Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Rabat Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Rabat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $810 per month in Essaouira vs $908 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,226 per month in Essaouira vs $1,593 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,642 per month in Essaouira vs $2,279 in Rabat, rent included.

Essaouira is about 11% cheaper than Rabat, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Essaouira and Rabat are more affordable than the global median – Essaouira 40% lower, Rabat 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 MAD 39.86

$4.63 MAD 42.54

-6.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.74 MAD 227

$48.79 MAD 448

-49.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 MAD 45.88

$6.80 MAD 62.5

-26.62%

Cappuccino

$1.84 MAD 16.91

$1.96 MAD 18.04

-6.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MAD 4.13

$0.61 MAD 5.61

-26.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 MAD 2.36

$0.38 MAD 3.48

-31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 MAD 35.40

$5.47 MAD 50.2

-29.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 MAD 32.83

$4.21 MAD 38.67

-15.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 MAD 7.80

$0.82 MAD 7.51

3.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 MAD 4.90

$0.48 MAD 4.40

10.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MAD 15.57

$1.97 MAD 18.11

-14.21%

Eggs

$1.80 MAD 16.52

$1.93 MAD 17.76

-6.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.59 MAD 88.1

$13.17 MAD 121

-27.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 MAD 49.08

$6.94 MAD 63.8

-23.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.51 MAD 106

$11.92 MAD 110

-3.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 MAD 12.55

$1.61 MAD 14.83

-14.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 MAD 11.70

$1.38 MAD 12.68

-7.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.59

$0.83 MAD 7.61

-13.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 MAD 8.56

$0.81 MAD 7.44

14.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 MAD 6.36

$0.68 MAD 6.25

1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 MAD 8.47

$0.71 MAD 6.51

29.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.60

$0.40 MAD 3.64

-2.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MAD 4.92

$0.63 MAD 5.77

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.07 MAD 37.43

$4.39 MAD 40.35

-7.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.61 MAD 60.8

$8.08 MAD 74.3

-18.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 MAD 17.76

$2.70 MAD 24.85

-28.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 MAD 19.83

$2.47 MAD 22.73

-12.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 MAD 8.25

$0.57 MAD 5.23

57.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.40 MAD 151

$27.06 MAD 249

-39.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MAD 6.26

$0.57 MAD 5.27

19.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MAD 4.72

$0.83 MAD 7.63

-38.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.69 MAD 79.8

$4.46 MAD 41.02

94.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MAD 14.54

$1.54 MAD 14.11

2.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.6K MAD 345.7K

$36.9K MAD 338.7K

2.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.0K MAD 193.3K

$29.8K MAD 273.8K

-29.39%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$28.04 MAD 258

$41.32 MAD 380

-32.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.82 MAD 127

$11.26 MAD 103

22.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 MAD 263

$39.59 MAD 364

-27.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.11 MAD 203

$30.30 MAD 278

-27.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.63 MAD 217

$29.31 MAD 269

-19.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 MAD 61.7

$6.56 MAD 60.3

2.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$75.6 MAD 695

$158 MAD 1,448

-52.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,990 MAD 18.3K

$6,396 MAD 58.8K

-68.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.43 MAD 289

$52.4 MAD 482

-40.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MAD 366

$48.76 MAD 448

-18.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.84 MAD 449

$108 MAD 990

-54.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.20 MAD 406

$97.1 MAD 892

-54.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MAD 3,563

$460 MAD 4,226

-15.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 MAD 3,173

$269 MAD 2,471

28.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$795 MAD 7,308

$1,103 MAD 10.1K

-27.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 MAD 5,011

$727 MAD 6,680

-24.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,105 MAD 19.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,209 MAD 11.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,462

$745 MAD 6,843

-64.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

4.81

14.35%

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

Last update for Essaouira: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rabat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Essaouira versus $460 in Rabat. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 178% higher in Rabat, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Essaouira versus $49.00 in Rabat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $209 – making Essaouira the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Essaouira vs Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rabat is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,215 per month in Essaouira and $1,362 in Rabat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Essaouira, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Rabat, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Essaouira and $49.00 in Rabat. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $810, than in Rabat at $908. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rabat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Essaouira – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Essaouira. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rabat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.