This research aims to investigate the effect of integrating a simple solar collector, floatable black wicks, and orientation as modified double-slope solar still (MDSSS), and to compare its performance with conventional double-slope solar still (CDSSS). Costs of the developed desalination system were estimated, and its performance was compared with the previous literatures. A black hose was coiled and used as simple solar collector for preheating the saline water that is fed to the solar still. The floatable black wicks were used to increase the evaporation surface area and cause a localization of absorbed insolation at the evaporation surface of saline water. The longitudinal axis of solar still was oriented to north-south and east-west, the and productivity from each side was quantified. The northern side of MDSSS has more yield than the southern side by 33.98% for the east-west orientation and preheating. For the east-west orientation, preheating, and floatable black wicks, the total yield of MDSSS exceeded the CDSSS by 45.65%. And at the same conditions, the daily average efficiency of southern and northern sides of MDSSS was 25.33 and 37.25%, while for CDSSS, it was 13.87 and 30.73%, respectively. Estimated costs revealed that cost per liter water was about 0.062 and 0.059 $ for CDSSS and MDSSS, respectively. Solar still can provide a reasonable amount of water for irrigation based on daily production by installing the MDSSS in furrow, but keeping the longitudinal axis to east-west can secure more amount of water. The used modifications improved the solar still productivity and efficiency. Graphical abstract.