Find student housing in Essaouira: shared flat or studio?

Shared flat or studio: the housing options for studying in Essaouira, the rents to expect and the neighborhoods to consider.

The Remoters editorial team

Published on

2 November 2023

Updated on

6 October 2026

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As a student in Essaouira, you have two options in practice: share an apartment, or rent a studio of your own. The city does not appear in the list of university residences published by the Office national des œuvres universitaires (ONOUSC), which runs public student housing in Morocco: so you have to go through the private rental market.

The city's main higher-education institution is the École supérieure de technologie d'Essaouira (ESTE), part of Cadi Ayyad University. It prepares students for the university technology diploma (DUT) and for bachelor's degrees, in three departments: environmental and energy engineering, computer and mathematical engineering, and management, tourism and communication. For the 2026-2027 year, classes there began on Monday 28 September 2026.

The rental market is small and closely tied to tourism. Here is what housing costs, the neighborhoods to consider and the precautions to take before signing.

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Shared flat or studio: what budget to plan

The studio

According to our city page, an unfurnished studio or small apartment rents from 3,000 dirhams (MAD) per month in the outlying neighborhoods. It is the simplest way to be independent, but it weighs heavily on a student budget, especially as charges come on top of the rent.

The shared flat

A furnished two-bedroom apartment, in the medina or near the centre, generally rents for between 4,000 and 7,000 MAD per month. For two people, each share therefore comes to around 2,000 to 3,500 MAD, excluding charges. It is often the best way to live near the centre on a limited budget. Large apartments and renovated riads, which cost more, can also be shared by three or four.

Costs to add

Charges: water, electricity and internet are generally not included in the advertised rent. Ask the landlord for the usual amount of the bills.
The deposit: in principle one month's rent, but some landlords ask for more. The agreed amount must appear in the contract.
The first month's rent, paid at signing.

A market driven by tourism

Essaouira attracts more and more visitors. Its airport welcomed 310,436 passengers in 2025, 34.4% more than in 2024, according to the Office national des aéroports cited by Telquel. Festivals also weigh in: the MOGA festival alone drew some 15,000 participants in 2025, for 51.5 million dirhams of spending according to a study by the firm K&Co. Some landlords therefore prefer seasonal rentals, more profitable in the short term, which reduces the supply of year-round lets. Search early, and have the lease state that it is a rental for the whole academic year.

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Neighborhoods to consider

The medina: living in the heart of the city

A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, the medina concentrates renovated apartments, riads and traditional houses, a short walk from the ramparts, the port and the souks. Everything is done on foot and the atmosphere is unique. Rents there are higher and older unrenovated homes can suffer from damp, due to the proximity of the ocean: inspect walls, ceilings and woodwork before you commit.

Ghazoua: modern and more affordable

A residential neighborhood in the north of the city, Ghazoua offers recent residences and more spacious apartments, at more accessible rents than in the medina. Access to shops and the beach is easy: it is a good lead for a shared flat.

Bouzama and Azlef: spacious, but less student-oriented

These neighborhoods mainly attract foreign residents settled year-round. There are villas with gardens and larger apartments, with everyday shops nearby. A large house shared by several people is possible there.

Diabat: quiet, but off-centre

A coastal village south of the city, Diabat appeals with its calm and its beach, with lower rents. Without a vehicle, daily trips to the centre and school quickly become a constraint: check transport before signing.

Application, lease and traps to avoid

Landlords generally ask for an ID (passport or national card), proof of resources such as bank statements, and sometimes a guarantor. For a student, a certificate of enrolment and a written commitment from the parents help reassure. Prepare these documents before you start searching.

Insist on a written lease, in two copies, stating the rent, the duration, the deposit and what is included. Have the signatures legalised at the commune: without a legalised written contract, you will be poorly protected in a dispute.
Do a detailed, signed inspection, with photos, before you receive the keys.
Check for damp and the state of the fittings, especially in the medina.
Don't pay anything before you have visited, yourself or through someone you trust.
In a shared flat, put the split of rent and bills in writing, and check who signs the lease.

What about university residences?

If you study at another institution of Cadi Ayyad University, be aware that ONOUSC opens an application platform for its university residences every year. For 2026-2027, applications were open from 20 August to 25 September 2026. Marrakech, Agadir and Safi are on the list of cities with a residence, not Essaouira.

Searching remotely with support on the ground

From abroad or from another city, it is hard to view properties, spot a damp home or negotiate a year-round lease against competition from seasonal rentals. A Remoters home finder based in Essaouira can search according to your budget, visit properties, prepare your application and review the lease before you sign. The first conversation and the quote are free.