University residence, shared flat or studio: a student's options in Casablanca, the rents to plan for and the neighbourhoods to aim for according to your campus.
As a student in Casablanca, you have three ways to find housing: a place in a public university residence, a room in a shared flat in an apartment on the private market, or a studio all to yourself. A shared flat is often the best compromise: with two or three people, an apartment in a central neighbourhood like Maârif becomes affordable, whereas a furnished studio in the same area rents for between 4,000 and 7,000 MAD per month.
The choice of neighbourhood depends first on your institution. Hassan II University of Casablanca, the largest in the city, has around 121,000 students spread over six campuses: Mohammedia, Aïn Sebaâ, Ben M'Sik, Aïn Chock, route d'El Jadida and the Hospitals district. With the tramway and the busway, the question is not so much distance as the line: a well-placed home on the right line is better than a nearby one that is poorly connected.
Public university residences are run by the Office national des œuvres universitaires sociales et culturelles (ONOUSC). In Casablanca, the Hassan II university residence is in Oasis, on the route d'El Jadida. Places are reserved as a priority for students enrolled in higher education, coming from another city and from families with modest incomes. The application is submitted to the residence, with the requested supporting documents. It is the cheapest option, but the number of beds is limited: always plan a fallback.
Sharing an apartment markedly reduces each person's share. A T2 in a mid-range neighbourhood rents for between 5,000 and 9,000 MAD per month, or 2,500 to 4,500 MAD per person with two. A T3 in a central neighbourhood (Maârif, Gauthier, Racine) rents for between 8,000 and 15,000 MAD, or about 2,700 to 5,000 MAD per person with three. On top of these amounts come the charges, which remain the tenants' responsibility: building management, water, electricity and internet.
Flatsharing also calls for a few precautions among flatmates: who signs the lease, how rent and bills are split, what happens if one of you leaves before the end. Put these rules in writing from the start.
A studio on the outskirts can be found from 2,500 MAD per month. In a central, furnished neighbourhood, expect more like 4,000 to 7,000 MAD. Furnished homes cost more than empty ones, but spare you from buying furniture for one or two years of study.
Maârif sits between the historic city centre, Anfa and Sidi Maârouf, with quick access to Casa-Voyageurs station. Shops, cafés and a varied rental supply make it a sought-after neighbourhood for young professionals and students alike. Demand there is dense: according to the valuation firm ReaConsult, a home there generally stays vacant for less than a month. Good apartments go fast, so you need to be able to decide quickly.
These two central, quiet, residential neighbourhoods have some of the highest rents in the city. In a shared flat, a large apartment can become affordable, but a studio on your own quickly exceeds a student's budget.
The campus on the El Jadida road and the Hassan II university residence make this a logical area if you study at the institutions on that side of the city.
Each of these neighbourhoods hosts a Hassan II University campus. Living on site or a few stops away limits your commute, especially if your classes start early. The Hospitals district is of particular interest to health students.
These more outlying neighbourhoods offer moderate rents. They suit you if your budget is tight, as long as you check the real travel time to your campus.
The Casatramway and Casabusway network, run by RATP Dev Casablanca, has four tram lines and two busway lines, with the same ticket or the same pass for both:
The network serves 151 stations, with a tram or busway on average every 8 minutes. First departures are between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m., last ones around 10:30 p.m. (10:00 p.m. from some busway terminals). Before signing, find on the network map the station nearest your institution and the one nearest the home you are viewing.
Landlords generally ask for an ID document (national ID card or passport), a certificate of enrolment at your institution and, very often, a guarantor who provides their own proof of income. Prepare these documents before you start viewing.
In a shared flat, finally, check whether the lease is signed by a single occupant or by everyone. If only one name is on the contract, the other flatmates are less protected: a written agreement between you becomes all the more useful.
If you are preparing your start of term from another city or from abroad, it is hard to view, compare neighbourhoods and negotiate in time. A Remoters home finder based in Casablanca can search for you according to your campus and budget, view homes, prepare your application and review the lease before signing. The first conversation and the quote are free.
Short answers to the questions our readers ask, written to stand on their own.
Sources cited in this article
A Remoters home finder on site visits for you, negotiates, and secures the lease. No commitment.
Find a home in Casablanca4.8 / 5 · 1,100+ Google reviews
Français
English
Español