Pros and Cons of Living in Marrakech: A Digital Nomad's Unfiltered Take
so, i've been living in marrakech for about six months now, and let me tell you, it's been a ride. the sun here doesn't just shine; it slams into you like a disgruntled taxi driver. it's the kind of heat that makes you question your life choices at 9 am. but hey, i'm a digital nomad, and i've got a laptop and a dream, so here i am.
first off, the pros. the cost of living is pretty damn good. i'm paying around $450 for a one-bedroom in the new city, which is basically unheard of back in san francisco. and the food? oh man, for like $5, you can get a tagine that'll make you forget about avocado toast forever. the community here is tight-knit too. there's this co-working space called numad, and it's full of people from all over the world, all trying to make it work remotely. it's like a weird, international family.
but it's not all sunshine and cheap tajines. the cons? where do i even start? the internet can be a bit... sporadic. one minute you're video-calling with a client, the next you're staring at a spinning wheel of doom. and the culture shock? real. you think you're prepared, but then you're trying to explain to your landlord why you need a receipt for your electricity payment, and he just looks at you like you're speaking martian.
overheard in a café: 'you know, the locals love when you try to speak arabic. but if you butcher it, they'll just smile and switch to french. it's a trap, i tell you!'
safety-wise, marrakech is pretty chill. i've never felt unsafe, even wandering around the medina at night. but you gotta keep your wits about you. pickpocketing happens, especially in the big square. and if you're a woman, you'll get stared at. a lot. it's just... how it is. you learn to ignore it after a while.
job market? it's growing, but it's not exactly booming unless you're in tourism or tech. and even then, you better speak french or arabic. i've been getting by with freelance gigs, but it's not easy. sometimes i just want a regular job with benefits, ya know?
drunk advice from a guy at a bar: 'if you're gonna live here, invest in a good fan. and maybe a therapist. the heat does things to your brain.'
casablanca's a cheap 3-hour train ride away if you need a city fix, and the atlas mountains? perfect for a weekend escape when the city feels like an oven. the desert is a bit further, but totally worth it for the stars. seriously, the sky out here is insane.
so, would i recommend living in marrakech? yeah, i think so. it's chaotic, it's frustrating, but it's also alive in a way that most cities aren't. if you can handle the heat and the occasional internet outage, it might just be the place for you. check out the marrakech expat forums if you're thinking about making the leap. or the reddit community for some real-talk. and if you're just visiting, the tripadvisor forums are gold for tips. for good eats, yelp's got your back.
at the end of the day, marrakech's a place that gets under your skin. in the best way possible. even if your skin is a little sunburnt.
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