
The lease contract in Casablanca
You can rent accommodation upon signature of a lease contract. If you are liaising with an individual, you can use one of the templates available at stationery shops, and these will just cost a few cents. If you are going through an agency, a housing lease will undoubtedly be proposed to you. In such a case, carefully check for the price, the terms of payment, the description of the property, and what expenses you need to cater for and those paid by the landlord.
Remember to register the lease as it will be used for administrative procedures. It only costs 100 Dhs (remember to make copies beforehand as they will keep a copy).
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