Detailed comparison
| Side-by-side comparison of taxation, cost of living and scores between the two countries. |  France | |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | ||
| Dividend tax | 31.4% | 15%, Edge to this country |
| Capital gains tax | 31.4% | 20%, Edge to this country |
| Corporate tax | 25% | 20%, Edge to this country |
| Wealth tax | Yes, IFI (real estate only) | None |
| Direct inheritance | 45%Scale5-45% | 0%, Edge to this country |
| Cost and real estate | ||
| Monthly FIRE budget | €2,700 | €1,200, Edge to this country |
| Cost-of-living score | 38.5 | 97.8, Edge to this country |
| Reference city | Paris | Casablanca |
| City-center 2-bed rent | €2,450 | €900, Edge to this country |
| Safety and FIRE score | ||
| Insecurity | 2.0, Edge to this country | 2.0 |
| FIRE Ultimate V3 score | 64.6 | 90.7, Edge to this country |
Verdict
- Morocco wins for a retiree with a private pension: the 80% reduction brings the effective burden down to a few percent against the French scale, all in a French-speaking setting, three hours from Paris, with freehold real estate and no wealth tax or inheritance tax.
- France keeps the edge on the depth of its healthcare system for serious cases, the taxation of public pensions (which remain taxed there), and ordinary capital taxation, since Morocco taxes foreign dividends at 15% and residents' worldwide income up to 37%.
- Verdict: Morocco for French-speaking retirees living on a private pension, won over by the 80% regime, the proximity, and the AEFE schools; France for public pensions, profiles living mainly on dividends, or those who require a top-tier medical setup without an evacuation plan.
Frequently asked questions about this duel
Is Morocco taxed less than France for a retiree?
For a private pension, very clearly so. The foreign retirees regime cuts by 80% the tax owed on the pension transferred in non-convertible dirhams, which brings the effective burden down to a few percent, against the French scale of up to a 30% marginal rate. Note: public pensions remain taxed in France under the 1970 treaty. Sources: Article 76 of the CGI and BOFiP.
Can a French citizen buy a house in Morocco?
Yes, freehold, unlike many expatriation destinations. A foreigner can acquire urban apartments, villas, and riads; only farmland remains off-limits. It is a clear advantage over countries where you can hold only a lease. Source: Moroccan law firms, 2026.
Is it easy to settle in Morocco from France?
Entry is visa-free for 90 days, then regularization is done on the spot through a carte d'immatriculation at the prefecture, in a French-speaking administration. The country is three hours from Paris and already counts more than 60,000 French retirees. The main friction is a slow bureaucracy. Source: French embassy in Morocco, 2026.