Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Rabat

For one person, living is cheaper in Rabat: $834 a month against $1,685 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Rabat
🇲🇦 Morocco
$834
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buenos Aires and in Rabat

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Buenos Aires and in Rabat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,685 in Buenos Aires versus $834 in Rabat.

  • Buenos Aires $1,685
  • Rabat $834

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,742 in Buenos Aires versus $1,433 in Rabat.

  • Buenos Aires $2,742
  • Rabat $1,433

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,799 in Buenos Aires versus $2,031 in Rabat.

  • Buenos Aires $3,799
  • Rabat $2,031

Living in Buenos Aires is roughly 102% more expensive than in Rabat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buenos Aires is 26% above, Rabat is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Rabat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
$4.27 MAD 42.37
338.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 ARS 97.7K
$40.69 MAD 404
58.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
$6.91 MAD 68.6
86.40%
Cappuccino
$3.98 ARS 6,027
$1.92 MAD 19.00
107.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ARS 3,102
$0.56 MAD 5.58
266.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ARS 2,348
$0.35 MAD 3.49
342.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 ARS 5,828
$5.07 MAD 50.2
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60 ARS 6,968
$3.09 MAD 30.65
48.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Rabat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ARS 2,180
$0.86 MAD 8.53
67.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 ARS 3,737
$0.65 MAD 6.41
278.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 ARS 2,466
$1.91 MAD 18.94
-14.66%
Eggs
$2.89 ARS 4,384
$1.84 MAD 18.28
57.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
$11.01 MAD 109
-3.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$6.63 MAD 65.8
50.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
$11.99 MAD 119
14.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ARS 4,165
$1.59 MAD 15.78
72.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 ARS 3,299
$1.36 MAD 13.44
60.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ARS 2,204
$0.83 MAD 8.23
74.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ARS 3,012
$0.88 MAD 8.74
126.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ARS 1,884
$0.71 MAD 7.06
74.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 ARS 1,920
$0.79 MAD 7.80
60.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.70 ARS 2,574
$0.39 MAD 3.90
335.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 ARS 2,616
$0.58 MAD 5.76
198.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 ARS 6,335
$4.10 MAD 40.64
1.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.80 ARS 8,787
$7.14 MAD 70.9
-18.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 ARS 3,162
$2.62 MAD 26.02
-20.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ARS 4,197
$2.61 MAD 25.90
6.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Rabat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,131
$0.49 MAD 4.86
53.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
$24.98 MAD 248
8.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 ARS 2,450
$0.72 MAD 7.13
125.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 ARS 1,480
$0.58 MAD 5.76
68.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ARS 2,057
$1.48 MAD 14.64
-8.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
$30.2K MAD 299.3K
-7.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ARS 52.3M
$29.6K MAD 293.6K
16.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Rabat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 ARS 326.8K
$35.22 MAD 349
512.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
$9.44 MAD 93.7
171.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36 ARS 47.5K
$33.23 MAD 330
-5.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Rabat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.82 ARS 75.5K
$27.99 MAD 278
77.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
$23.54 MAD 233
-27.53%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
$5.97 MAD 59.2
74.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Rabat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$466 ARS 706.5K
$180 MAD 1,786
158.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
$9,210 MAD 91.3K
-1.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Rabat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122 ARS 185.1K
$46.06 MAD 457
165.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$97.4 ARS 147.7K
$39.15 MAD 388
148.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ARS 177.3K
$91.4 MAD 906
28.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 ARS 211.8K
$64.9 MAD 644
115.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Rabat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 ARS 1.2M
$521 MAD 5,171
46.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$505 ARS 765.8K
$268 MAD 2,661
88.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
$956 MAD 9,485
67.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
$686 MAD 6,809
72.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
$1,967 MAD 19.5K
36.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
$1,136 MAD 11.3K
63.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Rabat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$954 ARS 1.4M
$695 MAD 6,893
37.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
4.52
1166.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Last update for Rabat: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$505
Rabat
$268 46.9% $237
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$284
Rabat
$201 29.3% $83
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$279
Rabat
$113 59.5% $166
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$273
Rabat
$78 71.4% $195
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$214
Rabat
$109 49.3% $106
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$71
Rabat
$40 43.5% $31
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Rabat
$31 16.5% $6.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Buenos Aires and $521 in Rabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buenos Aires pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $64.0 in Buenos Aires vs $41.00 in Rabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $201 per month, with Rabat cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇲🇦 Rabat
🕒 Local time
02:00 2:00 AM
06:00 6:00 AM
4 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
573,895 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,516 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.6 USD). 1 EUR = 1,700 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 9.92 MAD (1 MAD = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.12 MAD (100 MAD = 8.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buenos Aires Rabat 9,330 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Rabat

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Buenos Aires vs Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Rabat?
Buenos Aires and Rabat differ by about 102% in total monthly costs ($1,685 vs $834 including rent). Rabat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Buenos Aires or Rabat?
Average pay runs 37% higher in Buenos Aires, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Buenos Aires and in Rabat?
Rent for a central apartment: $763 in Buenos Aires versus $521 in Rabat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buenos Aires and Rabat?
Childcare runs $466 in Buenos Aires versus $180 in Rabat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Buenos Aires. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $834 in Rabat versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rabat but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Rabat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Rabat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Buenos Aires or Rabat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Rabat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Buenos Aires or Rabat?
Expats usually find Rabat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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