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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $816 per month in Essaouira vs $873 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Essaouira vs $1,492 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,613 per month in Essaouira vs $2,110 in Rabat, rent included.

Essaouira is about 7% cheaper than Rabat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Essaouira and Rabat are more affordable than the global median – Essaouira 41% lower, Rabat 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 MAD 44.90

$4.20 MAD 39.32

14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 MAD 182

$45.00 MAD 421

-56.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 MAD 72.5

$7.58 MAD 71.0

2.24%

Cappuccino

$1.48 MAD 13.82

$2.06 MAD 19.30

-28.16%

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

$0.48 MAD 4.51

$0.67 MAD 6.30

-28.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MAD 3.68

$0.36 MAD 3.33

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.24 MAD 49.03

$5.29 MAD 49.49

-0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 MAD 42.76

$3.26 MAD 30.52

40.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MAD 8.45

$0.93 MAD 8.71

-3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MAD 4.81

$0.64 MAD 6.01

-20.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 MAD 17.01

$1.97 MAD 18.43

-7.61%

Eggs

$1.69 MAD 15.80

$1.90 MAD 17.74

-11.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.60 MAD 80.5

$12.01 MAD 112

-28.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 MAD 58.5

$6.71 MAD 62.8

-6.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 MAD 103

$12.81 MAD 120

-14.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MAD 12.29

$1.63 MAD 15.27

-19.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MAD 11.04

$1.47 MAD 13.76

-19.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 MAD 6.43

$0.94 MAD 8.81

-26.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.50

$0.90 MAD 8.39

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 MAD 5.37

$0.71 MAD 6.67

-19.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.75

$0.84 MAD 7.82

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MAD 3.38

$0.41 MAD 3.87

-12.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 MAD 5.73

$0.61 MAD 5.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 MAD 37.24

$4.42 MAD 41.33

-9.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.56 MAD 61.3

$7.73 MAD 72.3

-15.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 MAD 17.13

$2.81 MAD 26.31

-34.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.54

$2.75 MAD 25.75

-20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 MAD 8.24

$0.57 MAD 5.30

54.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.43 MAD 247

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 MAD 6.20

$0.78 MAD 7.32

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MAD 5.96

$0.95 MAD 8.85

-32.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 MAD 39.56

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MAD 14.04

$1.52 MAD 14.25

-1.32%

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

$35.5K MAD 331.7K

$35.6K MAD 332.7K

-0.31%

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

$30.8K MAD 287.9K

$32.8K MAD 306.7K

-6.14%

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

$25.43 MAD 238

$35.43 MAD 331

-28.22%

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

$18.07 MAD 169

$10.46 MAD 97.9

72.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.61 MAD 286

$34.16 MAD 320

-10.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.58 MAD 286

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.97 MAD 262

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 MAD 51.4

$6.63 MAD 62.0

-17.19%

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

$71.3 MAD 667

$189 MAD 1,769

-62.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,919 MAD 18.0K

$7,239 MAD 67.7K

-73.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.05 MAD 281

$50.9 MAD 476

-41.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.60 MAD 427

$45.30 MAD 424

0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 MAD 577

$91.9 MAD 860

-32.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.99 MAD 402

$68.8 MAD 643

-37.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 MAD 3,801

$514 MAD 4,805

-20.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MAD 3,331

$273 MAD 2,549

30.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 MAD 9,072

$1,125 MAD 10.5K

-13.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 MAD 5,555

$681 MAD 6,373

-12.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,052 MAD 19.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,212 MAD 11.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,508

$745 MAD 6,974

-64.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

4.52

43.81%

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

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Last update for Rabat: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $406 in Essaouira versus $514 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 $19.00 in Essaouira versus $45.00 in Rabat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $212 – 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 7%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,224 per month in Essaouira and $1,309 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Essaouira and $45.00 in Rabat. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Rabat at $873. 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.